9 mins read

Did the founders create a Christian nation? No, but religion did shape their thinking

When he talks about the role of religion in the founding of the United States, historian Gregg Frazer does not attract eager audiences. “Neither side really wants to hear what I say,” says Frazer, a professor of history and political studies at The Master’s University, a Christian school in Santa Clarita, California. The founders, Frazer […]

7 mins read

Older Americans say it’s a good time to find a job. Younger people aren’t buying it, new poll finds

For years, younger Americans have been more optimistic about the job market than older Americans, even through the depths of the Great Recession. But in an abrupt shift, a new poll released Monday finds young people’s confidence has plummeted over the past two years — while their elders remain more upbeat. The gap between young […]

7 mins read

How a 3,400-year-old ballgame survives in Mexico against all odds

LOS LLANITOS, México | On a dirt field on Mexico’s Pacific coast, five cousins between the ages of 8 and 13 strip down and kick off their shoes. Nearby, adults help them fasten the pre-Hispanic-style “fajado,” securing loincloths and leather belts that wrap around their hips. The Osuna children grab the rubber ball, all 3.2 […]

8 mins read

From Taylor Swift to the Oscars, 400-year-old ‘Hamlet’ flourishes in the age of TikTok

NEW YORK | He’s on screen, onstage, on tour, online and in song. “Hamlet” — William Shakespeare’s masterpiece about a moody Danish prince — seems to be having a moment. A National Theatre production has landed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music starring Hiran Abeysekera. There’s a movie version set in London’s South Asian community […]

4 mins read

Movie Review: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman and an octopus in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’

It was only a matter of time before “that octopus book” became “that octopus movie” (or, at least, “that other octopus movie” ). Shelby Van Pelt’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures” was a kind of slow-burn, word-of-mouth literary sensation in the years since it was first published in 2022. With its octopus narrator, sentimental story and quirky […]

7 mins read

Tech is turning increasingly to religion in a quest to create ethical AI

LOS ANGELES | As concerns mount over artificial intelligence and its rapid integration into society, tech companies are increasingly turning to faith leaders for guidance on how to shape the technology — a surprising about-face on Silicon Valley’s longstanding skepticism of organized religion. Leaders from various religious groups met last week with representatives from companies […]

5 mins read

Daniel Dae Kim explores booming South Korean pop, film, cosmetics and food influences for CNN series

NEW YORK | Not too long ago, Daniel Dae Kim had an unusual encounter with a salmon. It had nothing to do with dinner. The actor, director and producer lay down in a doctor’s office in Seoul and underwent microinjections into his face of DNA from salmon sperm. The hope was to reduce inflammation and […]