Cover Story: Millions of Americans hope Easter’s message of rebirth brings rays of hope in an anxious time

Please share our inspiring stories in this Holy Week

COVER STORY—THIS WEEK, Christians around the world—all 2.4-billion followers of the Eastern and Western branches of the faith—will remember the final days of Jesus’s life. Then, on Sunday, April 20, all Christians will celebrate Easter, which celebrates the Christian faith in Jesus’s resurrection. This is a rare convergence of the Eastern Orthodox and Western calendars for Easter, so it’s a global reminder of the potential of unity.

From Stephanie Fenton—

OUR INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS COLUMNIST Stephanie Fenton reports on this week’s wide range of events—from somber reflections to joyous celebrations. She has divided these Christian traditions into two columns:

Paschal Triduum: Christians observe Maundy Thursday, Good Friday & Holy Saturday

Easter, Pascha: Western and Eastern Christians worldwide celebrate the Resurrection

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And from Jonathan Grimm—

‘RE formed’—A Holy Week reflection from California ashes

FOR HOLY WEEK, author Jonathan Grimm writes a special reflection on the powerful spiritual themes of rebirth and resurrection for all those who lost their homes to wildfires in California—and in other disasters this year. This is a unique column that you may want to share with friends who know people touched by such tragedies.

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This week also is Passover—
“Let anyone who is hungry come and eat”

THIS YEAR—We invited Rabbi Roy Furman—author of the upcoming book, Torah Wrestling—to share his reflections on Passover in 2025. You will find that Rabbi Furman’s inspiring column is a call to unity among all Americans—people of all faiths—as we remember our responsibility toward the world’s most vulnerable people. If that remembrance leads us to action, Rabbi Furman writes—then, we are fulfilling the call of Passover.

FOR MORE ON PASSOVER TRADITIONS, and recipes as well, please enjoy this story by Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton.

AND FOR TIMELY HELP IN ‘UNPLUGGING EXTREMISM,’ especially in light of the hateful attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at the start of Passover this week, please read our Front Edge Publishing column about journalist Bill Tammeus’s important book.

In 2025, Passover ends on April 20.

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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And more from our Authors—

Joe Grimm—

What are veterans’ biggest needs?

MSU School of Journalism’s Joe Grimm writes this week to share answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the millions of veterans living among us, including our relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers. The MSU School of Journalism has a decade-long history of supporting veterans’ concerns—and published a book of 100 Questions about veterans, researched by journalism students in cooperation with veterans nationwide.

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Bill Tammeus—

Protecting our story from those who would tear it up

WE HAVE FREQUENTLY RECOMMENDED columns by award-winning journalist Bill Tammeus—one of the true “deans” of American religion writers. In the face of fresh attempts to literally rip up our American history, Bill writes regularly about the importance of accurately remembering our collective story. Here are two of his recent, thought-provoking columns to share with friends:

A proposal to ‘rescue’ American history is both weird and ruinous

Why we still need to know about the 1921 Tulsa race massacre

And, can we hope to ‘unplug extremism’?

In his book, Love, Loss and Endurance, Bill details eight ways we all can help “unplug extremism”—and Bill’s book is especially timely in light of the hateful arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at the start of Passover this week.

So—please read our Front Edge Publishing column, this week, which tells more about this important book that Bill originally wrote about the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. And note: As this week starts, Amazon has deeply discounted the paperback version of Bill’s book—so either paperback or Kindle editions are quite inexpensive as we publish this weekly edition.

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Faith & film

Even to professionals, ‘The Pitt’ is a ‘welcome surprise’

THIS WEEK, WE ALL WANT TO THANK chaplain, educator and writer Daniel Kidder-McQuown for reviewing the extremely popular medical series, The Pitt. We can’t think of a better film critic to write about this dramatic series, because Dan served as a hospital chaplain and understands first hand the inner workings of a hospital. Click on this link to visit Dan’s own website and read his rview of the series.

If you missed it, in January, Dan wrote one of our most memorable columns this year, headlined: Healing Wisdom from a Hospital Night Chaplain

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Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.

