The Catholic Church is an evergreen for pop culture clashes. There's something about Catholicism that seems to lend itself so well to film and television and capture the popular imagination with a kind of passion that, say, Presbyterianism or Lutheranism don't. Read more
The website of the Dove World Outreach Center describes the tiny church in Gainesville, Fla., as "a New Testament church based on the Bible, the Word of God."...To lob a religious grenade into the fragile tinderbox that is the Islamic world is the opposite of what Jesus described. Read more
Consuming Spears as a product or commodity -- chewing her up, and spitting her out -- is a kind of "unconscious cannibalism," says Christopher Smit, author of The Exile of Britney Spears: A Tale of 21st Century Consumption Read more
"When your remind Americans what's going on, what is really happening in the world and in their own country, they will respond and respond in a good way," Hall said in an interview. "I think they really don't know. Hopefully we'll get this in front of them with this fast." Read more
DJ Jeff is full of surprises tonite… I completely forgot that I had this album — Nitin Sawhney’s “London Undersound” — and how fantastic it is. If you don’t know Nitin Sawhney and have never heard his remarkable music, check him out. And of course, lending his voice to Sawhney’s music, is the inimitable Natty. (If you’re a Natty fan, or want to be, check out this free download of his new song, Duppydub.) [wpvideo S43tW0xt] Read more
Each year, publishers roll out dozens of new religiously themed books in the months and weeks leading up to Easter. This season, several high-profile releases—coinciding with the 400-year anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible—take a critical (and sometimes controversial) look at how the Bible came to be, who wrote it, how and why, and what kind of cultural impact the holy text has had on civilization. Whether you are interested in learning more about the Bible’s origins, dismissing its veracity, or simply considering alternate views on how it can be understood, this season’s offerings will not disappoint. Read more
There’s roads and there’s roads And they call, can’t you hear it? Roads of the earth And roads of the spirit The best roads of all Are the ones that aren’t certain One of those is where you’ll find me Till they drop the big curtain Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn recorded those lyrics in “Child of the Wind” on Christmas Eve 1989. With the release of his 31st album in 40 years, “Small Source of Comfort,” it is obvious that... Read more
No, this isn’t a joke. Yes, this is a real and a serious book. As the ad copy in Publisher’s Weekly this week says: COMES WITH ITS OWN FAN CLUB…Are you a Belieber yet? Cathleen Falsani explores the heart and humble faith behind the famous hair and screaming fans. Whether you’re a fan, a Belieber or not, Justin is a remarkable young man with a compelling story, one that has captured the imagination of millions of kids around the world.... Read more
American Islam, like American Christianity, is not a monolith. Read more
Monday morning, 8 a.m PST. My phone rings. It’s Rob Bell calling from New York City where he’s headed for Central Park to take a stroll with his wife between media appointments. “How’s my favorite heretic?” I ask. Before I can turn on my recording device, he’s already answering. This transcript picks up a few moments later, as he’s telling me what he’s recently discovered is the true definition of the word “heretic.” Our “interview” is really a conversation between... Read more
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