Word missing from the new “Jeopardy!” video about host Alex Trebek’s cancer recovery …
What is “prayer?”
Readers will recall that back in April, Trebek credited prayers with helping him overcome stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and we explored some of the holy ghosts in news coverage.
In this case, it seems to be “Jeopardy!” itself that is haunted in its video touting the show’s new season.
While reflecting on that, let’s dive into the Friday Five:
1. Religion story of the week: Our own Terry Mattingly made a really important point this week on the growing trend of old churches being being sold and flipped:
So here is my question: Is the fate of the church bodies that formerly occupied these holy spaces an essential element in all of these stories? In the old journalism formula “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why” and “how,” does the “WHY” element remain important?
It would appear not, based on many of the stories that I am seeing.
2. Most popular GetReligion post: Ho-hum.
Another week. Another No. 1 most-clicked honor going to Julia Duin’s commentary headlined “Liberal white Catholic parish vs. new conservative black priest = clumsy Oregonian story.”
For those counting, this is three weeks in a row that Duin’s post has occupied this space. I could tell you more about what her piece is about. But at this point, everybody should be relatively familiar with it. If not, here’s the link once again.
Way to go, Julia!
3. Guilt folder fodder (and more): This news from Hong Hong comes to us courtesy of our Religion Unplugged colleagues.
Pro-democracy and outspoken Christian Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow were arrested by Hong Kong police the morning of Aug. 30 local time, according to their political organization Demosisto. Wong was arrested first, then Chow was taken from her home a short while later, both to Wan Chai police station. The charges are of participating in an unlawful assembly on June 21 surrounding police headquarters in Wan Chai, and Wong is also charged with organizing an unlawful assembly. Both were released on bail the same day, and Hong Kongers were warned that anyone who participates in a planned protest over the weekend would be resisted with force and possibly arrested. This weekend is the five-year anniversary of when China took away free elections from Hong Kong, and marks five years since the sit-in pro-democracy protests named the Umbrella Revolution that brought then-student leaders Wong and Chow to prominence.
4. Shameless plug: We’ve highlighted the feud over Snopes’ “fact-checking” of the Christian satire news site The Babylon Bee.
Our own tmatt’s nationally syndicated column this week delves into The Babylon Bee wrestling “with news, reality and satire.”
Definitely, give it a read.
5. Final thought: Want to know your own Twitter personality? Go for it.
Happy Friday, everybody! Enjoy the weekend!