Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
Contributor Angela Youngman has written about various ways churches in the UK are adapting their spaces to be more welcoming for communities. In todayâs top story, she writes about this unique trademark of this yearâs British summer: cathedrals taking on a festive spirit and bringing amusement parks and other fun activities to their buildings.
Some of these activities include beach areas, magicians, animatronic sea creatures, Medieval villages and more. The goal is to provide fun for communities throughout the UK and to perform a more longlasting community outreach.
Read more about how these cathedrals plan to extend this fun into community growth and the inspiration behind these fun events.
Why Some Cathedrals Look Like Amusement Parks This Summer
How about a trip on a Ferris wheel, walk a labyrinth or rest under the stars? Itâs summertime, and British cathedrals took on a holiday atmosphere â complete with some unusual activities. You might even encounter creatures from the deep oceans or step back in time. Such activities have become very much part of a British summer. by Angela Youngman
If You Want Young Men to Leave Christianity, Have Them Watch âThe Forgeâ
(REVIEW) While âThe Forgeâ deserves credit for wanting to address the real problems of struggling men and boys, it fails to speak to the very people it says it wants to help. Christian parents of such boys would be better off passing on this movie and following other sources for their boys, and following the example of the movieâs Cynthia by praying for them instead. by Joseph Holmes
Latter-Day Saints Come to Terms With The 126-Year Racial Barrier
(ANALYSIS) Extraordinary. Thatâs the word for âSecond-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality,â a 2024 book-of-the-year candidate written by Colorado State University historian Matthew L. Harris. He analyzes the restrictions that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints imposed upon members of Black African ancestry between 1852 and 1978, an issue that extended into the 21st century. by Richard Ostling
How âThe Crowâ Reboot Makes A Mess Of Afterlife Mythologies
(REVIEW) âThe Crowâ is the latest Hollywood remake brought to the screen. Based on the 1994 cult classic, the new film stars Bill Skarsgard as Eric Draven, who, after home invaders kill him and his girlfriend, makes a deal with an agent of the afterlife to come back as an indestructible assassin to exact revenge on the killers. by Joseph Holmes
Crossroads Podcast: Prayers At The GOP And Democratic Conventions
During one of the presidential elections during my decade teaching in Washington, D.C., there was more than the usual chatter about the importance of the so-called âCatholic voteâ and its impact in swing states. by Terry Mattingly
Why Gen Z Have Turned On Churches In Kenya During Anti-Government Protests
As the rattle of gunfire and the spirited sloganeering raged on in the streets, Gen Zers opened a new theater in this fight: training their rage on the church for allegedly working with the state. They have accused church officials of being subservient to the political class. by Joseph Maina
On Religion: YouTuber Oliver Anthony Wrestles With âDystopian AI Monsterâ
(ANALYSIS) It was a strange way for Oliver Anthony to mark the anniversary of the YouTube video that turned him into a country music roots phenomenon. âRich Men North of Richmondâ launched last Aug. 8, 2023. When that date rolled around a year later, Hurricane Debby was sweeping through Virginia. The creeks were rising as Anthony headed into the woods with his dogs and his smartphone to record another emotional mini-sermon. by Terry Mattingly
How Religion Influenced Some Of The Worldâs Greatest Writers
Some of the greatest writers ever to put pen to paper were deeply influenced by their religious beliefs. Take JRR Tolkien, for instance. He didn't merely craft a fantasy epic with âThe Lord of the Rings,â but he filled it with the depth and richness of his Catholic faith. Through characters like Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn, Tolkien explored themes of sacrifice, redemption and the struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, heaven and hell. by John Mac Ghlionn
ðªïž Symbol Of Hope: Churchâs Stained-Glass Windows Survive Monster Tornado ð
When a monster tornado struck a small Oklahoma town, numerous businesses and houses were destroyed. But a churchâs stained-glass windows escaped with just minor damage. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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