(ANALYSIS) Revelations regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsâ finances have raised questions concerning the ethics of a religious organization amassing such a large amount of wealth, and how it is balanced with charitable giving. But headlines often overlook the long and surprising history of the modern churchâs financial success â as well as the continued anxiety surrounding its economic reserves.
Read MoreThis weekâs Weekend Plug-in highlights a Supreme Court case involving a mail carrier who quit his job rather than delivery packages on Sunday. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) The future journalist was both shocked and inspired by her contact with Christians caught in that land's toxic climate of paramilitary warfare, drug trafficking and kidnappings. She struggled to grasp how someone like pilot Russell Martin Stendal, after years held for ransom, could forgive his kidnappers and then start a missionary effort to convert them.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Richard Glazar insisted that no one survived the Holocaust without help. To this Prague-born Jewish survivor, who endured Nazi imprisonment at Treblinka and Theresienstadt, plus years in hiding, it was impossible to persevere without othersâ support.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The inability for certain types of stories to register with the secular press â especially legacy media â is yet another sign of the political, cultural and moral divisions in our society and the dying notion of an objective press.
Read More(OPINION) The worldâs largest organization of Muslims is campaigning for thorough worldwide reform of how to understand the faithâs religious law, Shariah, and applied jurisprudence, Fiqh. Such an ambitious goal may seem unlikely, and to date, Western media have given the effort minimal coverage. Itâs time for that trend to change.
Read More(OPINION) Late last year, the American Bible Society published its annual âState of the Bibleâ report, and the results signal a dramatic decline in Bible reading. It seems clear that we are cultivating a society that does not care to make Bible reading a regular habit.
Read More(REVIEW) This past weekend, two movies about demonic possession released. âThe Popeâs Exorcist,â starring Russel Crowe, is a Hollywood horror with a big budget and inspiration from the Vatican. âNefariousâ is a faith-based horror drama made by the creators of the âGodâs Not Deadâ franchise.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Marking April as Arab American Heritage Month â a time to learn about the history, culture and contributions of our nearly 4 million strong community â is gaining traction across the country. In 2022, Joe Biden made history as the first U.S. president to recognize the month, which he did again in 2023.
Read More(BOOK EXCERPT) While there were elements of hippie culture in the Jesus Movement, there was also a rejection of the purely hedonistic, live-and-let-live ethos of the 1960s. The 1960s had ended with assassinations, domestic terrorism, massive social unrest, incredible racial tension, and the peak of the Vietnam War. By the time the 1970s rolled around, America was in a dark, foul mood.
Read MoreThis weekâs Weekend Plug-in highlights the latest research concerning the decline of Latino Catholics in the U.S. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) Quantum theory can widen how we imagine the cross of Christ. Jesus did redeem us on the cross. But wondrously beautiful things happened simultaneously to his blood being shed. For instance, Jesus married (betrothed) us. In Jewish tradition, a redeemer was a male relative responsible for caring for a deceased relativeâs possessions, including the widow.
Read More(PERSONAL ESSAY) Buddhaâs birthday is celebrated as a more quiet holiday in Japan as opposed to other countries, where it tends to be a grander national celebration. Known as Hana Matsuri (flower festival) or Kanbutsu-e (literally âBuddha bathing partyâ) in Japan, this birthday commemoration for Shakyamuni Buddha became intertwined with traditions from ancient Japanese farmers.
Read More(ANALYSIS) In an age of polarization, it is worth remembering that one of the pillars of Kingâs philosophy was pluralism: the idea of multiple communities engaging one another, acknowledging their differences and shared bonds, and striving to create what King called a âBeloved Community.â
Read More(OPINION) Surveys since 2020 show that a "steady share of Americans â about 40% â say they have participated in religious services in the prior month one way or the other," according to a Pew Research Center report. But other details are blurry, since the "share of U.S. adults who ... attend religious services once a month or more has dropped slightly, from 33% in 2019 to 30% in 2022."
Read More(REVIEW) Few if any 20th century Roman Catholics had a greater impact on Christian spirituality than Thomas Merton, the iconic Trappist monk, mystic and ecumenist. Whatâs lesser known is the remarkable life of his brother, John Paul, who was almost four years his junior â the subject of âRemembering the Forgotten Mertonâ William J. Meegan.
Read More(OPINION) âCreating the Quranâ will certainly offend believers in the orthodox view that between 610 and his death in 632, Muhammad, guided by the angel Gabriel, received Godâs verbatim words, memorized them, dictated them to scribes and confirmed the entirety of the Quranâs revelations as they exist today.
Read More(OPINION) For the last 40 years, I have engaged in scores of public debates on religious subjects, sometimes drawing passionate, standing-room-only crowds. But are the debates actually fruitful? Do they bring more heat than light? Do they really change anyoneâs mind?
Read More(REVIEW) The eight-episode series âIn The Name of God: A Holy Betrayalâ covered Jesus Morning Star, Five Oceans, The Baby Garden, and the God of Manmim cults. Comedian Esther Ku spoke with ReligionUnplugged.com about how the series unearthed an ecosystem of cults in Korea.
Read More(OPINION) The least remarkable thing about the âHe Gets Usâ campaign â at least the most tiresome thing â is the knee-jerk reactions from both extremes of the political-religious divide. Both sides have found much to hate.
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