This weekâs Weekend Plug-in focuses on the religious significance of Mondayâs total solar eclipse. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
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The issue of young women wearing hijabs in schools has become a controversial and heated topic in the Indian state of Rajasthan following a similar battle in the southern state of Karnataka. Hijab bans in Hindu-majority India are nothing new. However, such edicts have intensified recently under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, who adhere to Hindu nationalism and have focused on limiting the rights of religious minorities.
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(OPINION) At first glance, the attacks that took place in 2004 may appear to be a spontaneous reaction of locals to the unfortunate drowning of Albanian boys and the alleged involvement of Serbian individuals in the incident. However, the ruins of Serbian homes, churches and monasteries tell a different story.
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Dante has inspired countless artists through the centuries. Such has been the influence of Danteâs poem on Vietnamese American artist Tammy Nguyen, that she has devised an ambitious three-part exhibition, âA Comedy for Mortals,â inventively interpreting the text through the lens of Cold War-era geopolitics in Southeast Asia.
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A six-week abortion ban with exceptions will be implemented in Florida, but voters will also have the option of enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution in November. The changes flow from two Florida Supreme Court rulings April 1. The first, which upheld a 15-week ban, also means that Florida will be able to implement a six-week ban that Gov. Ron DeSantis has already signed into law.
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(REVIEW) Itâs a shame that âSolo Planetâ has such a ho-hum subtitle: âHow Singles Help the Church Recover Our Calling.â It should be: âAn Intrepid Reporter Surveys Christian Singles on Six Continents during a Whirlwind 17-month Tour.â Which is what Anna Broadway did. Having already written one book on singles, this 40-something single evangelical woman noticed that most literature on the topic came from an English-speaking, American perspective.
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(EXCERPT) Mark David Hallâs new book, âWhoâs Afraid of Christian Nationalism: Why Christian Nationalism is Not an Existential Threat to America or the Church,â shows that Christian nationalism does not, as its critics claim, pose âan existential threat to American democracy and the Christian church in the United States.â As well, it critiques the handful of Americans who advocate for Christian nationalism.
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(OPINION) For many years now, it has been clear that America has been in a steep moral and spiritual decline, despite some genuine revival movements along with some holy pushback against the growing cultural insanity. But two recent examples confirm that we are now in moral freefall. What took place over Easter weekend is further proof of it.
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(EXPLAINER) Since 2000, the two holidays have overlapped every year but four â in 2005, 2008, 2016 and this spring. Easter is calculated based on the Christian liturgical calendar tied to the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Passover, on the other hand, is determined by the Jewish calendar, which is also lunar-based. Thatâs where the similarities end.
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As Christians approach Easter, Baptists sheltered in the remnants of Gaza Baptist Church are so worn out they âno longer have the energy to suffer,â a leader there told the Christian Mission to Gaza. At the same time, Israel Defense Forces have decreased their attacks on Gaza in recent days.
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A new monument will recognize the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who fought for Britain under the Commonwealth banner. The British government announced that $1.2 million would be allocated to erecting the monument. Of course, the plan has come under fire politically from both the left and the right.
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The latest Congressional spending package allows federally funded gender transitions and essentially bypasses current restrictions on government-funded abortions, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said. Protections for pre-born life, religious liberty and biblical gender are among ERLCâs prime concerns in the bill that offers certain protections while overlooking others.
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(ANALYSIS) At this stage in his country music career, Oliver Anthony is still reaching his fans by propping his smartphone in a tour bus window and recording social media videos. Seven months ago, of course, he didn't have a career, didnât have a tour bus and didn't have fans.
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The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a case that will rule on the availability of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions. The case is the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue of abortion since the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. A decision on the case is expected in June.
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(ANALYSIS) The American novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson has accumulated numerous literary prizes, among them the 2005 Pulitzer, but also honors in religion. Her new non-fiction book âReading Genesisâ wrestles with the grand themes and thorny issues raised in the Bibleâs first book. Itâs a climactic testament at the twilight of a distinguished life and career.
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Even though the days of slavery and indentured labor in South Africa are long gone, the Hindu and Muslim festivities that take place on Easter weekend have become beloved occasions for their respective communities. In a variety of ways, South African Hindus and Muslims have made the Christian holiday their own.
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Statistics compiled by Amnesty International show that there is a culture of stigmatization and victim-blaming towards rape survivors in Nigeria. The result is a large percentage of rape and sexual assaults going unreported. One man is trying to change all that by helping others after experiencing abuse himself as a child.
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(OPINION) With the ever increasing warnings about the alleged danger of âChristian nationalism,â however ambiguous that term might be, it is only fair to ask: Is America a Christian nation? And, just as importantly: Has America ever been a Christian nation? And how does this relate to Christian nationalism?
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(OPINION) Mostly we butt into other folksâ affairs because weâre control freaks who need to fix, or at least feel superior to, everyone else. Or, like Dear Abbyâs correspondents, weâre nosy. Or we reap some type of social currency from getting the inside scoop and then passing it along to friends. Or we hope to deflect attention from our own shortcomings by calling attention to someone elseâs.
None of those is a good look, is it?
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Muslim athletes face a unique challenge when Ramadan coincides with their training and competition schedules. Throughout the month-long period, practicing Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from both food and drink. For athletes, this can be particularly demanding as they need to maintain their energy and performance levels.
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