RNS Morning Report - Harvard Divinity School pauses religion and conflict educational initiative, cuts its staff

Top Stories Harvard Divinity School pauses religion and conflict educational initiative, cuts its staff (RNS) — Hilary Rantisi, the associate director of the program, and the sole Palestinian American employed at the divinity school, said she was told her position was not renewed.   ‘God-lover Kyle’ performs spirituality through posting memes on Instagram (RNS) — How the meme page ‘I Need God in Every Moment of My Life’ became a digital sanctuary for faith, irony and spiritual longing.   ‘Holy Hurt’ is Hillary McBride’s field guide to the shattering impact of spiritual trauma (RNS) — Spiritual trauma, which can develop from within and beyond religious contexts, is often profoundly disruptive and difficult to identify.   UN agency closes its remaining Gaza bakeries as food supplies dwindle under Israeli blockade DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel, which later resumed its offensive to pressure the Hamas militant group into accepting changes to their ceasefire agreement, said enough food had entered Gaza during the six-week truce to sustain the territory's roughly 2 million Palestinians for a long time.   RNS Opinion Sociologist’s new book explains why organized religion has lost relevancy (RNS) — Christian Smith’s research shows traditional religion isn’t just declining. It’s culturally obsolete.   Christian Zionism hasn’t always been a conservative evangelical creed – churches’ views of Israel have evolved over decades (The Conversation) — The history of Christian support for a Jewish state far predates the religious right.   ICYMI Abyssinian Baptist Church welcomes dismissal of pastor candidate’s discrimination suit (RNS) — The Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, who served in leadership roles at Abyssinian, including as assistant minister, said in a Wednesday statement that she is ‘prayerfully preparing’ an appeal.   After Khartoum recaptured, badly damaged Anglican Cathedral still stands NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — ‘The damage is huge. Archbishop’s residence, dean’s house, and offices are all destroyed and looted. Praise God the building is not bombed,’ said the archbishop, days after the city was taken back by the national army. In Other News From Hasidic Brooklyn to Off Broadway: The Life of a Trans Rabbi China’s new religious restrictions severely limit foreign missionary activity   Depend on our reporting? Help us out! As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. You can support this work! 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