 

 

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Cover Story: Rabbi Roy Furman on Passover—The Unleavened Bread of Social Justice

The Timely Prophetic Plea of Passover—
“Let anyone who is hungry come and eat”

COVER STORY—As we reach Passover, this week, we invited Rabbi Roy Furman—author of the upcoming book, Torah Wrestling—to share his reflections as he and his family approach this annual spiritual milestone in 2025. You will find that Rabbi Furman’s inspiring column is a call to unity among all Americans—people of all faiths—as we remember our responsibility toward the world’s most vulnerable people. If that remembrance leads us to action, Rabbi Furman writes—then, we are fulfilling the call of Passover.

FOR MORE ON PASSOVER TRADITIONS, and recipes as well, please enjoy this story by Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton.

In 2025, the first seder of Passover is on the evening of Saturday, April 12.

Easter(s) soon will converge

STAY TUNED for our coverage of Easter(s), which will converge in both the Christian West (Catholic, Protestant and Anglican calendars) and the Christian East (Orthodox calendars) on Sunday April 20. The last time East and West celebrated Easter on the same date was 2017. (While most Americans know the holiday simply as “Easter”—Orthodox refer to the holiday as Great and Holy Pascha.)

But, first, Palm Sunday is coming

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS COLUMNIST Stephanie Fenton reports on the colorful festival coming on Sunday, April 13, in Christian churches—East and West—usually called Palm Sunday in the U.S. but also known as the Triumphal Entry of Our Lord.

 

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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News from our Authors—

Dave Larsen—

Maximizing an author’s ability to sell books

IN OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING column this week, we share the story of author Dave Larsen—whose upcoming historical novel Green Street in Black and White already is touching off a remarkable buzz. Dave and his wife decided to maximize their opportunity to sell the book themselves by ordering an entire pallet load of paperbacks. We’ve got the story—and photos.

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Rodney Curtis—

A News Photographer at one of the 1,000-plus ‘Hands off!’ rallies

AUTHOR, FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER and COLUMNIST Rodney Curtis channeled his many years as a newspaper photographer and photo-editor to capture the vivid outcry at one of the 1,000-plus “Hands off!” rallies held this weekend. Clicking on this link will take you to Rodney’s website, where you can see collection of Rodney’s news photos.

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Suzy Farbman—

Remembering lifelong friend Michael Kramer’s warm humor and strong commitment to justice

THE RECENT PASSING of Michigan attorney Michael Kramer is mourned by many leaders across the state. GodSigns columnist Suzy Farbman remembers the warm, humorous side of her family’s lifelong friend.

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Faith & film

How does Holland look from Holland?

Version 1.0.0

JEFFREY MUNROE—whose Reformed Journal publishing house is based in Holland, Michigan—gives us his “take” on Holland. And—spoiler alert—he’s definitely not happy with the Holland these filmmakers have served up. Click here to read Jeffrey’s entire review in the Reformed Journal website.

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AND HERE’S A TIP—If you follow Jeff’s recommendation and skip the film—you can, instead, enjoy some far more compelling stories in Jeff’s own book, Telling Stories in the Dark.

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Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.

 

 

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Cover Story: Larry Buxton offers us a timely way to think about the true values of “Leadership”

Remembering the enduring values of King David

COVER STORY: Veteran leadership coach, pastor and author Larry Buxton writes our lead story this week about a group of anxious men who gathered in the suburbs of Washington D.C. recently—hoping to rediscover the spiritual resilience to face the chaotic changes we all are encountering these days. Larry led them through a two-day retreat and, in this story, he describes values from the life of King David that resonated most deeply with this men’s group. In 2025, Larry’s 2020 book about David suddenly seems as timely as our daily headlines. This is a story you may want to share with friends—especially if you’d like to spark a discussion group like the one Larry describes here.

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And More Good News from Our Authors

A Big “Thank You!” to Readers and Reviewers from Doug Brouwer—

FROM OUR “No. 1” AUTHOR THIS WEEK, DOUG BROUWER: Good news travels fast and apparently good news about travel—travels even faster! That’s the experience Traveler’s Path author Douglas J. Brouwer writes about this week in our Front Edge Publishing column.

