The devastating wildfires in L.A. have destroyed a Catholic parish, a synagogue, a mosque, and at least seven Protestant churches. Fire doesn't care who you worship or how. [Photo by Jessica Christian on Unsplash] +

Today's Religiverse newsletter starts with the Kung Fu Nuns of Nepal's Druk Amitabha Monastery, which just reopened after a 5-year closure due to the pandemic. +

From my latest newsletter: Over the next generation, it’s increasingly clear that religion—or a lack of religion—will become a significant political dividing line. Non-religious Americans lean liberal, are growing quickly in numbers and may soon become a dominant Democratic constituency. +

But what happens when that religious diversity meets up with President-elect Trump's Defense Secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth—who has expressed a militant Christianity and disdain for other religions?

One 800-year-old skull belonging to Thomas Aquinas is touring the United States. But a church in Italy claims to also have the skull of Aquinas.

Today's Religiverse examines the Roman Catholic veneration of relics, plus other major religion stories.

religiverse.substack.com/p/the-twin-s...

Saint Maurice Abbey in the Swiss canton of Calais is one of the oldest continuously operating monasteries in the world. Monks here have maintained a continuous cycle of prayers, known as laus perennis, or “perpetual praise,” for 1,500 years. +

In Minnesota, high school football player Jalue Dorje turned 18 knowing it was his last big party before he left the U.S. for a monastery in the Himalayas. Why? Because the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders identified him as the reincarnation of a prominent spiritual leader. [AP photo]

Beth and Rip of "Yellowstone" visited Amarillo, Texas, in last night's episode. I've lived in Amarillo for decades. I've been in that hotel and speakeasy! I know people in the cattle business!

Ask me anything, I guess.