Marvel has issues with God
Plus the empowering memoir from Nashville Food Project's founder and more headlines
Hi ReligionUnplugged readers,
In Marvel’s 14 years of moviemaking, the motives of characters (mostly a sizable group of villains) in movies and shows have become increasingly religious. Take, for example, the recent “Thor: Love and Thunder,” in which the villain Gorr has a mission to kill all the gods because he believes they’re manipulative and uncaring for human suffering.
These religious motivations offer a way to interpret the popular culture’s view of God. What does Marvel have to say about God? Culture writer Joseph Holmes unpacks it this week.
You also don’t want to miss this review of the memoir written by Nashville Food Project founder Tallu Schuyler Quinn and published after her death. Quinn’s battle with glioblastoma took away many of her senses and prevented her from doing many of the things she loved, but her faith and care for other people remained strong as ever. In her memoir, she emphasizes the importance of faith, family, hope and a good meal. Intern Camila Da Silva writes on the powerful book.
See you next week! If you like what you read, share this with your family and friends.
Marvel Has Issues With God
Nashville Food Project Founder's Battle With Cancer And Faith In Life Immortalized In Memoir by Camila Da Silva
(REVIEW) Tallu Schuyler Quinn, founder of the Nashville Food Project, died at 42 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Her posthumous memoir, “What We Wish Were True: Reflections on Nurturing Life and Facing Death,” details her life and faith in intimate detail.
Abortion In America Brings Up Both Spiritual And Legal Considerations by Chelsea Langston Bombino
(ANALYSIS) There will be much we need to unpack in the days, weeks and years to come in this post-Roe era. In this moment, perhaps we can recognize that no one side owns the human spirit. Seeking the sacred in that which we hold dear, whether it is protecting the pre-born or advancing women’s well-being, or both, is an innate part of being human.
Americans On Right And Left Agree — Donations Should Be Used Promptly, Not Stashed by Steve Rabey
Political partisanship is a powerful dividing line, but a new survey shows widespread agreement on the need for changes in how quickly charitable foundations and donor advised funds put donations to work.
With Parents In Detention Centers, Rohingya Children In India Face Uncertain Future by Shadab Farooq
Near a refugee camp for Rohingya Muslims in North India, a jail has been turned into a detention center. Children of detained parents are surviving in the camps with new guardians as their parents are taken away, many believe never to return.
Chicago Christians Reflect On Fourth Of July Parade Shooting That Claimed Seven Lives by Bobby Ross Jr.
Yet another American community — this time an affluent suburb about 25 miles north of Chicago — fell victim to a mass shooting. A gunman with a semi-automatic rifle unleashed more than 80 rounds from a rooftop perch, killing seven people and wounding dozens more at Highland Park’s Fourth of July parade.
Documentary ‘Respect Our Sacred’ Exposes Struggle To Decriminalize African Religions In Brazil by Camila Da Silva
For a century, more than 519 sacred objects from the Umbanda and Candomblé — both spiritual African religions — were in the possession of Brazil police. The new documentary “Respect Our Sacred” details the process of getting them back.
A Great Mystic Of Our Time: The Story Of Natuzza Evolo And The Catholic Church by Eleonora Francica
When Fortunata Evolo, a 20th century Italian mystic, was alive, thousands would come to her Italian village to seek her guidance, inspiration and healing. After her death in 2009, the pilgrims kept coming, declaring that she continued to perform miracles from her heavenly abode. They prayed at her tomb and finished building the “Villa of Joy,” a complex of buildings that Evolo said appeared to her in a vision.
Catholic Voters Down On Biden Ahead Of Midterms, Most Favor Abortion Rights With Limits by Clemente Lisi
Four months before the midterm elections, Catholic voters are giving President Joe Biden a thumbs down, are evenly split when it comes for their support of Democrats and Republicans and have mixed opinions when it comes to abortion rights, according to a new poll.
Ukrainian Christians Recall 51 Days Huddled In Church Building As City Was Destroyed by Erik Tryggestad
Huddled in a hallway as bombs reduced their Ukrainian city to rubble, members of the Mariupol Church of Christ urged Alexander Chekalenko to call on the Lord for protection. When he stopped, they could hear the gunfire, the explosions. For 51 days, the church members lived in the darkest of valleys — Mariupol, the Ukrainian port city obliterated by the forces of Russia and the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic.
Jan. 6 Hearings Highlight Politicians Who Had Received Support From Pro-Family Groups by Steve Rabey
Family Research Council’s website says it endorses “good policy makers” who support “faith, family, and freedom.” However, the House hearings suggest it endorsed officials whose loyalty to Trump led them to embrace illegal means to keep him in power. Here’s a look at some of the politicians who were on the hot seat during the recent hearings and their relationship to pro-family groups.
Opinion
From NASA's Amazing Space Images To The War In Ukraine, The Week's Top Faith Headlines
In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. catches up with the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith, from the first images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to the latest happenings in the war in Ukraine.
Don’t forget! You can subscribe to receive Bobby’s column early on Fridays for only $5 a month. Click the button below to subscribe!
One Reason People Latch Onto Religion And Stay: Unspeakable Joy by Paul Prather
The Past Six Years Have Either Made You Crazy Or Devout — Or A Bit Of Both by Paul Prather
Gay Couple Preach To Chicago Catholic Parish On Father’s Day by Terry Mattingly
Don’t miss our latest podcast
Running on Faith: Mary Keitany
Senior Religion Unplugged Contributor Dr. Robert Carle is in Baringo, Kenya for this episode, interviewing world record-holding long distance runner, Mary Keitany. She won her first world record in 2010, at the Berlin 25 kilometre race, with a time of 1:19:53. She also has won world records for races in 2011 and 2017. Now retired, Keitany talks to Dr. Carle about her history in racing, the importance of her Catholic faith in her life, and the public school she helped start in her hometown. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or listen directly on our website.
In case you missed it
Editorial picks from our archives
What 6 American Religious Subgroups Think About Abortion by Myrian Garcia
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey on Friday, ruling that there is no constitutional right to abortion. ReligionUnplugged looks at what six religious subgroups in America believe about abortion.
Football Coach Joseph Kennedy Talks About Life After The Supreme Court Ruling by Jovan Tripkovic
Joseph Kennedy, a high school football coach in Bremerton, Washington, is waiting for a ruling to emerge from the Supreme Court any day in his case about prayer. And he insists he is a centrist that most Americans would agree with on religious freedom issues and the Constitution.
Thanks again for reading!
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