While Christianity, especially in its mainline Protestant denominations, has been in continuous demographic decline in the U.S., there has been a steady growth of what some observers have termed “neopaganism.” The trend may have seen its most public manifestation when a group of self-described witches gathered in a Brooklyn bookstore and “metaphysical boutique” to put a hex on Brett Kavanaugh before the Senate hearings on his confirmation to the Supreme Court. There are also “spiritual but not religious” practices, often associated with bodily health, and often available only at a price—ranging from healing crystals to the evocatively named SoulCycle exercise classes.

Together, do these point to a form of paganism, or an emerging post-Christian religious reality? What is the chance that some sort of quasi-pagan spirituality will become America’s dominant religion? Ross Douthat, Tara Isabella Burton, and Steven D. Smith—all three of whom have written books on this subject—discuss these and many other related questions. (Video, 86 minutes.)

Between December 27 and January 6, terrorists in Gaza fired rockets at Israel almost every night. On Monday, one rocket struck a home in the much-bombarded town of Sderot, although no one was injured. The rocket fire had largely halted last spring, and for some time barrages were often the result of Israeli forces closing in a Hamas unit or munitions depot. But the truth—which gives credence to Ran Baratz’s argument in his January essay that the IDF is struggling to accomplish its mission—is that Hamas has been able to rebuild. Yoni Ben Menachem writes that the jihadist group has been “producing hundreds of new rockets using lathes smuggled into tunnels that remain operational in Gaza.” Moreover, it has been replenishing its ranks:

According to Israeli security officials, Hamas has recruited approximately 4,000 new fighters over the past month. This rapid expansion bolsters its fighting capabilities and complicates Israel’s efforts to apply military pressure on Hamas to expedite a hostage deal. Hamas’s military recovery has allowed it to prolong its war of attrition against the IDF and adopt tougher stances in hostage negotiations. The funds for this recruitment effort are reportedly from the sale of humanitarian-aid packages, which Hamas forcibly seizes and resells in Gaza’s markets.

In fact, Ben Menachem writes, Hamas’s rocket fire is part of the same strategy:

By firing rockets, Hamas seeks to demonstrate its resilience and operational capability despite the IDF’s prolonged offensive. This message is aimed at both Gaza’s residents and the Israeli public, underscoring that Hamas remains a significant force even after enduring heavy losses [and] that Israel cannot easily occupy this region, currently a focal point of IDF operations.