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Holidays & Festivals

Jews gather around seder tables for Passover

REMEMBERING GOD’S GOODNESS IN THE EXODUS is the central theme of foods and traditional readings around seder tables in this universally celebrated holiday among Jews worldwide. As Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton writes: “Passover usually is experienced as a family reunion, a history lesson, an affirmation of survival and a time of reflecting on ways to help the vulnerable.”

This year, the first seder of Passover is on the evening of Saturday, April 12.

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And, Easter(s) soon will converge

STAY TUNED for our coverage of Easter(s), which will converge in both the Christian West (Catholic, Protestant and Anglican calendars) and the Christian East (Orthodox calendars) on Sunday April 20. The last time East and West celebrated Easter on the same date was 2017. (While most Americans know the holiday simply as “Easter”—Orthodox refer to the holiday as Great and Holy Pascha.)

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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Faith & film

 

How about some fictional presidential drama?

THIS WEEK, photographer and author Rodney Curtis offers us some relief from the very real presidential dramas we’re all watching on a daily basis. Rodney writes that he and his wife are so anxious about what’s really happening in Washington DC—that naturally they found themselves binge watching TV about—yes, presidential drama. In this review, Rodney covers the popular series: Paradise, Zero Day and The Residence. If you haven’t seen these series yet, you’ll enjoy Rodney’s overview—and may want to share his column with friends. As you click on this link, you’ll jump over to Rodney’s own home online to read the column.

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Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.

 

 

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COVER STORY: Love to travel? Share inspiring stories with Doug Brouwer along ‘The Traveler’s Path’

Hit the road with Doug this week—

COVER STORY: This week is the national release of one of the most eagerly awaited new books, The Traveler’s Path, by veteran author, teacher and world traveler Douglas J. Brouwer. But, wait! There’s more good news. Not only is this Doug’s big “launch week”—but Doug and his publisher Jeffrey Munroe also have selected a free excerpt of a particularly inspiring chapter to share with readers. If this Cover Story interests you, please share a link to it with friends via social media. You’ll be glad you did—and, as they read this story, you may discover new traveling companions among your friends!

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Good news from other authors—

Rusty Rosman:

‘This is the How to Have the Best Time of Your Life Publishing House’

IN OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING COLUMN, this week, we’re featuring a love letter from author Rusty Rosman—who is out there every week making the world a little better place. And that’s good news we all can use, right?

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Holidays & Festivals

Why We Cover These Stories

EDITOR’S NOTE: The ReadTheSpirit community of writers is proud to find ourselves among the “keepers of living memory” about the special religious and cultural observances that shape the lives of billions of men, women and children around the world. If you feel the same, please share Stephanie’s columns with friends, each week, via social media or email.


Wish Muslim friends ‘Eid Mubarak!’

MOST LIKELY on Sunday March 30, this year, the great Muslim Eid al-Fitr—which in English means “celebration of breaking the fast”—will unfold around the world. However, that festival—involving nearly 2 billion men, women and children—will take place with many special culinary and cultural variations. Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton has the story for us.

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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Faith & film

In honor of the Eid, celebrate with Wadjda

Here’s a timely offering to help all of us think about our Muslim friends and neighbors—stream this inspiring movie that Rotten Tomatoes says has a 99 percent approval rating among critics. Our film critic Ed McNulty was one of those who gave this movie 5 out of 5 stars in his review. It’s easy to see in most homes. You can stream it through Hulu and Disney+ and you can rent it for streaming on Amazon.

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Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.

 

 

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Cover Story—Back from the Blaze: Jonathan Grimm returns to helping others navigate the storms around us all

Literally rising from the ashes—

COVER STORY: After surviving the now-infamous “Night that Altadena Burned,” along with his wife and their children, Jonathan Grimm is on a mission to help others find the resilient resources they need to survive catastrophes that lie ahead for millions of Americans. In this column, we’re highly recommend that you connect with Jonathan’s story—and the free resources he’s offering—as a way to encourage our families and friends to get involved in building healthy communities. And, if you agree after reading this column, please share (via the convenient social-media sharing buttons) with your friends online.

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And here’s more good news

Feeling overwhelmed by the chaotic changes surrounding us?

