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How You Can Help Support Our Journalism
This is a big time of year at Religion Unplugged. Nov. 1 marks the official launch of the annual NewsMatch campaign — one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. by Clemente Lisi
Trump Triumphs Again: 5 Things We Learned About Faith Voters
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris and returning to the White House for the second time following his unexpected victory in 2016. The win marked an unlikely political comeback for Trump. Faith voters were a big reason why Trump and the GOP dominated the 2024 election cycle. by Clemente Lisi
Behind Alarmist Portrayals of Rising Islamism In Bangladesh
(ANALYSIS) If you tune into mainstream media, especially in India, you might find yourself asking, “What the heck is going on in Bangladesh?” With that same question in mind, we left Delhi for Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. However, our six-day journey through Dhaka and Dinajpur left us feeling more hopeful than fearful about Bangladesh’s future. by Vishal Arora and Harshita Rathore
Joseph Smith And The Birth Of Mormonism Told Through Graphic Novelist Noah Van Sciver
(REVIEW) In “Joseph Smith and the Mormons,” Van Sciver has cautiously critiqued Mormonism and has earned that critique by the genuine effort to pursue empathy and the effort to understand what factually occurred. What it lacks in the brevity and accessibility which characterize most comics, it makes up for with its beauty and integrity. by Matthew Peterson
Finding A Tax Definition To ‘When A Church Is Not A Church’
(ANALYSIS) That was the eye-catching headline for a 2019 article. Last month, the watchdog website Ministry Watch pursued its long-running concern that’s also raised in a September article by University of Notre Dame law professor Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a tax expert. by Richard Ostling
Men Are Online And Looking For Sources Of Authority
(ANALYSIS) It’s a good thing when academics and pundits start writing about hot-button issues linked to screen culture. That’s how things get done in the marketplace of ideas. by Terry Mattingly
Inside A Secret Process: Papal Drama ‘Conclave’ Shares An Unconventional Message Of Unity
(REVIEW) “Conclave,” the fictional thriller that outlines the Catholic process of selecting a new pope, does the audience the service of stating its intended message outright. In a controversial homily that begins the proceedings, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence declares that “certainty is the great enemy of unity.” The movie also goes on to demonstrate that lesson in a variety of ways, as conspiracy abounds and tension grows. by Jillian Cheney
Why British Funerals Are Becoming More Boisterous And Bizarre
(ANALYSIS) Funerals — often thought of as solemn events filled with grief and mourning — are starting to take on a different tone. In Britain, anyway. In fact, more people view funerals as opportunities to celebrate life, rather than occasions for somber reflection. It’s a shift that’s redefining how the Brits, renowned for their stiff upper lips, are saying goodbye to loved ones. by John Mac Ghlionn
Why Nicholas Ma Decided To Take A ‘Leap Of Faith’ With New Documentary
What intrigued Ma was that they weren’t trying to get people to agree with each other, but to respect each other, which is one of our nation’s biggest issues, especially in light of the upcoming presidential election. Initially, the filmmakers suggested assembling a group of multiple faith leaders from all over the country, but it was eventually changed so that all the participants lived in the same city. by Brian Bromberger
Crossroads Podcast: Somebody’s Supporters Got Trashed
See any link here? God, guns and "deplorables." Now we have "garbage" voters. by Terry Mattingly
Olasky’s Books For November: Colossians, Calvin, Cosper And More!
Many books now tell us what to eat or when not to eat, how to observe “sacred times” or generate mystical experiences, but in Christ we sever both our bondage to the world and our tendency to think that a guru’s orders will save us. Ruben Rosario Rodriguez’s “Calvin for the World” takes readers on an unusual look at John Calvin as “a humanistic reformer whose ecclesiastical and civil polity wanted ‘every resident of Geneva integrated into a caring community,’” by Marvin Olasky
Scripture Union Ban In Zimbabwe’s Schools: A Conflict Of Faith And Politics
(ANALYSIS) The absence of religious “safety nets” in schools has been blamed for the growth in juvenile delinquency across Zimbabwe. Parents and communities are becoming aware of the vacuum caused by the absence of faith-based activities in schools as a result of drug addiction and other crimes. Christians, it should be noted, have been impacted by this more than any other religious group. by Calvin Manika
On Religion: Why Media Maven Bob Briner Remains Relevant
(ANALYSIS) Decades later, it’s hard to remember how much “Chariots of Fire” shocked the Hollywood establishment, with soaring box-office totals and four wins at the 1982 Oscars — including a Best Picture win for producer David Puttnam. The film’s focus on two legendary runners — one Christian and the other Jewish — also pleased believers who rarely applaud how faith is handled on screen. by Terry Mattingly
For Some, Witchcraft Has Its Connections To Religion And Spirituality
Witchcraft, a term loaded with fear and kitsch, dredges up images of pointy hats and bubbling cauldrons. But for an increasing number of people today, witchcraft is not just a spooky movie or costume. For some, it’s a religion, a community, a spiritual journey and a daily practice. by Heather Greene
🗳️ What Do The 1968, 1996 and 2024 Elections Have In Common? Hint: It Involves A Cake 🔌
For Weekend Plug-in columnist Bobby Ross Jr., Nov. 5 will mark not just the presidential election but also his birthday. This is the third time this has happened in his lifetime, and it made him curious about 2024’s parallels, if any, with 1968 and 1996. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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شكرا لأتاحة الفرصة لي بذلك وانا حقا احب ان اوضح
في الاديان الكثير وأؤكد لكم انة لم يصلني أي دعم مالي حتي الأن فأنا اعمل بذلك مجانا تنفيذا لامر الله ولا امانع في تلقي الدعم لذلك بدون تحيز وهذا رقم هاتفي ٠٠٩٦٧٧٧٧٢٤٢٠
احمد