Easter — Religion Unplugged

Posts tagged Easter

King Charles’ Easter Silence Raises Questions on Faith and Leadership

King Charles’ Easter Silence Raises Questions on Faith and Leadership

(ANALYSIS) A year ago, King Charles III, in an Easter message that made little news, proclaimed that the love Jesus showed “when he walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions. ... The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world — the whole world — that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death.”

Dozens Killed In Nigeria As Violence Mars Easter Celebrations

Dozens Killed In Nigeria As Violence Mars Easter Celebrations

At least 54 Christians were killed early Easter in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, many during worship, with dozens more abducted from Evangelical Church Winning All Souls and other sites, International Christian Concern reported.

Crossroads Podcast: What Easter ‘Revival’ Stories Get Right — And Wrong

Crossroads Podcast: What Easter ‘Revival’ Stories Get Right — And Wrong

Ahead of Easter, newsrooms often chase predictable religion stories, but recent reporting highlights a more complex reality. While Catholic and Orthodox churches are seeing notable increases in converts, broader trends show ongoing decline in attendance and affiliation. The result is not a single revival, but a fragmented landscape of growth and loss.

Bangladesh’s Small Catholic Community Marks Good Friday

Bangladesh’s Small Catholic Community Marks Good Friday

(PHOTO ESSAY) About 200 Catholic workers in Bangladesh’s Zirani industrial area marked Good Friday by staging the Way of the Living Cross. Despite demanding jobs, mostly in garment factories, they practiced and performed the devotion, reflecting their strong faith. In Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Easter Sunday is not an official holiday.

‘Calendar And Cosmos Rhyme’: Dante’s Easter Hell Through Sin And Salvation

‘Calendar And Cosmos Rhyme’: Dante’s Easter Hell Through Sin And Salvation

(ANALYSIS) In April 1300, Dante Alighieri stepped into a dark wood and started walking. He didn’t pick that time of year by accident. Holy Week — the week Christians set aside to remember death and resurrection — is precisely when the Italian began his tour of the afterlife in his epic poem “The Divine Comedy.”

53 Killed In Palm Sunday Attacks In Nigeria’s Christian Areas

53 Killed In Palm Sunday Attacks In Nigeria’s Christian Areas

At least 53 Nigerians were killed in three Palm Sunday attacks in predominantly Christian communities in North Central Nigeria. Not all of the victims were Christians in the deadliest attack when at least 30 people were killed and several others hospitalized, Open Doors UK reported. But all attacks occurred in areas known to be predominantly or significantly Christian, with a Voice of the Martyrs field worker describing the Jos community as “100 percent Christian.”

Muslims In Iraq Celebrate Easter With Christians To Promote Solidarity

Muslims In Iraq Celebrate Easter With Christians To Promote Solidarity

(ANALYSIS) In war-torn Iraq, Muslims will join Christians in celebrating Easter every year, fostering a spirit of solidarity and coexistence. The celebrations have gained prominence since ISIS was forced out of major strongholds. Around 140,000 Christians in Baghdad, Mosul, the disputed territory of Nineveh plains celebrate Lent, which culminates with Easter Sunday.

Easter In Disguise: Rediscovering The Meaning Behind Lenten Traditions

Easter In Disguise: Rediscovering The Meaning Behind Lenten Traditions

(REVIEW) Easter traditions like hot cross buns and chocolate eggs are widely enjoyed, but their deeper Christian meaning is often overlooked. Sister Liz Dodd’s book “Easter in Disguise” urges a return to the festival’s spiritual roots, encouraging reflection on justice, peace and radical discipleship during Lent and Holy Week.

Books, Catholicism, Christianity, Europe, History, Religion, Religion News, Review, The State of ReligionAngela YoungmanMarch 31, 2026Angela Youngman, Easter, Lent, Easter traditions, Easter 2026, books, book reviewComment

‘It’s A Religious War’: Israeli Christians Serving Jesus Amid Iran Missile Blasts

‘It’s A Religious War’: Israeli Christians Serving Jesus Amid Iran Missile Blasts

Passover plans this April 1 are a tossup for Israel, including the nation’s 20,000 to 30,000 Christians.

Pancakes On The Run: Churches Host Unique Pre-Lent Tradition

Pancakes On The Run: Churches Host Unique Pre-Lent Tradition

It all started in the year 1445 when a baker was making a batch of pancakes when the church bell started ringing. Undeterred, the baker ran to the church, holding her pan and flipping the pancake as she went. Now, it is a beloved Fat Tuesday tradition in several communities across the United Kingdom.

Before the Dawn: Hundreds Hike Mount Rubidoux to Celebrate Easter Sunday

Before the Dawn: Hundreds Hike Mount Rubidoux to Celebrate Easter Sunday

In the still 5 a.m. darkness, street lights flicker as cars circle to find parking. Friends and families embrace at the base of Mount Rubidoux as the crowd quietly begins the 2.7 mile climb. Parents push strollers, while others help the elderly. Hundreds have gathered atop this mountain for the past 116 years to enjoy the sunrise and celebrate Easter Sunday.

