RNS Morning Report: A church where wellness meets spirituality

Top Stories A church where wellness meets spirituality NEW YORK (RNS) — With today’s emptier church pews and fuller yoga studios, churches like The Well are attempting to bridge the two worlds for spiritual fulfillment.   With world’s highest rates of religiously unaffiliated, East Asia remains spiritually vibrant (RNS) — While many East Asians do not identify with a religion, they continue to hold religious or spiritual beliefs in unseen beings, venerate ancestors’ spirits and engage in ritual practices, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center.    Judge rejects effort by Missouri clergy to fight abortion ban (RNS) — The judge wrote that while the argument that life begins at conception ‘may run counter to some religious beliefs, it is not itself necessarily a religious belief.’   Longtime Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler, who was accused of sexual abuse, dies at 94 HOUSTON (AP) — Paul Pressler, a leading figure of the Southern Baptist Convention who was accused of sexually abusing boys and young men and later settled a lawsuit over the allegations, has died. He was 94. RNS Opinion Why I’ve been AWOL (RNS) — I am fine. Or at least, as fine as I ever am when I’m writing a book.   Sunday school – Monday through Friday: Oklahoma joins states with ‘release time’ laws letting K-12 kids leave school for religious lessons (The Conversation) — The Supreme Court has twice weighed in on ‘release time’ policies, and many states allow districts to implement them. Oklahoma is the most recent state to allow school boards to implement “release time”: off-site classes with religious or moral instruction that K-12 students can attend for part of school days with parental consent. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 1425 into law, which authorized the program, on June 5, 2024. ICYMI India slowly expands protections for ostracized interfaith, mixed-caste couples MAHARASHTRA, India (RNS) — In 2018, India’s Supreme Court recognized honor killing as a serious problem and issued guidelines to prevent it, including setting up safe houses.   With Catholic anti-poverty program under attack, bishops and activists mount defense (RNS) — A person familiar with the executive session’s deliberations told Religion News Service that ‘there was very strong support expressed for CCHD in the session. How it is worked out remains to be seen, but the program and collection will continue.’ In Other News Megachurch pastor and ex-Trump adviser admits child sexual abuse 14 pilgrims die from sunstroke as Eid al-Adha celebrations begin for Muslims   Talk to Us We want your feedback on the RNS Morning Report — what you think we're doing right and what we should be doing differently. Send us an email at Comments@ReligionNews.com Subscribe to other RNS Newsletters. Forward this email to a friend. View the archive of past newsletters. RNS is free to read, but it's not free to produce. If you value our reporting, please consider making a donation today at religionnews.com/donate. If you prefer to mail a donation, please address to: Religion News Foundation, PO Box 1808, Columbia, MO 65205. Yes, I support the work you're doing! Forward this email to a friend