Below are this week's Articles of Interest as compiled by Mr. Van Baker. This collection of articles is cultivated by Mr. Baker with the goal of highlighting some of the trends, upheavals, and things to watch for in our society. These articles are not necessarily the express views of the United Church of God, Mr. Baker, or me as the pastor, but they are informative of what is occurring in our nation and culture. In accordance with Christ's warning to correctly discern the times (Matthew 16:1-4), it is wise to be aware of what is going on around us. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christianity's Decline Has Stopped? A groundbreaking Pew Research Center survey finds that after years of decline, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian has stabilized. Not only that, but young adults — a demographic expected to be on the front lines of secularization — are fueling this halt. The rise of the religiously unaffiliated, the so-called “Nones,” has also stalled out.
https://www.rodmartin.org/p/christianitys-decline-in-america

Who Put the Ashes in Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday [March 5 this year] is the one day of the year when we can see if the strangers we meet in street and store are Catholic— at least we can see who went to Mass to get their Lent started. While the black ashes clearly mark the brows of the baptized, it isn’t clear to most of those baptized and ashed who it was that began this grim yet gritty liturgical tradition recalling “the way to dusty death,” as Macbeth put it. The ashes of Ash Wednesday come to us from no less a personage than Pope St. Gregory "the Great" [c. 540 – 12 March 604].
https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/who-put-the-ashes-in-ash-wednesday

"Spiritual," but not religious? "Spirituality" is no longer tied to religion.
https://www.axios.com/2025/03/05/religion-americans-spiritual-survey

Having Fewer Babies Will Cost U.S. Economy “Quadrillions of Dollars” – The West’s growing epidemic of childlessness and depopulation will “fundamentally alter our societies” and impose “an existential economic crisis” on the United States that will cost the U.S. alone “quadrillions of dollars,” according to two new reports. No one questions the fact that nearly every corner of the globe is producing fewer babies. Global fertility has plunged from five children per woman in 1950 to around 2.25 children per woman in 2023, according to the United Nations Development Programme “World Population Prospects” report. “Globally, the total fertility rate is likely already below replacement — that is, below the level needed to sustain the population in the long run, approximately 2.18 children per woman. In the U.S., it’s around 1.6,” wrote Fernández-Villaverde. With fewer children, the U.S. economic engine will soon run out of fuel.
https://www.lifenews.com/2025/02/26/having-fewer-babies-will-cost-u-s-economy-quadrillions-of-dollars/

A Christian town in Syria keeps the biblical language of Aramaic alive, but it fears for its future – MAALOULA, Syria — Church bells echoed across the rocky slopes of this ancient Syrian town on a cold Sunday morning. But few families remained. Maaloula is one of the world’s few places where residents still speak Aramaic, the language that Jesus is believed to have used. The town is also home to Syria’s two oldest active monasteries. But since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in an insurgent offensive late last year, some residents fear their future is precarious.
https://apnews.com/article/syria-aramaic-christians-religion-maaloula-biblical-language-d3d675da743f867d794664c29da23690

Oscars apathy: Half of Americans haven’t watched any Best Picture nominees – Hollywood released more than 500 movies in 2024, but the average American only watched three of them. A new survey shows a huge gap between what studios make and what people actually watch. The survey also found a clear age divide in movie-watching habits, with 43% of Baby Boomers saying they didn’t see a single new movie last year.
https://studyfinds.org/oscar-awards-apathy-half-of-americans-havent-watched-any-best-picture-nominees/

Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II Discovered – A joint Egyptian-British archaeological team has discovered the royal tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II (r. 1513–1500 BCE), marking the first discovery of a pharaoh’s tomb since that of Tutankhamen more than a century ago.
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-egypt/tomb-of-pharaoh-thutmose-ii-discovered/

Could King Charles be [England's] last monarch? His championing of the divisive creed of multiculturalism could prove his undoing. Along with the BBC and the Church of England, the monarchy finds itself at a crossroads that could lead to a crisis. They believe the country has lost its moral compass along with its confidence. The traditional identity that once defined Britain is fading in the presence of a changing population, globalisation. But it’s actually these aforementioned institutions that have lost their moral compass and confidence.
https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/02/16/could-king-charles-be-our-last-monarch/

Keeping Satan Off the Ballot in Utah – Will Satan be barred from running for office in Utah? The vote in the state legislature was 65-2. The question now is, will the governor sign?
https://pjmedia.com/gregbyrnes/2025/02/26/keeping-satan-off-the-ballot-in-utah-n4937345

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer a threat to Earth, scientists say – Paul Chodas, who heads NASA’s Center for Near Earth Objects Studies, said there is no chance the odds will rise at this point and that an impact in 2032 has been ruled out.
https://apnews.com/article/asteroid-2024-yr4-nasa-esa-cce39c01ab94ac1edae00024dc35169c