Battling misinformation
The hard work of India's Christian organizations
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
Over the past several years, Christians in India have suffered as a result of misinformation. In today’s top story, contributor Rishabh Jain details a story from the religious and ethnic violence in Manipur last year in which a Christian woman and her son were pulled from their car and killed.
In the face of the challenges presented by the spread of misinformation, Christian organizations are taking active steps to promote truth and understanding. Jain details the missions of several of these organizations and what they’re doing to educate people on religion, healthcare and more.
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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. by Rishabh Jain
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. by Clemente Lisi
Netflix’s New Biblical ‘Mary’ Biopic A Reverent Disappointment
(REVIEW) Netflix has put out a movie about the life of Mary just in time for Christmas. For those who want a modern retelling of Mary and the Christmas story that lives up to its potential, “Mary” is sure to disappoint. For those who simply want to enjoy a reverent take on the Christmas story that has a place at the table in a world of endless secular content, this might be just what the angels ordered. by Joseph Holmes
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. by Joseph Hammond
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. by John Mac Ghlionn
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. by Clemente Lisi
Analysis of Autopsy Reports: 10 Christians Killed in Manipur
(OPINION) A thorough analysis of the autopsy reports for the 10 Kuki-Zo “village volunteers” killed in Manipur during an alleged gunbattle with the Central Reserve Police Force suggests that the young men were shot from behind or from multiple directions and at close range. Some of them also sustained injuries that cannot solely be attributed to gunfire. by Vishal Arora
Can Christians Consider Mass Deportations As Moral?
(ANALYSIS) Many Bible readings during Christmas services will recount that the infant Jesus escaped murder at the hands of paranoid King Herod because Egypt provided safe refuge to the fleeing Holy Family (per Matthew 2:13-15). by Richard Ostling
Notre Dame Reborn: 3 Things You Need To Know About The Reopened Cathedral
Five years after a devastating fire, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen this weekend, showing off its rebuilt ceilings and new stonework. The cathedral’s interior reconstruction, erasing somber memories of its 2019 fire, is a major step forward despite scaffolding and cranes still working on the damaged exterior. by Clemente Lisi
On Religion: Uncovering The Mysteries About Our Lady Of Guadalupe
(ANALYSIS) Year after year, Juan Diego's tilma is viewed by an estimated 20 million pilgrims, with more than 10 million visiting the basilica close to Dec. 12 — the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and the Americas. Around the world, throngs march in parades and sacred processions behind copies of this iconic Marian image. by Terry Mattingly
Samuel Paty’s Beheading: The Limits Of Speech And Religion
Much of France is focused on the trial of eight people stemming from the 2020 beheading of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty by Abdoullah Anzorov, an 18-year-old Muslim immigrant from Chechnya. Anzorov is not on trial since he was shot dead by police after his butchery. The focus now is on those who encouraged and enabled him. This raises difficult questions about legal limits on speech, especially where religion is concerned. by Paul Marshall
Racism In The Church of England: ‘Microaggressions All The Time’
High Church parishes saw ethnic minorities as “not good enough” or unworthy. Charismatic evangelical churches were hostile towards Black leaders. And traditional rural conservative churches viewed anyone not white with suspicion, classing them as “foreign.” Only the progressive urban church was a truly welcoming and diverse space. by Tim Wyatt
Exclusive: Autopsy Reports Indicate Police Misconduct In India’s Manipur
The autopsy reports reveal that each of the deceased sustained multiple gunshot wounds from behind. This pattern of injury indicates that the young men were either fleeing or not directly engaging at the time they were fatally shot. by Vishal Arora
⚖️ Transgender Rights Debate Moves From The Voting Booth To SCOTUS 🔌
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti — “the most high-profile case of its term.” The case concerns a Tennessee law blocking gender-affirming medical treatment for minors. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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