đ¶ Dance musical brings grief, faith and love to Broadway
'Illinoise' utilizes music from Sufjan Stevens' spiritual album
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
The Tony Awards, celebrating the best of Broadway, have announced nominations for 2024. Among them, with four nominations â for Best Musical, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations â is âIllinoise,â the dance musical based on Sufjan Stevensâ album of the same name.
Beyond being regarded as one of the best indie musicians of the 21st century thus far, Stevens is known for religious themes in his music. Where this solidified is the âIllinoiseâ album, memorably featuring a song about losing a loved one and questioning God over the grief and pain.
The musical adds a narrative to this album, featuring full orchestration and a cast of characters.
Culture editor Jillian Cheney writes about âIllinoiseâ and how it brings the famous 2005 musical to life in todayâs top story.
âIllinoiseâ Dance Musical Brings Grief, Faith And Love To The Broadway Stage
A new dance theater piece brings Sufjan Stevensâ album âIllinoisâ to life. âIllinoiseâ is a clever adaptation of Stevensâ work, tying together works that begin with little more in common than a shared theme and similar sound into a seamless narrative. The dance revue includes all the major tracks from the album, though theyâre used slightly out of order. None of the characters have speaking roles. by Jillian Cheney
Turkey Officially Converts Istanbulâs Iconic Chora Church Into A Mosque
Turkeyâs President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reopened an iconic Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque on Monday, four years after his government had designated it an Islamic house of worship. Despite criticism from Christians around the world, Turkey formally converted Chora Church into a mosque after it had turned Istanbulâs landmark Haghia Sophia into a Muslim prayer space. by Clemente Lisi
Fighting In Putinâs âSpiritual Warâ: Indian Men Forced To Join The Russian Army
The Russian militaryâs need to replenish its ranks for what appears to be a long-term war against Ukraine and its Western allies has resulted in Indian men being lured to Moscow with the promise of work, only to discover that they have been forced to enlist in the army. Russian President Vladimir Putin has even justified the invasion of Ukraine partly as a defense of the Moscow-oriented Orthodox church. by Zaffar Iqbal
Presbyteriansâ Latest Sexuality Showdown Follows Methodistsâ Historic Shift
(ANALYSIS) While drama with the United Methodist Church continues to develop, the sexuality spotlight shifts to Americaâs Presbyterian Church (USA), which has already approved gay clergy and marriage but is heading into a different sexuality fuss that carries some risk of another church split. by Richard Ostling
Olaskyâs Books For May: The Meaning Of Churches In Our Lives
(REVIEW) Paul Seabrightâs âThe Divine Economy: How Religions Compete for Wealth, Power and Peopleâ does not take into account whatâs true, but does explore well what pays. Churches compete with theaters and other entertainment venues. They also compete with each other and offer explicit or implicit inducements. by Marvin Olasky
In Post-Catholic Ireland, The Emergence Of A New Kind Of Clergy
Ireland â once a bastion of Catholicism â has become a more secular, pluralistic nation. In the 2022 census, 14 percent of respondents reported having no religion, according to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland. Thatâs a rise of nearly 100,000 people since the 2016 census. With more Irish people moving away from organized religion, non-religious weddings, have become increasingly common. by Samuel Eli Shepherd
The Fight Against Clergy Sex Abuse Also Involves âMissionary Kidsâ
(OPINION) In fact, my strong hunch is that these âunder the radarâ Christian boarding or reform schools will prove to be the next chapter in the ever-present, still burgeoning clergy abuse crisis. And those of us whoâve long supported such survivors will be called upon again to offer sympathy, consolation and guidance to hundreds of mostly invisible victims who have been violated in circumstances even more extreme than the ones in which we were abused. by David Clohessy
United Methodists Lift Bans On LGBTQ Clergy And Same-Sex Weddings
Following decades of infighting, the United Methodist Church voted on a series of sweeping doctrinal changes, including repealing a ban on LGBTQ clergy and allowing for same-sex marriages. For the U.S.âs third-largest Protestant denomination, the changes represent a seismic shift and one that calls on fully embracing LGBTQ members in every aspect of church life. by Clemente Lisi
Orthodox Easter: Calendar Question Continues To Split The Church
If by any chance the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate do reach an agreement on a common date for Easter, this would create a tectonic shift in the Orthodox world. Such a move would deepen the ongoing Orthodox rift between Constantinople and Moscow, potentially creating a series of schisms within local Orthodox churches (similar to what happened in the 1920s with the Greek and Romanian churches). by Jovan Tripkovic
âWildcatâ A Masterful Love Letter To The Inner Life Of A Religious Creative
(REVIEW) âWildcatâ is the perfect film for any Christian who loves or is involved in the arts and wishes to see their experiences deftly portrayed in the unique language of film. This movie gives hope that the actual inner lives and beliefs of believers can live up to their potential within this medium and provide at least one model of how to do so. by Joseph Holmes
Guide To The US Presidential Candidates: What They Say About Their Faith
President Biden and Donald Trump clinched their partiesâ presidential nominations in March, setting up a 2016 general election rematch. The outcome was never in doubt as both Biden and Trump cruised to victory. Hereâs a look at the two major party candidates, their third-party challengers and what theyâve said about faith. by Clemente Lisi
Q&A With Journalist And Author Carrie Sheffield: âAbuse Not Godâs Design For Your lifeâ
In her new book âMotorhome Prophecies,â Carrie Sheffield writes about growing up as the fifth of eight children with a violent and mentally ill street musician father who believed he was a modern-day Mormon prophet destined to someday become U.S. president. She and her siblings were forced to live as vagabonds, constantly moving across the country. Hereâs what else she had to say about her life and faith. by Jovan Tripkovic
Fewer Americans Are Reading The Bible: Why It Matters
(ANALYSIS) A new report offers another data point in the abiding struggle between Christianity and culture, suggesting further changes ahead if these trends continue. With fewer people consulting the Bible for spiritual growth or guidance in their daily decisions, societal norms once influenced by Scripture are evolving into an array of moral perspectives, many of which are incompatible with its teachings. by Stephen Presley
Amid Ongoing Probe, A Christian University Fights For Its Identity
Daystar University, a Kenyan school whose academic programs started with a certificate course from Wheaton College and later rose to be a leader in the training of communicators in Africa, has been forced to defend its Christian identity after a Muslim member of parliament accused it of discriminatory practices. by Tom Osanjo
President Truman Advocated Reading The Bible â Not Profiting From It
(ANALYSIS) Howâs this for a presidential prayer: âMake me truthful, honest, and honorable in all things. Make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor, and without thought of reward to me. Give me the ability to be charitable, forgiving, and patient with my fellowmen. ⊠Amen, Amen, Amen.â by Marvin Olasky
đȘïž Symbol Of Hope: Churchâs Stained-Glass Windows Survive Monster Tornado đ
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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