Posts in Opinion
The Spiritual Richness Found In Andrea Büttner’s 'Grids, Vases and Plant Beds'

(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.

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Protestant Pro-Abortion Rights Groups Absent From Supreme Court Abortion Case

(OPINION) Pro-abortion rights activists — including the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, the Unitarian Universalist Association and major non-Orthodox Jewish organizations — have filed their briefs for the Supreme Court hearing on Mississippi’s abortion law. But Protestant denominations are notably missing.

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Ciao, Alitalia: How Will The Pope Fly After His Favorite Airline Goes Bust?

(ANALYSIS) Italy’s national airline — known for its near-impeccable safety record and sometimes-appalling customer service — will officially shut down on Oct. 15. The announcement, made this past summer, marks the end of an era for an airline founded in 1946 that became the pontiff’s official airline.

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Children In California Can Now Make Life-altering Decisions Without Parents’ Knowledge

(OPINION) A new bill Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced in California would allow children access, without parental consent or knowledge, to sex-change operations, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and abortions through their family’s insurance plan.

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SBC Executive Committee's Handling Of Sex Abuse Probe Draws Criticism, Outrage

This week’s Weekend Plug-in summary highlights the controversy over the Southern Baptist Convention executive committee’s handling of a sexual abuse investigation. Plus, catch up on all the week’s best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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Ultra-Orthodox Jews Proclaim ‘Trump 2024’ In The Midst Of A Religious Celebration

(OPINION) Celebrating the culmination of Sukkot, thousands of ultra-Orthodox, Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn held hands and danced in the streets this week with yellow flags proclaiming “the Rebbe” as the Messiah and blue flags proclaiming “Trump 2024.”

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International Criminal Court To Investigate The Taliban And ISIS Branch In Afghanistan

(ANALYSIS) As the Taliban and the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate are taking over the country, the International Criminal Court says it will investigate crimes as they happen for better monitoring and evidence collection. The move may also trigger quicker action and response from international actors after atrocities happen.

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Netflix Horror Series ‘Midnight Mass’ Warns Christians To Be Careful Who They Worship

(REVIEW) “Midnight Mass,” a Netflix horror miniseries from creator Mike Flanagan, brings viewers to a small island town visited by a mysterious and charismatic priest and his accompanying “angel.” The show explores the enchanting power of miracles and asks Christians to be careful where they direct their worship.

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Will American Jews Abandon The Democratic Party?

(OPINION) Why is it that, generally speaking, Jews in different parts of the world tend to lean centrist or right — quite the opposite of things here in the U.S? There is an anomaly when it comes to Jewish voting, but Orthodox Jewish voters are looking more like White evangelicals.

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For Christians Trapped In Afghanistan, British Bureaucracy Could Be A Killer

(OPINION) Religious minorities in Afghanistan — Sikhs, Hindus, Ahmadis and Christians — still need help to flee the Taliban. Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have intimated that they will allow these Afghans across their borders but only if their transit to other countries is confirmed, a step that the U.S. and U.K. must take quickly.

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‘Muhammad Ali’ On PBS Shows Impacts Of Boxer’s Muslim Faith

(REVIEW) A new Ken Burns documentary on PBS tells the story of the world’s greatest heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali, including his friendship with Malcolm X and faith journey to Nation of Islam and then Sunni Islam.

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As COVID-19 Vaccine War Rages, Focus On Religious Exemptions Grows

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the growing focus on religious exemptions amid pressure to vaccinate more Americans to slow the spread of COVID-19. Plus, check out the week’s best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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‘The Eyes Of Tammy Faye’ Is Loving But Uninsightful Portrait Of Evangelical Celebrity

(REVIEW) “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is an empathetic take on the rise and fall of the powerhouse televangelist couple Tammy Faye (Jessica Chastain) and Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield). Unfortunately, those seeking answers to why powerful evangelicals fall will find none here.

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