South African Easter celebrations
A Christian calendar has made room for other faiths
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
We’re in the middle of Holy Week, which for most Christians marks the seven day period leading up to Easter Sunday.
This important week in the Christian calendar has influence elsewhere — particularly for Hindus and Muslims in South Africa.
Many of the country’s people are descendants of slaves and indentured workers brought by the British colonial government. Society was run according to the Christian calendar of the British, so Easter often meant time off work for all. Now, Muslims celebrate a saint who was foundational in the beginning of Islam, and Hindus worship their goddesses.
Contributor Nikhil Mandalaparthy reports this week on the celebratory traditions of these communities and the history behind them. It’s a story of colonialism and slavery, of holiness and celebration. Don’t miss it.
How Easter Became A Holy Time For Some Hindus And Muslims
Even though the days of slavery and indentured labor in South Africa are long gone, the Hindu and Muslim festivities that take place on Easter weekend have become beloved occasions for their respective communities. In a variety of ways, South African Hindus and Muslims have made the Christian holiday their own. by Nikhil Mandalaparthy
Behold: A World-Class Novelist Wrestles Anew With Biblical Genesis
(ANALYSIS) The American novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson has accumulated numerous literary prizes, among them the 2005 Pulitzer, but also honors in religion. Her new non-fiction book “Reading Genesis” wrestles with the grand themes and thorny issues raised in the Bible’s first book. It’s a climactic testament at the twilight of a distinguished life and career. by Richard Ostling
Israel’s Purim Festivals Feature Glee And Despair Amid Ongoing War
The Purim festivities in Israel this year were tinged with a schizophrenic twinning of glee and despair. Adding to the dismal mood was intermittent rain and a drizzle of rockets from Lebanon. Many celebrants experienced cognitive dissonance in marking the foiling of a genocidal plan in ancient Persia while a bloody war is raging today in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. by Gil Zohar
In Nigeria, A Clergy Rape Survivor Turns Pain Into A Source Of Support For Others
Statistics compiled by Amnesty International show that there is a culture of stigmatization and victim-blaming towards rape survivors in Nigeria. The result is a large percentage of rape and sexual assaults going unreported. One man is trying to change all that by helping others after experiencing abuse himself as a child. by Chinonso Kenneth
Not So Fast: Some Muslim Soccer Players Dealing With ‘Ramadan Bans’
Muslim athletes face a unique challenge when Ramadan coincides with their training and competition schedules. Throughout the month-long period, practicing Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from both food and drink. For athletes, this can be particularly demanding as they need to maintain their energy and performance levels. by Clemente Lisi
Easter And Passover Usually Overlap, But Not This Year
(EXPLAINER) Since 2000, the two holidays have overlapped every year but four — in 2005, 2008, 2016 and this spring. Easter is calculated based on the Christian liturgical calendar tied to the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Passover, on the other hand, is determined by the Jewish calendar, which is also lunar-based. That’s where the similarities end. by Clemente Lisi
‘The Exvangelicals’: Q&A With Journalist And Author Sarah McCammon
In the “The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church,” Sarah McCammon, a national political correspondent for NPR, shares — with a sometimes visceral honesty — the everyday currency of childhood in an evangelical subculture in which the Bible was the ultimate authority. by Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans
March Madness: Ranking The Tournament’s religiously affiliated Schools
Another March Madness is once again upon us. The NCAA’s men’s Division I basketball tournament will enthrall millions with its bracket-busting upsets. It is, for many sports fans, the best time of the year. This year’s 68-team field features seven Catholic schools. In addition, five are Protestant and one Mormon. Here’s a look at how they stack up. by Clemente Lisi
Relics On Tour: ‘Kingdom Of David And Solomon Discovered’ Comes To Oklahoma
A new exhibit, “Kingdom of David and Solomon Discovered” — on display now through Jan. 31, 2025, in the lobby of the Armstrong Auditorium in Edmond, Oklahoma — reflects on the panoply of the royal house of Judah, whose influence extended from Tyre in ancient Phoenicia, today Lebanon, to Sheba or Saba, in what is modern-day Yemen and Ethiopia. On display are 49 outstanding artifacts illuminating the material culture of those Hebrew monarchs. by Gil Zohar
What The ‘Dune’ Sequel Doesn’t Understand About Religious People
“Dune: Part Two” has been a massive hit at the box office, making back the first movie’s entire ticket take on its opening weekend and narrowly beating the opening of “Oppenheimer.” And with a Rotten Tomatoes critical and audience score over 90%, many are already calling it one of the best sequels of all time. Here’s what the movie says about religion and those who practice it. by Joseph Holmes
📊 Is America Losing Its Religion? 4 Intriguing Stats From A New National Survey 🔌
In this week’s Weekend Plug-in, Bobby Ross Jr. highlights four takeaways from a new national survey on religion in public life. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Don’t forget! You can subscribe to receive Bobby’s column directly in your inbox on Friday mornings!
Thanks again for reading!
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