‘Feeling alienated from your new government?
I can relate. I’m a Catholic woman.’
FOR THIS WEEK’S COVER STORY, we welcome psychologist and author Margaret Stack, who has written an open letter to the half of Americans who are deeply anxious this week.
If you find Margaret’s column helpful, please share it with friends via social media and email. There are millions of Americans wrestling with their values and hopes for our nation, this week. Margaret’s story may help folks realize they are not alone.
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And from Dr. David Gushee:
‘I underestimated the social and economic discontents within our nation.’
MANY OF OUR READERS have been asking, “So, what is Christian ethicist Dr. David Gushee thinking now?” For more than a year, Dr. Gushee had dedicated his public writing and speaking to warning about the rise of Christian Nationalism in America. Following the election, he sent into a self-imposed period of silence. Now, he has published this heart-felt reflection on his struggle to come to terms with this week’s transition in our world.
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Holidays & Festivals
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Hopes, fears and creative responses
HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS EXPERT Stephanie Fenton brings us a thought-provoking overview of the King holiday in 2025, which coincides with inauguration day. Make sure you don’t miss the news item in the middle of this column that links to a creative, inspiring musical playlist you might want to enjoy this weekend.
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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 writers
Healing Wisdom from a Hospital Night Chaplain
CHAPLAIN DANIEL KIDDER-McQUOWN sums up some of the spiritual wisdom he has gleaned in recent years as the official night chaplain of a major hospital. This is a wonderfully inspiring column, especially as Dan shares some of the spiritual touchstones he found helpful with families. That makes this a good column to share with friends this week via social media.
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And a big smile from photographer Rodney Curtis
ONE CREATIVE WAY TO MAKE OUR WORLD A BETTER PLACE is to transform the way we transport ourselves around America. Photographer and author Rodney Curtis is always up for a creative challenge—so he researched how to find this new car, pictured above. And he has some fascinating thoughts about how this new vehicle fits into his life—and into our world—in a healthy way.
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Faith & Film
Hollywood’s Best Glimpses of Dr. King
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 Faith & Film columnist Edward McNulty died and we mourned his passing. As we start 2025, we will be publishing occasional columns in this space contributed by our many writers—as well as links to some of Ed’s past reviews as those films become timely again.
Here are some of Ed’s recommended films related to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
RUSTIN—Ed enthusiastically recommended this 2023 film.
SELMA—Similarly, Ed gave a full 5 stars to Ava DuVernay’s inspiring feature film about the courageous march in 1965.
KING—Even though it was a TV production made way back in 1978, Ed always recommended Paul Winfield’s performance as Dr. King in this NBC feature.
THE LONG WALK HOME—For context, Ed urged his readers to include this 1990 drama in any film series about King and the civil rights movement.
SELMA, LORD, SELMA—Especially for younger viewers, Ed included this Disney production from 1999.
THE VERNON JOHNS STORY—Finally, Ed highlighted this often overlooked feature starring James Earl Jones as the prophetic preacher who played a key role in Dr. King’s career. Amazon Prime users can stream the film for free right now. If you’re seaching for it, the movie sometimes is titled The Road to Freedom.
Here’s an indie documentary worth seeking out
LEAP OF FAITH—Gail encourages all of us who care about bridging the chasms in American culture to learn more about the documentary Leap of Faith—no, not that old 1992 comedy by Steve Martin. This is a relative new, indie film by Nicholas Ma and Morgan Neville and it’s well worth the effort to find—or to schedule—a showing.
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