'What Did You Want to See?'
Photographer Mahtab Hussain puts a focus on British Islam
Hi Religion Unplugged readers,
Mosques of all shapes and sizes, Muslim sports heroes, prejudiced surveillance, powerful portraits — all of these and more are the featured photographs part of artist Mahtab Hussain’s exhibition “What Did You Want to See?” on view at the Ikon Gallery in the U.K.
In today’s top story, contributor David Trigg walks readers through the exhibition and provides crucial context for some of the most powerful pieces, which shine an all-encompassing light on the local experience of being Muslim.
“Hussain does not show us a community cowering in fear or running scared, but one characterized by defiance, resilience and tenacity,” Trigg writes.
From Sacred Space To Suspect Place: Mahtab Hussain Puts A Focus On British Islam
(REVIEW) With its central dome and minarets, Birmingham Central Mosque is a notable example of Islamic architecture in the U.K. It is one of 160 places of Muslim worship in the city that artist Mahtab Hussain photographed over a two-year period starting in 2023. But, as his photographic installation “Mosque City: Birmingham’s Spiritual Landscape” reveals, not all of these mosques are as conspicuous. by David Trigg
Trump’s Greenland Obsession Overlooks A Spiritual Iceberg
A week doesn’t go by without President Donald Trump talking about “needing” to acquire Greenland. As reporters rush to cover this mysterious territory, much has been said the island’s politics and melting ice — but nothing about the island’s eclectic religious mix of Lutherans, Pentecostals, Baptists, Baha’is and Catholics. by Julia Duin
Faith And Frustration: The Limits of Campus Protest In The US and Abroad
(OPINION) Angry students threatening campus police. Students holding signs in the lobby of a classroom building. Which do you prefer? Which is the best? by Michael Ray Smith
Special Report: India Abandons Rohingya Refugees Near Myanmar’s Border
Indian authorities have allegedly “abandoned” — rather than deported — 40 Rohingya refugees in international waters near the Myanmar maritime border, forcing women, children and the elderly to swim to safety using life jackets. The action could be seen as a “secret rendition,” a term used to describe the covert transfer of individuals across borders without legal process. by Surabhi Singh
New Trump Commission Displays DC’s Religious Power Grid
(ANALYSIS) Despite the disruptions of global economics and trade, and a couple dozen other hot disputes, let's not neglect such perennial realities as the way religion can affect politics and vice versa. As President Donald Trump promised, this is a central aspect of his agenda, underscored by the recent establishment of the new Religious Liberty Commission. by Richard Ostling
Life Beyond Screens: Thinking About An AI Apocalypse
(ANALYSIS) The Bible has lots of things to say about lying. You can look it up. It’s clear that lying is a sin. This brings us to an increasingly relevant question: Can a computer lie? That leads directly to another hot-button question: Can a computer sin? by Terry Mattingly
Decades After Massacres, Zimbabwe’s Churches Forced To Deal With Justice
Two years after gaining political independence from Britain in 1980, Zimbabwe plunged into another dark era. The government sanctioned a military operation named “Gukurahundi,” which means “the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains.” More than 20,000 civilians were murdered in the 1980s — and now churches are being called on to help with the reckoning. by Calvin Manika
Fact-Finding Teams Expose Violence Against Christians In Indian State Of Odisha
Many Christian families reported living in fear — facing threats of social boycott, electricity cuts and verbal abuse. Some have left their villages or publicly disavowed their faith to avoid conflict. Others now live with the trauma of having been denied the chance to grieve with dignity. In cases where women were disrobed or attacked during mourning, the abuse was not only communal but gendered. by Vishal Arora
‘The Damned’ Delivers A Surprisingly Haunting Meditation On Faith And War
"The Damned" is a film that focuses on the human element of war, particularly faith and individual stories, during the Civil War. Unlike many modern war films, it connects viewers with characters through their personal beliefs and struggles. Director Roberto Minervini used nonprofessional actors and improvisation to create an authentic experience. by Joseph Holmes
On Religion: As Pope Leo XIV Takes Charge, German Church Tests Doctrinal Limits
(ANALYSIS) The days after a pope's death are hectic, and it's a hard time for Vatican officials to examine complex, controversial documents. Nevertheless, the bishops of Germany announced — two days after Pope Francis died on April 21 — guidelines for handling blessings for same-sex couples and other "irregular" relationships. Welcome to the Chair of St. Peter, Pope Leo XIV. by Terry Mattingly
🎸 Top 10 Faith-Infused Country Songs: The ACM’s All-Time Best Honorees 🔌
Sure, drinking and cheating songs characterize a whole lot of the country music genre, known for its roots in working-class, blue-collar American life. But faith, too, infuses many Nashville hits, as illustrated by the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. by Bobby Ross Jr.
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