An escape from divisive politics
'The After Party' curriculum was created for Christians
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
Pastor, author and student Caleb Campbell wrote the curriculum for “The After Party” after what he describes as the worst year of his life so far.
Attacked by congregants of his church for social programs and respecting distancing mandates during the pandemic, Campbell thought of leaving his position as head pastor of his Arizona church — but he took a different route.
“The After Party” — which comes in the form of curriculum, a book and a worship album — is meant for Christians to learn how to have conversations with each other that bridge political divides.
Minister Shane Hughes, who uses the curriculum at his church, pointed out that the past several years “have been a season of shifting where our political identity is beginning to become more central to our ourselves than maybe our identity in God or affiliation to church.”
In today’s top story, contributor Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans writes on the creation of “The After Party,” its goal, and how many are already using it to create unity in church spaces.
‘The After Party’ Offers Christians An Escape From Divisive Politics
Spearheading one of a growing number of attempts among evangelicals to empower clergy and laypeople to reframe the political divide, the creators of “The After Party” hope to foster conversations that will not only promote healing but enable those engaged to participate in public life in ways that are constructive, rather than chronically divisive. by Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans
Could New Science Verify The Famous Shroud of Turin?
(ANALYSIS) The Shroud of Turin, the world’s most famous and most-examined artifact, is revered by devotees as the actual burial cloth that covered Jesus Christ’s body after his crucifixion. Many will consider that inconceivable, but is there reason to accept the claim? Or is this celebrated cloth merely a pious artwork, or a clever fraud, that originated in medieval times? by Richard Ostling
Why ‘Between the Temples’ Is A Quirky Jewish Rom-Com You Need to See
(REVIEW) Presented as an offbeat rom-com, “Between the Temples” contains a depth of feeling and personal reflection that’s admirable. It’s a must-see for many reasons, and only one of them is its central romance. It’s also a hilarious misadventure, a reflection on life and relationships and the beautiful journey two people take to rediscovering faith. by Jillian Cheney
Olasky’s Books For October: Presidents, Nationalists, Prayer And Blindness
(ANALYSIS) Daniel Silliman’s “One Last Soul: Richard Nixon’s Search for Salvation” (Eerdman’s, 2024) is a well-written biography of the president who won a 49-state reelection victory in 1972 and resigned in disgrace two years later. Silliman’s scenes include Nixon as a 22-year-old working in his dad’s store “peeling grimy leaves off the lettuce and picking out the bruised fruit, which was starting to decay." by Marvin Olasky
Massacres In Africa (And Floods In My Southern Highlands)
(ANALYSIS) Please allow me a moment of grief and frustration. I am, you see, worrying about friends who are missing and, to be blunt, no one knows if some of them will be fatalities in the the great Hurricane Helene catastrophe in the mountains of Western North Carolina. by Terry Mattingly
How ‘Vatican Watchers’ Report On The Papacy To Catholics Around The World
Among the parade of priests and nuns who stroll in and around Vatican City, there is a special breed of journalist who is tasked with explaining the pope and the Roman curia to the world. These people are known as Vatican watchers — a “Vaticanista” in Italian — and they've been around since the 1960s. Even in the digital age, these journalists have become essential to understanding the church. by Clemente Lisi
Crossroads Podcast: Are Young Men Flocking Into (The Wrong) Pews?
If you fly up to high altitude to study the past 50 years of American religious life, here is what you will see. by Terry Mattingly
Most Catholics Across The Americas Want The Church To Allow Birth Control
A new survey of Catholics in the United States and across six Latin American countries found that majorities want the church to allow for the use of birth control and letting women become priests. The Pew Research Center study also found that public opinion was more divided on whether the church should allow priests to marry and the recognition of same-sex marriages. by Clemente Lisi
On Religion: Do Pastors Face Pressure Tied To Partisan Politics?
Eight years ago, Lifeway Research asked Protestant pastors who they planned to support in the presidential election and only three percent declined to answer. That number didn't change much in 2020, when four percent declined. But things changed recently, when almost a quarter of the pastors refused to voice their choice in the 2024 White House race. by Terry Mattingly
Growing Number Of Single Women In Islamic Nations Freezing Their Eggs
Over the last five years, a growing number of single Muslim women in their mid-30s in Islamic countries — including the UAE, Qatar and Egypt, among others — have been choosing to freeze their eggs to ensure motherhood later in life. It was previously not seen as an option in these countries — owing primarily to cultural beliefs and religious restrictions. by Sonia Sarkar
‘The Chosen’ And ‘Am I Racist?’ Now Typify Success For Faith-Based Movies
(ANALYSIS) Two recent events have made major headlines in the faith-based film industry. The first was the dominance of faith-based, politically right-wing films at the domestic box office. The second was Dallas Jenkins’ announcement that his “The Chosen” TV series about Jesus was expanding into a whole “The Chosen” universe of shows. by Joseph Holmes
Did Militants Really Enter India From Neighboring Myanmar?
(ANALYSIS) An “intelligence” report has emerged suggesting that over 900 “Kuki militants,” trained in advanced warfare techniques, have crossed from Myanmar into India and may target Meitei villages in Manipur as Christians in the region continue to be persecuted. It’s strange that this information was shared with the public, rather than communicated discretely to the Indian army. by Vishal Arora
🏀 Small-College Coach Garth Pleasant Never Made Excuses — And He Became A Legend 🔌
When a legend invites you to the Big House, you go. The story of how our columnist ended up at a Michigan Wolverines game with basketball coach Garth Pleasant, who won 720 games and four small-college national championships. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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فلتكون عقيدتك خاصة بك ولكن فعل الخير للجميع وبدون أستثناء وبذلك ستكون عقيدتك التي تؤمن بها وما تقدمة سليمة وستفرض بذلك أحترامك علي الجميع في كل المناطق وستثبت مصداقيتها ومصداقية أعمالك ونواياك التي تريد بها خدمة الأنسانية