This spring, let master storyteller Dave Larsen take you to his ‘Green Street’

WHAT WE ALL NEED RIGHT NOW IS A GOOD, PAGE-TURNING NOVEL WITH CHARACTERS WE LOVE. Are you feeling overcome by the turbulent changes swirling all around our communities right now? Then, this spring, please read Dave Larsen’s Green Street in Black and White—a new book coming soon from Reformed Journal Books. The novel explores how community upheavals in the lives of parents in a modest Chicago neighborhood will forever affect the lives of an 11-year-old boy and his friends.

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We’re helping veterans to tell their stories

THIS WEEK, veterans are all over the news—TV stations, newspapers and online magazines—for their coast-to-coast protests of potential cuts to the VA system on which millions of veterans rely. In this Front Edge Publishing story, Joe Grimm recommends a book in which veterans came together to tell readers about their lives—and to clear up many ways that non-veterans may misunderstand or stereotype their lives. It’s timely news you can use this week—and you can tell friends about this inexpensive resource to learn more about the millions of veterans and their families living among us.

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Holidays & Festivals

Why We Cover These Stories

EDITOR’S NOTE: The ReadTheSpirit community of writers is proud to find ourselves among the “keepers of living memory” about the special religious and cultural observances that shape the lives of billions of men, women and children around the world. If you feel the same, please share Stephanie’s columns with friends, each week, via social media or email.

 

St. Patrick’s Day

Columnist Stephanie Fenton writes this week about the annual holiday celebrating Irish culture as well as the historic St. Patrick’s wisdom. Her column includes links to three versions of St. Patrick’s famous Breastplate prayer—a major part of his spiritual legacy to this day.

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A season of fasting—and special foods

Ramadan is also about sharing food

FOR A UNIQUE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON RAMADAN please click here to visit the website hosted by our friends at the International Association of Religion Journalists, who have posted this story from Malaysia about the importance of food in that Asian Muslim nation during Ramadan. We want to say “Thanks!” to Zurairi AR in Kuala Lumpur for this fascinating story about how journalists in Malaysia are covering these stories this year.

AND WE ALSO SUGGEST LOOKING BACK WITH US, for a moment, to this 2021 overview of the many helpful resources we publish to help readers “meet our neighbors,” which has never been more important. This Front Edge Publishing column is headlined: Ramadan is the perfect month to learn more about our Muslim neighbors.

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And then:
How many Christians follow fasting traditions during Lent?

AND WHAT DOES “FASTING” MEAN? Holidays & Festivals expert Stephanie Fenton reports on these fascinating questions and, of course, she also provides links to delicious recipes that are a distinctive part of this season.

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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Faith & film

 

White Lotus

What does the popular series look like for folks living in its destinations?

THAT’S THE BIG QUESTION RAISED THIS WEEK by contributing columnist Daniel Kidder-McQuown.

We last featured one of Dan’s columns in January, headlined: Healing Wisdom from a Hospital Night Chaplain

Dan recently moved to Hawaii—and launched a new personal website called A Year in Waipahu to chronicle his adventures and reflections on the islands. His first post, called simply Introduction, was posted in February.

THIS WEEK, then, Dan wrote a reflection on the hit TV series The White Lotus, since Season 1 was set in Hawaii. In his column, Dan argues that the TV series actually has little to do with the realities of life in Hawaii, however—in a couple of ways—the series does raise fascinating questions that we should consider.

 

Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.

 

 

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COVER STORY: ‘LIVE! … from Boston!’ it’s Howard Brown still Shining Brightly despite a deadly new cancer

He’s got a message of hope and compassion for all of us!

THIS WEEK, we welcome back Shining Brightly author and inspirational speaker Howard Brown with news that—despite dire news reports about him a month ago—he is still alive and now expects to triumph over his latest aggressive cancer. In addition to the good news that a team of cancer specialists at Harvard are giving Howard a new chance at life—there are 4 important reasons Howard wanted us to publish this story right now. Want to know what they are? Well, please read this Cover Story to find out—and share it with friends. This kind of inspirational news can bring a warm smile to folks you know.

(And—here’s a hint! One of the 4 reasons is that today, March 10, is his birthday. If you’re among our many readers who follow Howard’s work, an easy mitzvah “good deed” today is to take a moment and wish him Happy Birthday!)

