Michele Margolis, from an op-ed in Saturday’s New York Times:
It’s not just that our religious beliefs affect our politics — it’s that our politics affect our religious choices. We don’t just take cues about politics from our pastors and priests; we take cues about religion from our politicians.
Viewing our politics through the lens of the gospel is what we should be doing, but Margolis makes me wonder if I haven’t been assuming that’s simpler than it really is.
Her forthcoming book, From Politics To The Pews: How Partisanship And Political Identity Shape The Religious Environment looks well worth a read.
And then Joe Drape, also in the New York Times, about one of my favorite things to fume about: youth soccer. It turns out the American version of youth soccer is thriving in pretty exclusive zip codes.
Currently, American households with more than $100,000 in annual income provide 35 percent of soccer players, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, compared with 11 percent from households earning $25,000 or less.
That I have had such constant contact with the demands of soccer on the students I work with says something about where I have chosen to work.
YoRocko! 