Religion Unplugged

Posts in North America

'AKA Jane Roe' documentary misrepresents her work, pro-life activists say

'AKA Jane Roe' documentary misrepresents her work, pro-life activists say

The FX program airing Friday says Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” in the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S., made a “deathbed confession” that she was not pro-life and that pro-life organizations paid her nearly $500,000 during the decades she spoke out for the pro-life cause. However, the film doesn’t make it clear that many of these payments were fees for speaking engagements, and those who knew her insist her conversion to Christianity and repentance of pro-choice activism was genuine.

How a leading Jewish community center is adapting summer plans

As the pandemic alters summer plans and disrupts long-held traditions, the Jewish community in Georgia adapts camps and activities to the new reality.

News, North AmericaDave SchechterMay 21, 2020summer camp, Jews and Judaism, jewish community relations, Dave Schechter, Atlanta Jewish Times, COVID-19, covid-19 pandemic, coronavirus relief, coronavirus pandemic, judaism, Secondary Feature, Judaism, Coronavirus, Pandemic, covid-19Comment

Methodists are reviving 19th century 'love feast' rituals online

Methodists are reviving 19th century 'love feast' rituals online

The “love feast” was regularly practiced by early American Methodists who were scattered across the frontier and had to wait for a quarterly visit from traveling ministers to have communion. In the absence of their minister, communities would gather to share stories of how God was working in their lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Methodists who had never or rarely held love feasts before are now hosting them online.

Religion, News, North AmericaKimberly WinstonMay 21, 2020Kimberly Winston, Methodist, United Methodist Church, Primary Feature, online church, love feasts, love feast, breakfast with jesus, morning devotional, bible reading, sharing testimony, Secondary Feature, ChristianityComment

COVID-19 is creating new burdens for religious minorities

COVID-19 is creating new burdens for religious minorities

(OPINION) The chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed governments across the world the liberty to heighten existing religious persecution. Many religious minorities are discriminated against in healthcare provision and some are even being blamed for the spread of the virus.

Confession has long been a great cinematic tool

Confession has long been a great cinematic tool

(OPINION) From Hitchcock to the Coen brothers, good directors know how to use this sacrament for critical effect in expert storytelling.

Opinion, Film & TV, Culture, North AmericaTerry MattinglyMay 21, 2020movies, christian movies, confession, Catholics, catholicism, Hollywood, Terry Mattingly, ChristianityComment

Templeton Prize awarded to Francis Collins, pandemic response leader

Templeton Prize awarded to Francis Collins, pandemic response leader

The geneticist and physician is a leading voice in the conversation about faith and science, and has been a steady voice urging religious communities to have faith in science. His agency is hard at work in the global race to find treatments for COVID-19.

News, Science, Religion News, North AmericaMicah DanneyMay 20, 2020Francis Collins, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Templeton Prize, coronavirus, coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, pandemic, Science, Secondary Feature, Micah Danney, Pandemic, ChristianityComment

India is a U.S. ally while persecuting Christians

India is a U.S. ally while persecuting Christians

(OPINION) Second only to India’s much larger but minority Muslim population, India’s Christians receive more than their share of abuse and are frequently accused of producing “forced conversions,” or proselytizing.

Asia, North America, OpinionLela GilbertMay 20, 2020Lela Gilbert, India, modi, Christian persecution, religious freedom, USCIRF, Hinduvta, international religious freedom, Primary Feature, ChristianityComment

The Supreme Court will soon rule on some big 'culture war' cases

The Supreme Court will soon rule on some big 'culture war' cases

(OPINION) On the docket are cases involving tax aid for students at religious schools, contraception, abortion access, LGBTQ rights and more.

Opinion, North AmericaRichard OstlingMay 20, 2020Culture wars, LGBTQ, supreme court, abortion, Richard Ostling, Supreme Court, Obamacare, Southern Baptist Convention, ChristianityComment

Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias dead at 74

The famed Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias died after a short battle with an aggressive cancer.

News, North AmericaWarren Cole SmithMay 19, 2020Warren Cole Smith, secondary feature, Ravi Zacharias, Ravi Zacharias dead, rip ravi zacharias, Secondary News, Secondary feature, Secondary Feature, Christianity, Warren Smith Comments

A pandemic book list for readers interested in religion

A pandemic book list for readers interested in religion

(OPINION) Go with heavy material. Certain translations of holy books offer valuable insights into our world and this era. Thomas Paine’s skewering of biblical religion is a worthy read, along with classics like “Lord of the Flies.”

A Defense of Biblical Objectivity in Journalism

A Defense of Biblical Objectivity in Journalism

(OPINION) Responding to a review of his book Reforming Journalism, Olasky writes that a Christian alternative to mainstream journalism is needed and should follow principles of biblical objectivity rather than try to stay neutral on issues the Bible clearly addresses, like abortion or same-sex relationships.

