Welcome to The Week's "What Next?" contest, an invitation to test your powers of imagination with challenges inspired by current events.
Click here for the results of the previous contest: Email novels
Last week's question: A federal court has ruled that veganism may be legally considered a religion if practiced with great sincerity. Please invent the name of a new religion or church that’s based on a practice some Americans take very seriously.
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THE WINNER: Church of the NASCARene
Emily Aronoff, College Station, Texas
SECOND PLACE: Wii-ca
Cheryl Old, San Diego
THIRD PLACE: Thinduism
Caroline James, San Francisco
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Church of the Crossword of God
Ken Liebman, Williston, Vt.
Meism
Thom Thacker, Irvington, N.Y.
Church of the Infinite Deficit
Paul Binder, Bellevue, Wash.
Small Petsbyterian Church
Hank Michaelson, Naples, Fla.
Holy APPostolic Church
Charlie & Mary Parry, Catonsville, Md.
American Idolatry
Joanne Sullivan, Maspeth, N.Y.
2nd Amendment Church of the NRA
Robert Clare, Charlotte, N.C.
Our Lady of Perpetual Dieting
Paul Binder, Bellevue, Wash.
Church of the New Textament
Robert Calgren, Edina Minn.
Church of Latte Day Saints
Fiona Perez, Chula Vista, Calif.
Church of Lotto Day Saints
Alan Letourneau, Tenants Harbor, Maine
Lombardism: The Church of the Sacred Gridiron
David Helm, West Hartford, Conn.
Kardashianism
Jacquelyn Carriero, Wantagh, N.Y.
Gleek Orthodox
Alexis Urriola, Kearny, N.J.
Cat-olicism
Fred Shuback, West Bloomfield, Mich.
Dogmatic Order of Canine Idolatry
Lora Shaner, Pahrump, Nev.
The Pot-estant Church
John Libby, Sanford, Maine
Seventh Inning Adventists
Christian Coronel, Pasadena, Calif.
TVangelism
Gordon Miller, Bakersfield, Calif.
Brunch Davidians
Ken Kellam III, Dallas
Church of the Holy CrossFit
Thomas P. Wensinger, San Antonio
Environmentalism
Bob Kulin, Lexington, Mass.
Friends of St. Arbucks
Robert Abernethy, Mission Viejo, Calif.
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Codeword: September 17, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
