Religion's complex relationship with abortion
Plus, take a look at the historical influence of 'Stranger Things' fourth season
Hi ReligionUnplugged readers,
The Supreme Court’s decision last Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade has caused big changes in the U.S. and will continue to do so. Abortion is a political issue that is in many ways closely intertwined with religion. The relationships between the two are complex, evidenced by today’s top story on the varying reactions from Black churches in the country. Contributor Hamil R. Harris reports on initial reactions and protests from Washington, D.C.
Don’t miss these other stories from the past week that highlight and explain this complexity further:
Roe V. Wade Overturned, Plus The Supreme Court's 4 Other Biggest Religion Cases Of 2022
Roe Overturned: What You Need To Know About The Supreme Court Abortion Decision
This Friday, the final episodes of “Stranger Things” season four will be released onto Netflix. The show’s impact this season has already been huge, bringing Kate Bush back onto top 100 charts with a song from the 1980s. It focuses this season on the historical context of the satanic panic, which brought mass hysteria across the country. Culture writer Jillian Cheney talks about the impact of the satanic panic and how the show allows audiences to view it from a new perspective.
See you next week! If you like what you read, share this with your family and friends.
Black Churches Have Mixed Reactions As The US Supreme Court Overturns Roe V. Wade
Satanic Panic Drives A Small Town To Unjust Violence In ‘Stranger Things 4’ by Jillian Cheney
The fourth season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” once again teleports audiences back to the 1980s—and this time, that includes the historical background of the satanic panic. When the small town of Hawkins succumbs to the blind hysteria common in that period, it brings the show’s heroes additional difficulty. It also offers the audience a “God’s eye view” of the actual satanic panic and proves it did nothing but create irrational fear.
Christians Who Escaped Horrors Of War Journey Back To Aid The Hurting And Share Jesus by Erik Tryggestad
Artyom Kirilenko, who survived in the besieged city of Mariupol, is now part of a band of brothers, nearly 50 in all, who load vans with water, ramen noodles, diapers and vitamins and drive from western Ukraine to the hard-hit cities of the east. They unload the supplies and ferry back women and children.
Seattle Pacific University Students Protest Prohibition Of LGBTQ Faculty by Kim Roberts
Students continue a three-week-long sit-in at Seattle Pacific University to protest the school’s traditional views on human sexuality and its policy against hiring full-time faculty who violate it, including those who engage in homosexual behavior. The sit-in comes after over a year of controversy surrounding the issue.
8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election by Steve Rabey
(ANALYSIS) Without merit.” “Mere speculation and conjecture.” “Gossip and innuendo.” “Wholly unreliable.” “Implausible.” “Hazy and nebulous.” That’s how judges responded to 61 election lawsuits filed by Trump’s legal teams. Meanwhile, conservative Christian influencers used their media platforms outlets to promote these false claims about the election to believers. Here’s a look at nine of the most prominent promoters of the former president’s lies.
How Journalists Reported On The Supreme Court's Abortion Rollback And The Fallout by Clemente Lisi
(ANALYSIS) There’s nothing wrong with opinions and publishing a wide array of commentary. It’s something else altogether to take press releases and tweets, then dress them up as news stories. As we enter a post-Dobbs America, there’s the potential for these bad journalistic practices to get worse in the coming months and years.
Roe Overturned: What You Need To Know About The Supreme Court Abortion Decision by Linda C. McClain and Nicole Huberfeld
After half a century, Americans’ constitutional right to get an abortion has been overturned by the Supreme Court. The Conversation asked Nicole Huberfeld and Linda C. McClain, health law and constitutional law experts at Boston University, to explain what just happened, and what happens next.
What 6 American Religious Subgroups Think About Abortion by Myrian Garcia
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey on Friday, ruling that there is no constitutional right to abortion. ReligionUnplugged looks at what six religious subgroups in America believe about abortion.
Palestinian Arabs May Face Eviction From Historic Inns In Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter by Gil Zohar
After an Israeli Supreme Court ruling, a right-wing Jewish group may proceed through the courts to evict the Palestinian Arabs who are protected tenants at two historic hotels in Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter. The Greek Orthodox Church leasing the properties is opposing the transfer of leases by arguing the agreement made by a former church finance director is void and illegal.
Critics Condemn Israel’s Guilty Verdict For World Vision Gaza Director by Steve Rabey
Six years after Israeli authorities arrested the director of World Vision International’s work in Gaza and charged him with diverting money to the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas, a court in Beersheba found him guilty of terrorism charges last week, citing classified information that has been kept from the public.
Opinion
Roe V. Wade Overturned, Plus The Supreme Court's 4 Other Biggest Religion Cases Of 2022
In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. highlights the U.S. Supreme Court’s five biggest religion cases of 2022 — including the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Don’t forget! You can subscribe to receive Bobby’s column early on Fridays for only $5 a month. Click the button below to subscribe!
5 Reasons To Rejoice For The Overturning Of Roe by Dr. Michael Brown
The Significance Of Overturning Roe by Dr. Michael Brown
Nothing Was Usual About That Pentecost Massacre In Nigeria by Terry Mattingly
What Responsibility Do Journalists Have When Covering Incendiary Wars About Religion And Culture? by Ira Rifkin
Don’t miss our latest podcast
Running on Faith: Pentecostal Pastors John and Philip
Religion Unplugged Contributor Dr. Robert Carle is in Eldoret, Kenya for this episode, interviewing Pastor John Miaka and Pastor Philip Yego. They are accomplished runners who have competed internationally for Kenya winning marathons in Madrid, Valencia, the European Indoor Games, the 10k Road Race and have since retired from running to focus on their faith and being pastors of Pentecostal churches in Eldoret. Dr. Carle speaks to the pastors on how their running careers have intersected with their faith. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or listen directly on our website.
In case you missed it
Editorial picks from our archives
Football Coach Joseph Kennedy Talks About Life After The Supreme Court Ruling by Jovan Tripkovic
Joseph Kennedy, a high school football coach in Bremerton, Washington, received a ruling from the Supreme Court in his favor in his case about prayer. He insists he is a centrist that most Americans would agree with on religious freedom issues and the Constitution.
What The Los Angeles Times Missed About Biola University by Dr. Michael A. Longinow
(OPINION) A Page 1 analytical feature in the Los Angeles Times about Biola University suggested it was on a downward spiral, perhaps part of an impending implosion of similar schools nationally. And it pointed at Michael Longinow, without naming him, as the faculty adviser to a campus newspaper in which free thought — particularly about race — was not allowed.
Thanks again for reading!
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