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And more good news

Hmong families celebrate a 50th anniversary—

We’ve got a timely book about that community

MSU BIAS BUSTERS PROGRAM FOUNDER JOE GRIMM writes our Front Edge Publishing column this week about a fascinating book that helps us to understand more about our Hmong-American neighbors.

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And, on the Homefront—

MANY OF OUR WRITERS AND READERS have thanked us in recent months for publishing links to their columns about human rights, diversity, interfaith understanding and the belief that peace is possible in our world. So, we will continue to highlight these values as they relate to weekly headlines by sharing some of the links you’ve sent to us.

Remembering Martin Marty (1928-2025)—

SINCE THE DEATH OF THIS GIANT AMONG SCHOLARS, we’ve been inundated with notes, tributes and links to columns about Martin Marty. When our publishing house was founded in 2007, Marty was among our mentors encouraging us to establish a publishing house dedicated to fair, accurate and balanced coverage of religion. Here are several links to stories about Marty’s life that are well worth revisiting:

Looking for Clarity in Our American Maelstrom

MARTIN DAVIS—author of our Thirty Days with America’s High School Coaches—wrote this editorial, headlined “These are trying, and promising, times,” for his FXBG Advance newspaper.

TOM FOX—a contributing writer in the book National Catholic Reporter: Beacon of Justice, Community and Hope—this week, wrote the commentary “Hope emerges from visible, widespread, undeniable betrayal” in The National Catholic Reporter.

JEFF MUNROE—author of Telling Stories in the Dark—wrote “Trump, Musk and the Gulf of America: Lessons in Irony” in his online magazine, The Reformed Journal.

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Holidays & Festivals

Why We Cover These Stories

EDITOR’S NOTE: The ReadTheSpirit community of writers is proud to find ourselves among the “keepers of living memory” about the special religious and cultural observances that shape the lives of billions of men, women and children around the world. If you feel the same, please share Stephanie’s columns with friends, each week, via social media or email.

Holi certainly is colorful!

LATE THIS WEEK, millions of men, women and children with roots in Indian faiths and cultures are likely to be expressing themselves in a colorful way! Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton has the story for us.

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A season of fasting—and special foods

Ramadan is also about sharing food

LET’S START OUR COVERAGE OF THIS THEME by jumping over to the website hosted by our friends at the International Association of Religion Journalists, who have just posted this story from Malaysia about the importance of food in that Asian Muslim nation during Ramadan. “Thanks!” to Zurairi AR in Kuala Lumpur for this fascinating story about how journalists in Malaysia are covering these stories this year.

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And then:
How many Christians follow fasting traditions during Lent?

AND WHAT DOES “FASTING” MEAN? Holidays & Festivals expert Stephanie Fenton reports on these fascinating questions and, of course, she also provides links to delicious recipes that are a distinctive part of this season.

 

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Preparing for Purim with a fast?

OBSERVANT JEWS AROUND THE WORLD also will be fasting for one day in mid-March in preparation for the joyous celebration of the holiday Purim. 

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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Faith & film

Citizen George

For a time such as this, it’s hard to imagine a more helpful film

THIS WEEK, author and international peacemaker Daniel Buttry reviews a documentary about his long-time friend George Lakey.

 

 

Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.

 

 

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Cover Story: This week, let’s start with some inspiring invitations to travel—and to remember

‘This book is an adventure!’

Douglas Brouwer invites us into ‘a profound voyage of spirit’

OUR COVER STORY THIS WEEK FEATURES THE FIRST GLIMPSE of a book that’s coming just in time to connect with our restless desire to get moving again across North America—as spring beckons, followed by summer opportunities to travel. This book—The Traveler’s Path—is so new that it just popped up on Amazon for sale. If you read our Cover Story (including a 1-minute video introduction from the author), you can click over to Amazon right now and ensure that your copy will be on its way when it officially ships to readers later this month.

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And—from Suzy Farbman—

The miracle of memory

IN HER GOD-SIGNS COLUMN THIS WEEK, Suzy Farbman writes about the power of things from our past—smells, tastes and perhaps even an old hat—to summon powerful memories.

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Holidays & Festivals

Why We Cover These Stories

EDITOR’S NOTE: The ReadTheSpirit community of writers is proud to find ourselves among the “keepers of living memory” about the special religious and cultural observances that shape the lives of billions of men, women and children around the world. If you feel the same, please share Stephanie’s columns with friends, each week, via social media or email.

