Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
Targeted violence against Muslims in India erupted in February of 2002. Now, over 20 years later, families impacted are still living in its shadow.
Today’s top story is a video produced with Newsreel Asia about these families and the hardships they’ve endured since. Surabhi Singh details the history of the violence and the deep psychological scars left behind.
Watch: 2002 Shadows of Religious Violence In India Lingers for Muslim Victims
Khairunissa, along with her siblings and parents, spent years living in a multi-religious and multicultural apartment in Gujarat state’s Ahmedabad city. When communal tensions and targeted violence against Muslims erupted in the Indian city on Feb. 28, 2002, her family initially felt secure, confident that their neighbors would be able to protect them. by Surabhi Singh
How Jimmy Carter Saved A Jewish Mausoleum In Ukraine
(ANALYSIS) President Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100, was eulogized last Thursday at his state funeral in Washington, D.C. in a Scripture-filled service recalling a lifetime of good deeds and spirituality. Overlooked in all the tributes to the 39th U.S. president and born again evangelical Baptist was Carter’s role in 1979 from preventing the demolition of the mausoleum of Chassidic Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in Uman. by Gil Zohar
Pope Francis As Politician: Challenges Ahead In The US, Israel, Ukraine And China
(ANALYSIS) Could it possibly have been coincidence? The very day Congress certified Donald Trump’s election as the next U.S. president, the Vatican announced the transfer of San Diego’s Cardinal Robert McElroy to become the politically significant archbishop of Washington, D.C. There’s no doubt Pope Francis wants McElroy to keep an eye on Trump. by Richard Ostling
Is Czechia Slowly Dying Because Of Declining Faith And Family?
Czechia, known until recently as the Czech Republic following its split from Slovakia, is a stark contrast to many countries where religion shapes societal norms and family structures. Czechia used to be predominantly Catholic, but has undergone a dramatic secularization, leaving many with the question of what institution or institutions the Eastern European nation is built upon. by Anna Nilsson, Isabel Vasquez and Mariana Alvarez
‘Ancient Christianities’: A Look At The Church’s Evolution Over Its First 500 Years
(REVIEW) Compelling and comprehensive, this book may nonetheless be an uphill climb for lay readers with little more than a basic Sunday school education. Helpful maps, a glossary and a timeline offer context and reorienting for those who may get lost in the thickets of such esoterica as apocalyptic hypostasis. None of this should dissuade the curious who want a deeper understanding of Christianity’s complex, layered early history. by Tom Verde
‘Between Borders’ A Moving Refugee Story About Christianity Deserved Better Storytelling
(REVIEW) “Between Borders” is a timely film that shows the resilience of refugee families, along with the greatness of Christianity and America. Sadly, mediocre storytelling saps it of its emotional power. One might have noticed that immigration is a hot topic in Christian circles these days. It should be no surprise then that faith-based films have increasingly turned to the topic of immigration. by Joseph Holmes
How Religious Pilgrimages Became Key To Zimbabwe’s Tourism Industry
Zimbabwe has many religious shrines which had been visited over the decades, but the emergence of prophets in Pentecostal churches has led to the surge of such pilgrimages. At the same time, the government has acknowledged that religious tourism plays a crucial role in the growth of the travel sector, contributing immensely to the national economy. by Calvin Manika
On Religion: Carter’s Piety And Politics Changed Role Of Evangelicals In Public Life
(ANALYSIS) Truth is, the former president was part of two endangered groups — populist Southern Democrats and progressive Southern Baptists. In 1976, he fared well with evangelical voters, for a Democrat, but exit polls basically showed a toss-up. In 1980, many evangelicals rejected him and helped create Ronald Reagan's landslide win. by Terry Mattingly
Does God Want You To Fast From The Internet On Sundays?
(ANALYSIS) Consider this post an early take on Lent 2025 or, maybe, a very late meditation on this year’s stack of New Year’s Resolutions. by Terry Mattingly
Chile’s New Immigrant Museum Stands Amid Churches And Cemeteries
A new immigrant museum near the 19th-century Anglican and Lutheran churches and Catholic and Protestant cemeteries plans to become the center of cultural life on Valparaíso’s most visited attraction, Cerro Concepción. The former German School of Valparaíso is undergoing a renovation to become the Museo del Inmigrante. by Graciela Ibáñez
🇺🇸 ‘Good And Faithful Servant’: 7 Takeaways From Jimmy Carter’s Funeral 🔌
At Thursday’s state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, speaker after speaker referenced the humble Georgia peanut farmer’s commitment to God. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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