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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world – A new Pew Research Center study measuring the evolution of the global religious population shows Muslims are the fastest-growing faith group, followed by the religiously unaffiliated. Though it remained the world’s largest religion, the Christian population declined between 2010 and 2020.
https://religionnews.com/2025/06/09/islam-is-the-fastest-growing-religion-in-the-world-new-study-shows/

Catholic Ireland Is Dead and Gone – One hundred years ago today [6/11], W. B. Yeats, poet, senator of the Irish Free State, and proud member of the Anglo-Irish Protestant Ascendancy, rose to his feet on the Senate floor and expressed his ringing opposition to legislation that would ban divorce. He went on to make a historic wager: “[I]f not I, my children will be able to find out whether we have lost our stamina or not. . . . If we have not lost our stamina then your victory will be brief, and your defeat final, and when it comes this nation may be transformed.” The examples— legal, political, cultural — of Catholic Ireland’s brief ascent and final collapse multiply exponentially. One can wonder what Yeats would have made of it. He did say in his Senate speech that Ireland would eventually become “an exceedingly tolerant country.” Nonetheless, one hundred years later, his prediction of a transformation feels, if anything, inadequate to the reality. “Evisceration” would be closer.
https://firstthings.com/catholic-irelands-dead-and-gone/

The birth of America: God's hand or accident? Did the hand of God have anything to do with the birth of America? There’s a great new movie that gives a resounding, “Yes,” and it’s called “The American Miracle.” It’s based on the best-selling book with the same title by Michael Medved, a popular radio show host, author, political commentator, and film critic.
https://www.christianpost.com/voices/the-birth-of-america-gods-hand-or-accident.html

The assisted dying movement is gaining momentum – What does it mean to die well, with dignity? The question is at the heart of the contentious debate over whether legalizing physician-assisted death for terminally ill patients is an act of compassion, upholding an individual’s dignity, or a troubling step toward devaluing human life. Currently, 12 jurisdictions in the US — including Oregon, Colorado and the District of Columbia — permit what’s commonly known as “medical assistance in dying” (MAiD).” On May 20, Delaware became the latest state to legalize MAiD, and at least 19 other states are considering similar laws. Canada, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands have adopted MAiD laws, some extending eligibility to people without terminal illnesses.
https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2025/06/05/medical-assistance-in-dying-new-york-canada/

National Association of Realtors changes 'hate speech' rule after realtor-pastor found guilty for [sharing] Bible verses – The National Association of Realtors has voted to change its controversial "hate speech" rule after punishing a Christian minister who shared Bible verses on social media. In the amendment to Standard of Practice 10-5, which says its members "shall not harass any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity," the NAR clarified that the rule can only regulate a realtor's speech that is made in their professional capacity in furtherance of their real estate practice. Wilson Fauber, 70, a longtime Virginia realtor, was found in December to have violated the NAR Code of Ethics. Fauber was punished by the Virginia Association of Realtors for sharing his biblical views on gender and sexuality on his personal Facebook page. Despite multiple attempts to appeal, the hate speech conviction was upheld in February 2025.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/realtors-change-rule-after-pastor-found-guilty-of-hate-speech.html

Paul’s "Thorn in the Flesh" – One of the apostle Paul’s most-discussed passages occurs in 2 Corinthians 12. In the span of ten verses, Paul alludes to not one but two scenarios from his life that often leave readers scratching their heads in confusion.
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/pauls-thorn-in-the-flesh/

Jack Daniel's maker reveals surprising reason[s] why Americans are drinking less whiskey – Executives from Jack Daniel's parent company, Brown-Forman Corp., warned that the business is seeing pressure from cannabis, weight-loss drugs and lackluster demand from Generation Z.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/jack-daniels-maker-reveals-surprising-reason-americans-drinking-less-whiskey

Babylon Bee sues Hawaii over anti-satire law – The satirical news website, The Babylon Bee, is suing the state of Hawaii over a new law that could be used to censor online content, including satire and parody. Under law S2687, which was passed last July, portraying a politician in a way that damages their “reputation or electoral prospects” is penalised. “Materially deceptive media” is also banned under the law. The law does allow online satire, but requires large disclaimers telling the reader that it is satire. The Babylon Bee has said it is not willing to place such a disclaimer on its site.
https://christiantoday.com/news/babylon-bee-sues-hawaii-over-anti-satire-law

Scientists found a massive underground ocean "hidden" [400+ miles] below Earth's surface – Scientists have discovered a vast underground ocean located about 700 kilometers below the Earth's surface. This new finding reveals an ocean THREE TIMES larger than all the Earth's surface oceans combined. However, this ocean is different from what we usually think of as an ocean.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/scientists-found-a-massive-underground-ocean-hidden-700km-below-earths-surface-heres-all-about-it/articleshow/113849982.cms