Did you know this is a global season of fasting?

2.4 Billion Christians Are Entering the Lenten Season

But, how many people actually are fasting during Lent?

AND WHAT DOES “FASTING” MEAN? Holidays & Festivals expert Stephanie Fenton reports on these fascinating questions and, of course, she also provides links to delicious recipes that also are a distinctive part of this season.

Wish a friend—‘Ramadan Mubarak!’

At sunset on February 28, 2 billion Muslims around the world began the annual fasting month of Ramadan. Do you have family, friends, neighbors or co-workers who are Muslim? Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton has this important and timely overview of Ramadan that you can share with others.

Baha’is also are fasting

STARTING ON FEBRUARY 28, AS STEPHANIE FENTON reports in this column, Baha’is around the world will began a traditional fast as well.

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Preparing for Purim with a fast?

OBSERVANT JEWS AROUND THE WORLD also will be fasting for one day in mid-March in preparation for the joyous celebration of the holiday Purim. 

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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And, on the Homefront—

MANY OF OUR WRITERS AND READERS have thanked us in recent months for publishing occasional columns about human rights, diversity, interfaith understanding and the belief that peace is possible in our world—if we continue to respect and care for each other and our planet. So, we will continue to highlight these values—as they relate to weekly headlines.

First: ‘Who holds the cards?’

IN THE CONFRONTATION THIS WEEK between President Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian leader Zelensky—in which Zelensky resisted being brow-beaten into signing an agreement—President Trump tried to sway Zelensky with a metaphor of playing “cards.” Zelensky rejected the metaphor, as you can read in transcripts from the meeting. In the wake of that meeting, political leaders around the world are wondering whether such life-and-death issues really amount to a game of cards for the new U.S. leadership.

FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE on this metaphor, check out the book Critical Conversations as Leadership: Driving Change with Card Talk, by Michigan State University Distinguished Professor of Communication William Donohue. And, to be clear, Donohue is not a political partisan. But he does provide wise background on how communications theory can be understood through the metaphor of “cards” we can use as resources to reach a consensus even n difficult situations.

Check out this Front Edge Publishing column about Donohue’s book that explains: “The goal Donohue describes in this new book is not adversarial—it’s collaboration and successful cooperation as an organization.” Whatever our political party may be, we certainly can agree on that basic goal.

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Second: ‘Is it true that we just stopped funding polio, HIV and malaria programs?’

SO MANY HEADLINES HAVE BEEN FLOWING FROM WASHINGTON that it is difficult to keep up with all of the issues unfolding around the world. As of this March 3, 2025, issue of ReadTheSpirit magazine, some court challenges are trying to restore portions of USAID that were cut. But, so far: Yes, as of this week, “the projects terminated include HIV treatment programs that had served millions of people, the main malaria control programs in the worst-affected African countries and global efforts to wipe out polio.” That’s according to a February 27, 2025, Washington Post article that includes a list of examples illustrating the far longer list of 5,800 programs that were cut.

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Third: So, who are the ‘writers’ raising these issues?

ACROSS THE RELIGIOUS SPECTRUM, writers are raising these issues—both in emails and other messages sent to our home office and in their own blogs and online magazines. Here are six examples from this week:

JOURNALIST BILL TAMMEUS is the author of Love, Loss and Endurance. His recent columns include:

CHRISTIAN ETHICIST DR. DAVID GUSHEE is the author of Introducing Christian Ethics. His latest column:

CATHOLIC: We also publish The National Catholic Reporter: Beacon of Justice, Community and Hope. Recent NCR columns include:

PROTESTANT: We are in the process of publishing four books with The Reformed Journal. Recent Reformed Journal columns include:

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Faith & Film

Curious about the coming Catholic Conclave?

Beyond the movie—we’ve got a more accurate book about this!

Curious about the coming Catholic Conclave? This month, many of our writers and readers have told us that they are closely following the declining health of Pope Francis—and millions around the world are praying for him on a daily basis. In addition to this popular, Oscar-nominated film, we publish a book that’s packed with fascinating information about the past few conclaves. It’s great for individual reading and small-group discussion.

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Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we will continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.

 

 

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