🎞️ What the 2023 Oscars love and hate about religion
Ready your popcorn to read our recap of the Academy's favorite movies from the past year 🍿
Hi ReligionUnplugged readers,
The 95th Academy Awards are this Sunday, March 12. Among the nominees are a host of movies that deal with religion in a variety of ways:
“The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical family drama, takes a look at American Judaism and Christianity — including a representation of bullies from Spielberg’s past that made him “actually feel ashamed of being Jewish.”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the long-awaited sequel as part of the MCU. It deals with grief after the death of Chadwick Boseman (and his hero character T’Challa) and shows how religion plays a role in finding peace. It also explores Mayan religion and Catholicism.
“Elvis,” the biopic about the King, shows the star’s gospel roots and the divisive nature of his stage presence.
“The Banshees of Inisherin” features an unhelpful priest and fatal reflections on the nature of life’s purpose.
— and that’s only a handful of the nominees that delve into religious themes.
Ahead of the awards ceremony, contributor Joseph Holmes explores the good, bad and ugly of the Best Picture nominees and more.
By and large, he concludes, the Oscar nominees don’t have a lot of good things to say about religion. When they do, the religions in question are more fantasy than reality.
What The 2023 Oscars Love (And Hate) About Religion
(ANALYSIS) The 2023 Oscar nominees have largely given up on real religion. Portrayals of religion in the real world are almost exclusively cartoonishly negative, but the movies also acknowledge that a world without religion isn’t great either. Instead of real religion, the academy seems to believe in a handful of imaginary religions created for the silver screen. by Joseph Holmes
Reflections On How Christianity Can Help China To Flourish
(ANALYSIS) There has been surprisingly little engagement among religious groups in China, and Christians could point to ways that shared efforts by religious groups — care for the aging, improving schools in rural areas, marriage counseling and the like — can benefit Chinese society. by Richard J. Mouw
Experts Say Entrepreneurship, Not Aid, Is Key To Ethiopia’s Future
Foreign aid is not a cure-all for Africa according to experts and leaders from Africa who spoke at a recent conference in New York City. Rather, they suggest foreign aid is only part of the panacea alongside a more holistic dose of self-reliance, good governance, entrepreneurship and transcendent spiritual values. by Dr. Robert Carle
God And Pot: Both Sides Cite Faith In Oklahoma’s Recreational Marijuana Fight
Nearly five years after approving medical marijuana, voters in the Bible Belt state will decide whether to expand cannabis sales and create a legal framework to expunge pot-related criminal offenses. People of faith are divided in a referendum that is drawing national attention. by Bobby Ross Jr.
Israeli Earthquake Rescue Team Returns 200-Year-Old Scrolls Of Esther To Turkey
The goodwill Israel earned when she sent a team of nearly 700 emergency medical responders to Turkey following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that devastated Hatay province on Feb. 6 evaporated after the revelation that the search and rescue team secretly exported two 200-year-old Scrolls of Esther from Antakya at the end of its six-day mission there. by Gil Zohar
Why Canadian Businessman Peter Chung Is Key Player In The Future Of The King’s College In NYC
(ANALYSIS) It would be smart for religion reporters, business reporters and education reporters to dig more into Canadian businessman Peter Chung and his involvement with King’s in the past two years as well as his other business ventures through Primacorp Ventures Inc. and the Emanata Group. by Paul Glader
Sassoon Codex Part 2: The Narco Business And International Intrigue Of Sassoon And Sons
For a fraction of the cost of a comparable hotel in relatively expensive Bollywood, all Jews are welcome in the air-conditioned kosher guesthouse that operates thanks to the perpetual generosity of the Sir Jacob Sassoon Trusts. And the impact of the Sassoon family traces forward to 2023, when a valuable Hebrew Bible from 1,000 years ago, the Sassoon Codex, goes to auction at Sotheby’s this spring as previously reported by ReligionUnplugged.com. by Gil Zohar
🇺🇸 No Separation Of Church And State? New York City Mayor Sparks A Furor 🔌
This week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the controversy over New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ comments on the separation of church and state — or the lack thereof. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
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Thanks again for reading!
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