The Religiverse with Jason Boyett

The Religiverse with Jason Boyett

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The Religiverse with Jason Boyett
The Religiverse with Jason Boyett
The Camp Mystic Tragedy, the Scopes Monkey Trial, and the Dalai Lama turns 90

The Camp Mystic Tragedy, the Scopes Monkey Trial, and the Dalai Lama turns 90

Religion links for 7.8.25

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Jason Boyett
Jul 08, 2025
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The Religiverse with Jason Boyett
The Religiverse with Jason Boyett
The Camp Mystic Tragedy, the Scopes Monkey Trial, and the Dalai Lama turns 90
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Cementerio Municipal La Gloria, located on the southern tip of Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, an island near Cancun. Sitting just above sea level, the island’s bedrock is porous limestone, meaning water sits close to the surface. The above-ground tombs protect the remains from water intrusion. [Photo by Jason Boyett]

Top Story: Texas Flooding and the Camp Mystic Tragedy

I live in the Texas Panhandle, which is closer to Colorado summer camps than to the Hill Country and Guadalupe River. But despite its size, Texas is a deeply connected state. I know families who have attended Camp Mystic, and at least one local family that lost a young camper to the floods. Everyone in Texas seems just a degree of separation from this tragedy.

Each of the lives lost to the catastrophic flooding is a profound loss, including the families camping on the banks of the river and the townspeople who didn’t receive or hear the middle-of-the-night warnings.

But, of course, the 27 campers and counselors who perished at a nondenominational Christian camp for girls is an especially heartbreaking story. Even Pope Leo XIV, speaking over the weekend in English, offered special prayers and condolences to the families of the “daughters who were in summer camp.”

Camp Mystic’s long-time director, Dick Eastland—whose family owns and operates the camp—died while attempting to save campers.

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