Weekly Outlook - Bad Bunny, Jesus and the comment section 🎤

Dear readers, What does empathy look like in a divided world? It’s a question many Christians are asking with new urgency. Some public voices have recently dismissed empathy as weakness or even a cultural threat. Yet Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to something different: to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. That tension is part of what inspired our newest Fresh Outlook Bible Studies resource, "On the Road to Empathy." This four-session study, written by the Rev. Dr. Robyn Byrd Michalove, invites congregations to explore empathy as a faithful Christian practice through stories from Luke’s Gospel and the Book of Acts. Along the way, participants reflect on the stories that shape us, the blind spots we carry and the ways Christ calls us to move from understanding toward action. Written specifically for young adults, this study would also be a great fit for adult education programs, small groups, or a churchwide conversation. We hope this new resource will help your community listen more deeply and walk more faithfully with one another. Learn more about the study and read a sample. Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor Presbyterian Outlook

A PC(USA) statement on the escalating war with Iran by the Office of Public Witness Shortening the Book of Confessions? A stated clerk responds by Christian Boyd Bad Bunny, Jesus and the comment section by Trip Porch When foster youth age out, a church steps in by John Bolt Why vigils matter as anxiety rises by Maggie Alsup A sermon for elderly Christians in troubled times by Brenda Monroe Moten In case you missed it... Love Letters to God Andrew Taylor-Troutman praises "Love Letters to God' as a raw, brave epistolary friendship that wrestles honestly with suffering, faith, and a love strong enough to endure doubt. Presbyterian politicians mix faith with their civic service Elected officials and candidates find belief a powerful ally in leadership. — Gregg Brekke A homecoming Doug McMahon reflects on how a bone marrow transplant teaches us that we humans are bound together, each needing the other, even at a cellular level.   Middle, high school students invited to ‘Wholly Shift!’ at 2026 Hastings Youth Conference Hastings College and the ASPIRE program invite students to an inclusive space where young people can explore their faith, build lasting connections and recognize their value. Legal Defense Fund visits Springfield, Ohio Haitian immigrants and others live in fear, but faith communities stand with them. — Cindy Corell Discussion guide for our Empathy issue In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. — Don Griggs

This Week in Religion - Conflict spreads in wake of Iranian leader's death

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Lead story

From Karachi to Beirut, Khamenei’s death sends shockwaves across the Shiite world

Editor's note:

The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli operation – and the rapid expansion of a broader war with Iran – has triggered myriad faith-related repercussions. For the Muslim world’s Shiite minority, Khamenei, 86, was more than just Iran’s theocratic ruler since 1989. He was also one of their most prominent religious and political figures. His death has stoked fury across the Shiite world.  

In Israel, nine people were killed in an Iranian strike on a synagogue in the town of Beit Shemesh. Across Israel, Jews gathered in bomb shelters to mark the holiday of Purim, as a precaution against further missile attacks. In Tel Aviv, people of all ages wearing sequined suits, bunny ears, pirate costumes and peacock feathers streamed into a mall’s underground parking lot, which also functions as a bomb shelter. 

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Religion News

Singing protests gain momentum as non-violent but emotionally stirring rebukes to ICE

'We're going to sing and sing and try to touch the hearts of the ICE agents,' said the Rev. Jacqueline Lewis, senior pastor at Middle Church in New York. By Fiona Murphy/Religion News Service

Teeth, finger bones and blessings: Buddhist relics inspire belief

Every Lunar New Year for the past 14 years, a southern California temple has displayed what it calls the '10,000 Buddha Relics.' Temple leaders say the display includes a tooth and finger bone of the Buddha. By Deepa Bharath/The Associated Press

Sprawling investigation finds decades of sexual abuse among Catholic priests in Rhode Island

A new report from Rhode Island’s attorney general says Catholic clergy abused hundreds of children for decades, while church leaders in the state worked to downplay and minimize the scandal. By Kimberlee Kruesi/The Associated Press

Revelers celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors

Holi celebrations in the Indian town of Mathura filled the air with music, dance, and clouds of colored powder. Hundreds of people gathered at a temple believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna to celebrate. By Manish Swarup and Ashwini Bhatia/The Associated Press

Starseeds, government plots and an alien mantis: Inside New Age spirituality's new age

Thousands converged in Los Angeles for the Conscious Life Expo, where influencers and cultural shifts are fueling cosmic belief systems often featuring extraterrestrials. By Kathryn Post/Religion News Service

 

Commentary and Analysis

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing plays into Shiite Islam’s reverence for martyrs, but not for all Iranians

Khamenei was a deeply polarizing figure in Iran – perceived by some as a martyr and others as an oppressor. By Eric Lob for The Conversation

Ramadan-ing in a time of fear

How are Muslims making the most of this holy time without giving in to elevated worry and fear? By Dilshad Ali/Religion News Service

Meekness isn’t weakness – once considered positive, it’s one of the ‘undersung virtues’ that deserve defense today

The word ‘meekness’ might seem old-fashioned – and not a positive trait. But understanding its original meaning can identify an important virtue. By Timothy J. Pawl for The Conversation

Why Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’ endures

The artist used daring imagery that sparked controversy from the moment it was unveiled. By Virginia Raguin for The Conversation

 

Photos of the Week: Iran war, Jesse Jackson memorial and more

A photo made available by Iranian state-run media of the mass funeral for the victims of a strike on an elementary school, on Tuesday, March 3, in Minab, southern Iran. The school, adjacent to a naval base, was in session on Saturday when an airstrike hit it, killing 175 people, Iranian officials and rights groups said. (Abbas Zakeri/Mehr News Agency)

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RNS Morning Report - Why some Muslims are mourning the death of Ayatollah Khamenei as others celebrate

Grief gulf From Middle East conflict to immigration policy, the Muslim world is often referred to as a monolith. But the fallout from the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, highlights the divide between Islam’s two most populous sects, Sunnis and Shiites, and the regional allegiances and antipathies it creates. As a senior Shiite cleric, Khamenei held religious authority beyond Iran’s borders, and was publicly mourned from Pakistan to Lebanon, even as many Sunnis joined many Iranians in cheering the demise of a tyrant. Read RNS National Reporter Ulaa Kuziez’s explainer on why some celebrated as others mourned. Top Stories Why some Muslims are mourning the death of Ayatollah Khamenei as others celebrate (RNS) — The ayatollah’s killing on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has divided Muslims, mostly along sectarian lines.  The many stories behind Holi, Hinduism’s festival of colors (RNS) — In all interpretations, Holi is seen as a festive day to end conflicts, forgive the past and start a new season. Conservative Anglican leaders meet in Nigeria to elect a leader, fueling concerns of schism NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Officials say the intention of the meetings is not to create a new communion but to reorder the current one. Photos of the Week: Iran war, Jesse Jackson memorial (RNS) — This week’s photo selection includes the war in Iran, a memorial service for Jesse Jackson and more. Opinion What Lent can teach us about attempting to make peace by force (RNS) — The current military action against Iran is a clash of ethical impulses: the security of the country versus the kind of nation we are becoming. To adopt AI or resist it? That’s not the question. (RNS) — The more faithful response is neither rejection nor uncritical embrace. It is intentional formation. ICYMI Gallup Poll: Fewer than half of Americans say religion is ‘very important’ in their lives (RNS) — President Trump said he was ‘bringing back religion,’ but the latest Gallup Poll shows no evidence of that. Metropolitan AME pastor’s new book offers ancestral veneration as guide to civic engagement (RNS) — Though often linked to Black diasporas and Indigenous culture, the practice is deeply rooted in American culture, said the Rev. William Lamar IV. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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