🎉 Year In Review: Religion Unplugged’s Top 10 Most Popular Articles Of 2024 🔌

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Weekend Plug-in 🔌

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Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Click to join nearly 10,000 subscribers who get this column delivered straight to their inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr.

(ANALYSIS) Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!

Last week, we highlighted the best religion journalism of 2024 as picked by more than 60 of the nation’s top Godbeat pros.

In the penultimate Weekend Plug-in of 2024, @bobbyross highlights the best religion stories of the year, as picked by more than 60 Godbeat journalists. Plus, Bobby’s favorite Plug-in columns of 2024.https://t.co/R2pQZh3FNr

— Religion Unplugged (@ReligionMag) December 20, 2024

For today’s special year-end edition, we count down Religion Unplugged’s Top 10 most popular articles of 2024.

It’s time to count down Religion Unplugged’s Top 10 most popular articles of 2024. (Shutterstock photo)

Top 10 Most Popular Reads

10. ‘God Versus Aliens’: Inside The Vatican’s High-Stakes UFO Hunt (by John Mac Ghlionn)

(ANALYSIS/@ghlionn) Earlier this year, “God Versus Aliens” premiered at the @Festival_Cannes. The documentary, directed by Mark Christopher Lee (@The_King_Of_UFO), shines a light on the Vatican's secretive investigations into UFOs.https://t.co/2wPBlVfRvP

— Religion Unplugged (@ReligionMag) October 8, 2024

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9. How Islam And Redemption Transformed Boxer Mike Tyson’s Life (by Clemente Lisi) 

How faith and redemption transformed boxer Mike Tyson's life https://t.co/3I6lU7aeXb #PaulTyson

— Clemente Lisi (@ClementeLisi) November 15, 2024

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8. Why The Amish Could Decide This Year’s Presidential Race (by Clemente Lisi)

Over the past few months, Republicans have been crisscrossing Lancaster County —known as “Amish country” and other rural parts of the state with one mission: Turn this reluctant and reclusive religious group into MAGA voters.https://t.co/kFTWYxFS1g

— Religion Unplugged (@ReligionMag) October 15, 2024

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7. Head Coach Joe Mazzulla’s Faith Helped Guide The Boston Celtics To An NBA Title (by Clemente Lisi)

Head coach Joe Mazzulla’s Catholic faith helped guide the @celtics to an #NBAChampionship https://t.co/5gj9csKcCC

— Clemente Lisi (@ClementeLisi) June 18, 2024

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6. ‘The Chosen’ Finale Brings An Uneven Ending To One Of Its Best Seasons (by Joseph Holmes) 

#TheChosen Season Four finale is in theaters now! It doesn't live up to the promise of its premiere, but that doesn't undermine the fact that this is easily the best season overall since the first. My latest for @ReligionMag https://t.co/jnRS7q2dQn

— Joseph Holmes (@NormalGuy8) February 29, 2024

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5. If You Want Young Men to Leave Christianity, Have Them Watch ‘The Forge’ (by Joseph Holmes) 

The plight of young men is an important issue. Unfortunately, Christian content like "The Forge" continues to alienate men from Christianity--the very thing men most need. My full review for @ReligionMag, featuring @JesseDvorak @aaron_renn @WatchLoor https://t.co/P9fByzePUD

— Joseph Holmes (@NormalGuy8) August 23, 2024

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4. Caitlin Clark: How The Catholic Star Captivated A Nation And Rewrote The Record Books (by Clemente Lisi)

Basketball star @CaitlinClark22 is a lot of things. To fans, she’s an NCAA record breaker. To her @TheIowaHawkeyes teammates, she’s the spearhead for a national title run after getting to the Final Four. She’s also Catholic.@ClementeLisi explains: https://t.co/LhqfRpAwUd

— Religion Unplugged (@ReligionMag) April 4, 2024

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3. Passover And Easter Usually Overlap: Why Not This Year? (by Clemente Lisi) 

(EXPLAINER/@ClementeLisi) Since 2000, Easter and Passover have overlapped every year but four — in 2005, 2008, 2016 and this spring — because they are both based on lunar calendars.

Here are other areas where the holy days overlap:https://t.co/dB0FMowQVv

— Religion Unplugged (@ReligionMag) March 22, 2024

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2. Drag Queen ‘Last Supper’ At Olympics Opening Ceremony Sparks Outrage (by Clemente Lisi)

A dance troupe performing at the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics drew the ire of Christians around the world after they appeared to mock Jesus and the Last Supper.@ClementeLisi explains: https://t.co/fFuCw258XY

— Religion Unplugged (@ReligionMag) July 29, 2024

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1. The Last Supper Vs. Feast Of Dionysus: What We Actually Witnessed At The Olympics (by Randall E. King) 

(ANALYSIS) The shot shared ‘round the world from the Olympic opening ceremonies was mere seconds in a four-hour presentation. Whether a shot at Christ and his followers or a tableau for the feast of Dionysus, the moment is better understood in motion.https://t.co/s4RJbGRlgy

— Religion Unplugged (@ReligionMag) August 2, 2024

The Final Plug

I’m taking off next week to celebrate the new year, but please look for Plug-in again in two weeks.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

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Bobby Ross Jr. writes the Weekend Plug-in column for Religion Unplugged and serves as 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 18 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.