The 'Cave Church': a sign of hope in the Middle East
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The ‘Cave Church’ A Sign Of Hope In The Middle East
(ESSAY) Amid the pain and suffering in the Middle East, it is good to be reminded that beautiful things also happen there. One such remembrance came on Oct. 11 with the funeral of Father Simaan Ibrahim in Muqattam, in the southeast of Cairo. It was a funeral, with much lament, but was also a joyous occasion that drew 30,000 people to worship in the of the monastery of St. Simaan the Tanner Church, which he founded and led for 50 years. by Paul Marshall
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’: AI Fears And Why Human Dignity Matters
(REVIEW) “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is a storytelling mess, but profoundly illustrates the heart of modern fears around AI that Hollywood is presently exploring. The movie is based on the video game franchise of the same name and centers on Mike, who agrees to work a shady job as a security guard on the night shift. by Joseph Holmes
7 History Books That Help Explain The Israel-Hamas War
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is rooted in decades of mistrust and animosity between Jews and Muslims. To get a better understanding of this war and how we got into the present situation, here are seven books about Israel and the region. by Clemente Lisi
Ghost Hunters Take On New York City’s Spookiest Spirits
What should a New Yorker do should they come across a ghost? In other words, who you gonna call? The answer is Scott Orlansky, the lead investigator of Ghost Bros.: Paranormal Research Team, that’s who! Ghost Bros. is based in the the Big Apple and is run by Orlansky and his brother Justin. by Matthew Peterson
3 Things We Learned From The Vatican’s Synod On Synodality
The Vatican’s meeting of bishops — the second phase of a multi-year effort that began in 2021 known as the Synod on Synodality — concluded amid a growing debate regarding a number of key issues. The meetings this month centered around the future of the Catholic church and has put progressives and conservatives at odds when it comes to doctrinal issues. by Clemente Lisi
The Religious Connections to Halloween’s Scariest Monsters
The annual celebration of Halloween is marked by fun and frightening traditions, those that involve monsters being the most fun and frightening of them all. These representations of evil are inextricably linked with religion, used to condemn evil, find comfort in suffering and much more. by Jillian Cheney
Collective Trauma From Hamas Attack Will Forever Scar The Jewish People
(ESSAY) It’s been nearly three weeks since the attacks and Israel seems to be a country transformed. The turnaround from a nation bifurcated by protests for and against judicial reform just last month to one united by social cohesion has been extraordinary. Yet, the trauma from the Oct. 7 terror attack unleashed by Hamas that killed 1,300 civilians remains. by Gil Zohar
The World Series Reflects Life And What Little We Can Control
(OPINION) Let’s start with Chapter 9 of Ecclesiastes: “Under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” Baseball is different from basketball, where a perfect shot will go into the basket. In baseball, it’s possible to hit a ball so hard — yet a well-positioned fielder can catch it. by Marvin Olasky
‘The Great Dechurching’ A Must-Read Game-Changer On America’s Faith Decline
(REVIEW) “The Great Dechurching” is a groundbreaking new book that should redefine how we talk about the reasons behind the decline in American church attendance, even if its proposed solutions miss the forest for the trees. by Joseph Holmes
Sierra Pacific synod Bishop-Elect Talks About The ELCA’s Future And ‘rebuilding trust’
Johnson made ELCA history when he was elected on the fifth ballot to serve a six-year term as bishop of ELCA’s Sierra Pacific synod, which includes Northern and Central California and Northern Nevada. As a result, Johnson is the first openly gay man to be elected bishop in the synod. by Brian Bromberger
Battle Over Bibles: Q&A With Arizona School Board Mom Canceled Over Scripture Verse
For years, school board campaigns remained non-partisan. However, with education issues taking center stage regarding such contentious issues as transgenderism, school boards have emerged as new political and cultural battlegrounds between the political left and right. by Jovan Tripkovic
🇮🇱 Israel-Hamas War: Questions About The End Of The World 🔌
In this week’s Weekend Plug-in, Bobby Ross Jr. highlights the latest religion news related to the Israel-Hamas war. 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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