Swedish Lutherans built the Gloria Dei church between 1698 and 1700 and worshipped along the Delaware River for several generations before it became part of the Episcopal Church in 1845. The church’s story and presence symbolize a unique chapter in American religious history and valuable contributions that Swedes made to religious freedom and tolerance in America.
Read More(ANALYSIS) “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and its popularization in films and cartoons have greatly shaped our perceptions of the famous cathedral and the story of Quasimodo and Notre Dame is one of many stories that have become part of our collective worldview. For that reason alone, how and why Victor Hugo portrayed the cathedral are worth a close look.
Read More(REVIEW) Deepfakes, the satanic panic and the influential power of media are all explored in the Museum of the Moving Image’s newest exhibition and film series.
Read More(REVIEW) Images from 31 unique ancient objects, including Christian manuscripts in Latin, the Getty’s treasured Rothschild Pentateuch in Hebrew and two printed Hebrew books — from between 1040 to 1592 — are on display until May 29 at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. But the Getty’s text descriptions seem intended to push a misinterpretation of the Christian images as works of antisemitism and misogyny, based on little or no evidence.
Read MoreFolk and rock anthems in response to the Russian invasion have created an air of nationalism and unity among Ukrainians. Besides the explicit protest in their lyrics, they recall other historical periods of conflict in the country.
Read More(REVIEW) Museum goers are challenged to “transform” their emotions at the Rubin Museum of Art’s latest exhibit, “Mandala Lab.” It aims for those who complete the interactions to leave with a greater awareness of their emotions and a new understanding of how Buddhism and its art, used as sacred tools, can improve one’s everyday life.
Read More(REVIEW) Canadian singer Abel Tesfaye, known as the Weeknd, dropped his newest album, “Dawn FM,” in January and it’s packed with spiritual themes, including from Christianity. The Weeknd said he wrote the lyrics for the album, which has a much darker and melancholy edge than his previous work, during a state of pandemic depression.
Read MoreIn the 1980s and ‘90s, modest religious dressing in Kenya meant a very restricted wardrobe — one solid color of fabric stitched and sold in select shops run by members of the church. Today, trend-conscious religious millennials are changing the dress code, not necessarily by dressing immodestly but by adding twists of artsy, modern style.
Read More(REVIEW) The Brooklyn Museum takes the road less traveled in its exhibit “Andy Warhol: Revelation” by spotlighting beyond Warhol’s commonly known artistic themes of sex, drugs and modern American life to uniquely unmask the artist’s Roman Catholicism.
Read More(REVIEW) Terry Scott Taylor's new double album "This Beautiful Mystery," is a culmination of nearly 50 years laboring in the vineyard of Christian music with a quality and reach far beyond that much-maligned artistic ghetto.
Read More(REVIEW) Entering the main gallery is a religious experience of sorts — the sequences of tableaux that punctuate all four sides of the space serve as stations for reflection. Büttner leaves us with a restorative vision of the future, encouraging us to earnestly consider the meaning of faith, hope and love.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture’s new series called “Portraits of Grace: Honoring Heroes of the COVID-19 Pandemic” offers a space for New Yorkers and Christians to reflect on the pandemic with an eye toward the hopeful.
Read More(REVIEW) After much anticipation, Kanye West’s tenth studio album, “Donda,” released. The 27-track album shows the evolution of Kanye’s Christian faith and its inspiration for impressive pop music.
Read MoreReligionUnplugged interviews Mitchell West, known as Street Hymns, one of the founding members of the Christian battle rap group Four Horsemen.
Read More(REVIEW) Christian artists seldom top secular charts or appear on Times Square billboards. The contemporary Gospel band Maverick City Music has done both, resonating with a cultural moment outside the pews. Their newest album, “Tribl I,” captures the experience of singing in a crowded auditorium and brings it to anyone with headphones.
Read More(REVIEW) “Otherwise/Revival” was co-curated by Cara Lewis and independent curator Jasmine McNeal. It presents the work of 31 contemporary artists exploring the impact that the Black church and, more specifically, the Black Pentecostal movement has had on their lives.
Read More(OPINION) Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday is worthy of introspection, and a look back on a career of music influenced greatly by spiritual and religious influences.
Read More(REVIEW) Sufjan Stevens completed the release of his five volume project “Convocations,” meant to work as a cycle of grief. The album honors his biological father, who passed away last year, and makes nods to a year of grief with COVID-19 and other tragedy. The album is entirely instrumental and electronic, expanding on his previous work.
Read More(REVIEW) Justin Bieber dropped a surprise EP “Freedom” on Easter Sunday. With gospel influence, it aligns with artists like Kanye West who are making a switch from the secular to the spiritual. It also follows Bieber’s public journey into evangelical Christianity.
Read MoreMainstream rapper DMX (birth name Earl Simmons) passed away on April 9 after being in a coma for a week and suffering a heart attack. While his lyrics referenced the violence and drugs he knew well, DMX also aspired to be a pastor and ended his albums with gospel music and prayer.
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