'Sabbath' Documentary Shows Religions' Emphasis On Rest in a Burnout Culture

(REVIEW) Martin Doblmeier’s documentary, “Sabbath” explores how each of the monotheistic faiths have tackled the restlessness and consistent hurry of modern culture through adopting some variation on what the weekly Sabbath or time of rest looks like in their respective faith cultures.

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‘Padre Pio’ Is A Good Film For Those Who, Like The Saint, Can Watch With Pure Minds

(OPINION) “Padre Pio” might not be for most folks. They don’t see the “hidden” knowledge of God in our being created as naked and unashamed. They instead associate all nudity with pornography. That’s because we’re a porn-saturated society. It’s estimated that 46%–74% of men and 16%–41% of women in the US are active pornography users.

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Judge’s Death Sparks National Debate On Burial Rights In Uganda

The death of a supreme court judge in Uganda has sparked a hot public debate on the burial rights of the dead and surviving spouses in church marriages. The debate started after the death of Justice Stella Arach-Amoko, who succumbed to cancer at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala on June 17.

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Religious Liter-AI-cy: An Interview With ChatGPT About Religion, Part 2

This week in our Talking to Tech series, we conducted another interview with ChatGPT-4. This was the second in a three-part interview. The first two involve questions specifically relating to the three monotheistic faiths. 

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Bridging the Gap: How a Greek University is Supporting Thessaloniki’s Muslims

Some Muslims, Jews and other religious minorities in Thessaloniki also believe the city has found harmony between Abrahamic faiths in the past and can do so again. And one such olive branch toward religious understanding is taking root at the School of Theology in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which is the first Greek university to implement an academic program on Islamic studies.

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‘Sound Of Freedom’ Is A Preachy Action Film That Will Put You To Sleep

(REVIEW) “Sound Of Freedom” tries really hard to raise awareness about the very real evils of sex trafficking, but in the process creators forgot to also make a good movie. While the goal is worthy, this is one of the most mind-numbingly boring movies I’ve seen in ages. 

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Synod On Synodality: How Italy Responded To The Vatican's Proposed Reforms

(ANALYSIS) One of the biggest religion-beat stories of the year is currently playing out, and most people are probably unaware of it due to lack of mainstream news updates. Maybe this story is too Catholic? I say this because the three-year process that began in 2021 known as the Synod on Synodality is reaching its most contentious and potentially dramatic stage.

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A Tale of Two New Yorks: Secularism and Spirituality in the Big Apple

(OPINION) It's hard to consider the Big Apple a truly "secular city" when considering the rising number of New Yorkers who are Muslim, Orthodox Jewish, Hindu and evangelical and Pentecostal in Latino, Black, Asian, White and interracial flocks.

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How Are Houses of Worship Like Retail Stores? Changing Channels Of Distribution

(OPINION) Houses of worship are in decline. One reason is Americans’ waning interest in religious institutions. Another may be the change in consumer behavior away from the “average” and toward the large, the online and the small but specialized. Houses of worship can develop hope by learning from the experiences of the retail, financial-services and health care industries.

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How Christians Around the World Celebrate The Feast Of Saints Peter And Paul

The feast day of saints Peter and Paul is a significant celebration in the Christian calendar because it commemorates the lives of two martyrs. The annual feast, observed on June 29, holds deep religious and historical significance for Christians around the world.

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Uniting Faith and Compassion: Kashmir’s Inspiring Battle Against Drug Addiction

Recognizing the power of spiritual guidance, religious leaders in Kashmir are playing a pivotal role in the fight against drug addiction. They advocate for the establishment of local committees tasked with monitoring substance abuse in residential and business areas. They say that these committees comprised of community members can serve as guardians against the spread of addiction.

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5 Powerful Tributes To The Late Pastor Timothy Keller

We’ve compiled a list of some of the top five tributes written since Tim Keller’s death, highlighting the influence and incredible legacy he left on individuals, New York City and the Christian sphere.

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Kentucky Methodists Are Dividing — And Division Is An Age-Old Tradition In Itself

(OPINION) I hate to see Christian groups, whether large or small, break up. But they do. Regularly. It seems fitting to put this development into some historical perspective. Church splits aren’t the exception; they’re the rule. The history of Christianity sometimes seems to be one division after another, endlessly, each split as agonizing for those involved as the previous ones were for earlier generations.

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Evolving Journalism Doctrines: Associated Press Adds Clarity On The ‘T’ In LGBTQ+

(OPINION) On June 2, the AP editorial team issued an updated “Transgender Coverage Topical Guide” that’s very timely, and not just because June is Pride Month. This latest update is yet another step to embrace changes linked to the sexual revolution. Meanwhile, the Public Religion Research Institute released a poll showing U.S. opinion is getting more conservative on these matters.

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Weaponization of Hindu Festivals: A Catalyst For Anti-Muslim Violence In India

The celebration of a Hindu festival, Ram Navami, which marks the birth of Lord Ram, was tarnished by violence in late March across 10 Indian states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Delhi and West Bengal. It’s this kind of religious violence and intolerance that belied the surface of diplomatic talks between India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to Washington.

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Religious Liter-AI-cy: An Interview With ChatGPT About God, Part 1

This week, the next step of our Talking to Tech series was a “conversation” with ChatGPT, one of today’s most popular AIs. This was the first in a multi-part series exploring the depth of ChatGPT’s knowledge of and skillset concerning religion and religious topics. 

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Hindus for Human Rights Director Questions Modi’s State Visit to the United States

Nikhil Mandalaparthy is the advocacy director with Hindus for Human Rights, a human rights nonprofit that advocates for pluralism and civil and human rights in South Asia and North America. He spoke with Jody Hassett Sanchez in Washington during Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s state visit.

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🏛️ A Year After Roe's Overturning, Here's Where The Religious Debate On Abortion Stands 🔌 

This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.

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Broken & Mended Provides A Lifeline For People Who Hurt — All The Time

Young and old, male and female, around one-fifth of U.S. adults deal with chronic pain. But at a monthly meeting in this Oklahoma town, fellow sufferers — some gathered in person, others connecting from afar via Zoom — find support through a ministry called Broken & Mended.

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Wisconsin Court Shouldn’t Confine Religion Within Church Walls

(OPINION) Later this year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court will take up the issue of whether a Catholic charity is “religious” enough to qualify for the legal benefits that apply to religious organizations. The major question that the justices will consider is whether the organizations are more “charitable” than “religious.”

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