The Faith & Culture 5

Happy Friday!

I hope July is settling in with a sense of momentum and openness. As summer begins to take shape, I’ve found myself thinking about the things that linger beyond their original moment: an idea that keeps returning, a fleeting interaction, a piece of music, an image, or a conversation that continues to reveal itself over time.

And as always, I’d love to hear what’s been staying with you lately. What’s captured your attention? What thoughts, moments, or discoveries have been circling back?

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Let’s dive in:

1. Freedom Con: Thousands of Men Gather for Christianity and Feats of Strength

Thousands of men and boys gathered in central Washington for masculinity, Christianity and right-wing politics.

2. Opinion | I’m Gay, Not Queer. It Matters.

This worldview is best expressed in one word: “queer,” which is often used interchangeably with “gay” these days. The two words don’t mean the same thing. And in that difference lies a danger for our hard-fought equality.

3. The Religion Behind Wellness Trends

An excerpt from “Beyond Wellness: How Restoring the Religious Roots of Spiritual Practices Can Heal Us”

4. Why Everyone is Suddenly Talking About ‘Universal Basic Capital’

The policy could provide a much-needed hedge against a future AI dystopia—but only if it’s designed the right way.

5. 90% of Pastors Recommend Counseling — But Only 9% Go Themselves

Pastors have become some of the biggest advocates for therapy in the church. The surprising part is how few take their own advice.

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Podcast

Is it Time for a New Sexual Revolution?

The growing alienation between men and women is, to my mind, one of the biggest stories of our time.

It’s warping our politics and culture through the rise of misogynistic influencers on the right and a growing sense of feminist despair on the left.

My guest this week believes that our problems today can be traced back to the sexual revolution. She argues that it reset relations between the sexes in a fundamentally negative way and ultimately benefited men. Louise Perry is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal’s Free Expression section and the author of “The Case Against the Sexual Revolution.”

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Lázár by Nelio Biedermann

At the turn of the 20th century, the Lázárs welcome their newest member in their rural summer estate, surrounded by a menacingly dark, enchanting forest. Lajos von Lázár is a baby boy with translucent skin and light-blue eyes who looks nothing like the rest of his family. Sándor, the imposing patriarch, is ashamed of his son’s peculiarity. Ilona finds her baby brother quite ugly. Mária is terrified that her son’s uncanny resemblance to the stagehand who died a couple weeks earlier might spell disaster. While Imre, Sándor’s brother whose otherworldly foresight is often confused for insanity, is struck by visions of a great catastrophe.

Lajos’s birth is emblematic of the many secrets, affairs, and peculiar otherworldly happenings that plague the Lázárs. As the decades go by, they will continue to fall prey to their desires, leading grand lives, and experiencing even greater tragedies as they’re swept by the tides of war and revolution that befall their country. But time and again, in the lighter years, extraordinary love and hope shine through.

Masterfully written and deeply haunting,

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Thank you so much for being a part of this community! I’ll see you next week.

Jm