🗳️ Ballots Are In: Check Out The Top 10 Religion Stories of 2023 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the top religion news of 2023, as voted by the Religion News Association. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Norman Lear And America’s ‘Deep Spiritual Malaise’

(OPINION) For decades, TV producer Norman Lear described himself as a cultural Jew who didn't practice any traditional form of faith. Over the years, however, the television icon became more and more intrigued with religious faith, both as a force in American life and as a topic ignored by Hollywood.

Opinion, ReligionTerry MattinglyDecember 14, 2023Terry Mattingly, Norman Lear, TV, religion, HollywoodComment

Christmas And Cultural Renewal: Reflections On Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Conversion

(OPINION) By now, I’m sure most people have heard of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s conversion. Not only because of her fascinating reflection on it, but also because of the countless responses from many different sides.

Christianity, OpinionStephen PresleyDecember 13, 2023Stephen Presley, Christianity, Christmas, opinion Comment

Grieving For The Suffering Of The Palestinian People

(OPINION) In many ways the Palestinians are victims, and my strong support for Israel does not stop me from grieving over the suffering of the Palestinian people. They have been victims of decades of bad leadership. Victims of lifelong anti-Israel propaganda. Victims of the aftermath of the Six Day War in 1967.

I Believe The Bible Today More Than Ever, But For Different Reasons

(OPINION) More than anything else, I seem to hear from people who grew up in evangelical Protestant churches, as I did. They were taught a rigid set of doctrines to which they were expected to adhere unquestioningly. Often, these folks tell me the faith they were baptized in hasn’t held up for them. They’ve become disillusioned. They’ve quit believing in God.

OpinionPaul PratherDecember 11, 2023Paul Prather, Christianity, Deconstruction, Bible, Scripture, Faith, Dechurching Comment

🕎 Amid Israel-Hamas War, Hanukkah 2023 Mixes Fears With Festivities 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in looks at Hanukkah amid the Israel-Hamas war. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

How Advent Prepares Us To ‘Stand’ Heaven

(OPINION) Advent began Sunday. Most Christians know what Advent signifies: a time of penitence and preparation. And they know how it signifies these two: four Advent wreath candles. But why do we observe Advent? Dallas Willard had a “why” you might find surprising.

Why I Wish I’d Voted For Jimmy (And Rosalynn) Carter In ‘76

(OPINION) As an abundance of odes to Rosalynn have reminded me, the Carters proved themselves Christians in the truest sense of the word, unlike so many Bible thumping politicians today. Before they reached the White House, while in it and across their post-presidential decades, they never used their faith as a cudgel with which to bludgeon or belittle their adversaries, but as a motivation for their innumerable good works.

What Unites Millions Around The ‘Free Palestine’ Cause?

(OPINION) There is no question that hatred of the state of Israel, and more broadly, hatred of the Jewish people, helps animate the pro-Palestinian cause. If people really cared about the Palestinians themselves, there would not be Palestinian refugee camps in countries like Lebanon and Syria, and the Palestinians would have been granted full citizenship in the surrounding Arab countries at some point after the 1948 war.

The Challenges Of Being A Religious Scientist In 2023

(OPINION) When religion does seem to reduce individuals’ acceptance of scientific ideas, it is typically not because of the facts themselves. Rather, religious individuals’ objections are often grounded in the moral implications of that research, or scientists’ perceived role in policymaking.

Every Day You’re Not In ICU Is A Great Day, And Worth Giving Thanks For

(OPINION) Choosing a life of thanksgiving doesn’t mean living in denial or developing toxic positivity. Just venture online to watch a few minutes of the gruesome images coming out of Israel and Gaza. You’ll quickly be disabused of the idea that this is the best of all possible worlds.

OpinionPaul PratherNovember 27, 2023Paul Prather, Thanksgiving, Positivity, OptimismComment

War Brings Focus On Presidential Candidate Cornel West, A Key Religious Left Voice

(OPINION) Never assume that America’s third parties don’t matter. Especially in a topsy-turvy political season like this one. After all, some figure that Jill Stein’s 1% in three swing states produced Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, or that Ralph Nader’s 1.6% in Florida elected Bush 43 in 2000, or that Ross Perot’s 19% elected Clinton over incumbent Bush 41 in 1992.

An Apostolic Vision Of ‘The Exorcist’ As Horror Classic Turns 50

(OPINION) William Peter Blatty was pounding out the first pages of "The Exorcist" when his telephone rang — bringing the news that his mother had died. The screenwriter was already digging into dark material by writing a fictional take on an exorcism case he heard discussed during his Georgetown University days.

OpinionTerry MattinglyNovember 22, 2023Terry Mattingly, The Exorcist, movies, Thanksgiving 2023, Thanksgiving Day, Halloween, opinionComment

How To Identify A ‘True’ Christian, If Indeed You Can Even Find One

(OPINION) An editor friend forwarded me an email he’d received. The original sender said he was reading articles about how intertwined Christians are these days with secular politics and found the subject very confusing. He suggested that somebody ought to explain how to identify a genuine Christian as opposed, I assume, to people only using faith to further their political agenda.

OpinionPaul PratherNovember 20, 2023Paul Prather, Christianity, True Christians, Jesus followers, Religion and politics, Fake ChristiansComment

Pregnancy Resource Centers Save Lives And Change Hearts And Minds

(OPINION) For decades, the pro-life movement in America was essentially a grassroots movement. The soul of this movement was compassion. That compassion was most evident in the network of more than 3,000 pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) that had grown up around the nation. Many of them have been part of two large networks called Care Net and Heartbeat International.

Unintended Consequences Of Martin Luther’s Reformation

(OPINION) In the years following Martin Luther’s 95 theses, Luther was shocked by much of what he saw. What followed were uprisings so brutal and bloody that Luther himself condemned the rebels in terms so hysterical that even his admirers were taken back.

♗ Why Pope Francis Removed A Conservative East Texas Bishop 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights Pope Francis’ removal of a conservative bishop in East Texas. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

Modern People Are Good With ‘Stuff,’ But Struggle With Higher Virtues

(OPINION) Quoting Alexander Solzhenitsyn is not a typical cold open for a Jewish comedian. The Russian-British Konstantin Kisin — a self-avowed "politically non-binary satirist" — wasn't joking during a speech to the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship in London', where he described what he sees as immediate threats to liberal Western culture.

OpinionTerry MattinglyNovember 16, 2023Terry Mattingly, opinion, Hamas, Israel, Judaism, culture warComment

We Can — And Should — Choose To Often Change Our Minds

(OPINION) There’s a key concept in Christianity called repentance. It’s probably common in other faiths as well. The word translated from the Greek of the original New Testament into English as “repent” or “repentance” is a compound term. It means, literally, “change your mind.” That’s it.

OpinionPaul PratherNovember 13, 2023Paul Prather, Personal growth, The Chosen, Change, Open mind, PolarizationComment

🗳️ Looking Back And Ahead: Takeaways From This Week's Voting And The GOP Debate 🔌

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the religion takeaways from this week’s Election Day and the GOP presidential debate. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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