(OPINION) A recent New York Times piece about an ancient manuscript that seems to validate the book of Deuteronomy was nicely timed for Jewish Passover and Christian Holy Week when media often dig into biblical mysteries and controversies. But the news here is the April publication of Israeli-American scholar Idan Dershowitz's book "The Valediction of Moses: A Proto-Biblical Book."
Read More(OPINION) This year’s Holy Week started badly in that it coincided with the kick-off of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former policeman accused of causing the death of George Floyd on May 25 last year in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is an event that opens wounds in many hearts.
Read More(OPINION) After a media firestorm ignited by a Vatican condemnation of same-sex unions – because God "cannot bless sin" – Catholic progressives immediately looked for hope in the words of bishops, President Joe Biden and even Pope Francis. In his Sunday Angelus address after the March 15 ruling, the pope stressed that modern seekers want to "see Jesus" in acts of love, not persecution.
Read More(OPINION) This week the Seymour Institute for Black Church and Policy Studies, led by Dr. Jacqueline Rivers and Rev. Eugene Rivers, released a statement, “How the Equality Act Harms the Black Church”, writing that while the Black Church has historically - and continues - to act as “the central institution in the life of the African American community... the Equality Act poses a threat to the ability of the Church to continue to play this role.”
Read More(ANALYSIS) In the current crisis in northern Ethiopia, religion is used as a tool to misinform the international community, Ethiopian scholar Desta Heliso writes. The resulting diplomatic tensions are endangering not just the future of Ethiopia’s 110 million people, but peace in the whole Horn of Africa.
Read More(OPINION) On his first day as president, Joe Biden issued an “Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities.” It essentially gives government agencies the right to take whatever measures it deems necessary to achieve equal outcomes. But this confuses equality with equity — principles with drastically different meanings and biblical grounds.
Read MoreAnother week. Another mass shooting. Another round of questions concerning the 21-year-old suspect's religion. This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the massacre at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, and highlights other top headlines and best reads in the world of faith.
Read More(OPINION) Catholics in Nigeria had buried many priests and believers killed in their country's brutal wars over land, cattle, honor and religion. But this was the first time Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese had preached at the funeral of a seminarian. A suspect in the crime said 18-year-old Michael Nnadi died urging his attackers to repent and forsake their evil ways.
Read More(OPINION) The harsh reality is that news consumers will need to read a wider variety of news sources if they are interested in finding solid facts, on-the-record sources and some sense of balanced reporting. On issues linked to religion, culture and politics, that will mean paying more attention to independent religious publications — including Catholic websites — that are now punching way above their weight.
Read More(OPINION) After a new report released by Grace Church School in lower Manhattan that outlines new guidelines involving removing gender pronouns, how does one respond relating to the work of mainstream journalism?
Read More(OPINION) Religions evolve and accommodate as they migrate around the globe. A contemporary religious travel story is the Westernization of Asian Buddhism. Tricycle, a leading American Buddhist publication, deconstructed the phenomenon in its Spring 2021 issue.
Read More(OPINION) After two mass shootings in the U.S., many are examining the motives of the shooters. But people are complex creatures. We may be driven by hate, by anger and greed, and also by fear, insecurity, guilt, shame, jealousy and envy. Sometimes motives may be impossible to fathom.
Read More(OPINION) No one should be surprised that worship leaders frequently turned to "It Is Well With My Soul" as their people wrestled with the coronavirus pandemic. Faithlife, a company that publishes online worship and Bible study tools, recently released a report covering 2020 trends spotted in its Proclaim software. "It Is Well With My Soul" topped the hymns list, with usage increasing 68% after the pandemic hit.
Read More(OPINION) The March 11 edition of MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" aired a relatively long and serious discussion of a theme that journalists may want to grab if they're looking for a promising Easter feature idea. Interviewing prominent Evangelical leaders like Rev. Timothy Keller, MSNBC questioned the meaning of the holiday for Christians.
Read More(OPINION) On March 24, the U.N. marks the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. It is a day designated to honor the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice. We need to do more to ensure that there are comprehensive investigative mechanisms in place for the Uighurs.
Read MoreAn Asian American ministry leader reflects on rising hate crimes and the murders of six Asian American women in Georgia and offers three takeaways for the U.S. church.
Read MoreWas race a motive in Tuesday’s killings of eight people — including six Asian women — at three Atlanta-area massage parlors? Was religion? These were among the questions that quickly emerged after the arrest of a White suspect with ties to a Southern Baptist church.
Read More(OPINION) Tanzani’s president John Pombe Magufuli made global headlines for stubbornly refusing to implement World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. A Christian, he insisted that God would protect his country’s citizens and downplayed the risks of contracting and dying from COVID-19.
Read More(OPINION) Luis Palau, called the Billy Graham of Latin America, died March 11 at age 86. Religion Unplugged contributor and board member of The Media Project recalls what it was like working with Palau in Peru and accompanying him on official meetings with government officials and artists.
Read More(OPINION) Religion Unplugged contributor and data journalist Ryan Burge thinks the rising number of Americans who don’t identify with any particular religion may be the most consequential religious group. They are one-fifth of the population and the fastest-growing religious group in the U.S. On point after point, they are notably different from both atheists and agnostics.
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