Religion Unplugged

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Meet the evangelicals who are anti-Trump

Meet the evangelicals who are anti-Trump

Pentecostals belong to an evangelical sub-group that believes that the supernatural “gifts of the Holy Spirit” are operative today. Of those who are active in politics, the best-known is televangelist Paula White, who says she led President Donald Trump to the Lord before his 2016 presidential run and is now an advisor to the White House. One prominent group, Pentecostals and Charismatics for Peace and Justice (PCPJ), is fueling a movement of charismatic scholars, religious professionals and activists who are passionate about social justice and defeating Trump in the 2020 election.

As India's new coronavirus cases are linked to a mosque, some blame Muslims

As India's new coronavirus cases are linked to a mosque, some blame Muslims

More than 24 people who attended a Sunni Muslim gathering earlier this month in Delhi have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the health ministry. Some of the ruling Hindu nationalist party’s leaders and supporters have taken to social media to blame Muslims for the inevitable spread of the virus in the nation of 1.3 billion people.

With drop in offerings, evangelical churches brace for coronavirus impact

With drop in offerings, evangelical churches brace for coronavirus impact

A recent poll found that two-thirds of evangelical pastors say their tithe incomes have fallen in the past two weeks, since the spread of coronavirus hit the U.S. Churches are responding with salary cuts, temporary layoffs and reorganizing budgets while filling food pantries for those stuck at home without work.

Some Aspects of Religious Life Just Can't Go Remote

Some Aspects of Religious Life Just Can't Go Remote

With restrictions on pubic gatherings due to COVID-19, Jewish life has had to adapt. While several religious gatherings have transferred to online formats, some rituals cannot go remote.

Technology is reshaping Jewish life during a pandemic

Technology is reshaping Jewish life during a pandemic

A bat mitzvah livestreamed, a growing virtual kaddish minyan to recite prayers and remember loved ones, a shivah service to mourn a death — digital tools are redefining what it means to be Jewish during a pandemic.

How the local church has gone digital and conventional simultaneously

How the local church has gone digital and conventional simultaneously

Italy’s lockdown to combat coronavirus has suspended Masses. The Catholic church is turning to digital technology for the young to connect to local parishes. To reach an older population, they rely on conventional TV and radio programs by hosts most of the audience have never seen before.

Europe, NewsErik TrautmanMarch 27, 2020Erik Trautmanerik, Rome, Catholic Church in Italy, italy coronavirus, COVID-19, mass cancelled, mass suspended, church closing, online church, digital church, Primary Feature, secondary feature, Secondary feature, Secondary Feature, ChristianityComment

In Photos: Balinese Hindus perform purification ritual amid pandemic

In Photos: Balinese Hindus perform purification ritual amid pandemic

Nyepi Day, or The Day of Silence, is a Hindu new year celebration unique to Bali. For 24 hours, the festival looks a lot like social distancing. But Balinese authorities are also allowing tens of thousands to attend ceremonies during the pandemic — and experts fear that despite warnings to limit gatherings, the coronavirus will spread.

5 saints Catholics are calling on to fight the coronavirus pandemic

5 saints Catholics are calling on to fight the coronavirus pandemic

Catholics have called for the intercession of a great number of saints (such as Saint Pope Gregory the Great) throughout history to help defeat widespread illness, plagues and epidemics. There are scores of saints that can be called upon in a time of crisis. While the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, Catholics are looking for the intercession of these five saints to battle COVID-19.

How the Jehovah’s Witnesses paved the road to Deaf inclusion

How the Jehovah’s Witnesses paved the road to Deaf inclusion

The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ push toward Deaf inclusion recently culminated in the publication of the first complete ASL (or American Sign Language) Bible, passing their 1,000th language mark for Bible translations. It was a long road to get there, the Deaf community in the church says.

