AI Jesus Might ‘Listen’ To Your Confession, But Can’t Absolve Your Sins

(ANALYSIS) The installation was a two-month project in religion, technology and art titled “Deus in Machina,” created at the University of Lucerne. The original Latin phrase literally means “god from the machine”; it refers to a plot device used in Greek and Roman plays, introducing a god to resolve an impossible problem or conflict facing the characters.

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On Religion: God, Man And Christmas In the Cane River Valley

(ANALYSIS) Christmas is a good news, bad news situation in Pensacola, a tiny community in the Cane River Valley, high in the mountains of North Carolina. The good news is that Hurricane Helene’s flooding — which washed away almost everything at the town's crossroads — was followed by waves of volunteers and relief shipments from churches, nonprofits and businesses large and small.

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Ohio Church Enjoined From Sheltering Homeless This Winter

An Ohio judge has issued a preliminary injunction against Dad’s Place and its pastor Chris Avell, preventing the church from using its first floor to shelter homeless people, even as temperatures are expected to plummet later this week.

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What Role Did Evangelicals Play In The 2024 Republican Primary?

(ANALYSIS) Today, I am especially interested in what is happening with the Republican party in a post-Trump America. I have some data that offer a little bit of a window into who evangelicals might vote for when Trump’s name is not on the primary ballot.

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A Temple Reborn: Finding Hope and Harmony In Kashmir

Nestled in the serene yet scarred landscapes of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, the Arde Nareshwar Temple stood as a silent witness to one of the darkest chapters in the region’s history. For over two decades, its bells were silent, its walls deserted — haunted by the tragic massacre of 24 Kashmiri Hindus also known as Kashmiri Pandits in 2003 that forever changed the narrative of this quaint village.

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Saint Augustine’s University Cuts Staff By 50% To Keep Accreditation

Facing mounting debt and accreditation concerns, Episcopal-affiliated Saint Augustine’s University has eliminated 136 staff — about half its total workforce. The Triangle Business Journal reported the cuts were made as part of an emergency plan by the historically Black liberal arts school in Raleigh, North Carolina, to become compliant with its accreditation agency.

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Meet India’s Youngest Muslim Member Of Parliament: ‘Need To Empower Women’

In a momentous occasion for Indian politics, Iqra Chaudhary Hasan recently took her oath as a Member of Parliament, marking several historic firsts. Draped in a white scarf, she represents many firsts — the young politician has become India’s youngest female member, the youngest Muslim and the youngest female Muslim. This achievement highlights her unique position and a sign that a shift in the nation’s political landscape has taken place.

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Help Support Our Journalism: Your Donation Now Tripled Through Dec. 31

This is a big time of year at Religion Unplugged. Nov. 1 marked the official launch of the annual NewsMatch campaign — one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. It’s now gotten even bigger thanks to The Media Project’s support.

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Sacred Cows And Superstitions Drive Harmful Practices And Manipulate Believers

(OPINION) Today, in 2024, with centuries of historical evidence to show witchcraft accusations as false, nonfactual and harmful superstition, there are thousands of innocent people accused of witchcraft who are tortured and killed annually. Most of the accused are children, a few elderly women and people who can’t physically defend themselves.

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Restoration and Reinvention: Breathing New Life into Uzbekistan’s Islamic Spaces

A new unique project in the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan seeks to both revive and repurpose an architectural gem that survived the Soviet Union and decades of harsh weather. The Center for Contemporary Art residencies will be a unique cultural space in the heart of Tashkent. The site was built as a madrassa during the 1880s but, during the Soviet era, was used as a carpentry space.

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Jesus Meets Saint Nick: What Santa Claus Has To Do With Christianity

(ANALYSIS) Strip away the flash, and what remains is a story of compassion and selfless kindness — a tale that transcends time and tradition, reminding us all of the simple, profound power of generosity. It’s about more than just exchanging gifts; it’s about giving our time, our presence, and our compassion to the people in our lives who make life truly beautiful.

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Faith Leaders Call On Biden To Commute Federal Death Row Sentences

Faith leaders called on President Joe Biden on Monday to commute all federal death row sentences before President-elect Donald Trump, who supports capital punishment, takes office next month. The group — which includes Black pastors, Catholics, former corrections officials, civil rights advocates, current and former prosecutors — reflects bipartisan concern about the use of capital punishment.

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‘Great Encourager’ Steve Amerson’s Capitol Carols Concert Part Of Year-Round Ministry

For the past 10 years, Steve Amerson has been a Gospel presence on Capitol Hill through his Word on the Hill ministry, lending his tenor voice at recent night worship services, handwriting and personally delivering notes of encouragement to representatives and senators regardless of party affiliation and praying with them as opportunity arises.

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How Israel Accidentally Helped Spark Regime Change In Syria

(OPINION) The fall of Assad highlights a classic case of unintended consequences. Israel — like the West — was long ambivalent about the fate of the despotic Syrian regime, which was a bitter enemy, but a weakened one that seemed to have made peace with Israel’s usurping of the strategic Golan Heights.

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How India’s Christian Organizations Are Battling Misinformation

As misinformation continues to challenge communities across India, faith-based organizations are stepping up to promote understanding and counter harmful narratives. Through educational initiatives and distribution of trustworthy information, Christian organizations are playing a crucial role. Their work underscores the importance of navigating such challenges in the digital age.

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Top Theologian Discusses Whether God Ever Changes His Mind

(OPINION) Allow me to direct your attention to a long, thought-provoking article that appeared in the New York Times recently under the headline, “‘A God Who Continually Surprises Us’: A Q&A With a Theologian Who Changed His Mind About Gay Marriage.” Changing your mind about what the Bible, the church and God have said is always complicated.

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‘No Person Knew Christ With Greater Intimacy’: There’s Something About Mary

(ANALYSIS) It’s universal for kids when they lose their way or skin their knees to call out for their parents. But from my experience as a parent, and now a grandparent, children more often cry for their mommy.

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