A workout with God (and your fitness coach)

+ when it comes to unions, which side will 2023 be on? US Edition - Today's top story: Making sweat feel spiritual didn't start with SoulCycle – a religion scholar explains [View in browser]( US Edition | 5 January 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( A few days ago, amid a moment of sugar-laden remorse (and a stomachache), I vowed not to buy candy or chocolate for a while. Easy to say – by the looks of all the sweets that somehow accumulated in my kitchen over the holiday period, the supply shouldn’t run out till about March. Little wonder then that so many people’s New Year’s resolutions revolve around health and fitness. But increasingly, Americans’ exercise routines aren’t just about staying in shape. They’re looking for ritual community, fulfillment, personal growth: things we often associate with spirituality or religion. And fitness entrepreneurs are only too happy to provide them. Cody Musselman, a religion scholar at Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, gives the “fitness is the new religion” [cliché]( [a thorough workout](. She explains that while companies like SoulCycle may be new, the idea that sweat can save your soul isn’t – religion and exercise have shared common ground for centuries. And lastly, a heartfelt thank you to all who supported our end-of-year fundraising campaign. We raised more than $200,000 from over 3,500 readers like you – funds that will both sustain our work this year and help us launch some exciting new initiatives. We couldn’t bring you fascinating articles like these without your partnership: - [The health effects of the Marshall fire – one year later]( - [Ukraine schools are on the front line of Russia’s war]( - [What sports media got right in Damar Hamlin coverage]( Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor A SoulCycle event held in New York City. Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images [Making sweat feel spiritual didn’t start with SoulCycle – a religion scholar explains]( Cody Musselman, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Fitness and religion make a potent combination, one people have explored for centuries. Education - [Ukraine schools remain a key battlefront in fight for nation’s future]( Katja Kolcio, Wesleyan University Schools are a key battleground in the Ukrainian resistance against Russian invasion. Politics + Society - [Not all insurrections are equal – for enslaved Americans, it was the only option]( Deion Scott Hawkins, Emerson College The events of Jan. 6, 2021, have been called an insurrection. The same word has often been used to describe the mostly forgotten rebellions against plantation owners by enslaved people. - [Talking across the political aisle isn’t a cure-all - but it does help reduce hostility]( Dominik Stecuła, Colorado State University; Matthew Levendusky, University of Pennsylvania In-person conversations between Republicans and Democrats lasting just 15 minutes were found to lessen political animus, research shows. Health + Medicine - [Long COVID stemmed from mild cases of COVID-19 in most people, according to a new multicountry study]( Sarah Wulf Hanson, University of Washington; Theo Vos, University of Washington While there are still far more questions than answers about long COVID-19, researchers are beginning to get a clearer picture of the health and economic consequences of the condition. Arts + Culture - [Sports broadcasters have a duty to report injuries responsibly – in the case of NFL’s Damar Hamlin, they passed the test]( Nicole Kraft, The Ohio State University ESPN commentators avoided speculation and struck a compassionate tone as player received treatment. Environment + Energy - [Green jobs are booming, but too few employees have sustainability skills to fill them – here are 4 ways to get training]( Christopher Boone, Arizona State University; Karen C. Seto, Yale University Green jobs go beyond solar panel installation and wind turbine maintenance. They’re found in fields from design to economics and in many types of management. - [Homes that survived the Marshall Fire 1 year ago harbored another disaster inside – here’s what we’ve learned about this insidious urban wildfire risk]( Colleen E. Reid, University of Colorado Boulder; Joost de Gouw, University of Colorado Boulder; Michael Hannigan, University of Colorado Boulder Noxious smells and blowing ash initially made the homes unlivable. But even after their homes were cleaned, some residents still reported health effects months later. Science + Technology - [Nanomedicines for various diseases are in development – but research facilities produce vastly inconsistent results on how the body will react to them]( Morteza Mahmoudi, Michigan State University The proteins that cover nanoparticles are essential to understanding how they work in the body. Across 17 proteomics facilities in the US, less than 2% of the identified proteins were identical. Economy + Business - [Diversity of US workplaces is growing in terms of race, ethnicity and age – forcing more employers to be flexible]( Adia Harvey Wingfield, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Employers need good strategies to hire and retain more workers of color and older workers. The mandatory diversity training and requisite skills tests many of them now rely on don’t measure up. - [Worker strikes and union elections surged in 2022 – could it mark a turning point for organized labor?]( Marick Masters, Wayne State University Workers have filed the most union petitions since 2015 and the number of strikes have surged, but whether this turns into a sustained increase in membership rates is still unclear. Trending on site - [Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during ‘Monday Night Football’ could be commotio cordis or a more common condition – a heart doctor answers 4 questions]( - [Speaker of the House faces political peril from member deaths and resignations – especially with a narrow majority]( - [Farmers can save water with wireless technologies, but there are challenges – like transmitting data through mud]( Today's graphic [A chart breaking down of the demographics and income levels of gig workers in the U.S.]( From the story, [Americans are taking more control over their work lives – because they have to]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? 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