New York church founded weeks after 9/11 responds to coronavirus

New York church founded weeks after 9/11 responds to coronavirus

Social distancing is important, but social avoidance is not okay, says Ron Lewis, pastor of the multicultural church Every Nation NYC as they moved services online. The church was formed during another crisis— 9/11— and sees its mission, to help people grow their faith, uninterrupted during the current pandemic.

COVID-19 is forcing many Jews to change their Passover plans

COVID-19 is forcing many Jews to change their Passover plans

Passover seders are often cherished family memories. But this will be remembered as the year when a public health crisis prevented generations of family from gathering together, when those who did not travel watched on a computer screen as the story of the exodus from Egypt was retold.

How Coronavirus is Reshaping Jewish Life

How Coronavirus is Reshaping Jewish Life

Shabbat dinners are canceled, community centers are closed, and leaders in the Jewish community are having to come up with creative ways to foster community in these unprecedented times.

Inspired by medieval spirituality and her own suffering, an artist exalts transformation

Inspired by medieval spirituality and her own suffering, an artist exalts transformation

When her physical reality was pushed to its limit, Sybil Archibald plumbed her inner world. She communicates what she discovered through art.

News, Art and Music, Culture, North AmericaMicah DanneyMarch 19, 2020Sybil Archibald, medieval spiritualism, Primary Feature, Christianity, secondary feature, Secondary feature, Secondary Feature, Micah Danney, MedievalComment

Aging Catholic priesthood risk health to comfort the faithful during pandemic

Aging Catholic priesthood risk health to comfort the faithful during pandemic

The main duties of a priest are to administer the church’s sacraments — which include baptism, confession and holy communion — while also visiting the sick and providing pastoral care to parishioners. How does all that work during the COVID-19 pandemic when most priests are in the high-risk age category for contracting the deadly virus?

The Quiet Sufi Behind Morocco's Push For Moderate Islam

The Quiet Sufi Behind Morocco's Push For Moderate Islam

Ahmed Toufiq, Morocco’s minister of Islamic affairs, is leading an export of the kingdom’s Boutchichiya Sufi Islam and pushing back against the Wahhabi tradition of Saudi Arabia with its links to Salafi jihadism.

Kashmiri politician's release spotlights other detainees awaiting freedom

Kashmiri politician's release spotlights other detainees awaiting freedom

On. March 13, in a surprise move, the Indian government released former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and current Member of Parliament, Farooq Abdullah. He had been detained more than seven months inside his home in Kashmir, since Aug. 5, 2019 when the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status.

Jews and Christians join forces to help West Bank coronavirus patients

Jews and Christians join forces to help West Bank coronavirus patients

The group delivered ibuprofen, multivitamins, gloves, masks and snacks and also aided a group of 13 pilgrims from Alabama in a 14-day quarantine near Bethlehem to protect others from coronavirus. So far, 30 people in the West Bank and 147 in Israel have been confirmed to have COVID-19 infections.

As climate change worsens, pastoral counselors talk hope

As climate change worsens, pastoral counselors talk hope

With the future obscured by unprecedented uncertainty — or the certainty that things will get much worse — what approach is best for counseling from a faith perspective?

After tornado, a teen grieves her 4-year-old friend

After tornado, a teen grieves her 4-year-old friend

‘You don’t ever think that’s the last time you’re going to see somebody,’ Izzy Stevens says.

News, North AmericaBobby Ross Jr.March 12, 2020Tennessee tornado, disaster relief, Hattie Collins, collegeside church of christ, Secondary News, secondary feature, Secondary feature, Secondary Feature, Bobby Ross Jr.Comment

Purim celebrations amid the Coronavirus outbreak teach kids how to face a crisis

Purim celebrations amid the Coronavirus outbreak teach kids how to face a crisis

The Jewish holiday Purim celebrates Esther’s rescue of the Jews from genocide in 5th century Persia. Her intervention highlights the good that humans can do. While many Purim events were cancelled to protect from the spread of Coronavirus or COVID-19, this community decided the threat was small and the lessons too great to stay home.