Thursday's News & Ideas
Running the numbers behind Pope Francis' election
National Catholic Reporter: A strong Latin American did, in fact, sew things up fast.
Religion News Service: Reactions to Pope Francis' election
The red and the black
National Catholic Reporter: Of course, the elephant in the Sistine Chapel is female, and she's not leaving.
Quitting time: The Pope retired. Should your pastor?
Christianity Today: Benedict's decision shows how to serve well and leave well, experts say.
Choosing a new CEO? The Vatican method might be onto something
The (Toronto) Globe and Mail: Leadership experts believe there are lessons corporations can take away from the papal conclave -- the oldest ongoing process of picking a leader.
Religion among Americans hits low point, as more people say they have no religious affiliation
Huffington Post: The number of Americans who claim to have no religious affiliation is the highest it has ever been.
The Spark
The emotional psychology of a two-party system
For many Americans today, the enemy is within. Indeed, America seems to be engaged in another war, but in this one, both sides are domestic: the left and the right. For both sides, the Other often lacks true dimension and a legitimate point of view. As the Atlantic reports, defense mechanisms against emotional ambivalence incline us to embrace one side and reject the other -- which makes compromise nearly impossible.
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