As Americans celebrate Fourth of July, fireworks in the world of religion news
Weekend Plug-in 🔌
(ANALYSIS) Who’s ready for fireworks?
Or maybe not — as the coronavirus pandemic has sparked the cancellation of many holiday celebrations.
In any case: Happy Fourth of July!
America celebrates its independence each year on the Fourth of July. Shutterstock photo.
As America marks 244 years of independence, “Weekend Plug-in” has reached a milestone of its own: the six-month anniversary of this column.
Although I’m still experimenting to see what works best, I’m loving the opportunity to collaborate with Religion Unplugged’s ambitious team of journalists — a talented mix of youth and experience.
And I’m excited by the various media partners that have signed on to republish “Plug-in” some or all of the time, including The Christian Chronicle, Religion News Service, GetReligion and MinistryWatch.com.
Please keep the ideas and feedback coming, and let me know what you like and what you don’t: Email me or tweet me.
And now, the real fireworks: our weekly analysis, insight and top headlines from the world of faith.
Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads
1. Street corner where George Floyd was killed becomes a revivalist site: “Slate’s Ruth Graham sure knows how to tell a story,” I said back in February.
Forgive me for repeating myself, but Graham’s latest piece — on the scene of Floyd’s Minneapolis death “becoming literal sacred ground” — is another fine example. It’s both interesting and thoroughly reported.
2. Myrlie Evers weeps as Confederate battle flag comes down in Mississippi: The new state flag in Mississippi must include the phrase “In God We Trust,” but it can’t include the Confederate battle flag, noted Jerry Mitchell of the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting.
As Religion Unplugged highlighted earlier this year, Mitchell’s 2020 memoir “Race Against Time” details how the veteran journalist helped win justice in a series of civil rights era murder cases. Myrlie Evers, the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, plays a prominent role in Mitchell’s book. And his reporting on her emotional reaction to the Confederate emblem’s removal from the state flag is a must read.
3. Evangelical leaders are speaking up about race — but will this new focus last?: This week’s column has turned into a who’s who of favorite journalists I’ve praised just recently. Enter Adelle M. Banks of Religion News Service (and, if you missed it, read about how she likes to sing spirituals when she’s not working).
Banks’ latest story that really impressed me: her exploration of “the long-standing gap between how white evangelicals and Black Christians view racial inequality.” The big question: Will the dialogue prompted by Floyd’s death change anything long-term?
More top reads: China cuts Uighur births with IUDs, abortion, sterilization, The Associated Press … Balcony churches: Kenyans find new ways to worship in lockdown, Neha Wadekar, The Guardian … Meet the only person in the world who can touch the Dead Sea Scrolls, Rossella Tercatin, Jerusalem Post … The word of God in the age of legal marijuana, Mike Jordan, Wall Street Journal … A life recovered, then taken by coronavirus, Isaiah Murtaugh, Los Angeles Times … Trump’s white evangelical approval slips, Pew finds, but 82 percent still likely to vote for him, Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Washington Post … White supremacist ideas have roots in U.S. Christianity, Tom Gjelten, NPR … The preaching politician: ‘Good Trouble’ documentary follows John Lewis from fields of Alabama to halls of Congress, Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service … What the Supreme Court’s abortion decision means, Emma Green, The Atlantic … Retiring Utah pastor brings caring, courage and commitment to causes, Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune … High court sparks new battle over church-state separation, David Crary and Elana Schor, AP … Should Americans know which churches received COVID-19 stimulus loans?, Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News … In ‘God, guns and Trump’ country, simmering doubts about the president, Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times … In a summer of pandemic, Vacation Bible School programs go online and outside, Emily McFarlan Miller, RNS … A new dilemma for Trump’s team: Preventing super-spreader churches, Gabby Orr, Politico.
Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines
It’s no surprise, but it’s sad nonetheless: The Religion News Association’s 2020 annual conference, originally set for late October in the Washington, D.C., area, has been canceled.
“In its place, RNA will hold at least two virtual meetings over the next year and will consider smaller meet-ups when it is safe to do so.,” the association announced on its website.
The good news: Karaoke (online, of course) remains on the agenda.
Charging Station: In Case You Missed It
Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from Religion Unplugged.
• Turkey is moving toward a neo-Ottoman regime with calls to convert Hagia Sophia (by Paul Marshall)
• “Dominion” reluctantly highlights far-reaching Christian roots of western civilization (by Julia Duin)
• Georgia approves hate crimes bill month after Ahmaud Arbery video surfaces (by Dave Schechter)
• In 20 years, Americans of all faiths have never been more supportive of gun rights (by Ryan Burge)
• These Christian women of color are juggling business ambition with biblical submission (by Kelly Wairimu Davis)
• Artist paints mugshots as Catholic saints to ponder criminal justice (by Micah Danney)
• What women want: a Christian criticism of ‘the Billy Graham Rule’ (by Dr. Jenny Taylor)
• How COVID-19 had radically changed Uganda’s wedding culture (by John Semakula)
• How to follow the wisdom of Moses and Zipporah for the Black Lives Matter moment (by Noah Lawrence)
• Hong Kong religious freedom crisis takes backseat to U.S. journalistic norms (by Ira Rifkin)
• 6 recipes to celebrate religious holidays at home this summer (by Haeven Gibbons)
• Pro-life ministries frustrated with Supreme Court decision (by Warren Cole Smith)
• India’s police brutality targets Muslims and journalists as Hindu nationalism grows (by Shuriah Niazi)
The Final Plug
The shortest Bible verse? Try John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”).
The longest lede in the history of journalism? I don’t know, but this one has to be in the running.
As Stefan Fatsis put it on Twitter, “First Watergate and now getting this 110-word lede past his editors. Carl Bernstein is truly a legend.”
“Did you read the story?” my friend Cheryl Mann Bacon asked me. “It’s jarring.”
“I read the lede,” I replied. “Was there more?”
Thank you for reading, everybody! Enjoy the long holiday weekend.
Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 15 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.