Christianity, News, North America, TravelEsther WickhamApril 22, 2025Esther Wickham, Easter Sunday, Easter, Easter 2025, Mount Rubidoux, Jesus, news, Secondary feature, Christianity, travelComment

Kenya’s Christ The Redeemer Statue Offers Spiritual Reflection And Scenic Views

Kenya’s Christ The Redeemer Statue Offers Spiritual Reflection And Scenic Views

Towering on top of one of the many hills that overlook Lodwar, is a gigantic statue of Jesus Christ with His hands spread apart. It is a mirror image of the iconic Christ The Redeemer sculpture that defines Rio de Jenairo. The statue’s appeal goes beyond its architectural dimensions and spiritual importance. It has also emerged as a charming tourist magnet and iconic local landmark.

Africa, Christianity, Travel, NewsJoseph MainaApril 17, 2025Joseph Maina, Easter 2025, Easter, Lent, Lent 2025, news, Africa news, Kenya, tourism, religious pilgrimage, Zenger News, ZengerNews, Zenger, travel, Christianity, Secondary featureComment

On Religion: What Counts As An ‘Easter Movie’ On American TV?

On Religion: What Counts As An ‘Easter Movie’ On American TV?

(ANALYSIS) For more than 50 years ABC — with very few exceptions — has offered “The Ten Commandments” as the network's featured film for Holy Week. In fact, nothing says “Easter” like a showdown between Moses, the 13th century BCE Hebrew prophet, and the pharaoh Ramses the Great and the gods of Egypt.

United For Jesus: The Way Of The Cross Brings Ugandan Christians Together

United For Jesus: The Way Of The Cross Brings Ugandan Christians Together

For Uganda’s Christians, the Way of the Cross is more than a ritual — it is a powerful affirmation of faith, an expression of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice and a moment of deep collective introspection. By uniting believers across denominations and walks of life, the procession continues to embody the core message of Easter: In Christ, there is redemption, unity and the promise of eternal life.

Why Iranians Are Rejecting Islam And Embracing Christianity

Why Iranians Are Rejecting Islam And Embracing Christianity

(ANALYSIS) Although the Ayatollahs have responded with bullets, prison cells, and executions, sheer force can only do so much against an idea whose time has come. The regime is losing its grip. The Islamic Republic has long ruled through force and fear. Yet, as disillusionment spreads, hope takes root. In this context, Christianity is not just a religion. It is an act of defiance.

Passion Play Brings Crucifixion To Life In London’s Trafalgar Square

Passion Play Brings Crucifixion To Life In London’s Trafalgar Square

Over the past decade, Passion Plays have become a feature of U.K. life. Over the past few years, the London Passion Play has lead the way when it comes to such re-enactments. The idea, however, dates back to the Middle Ages, when individual scenes would be performed at different sites around a city or town by the local guilds.

Anglican, Christianity, Catholicism, Europe, News, protestants, SocietyAngela YoungmanApril 14, 2025Angela Youngman, Passion Plays, Good Friday, news, Europe, UK, Easter, Easter 2025, Lent, Lent 2025, Christianity, Zenger News, ZengerNews, Zenger, Secondary feature, recharge Comment

The Forgotten Role Of Sunday Schools In Church Planting

The Forgotten Role Of Sunday Schools In Church Planting

(ANALYSIS) For many modern Christians, Sunday School is primarily seen as a children’s ministry – a place where kids are taught Bible stories while their parents attend the main worship service. Yet historically, Sunday Schools played a far greater role. They were not only centers of religious education but also powerful tools for evangelism and church planting.

Study Finds New York (Yes, New York) Top US City For ‘Christian Engagement’

Study Finds New York (Yes, New York) Top US City For ‘Christian Engagement’

Attempting to determine which American city is the “most Christian” is no easy task. The outcome of a new study came with some surprises. The survey, out in time for Easter, has determined that the urban center with the highest religious engagement for Christians, using a variety of metrics and factors, is New York.

Some Conservative Protestants Spark Debate By Embracing Lenten Traditions

Some Conservative Protestants Spark Debate By Embracing Lenten Traditions

Although a recent study reveals that Lent is largely ignored by many Christians in the United States, there is a trend among members of some conservative Protestant denominations to incorporate it in their Easter observances. Some who are members of conservative Presbyterian denominations have even taken up Lent in a break from tradition.

Word for Word Bible Comic Brings Scriptures To Life For A New Generation Of Christians

Word for Word Bible Comic Brings Scriptures To Life For A New Generation Of Christians

The Word for Word Bible Comic is not trying to reinvent the Bible. Rather, it is a genuine attempt to represent the scriptures as accurately and as faithfully as possible for a new generation of readers for whom images hold the key to a greater understanding of the world’s best-selling book. This is not the first project that has transformed the Christian scriptures into a comic.