Analysis, Books, Culture, Opinion, North AmericaDr. Marvin OlaskyMay 18, 2020Marvin Olasky, World magazine, biblical objectivity, christian journalism, same-sex marriage, abortion, media bias, liberal media bias, Bible, Abortion, Christianity, Same-Sex Relationships Comments

Dr. Lorna Breen's death reveals the burden of front line workers

Dr. Lorna Breen's death reveals the burden of front line workers

(OPINION) Believers draw strength from their faith and support from their communities. The coronavirus is straining the remarkable resilience of medical workers, even those who have the added safety nets that religion provides.

Opinion, North AmericaTerry MattinglyMay 18, 2020suicide, coronavirus, coronavirus new york, COVID-19, covid-19 pandemic, pandemic, mental health, Terry Mattingly, COronavirus, Coronavirus, Pandemic, ChristianityComment

John Paul II centennial: 6 things you didn't know about the pope's life

John Paul II centennial: 6 things you didn't know about the pope's life

Monday marks the centennial birth of Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II and was canonized a saint following his death. John Paul II was one of the longest-serving pontiffs in church history, the first non-Italian elected pope in 455 years and spent much of the 1980s ending communism in Eastern Europe.

Megachurch launches 'Peaceably Gather' petition for Sunday reopenings

Megachurch launches 'Peaceably Gather' petition for Sunday reopenings

Megachurch pastor Brian Gibson of His Churches announced this week that his church would reopen services at three of his four locations across Texas and Kentucky on May 17 and asked other religious leaders to join him in standing up for what he sees as a religious freedom concern during COVID-19 restrictions.

North America, NewsLiza VandenboomMay 15, 2020Liza Vandenboom, His church, Brian Gibson, religious freedom, COVID-19, covid-19 pandemic, Peaceably gather sunday, First Amendment, Primary Feature, Elizabeth Vandenboom, Christianity Comments

How charities in the richest county in the U.S. cope with COVID-19

How charities in the richest county in the U.S. cope with COVID-19

As COVID-19 locks people in their homes and has put others out of work, more people than ever are relying on charities, many faith-based, to fill basic needs. Tree of Life, based in Virginia, has seen a rise in demand from undocumented persons.

Good news: MRI shows no new brain tumor growth for AP's Rachel Zoll

Good news: MRI shows no new brain tumor growth for AP's Rachel Zoll

In the Weekend Plug-in column, Bobby Ross Jr. reports on positive news concerning Associated Press religion writer Rachel Zoll, who is battling brain cancer.

Anti-Semitic incidents hit an all-time high last year, ADL report says

Anti-Semitic incidents hit an all-time high last year, ADL report says

There were more incidents of anti-Semitism in the U.S. in 2019 than in any year since the Anti-Defamation League started tracking them in 1979, according to a report released this week by the group.

News, North AmericaMicah DanneyMay 14, 2020Micah Danney, antisemitism, anti-semitism, violence against jews, hate crimes, hate speech, New York City Jews, ADL, Anti-Defamation League, Secondary Feature, Anti-Semitism, Jews, Judaism, Jewish AmericansComment

How Many Nuns Does It Take To Give Women Contraceptives?

How Many Nuns Does It Take To Give Women Contraceptives?

(OPINION) The government can both provide robust protections for religious employers so as to not ask them to violate their sacred precepts and the government can, if it chooses, work to provide alternative means for women to access contraceptive services. This is especially relevant now because many institutions caring for the elderly most vulnerable to COVID-19 are faith-based.

Liberty University makes cuts amid falling enrollment

Liberty University makes cuts amid falling enrollment

The reason for the cuts appears to be more related to falling enrollment after the Liberty president Jerry Falwell Jr.’s support for President Donald Trump than the economic impacts of the coronavirus.

News, Religion, Primary Feature, North AmericaWarren Cole SmithMay 13, 2020Jerry Falwell, LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, Primary Feature, Christian colleges, Inside higher ed, Christianity, COVID-19, Secondary Feature, Warren Smith, Warren Cole Smith, Liberty UniversityComment

The 2020 election will drive even more propaganda about religion

The 2020 election will drive even more propaganda about religion

(OPINION) Expect an increase in agenda-driven messaging about religion’s role in the COVID-19 response and elsewhere in American public life. We should be aware of unbalanced narratives coming from the left and right, and journalists should take extra care in their approach to these issues.

Opinion, North AmericaRichard OstlingMay 12, 2020Anthony Fauci, Paul Krugman, New York Times, Francis Collins, evangelicals, election, Election 2020, Richard Ostling, 2020 election, COVID-19, Coronavirus, ChristianityComment