Dealing with grief 💙
The first installment in a new series
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
“Grief can take many forms — the echo of a loved one’s laugh, a favorite saying or even a silly joke,” writes contributor Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans. “It’s a belonging on a living room table, clothes you can’t quite bring yourself to donate or a domestic animal who wanders the house aimlessly after a loved one’s death.”
Today’s top story is the first in an upcoming feature series titled “Dealing with Grief,” which will explore the ways people of all kinds respond when faced with what seems like an insurmountable loss.
To begin the series, Evans talked to Sister Sarah Hennessey, a spiritual director who leads virtual mental health meditations. Don’t miss this week’s powerful story and stay tuned for more!
Dealing With Grief: Interview With Sister Sarah Hennessey
Grief can take many forms — the echo of a loved one’s laugh, a favorite saying or even a silly joke. It’s a belonging on a living room table, clothes you can’t quite bring yourself to donate or a domestic animal who wanders the house aimlessly after a loved one’s death. by Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans
‘Another Step In The Evolution’: Is AI Changing The Interpretation Of Jainism?
As more religious scholars and practitioners engage with AI-powered tools, the conversation will likely continue — blending the old with the new in a way that mirrors the very essence of religious progress. Whether as a study aid, a scholarly resource or a spiritual guide, creations like JainGPT represents both the promise and the challenge of faith in the digital age. by Rishabh Jain
Kenya’s Houses Of Worship Under Scrutiny for ‘Disruptive’ Sound Levels
Worship centers in Kenya are increasingly facing scrutiny for conducting activities at noise levels that exceed acceptable limits. Concerns have been raised in various parts of the country about religious services blatantly violating existing regulations, disturbing the peace and quiet of neighborhoods. by Joseph Maina
Why The Catholic Church’s Jubilee Festivities Are Muted In Jerusalem
Rome has been all gussied up for the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year. An extra 10 million pilgrims are forecast, adding to last year's record of 22 million. More than $8 billion has been spent to refurbish the city’s historic sites with their ancient ruins, spectacular churches and Renaissance fountains. Nothing of the like has taken place in Israel as it also awaits pilgrims. by Gil Zohar
‘The Chosen: The Last Supper’ Season 5 Premiere Lives Up To The Pre-Easter Hype
(REVIEW) The fifth season premiere is great, and the best opener to a “The Chosen” season yet. Everything good about the series is here, and most of the weaknesses I’ve critiqued over the past four seasons are all but absent. This latest installment of “The Chosen” is a testament to how the faith-based industry can evolve in quality and how both Christians and non-Christians will embrace it when it does. by Joseph Holmes
On Religion: A Catholic Priest Wrestles With Smartphones (Part 2)
(ANALYSIS) Clergy need to grasp that smartphones are raising moral and spiritual questions they cannot avoid. Postponing complex and even controversial discussions of these digital dilemmas will not make the problems disappear. by Terry Mattingly
Switching My Religion: 20% Around The Globe Have Left Their Childhood Faith
In many countries around the world, a fifth or more of adults have left the religious group in which they were raised. Christianity and Buddhism have experienced large losses from this “religious switching,” while rising numbers of adults have opted to have no affiliation, according to Pew Research Center surveys of nearly 80,000 people across 36 countries. by Clemente Lisi
How Ramadan TV Dramas Serve As A Conduit For Cultural And Social Change
For the past few years, many TV dramas that air during Ramadan have tackled women's issues triggering public discussions that have led to cultural, social and legal changes. Dramas about women this Ramadan include “Hezbet Omri” (“The Sum of My Life”), which highlights the financial difficulties of the protagonist as she seeks alimony after divorce; and “Ikhwaati” (“My Sisters”), which features an all-female cast who face challenges outside traditional norms. by Faten Sobhi
Rev. Dr. Stephen Tong Awarded Kuyper Prize For Lifetime Of Evangelism
(ANALYSIS) The Rev. Stephen Tong is a polymath and multitalented person whose stunning range of activities remain firmly and deeply rooted in his Christian faith. He is perhaps most alive in his preaching, which consistently challenges his hearers to follow Jesus Christ to the point of death. This remarkable man is now 85 and rather than slowing down, he asks for prayer that he might live until at least the age of 90 so that he can complete a series of Farewell Gospel Rallies worldwide. by Paul Marshall
🎉 Year In Review: Religion Unplugged’s Top 10 Most Popular Articles Of 2024 🔌
In a special year-end edition, Weekend Plug-in counts down the Top 10 most popular ReligionUnplugged.com stories from the past 12 months. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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Thanks again for reading!
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The grief series is such a needed initiative. Evans’ framing — grief as presence, as object, as memory — felt tender and true. Sister Sarah Hennessey’s role as both spiritual director and mental health guide highlights something too often overlooked: the quiet spiritual labor of helping others hold their pain.
Also struck by the juxtaposition of stories this week — from AI and Jainism to sound ordinances in Kenya and Ramadan dramas driving social reform. It reminds me how religion remains a shapeshifting force across time and technology, loss and longing, ritual and rebellion.
Curious: Will the grief series also explore non-traditional mourning practices or how digital life (AI memorials, virtual wakes, etc.) is reshaping grief? That would be a fascinating angle.
Keep this rich, nuanced reporting coming. These dispatches help us see the soul of the world more clearly.