Posts in Religion News
Explore The Quirky Side Of Europe: Angela Youngman Will Be Your Guide

“Religion is more than simply attending services; it is in the way we behave towards others,” Youngman said. “Showing religion in action and how it has affected culture, art and life around the world is important. My articles for Religion Unplugged show it at work quietly within the communities across Europe, and those stories can inspire others.”

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‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Is A Cold Film About An Intensely Emotional Faith

(REVIEW) The film follows the real-life story of Ann Lee, who in the 18th century was the founding leader of the Shaker Movement and was proclaimed as the female Christ by her followers. “The Testament of Ann Lee” is an example of why Hollywood is interested in stories about faith. It’s also an example of why it’s hard for them to capture the experience in a way that resonates with believers. 

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Canada’s Bill C-9 And The Growing Threat To Religious Freedom

(ANALYSIS) What are called "hate" laws frequently violate freedom of speech, of the press and of religion. They also tend to be vague and, hence, their scope expands and governments use them to punish views that they simply do not like.

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How Prague’s Süleymaniye Mosque Became A Respite For Turkish Immigrants

Nestled among the calm and modest apartment blocks of the small district of Strašnice in Prague, Czechia, is an equally modest site of worship. From the outside, it looks like just another construction complex decorating the ordinary streets of Strašnice. However, closer inspection reveals that there is something more than meets the eye.

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Meet Zaffar: Veteran News Reporter Finding Stories Of Hope

“My stories for Religion Unplugged are important because they offer readers a nuanced understanding of a complex region often reduced to simplistic narratives,” Iqbal said. “The website amplifies original, deeply reported stories that reveal how religion has become central to social and political developments.”  

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Pope Leo XIV Appoints Illinois Bishop To Lead NY Archdiocese Amid Challenges

(ANALYSIS) In a move that underscores the priorities of the Catholic Church in the U.S., Pope Leo XIV replaced Cardinal Timothy Dolan as Archbishop of New York, appointing Bishop Ronald Hicks to lead the nation’s second-largest diocese. The announcement represents both a generational and ideological shift at the helm of a historically influential U.S. archdiocese.

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A Chinese Company Aims To Destroy Sacred Land In Arizona

(ANALYSIS) There are moments in our national life when a legal controversy reveals something deeper than a dispute over statutes or precedent. It exposes a fracture in our shared moral imagination — a failure to recognize what is sacred to communities whose ways of life do not mirror our own. The struggle for Oak Flat in Arizona's Tonto National Forest is one of those moments.

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Animated Movie ‘David’ Underwhelming, But A Good Step Forward For The Industry

(REVIEW) The film follows Biblical hero David, and while the film itself is rather underwhelming, its very existence is cause for celebration and optimism. We’ll likely see more, and better, animated faith-based films on the big screen in the coming years.

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Inside The Catholic Conundrum That Is Steve Bannon

(ANALYSIS) Steve Bannon is both brilliant and brutal in equal measure. A man of fierce intellect and darker instincts, he’s a practicing Catholic who talks about the culture wars and outside threats to the West. For him, politics isn’t about policy alone. It’s about purpose — a battleground where soul and state collide.

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‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Asks Questions About Christianity, But Dodges The Tough Ones

“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” has been celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. It has a 92% from critics and 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, and Christian outlets like Christianity Today have given the film glowingly positive reviews and specifically for its representations of faith.

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How America’s Populist Revolt Against ‘Elites’ Affects Churches

(ANALYSIS) A widespread populist rebellion against the well-educated and well-paid “elite” that has ruled culture provides the framework for actions that would have been inconceivable not long ago. Religious elites, too, face resistance and a weakened ability to overcome such disillusionment across society, and also within their own ranks.

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New Book Challenges Via Dolorosa: Scholar Reconstructs Jerusalem’s Early Pilgrim Route

(REVIEW) A new book traces the footsteps of Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem for nearly a millennium before the Crusades, and the path differs significantly from the path tour guides take travelers on today. “But do the walk as you wish, and commemorate each station however you choose. From revisiting the material to simply enjoying the walk.”

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Vatican Returns Indigenous Items, But Draws Criticism For Labeling Them ‘Gifts’

Activists advocating for the repatriation of artifacts “stolen by Pope Pius XI and his missionaries” from First Nations communities are unhappy by Pope Leo XIV labeling of these items as a “gift” despite his agreement to return them. The Holy See said the pope “gifted to the CCCB the 62 artifacts belonging to the ethnological collections of the Vatican Museums” as “an act of ecclesial sharing.”

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Meet Graciela Ibáñez: A Veteran Journalist Covering The Intersection Of Faith And Culture

“Religion Unplugged covers religions around the globe, giving you a broader view of faith,” she said. “In my reporting, I look for religion in art, culture and politics. Religion is more present in our lives than we sometimes think, and it can change our decisions.”

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🍿 Question Of ‘Eternity’: Which Heaven Is Right For Me? 🔌

In the afterlife, your wife of 65 years must choose between you and her first husband — a war hero who’s waited 67 years to see her again. That’s the intriguing plot of “Eternity,” a new romantic comedy starring Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner.

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‘Holy Herb’: Kenya’s Rastafarians Fight To Decriminalize Cannabis

Despite cannabis's central role in Rastafarian worship, adherents face persistent criminalization and face a minimum 10-year prison term for simple possession. Police raids on tabernacles remain routine across Kenya, with officers confiscating plants, destroying drums and sometimes forcibly cutting dreadlocks. Now, adherents are trying to legalize it.

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In UK Churches Off The Beaten Path, You Can Find Famous Sacred Art

Churches and cathedrals around the U.K. hold works of art by some of the most important and exciting artists of the past 100 years. But unless you know where to look, many can be hard to find. High-profile examples include significant commissions by Elisabeth Frink, John Piper and Graham Sutherland at Coventry Cathedral.

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