Already thinking about this looming anniversary?

Let a Veteran Religion Writer Guide Your Reflections

FOR THE NEXT MONTH, we’re all going to be thinking about the legacy of 9/11. That turning point in world history launched U.S. forces into foreign wars, forever changed many global relationships—and raised the horrific specter of how explosively dangerous extremist groups can become. Over the next month, we will see countless TV programs, read newspaper and magazine stories—and witness memorial events. Please read our Cover Story about veteran journalist Bill Tammeus’s inspiring and very practical book that explores the legacy of 9/11—and Bill’s upcoming discussion guide for the online service Wired Word. And, please, share this story with friends to help focus our community reflections on the kind of practical peacemaking that Bill is encouraging.

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Anchor Dan Harris Gives Up ABC for Meditation

This Meditation Skeptic Already Has Helped Millions

SUZY FARBMAN devotes her column this week to the delightfully humble teachings of ABC newsman Dan Harris, who just announced he’s quitting his network job to devote himself full time to learning about—and teaching others about—the healing power of meditation.

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And, Meditating in The Field of Dreams

Celebrating the Spiritual Practice of Baseball

MARTIN DAVIS brings us this fun and inspiring look at how the spiritual practice of baseball can lift our spirits—especially a dramatic broadcast this week from The Field of Dreams. And, yes, he’s got a video link!

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Holidays & Festivals

Special Bread Celebrates Mary’s Dormition

MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS is trending these days across a surprisingly broad group of cultural influencers, writes Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton. However, the traditions surrounding Mary stretch back nearly two millennia and are expressed in a wide range of customs—including a special spiced bread that many Christian bakers prepared this week in Orthodox Christian communities in the Middle East. Kevin Vollrath, who is based in that region currently, reports this story about some of those ancient stories concerning Mary’s death—and the breads prepared to mark what the Orthodox call Mary’s Dormition.

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Raksha Bandhan

Festival of Sibling Love Now Is Bigger than Bracelets

DESPITE COVID RESTRICTIONS, popular culture in India already is focused on the colorful festival of Raksha Bandhan, when brothers and sisters traditionally renew their bonds with bracelets. The celebration falls on August 22 this year and now is commonly marked in Indian communities around the world. Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton has the story.

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Krishna Janmashtami

KRISHNA is one of the most popular and revered of Indian deities, so the festival honoring his birth sometimes last a full week, depending on community customs. When this annual milestone rolls around, observances vary widely around the world—including the visually spectacular human towers of young people vying to reach a suspended pot of buttermilk. Stephanie Fenton has the story for us.

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WANT TO SEE ALL THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just visit  InterfaithHolidays.com

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Faith & Film

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Among Ed’s free reviews and columns:

1. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE—Ed McNulty writes, “This Lumo Project film is the last of the four filmed gospels directed by the prolific director/producer David Batty. It is a wonderful addition to any pastor or educator’s video library, bringing to life the words either of the KJV or the NIV translations of the Bible—viewer’s choice. British actor Richard E. Grant reads the NIV text; Sir Derek Jacobi the KJV.”
2. VIVO—”Move over Pixar and make room for this toe-tapping musical from Sony Pictures Animation studio. The fact that Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the songs and voices the main character ought to attract a large audience.”
3. OPHELIA—”Australian director Claire McCarthy gives us love story based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. We need to add that the script by Semi Chellas is based on Lisa Klein’s 2006 young adult novel of the same title.”
4. MINARI—Ed also writes, this week, about the Oscar-winning drama about an immigrant family carving out a new life in rural America.
5. PRAY AWAY—Ed reviews Kristine Stolakis’ documentary film about evangelical “conversion therapy.”
6. LUPIN—”The French writer George Kay has created a truly thrilling escapist adventure series with more than a touch of social commentary. He has taken a classic series of French novels revolving around Arsène Lupin as a “Gentleman Thief” and transferred them to a modern day outsider.”
7. EROICA—Ed McNulty reaches back to 2003 for a wonderful film about the arts, Eroica. In short, it’s a carefully reconstructed drama about Beethoven debuting the piece that people at the time considered a milestone in music history—a unique delight in moviemaking.
8. AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY—“Written and directed by Eva Gardos, this film is based on the filmmaker’s own experience as a young immigrant Hungary.”
9. STREET FLOW—”Writer/co-director/star Kery James’ film is set in France, the story of three brothers of African descent who live in one of the huge projects just outside of Paris.”
10. JOE BELL—Ed recommends this film, “based on a true story,” written by the same team that contributed to the 2005 film, Brokeback Mountain, a writing partnership that included the late novelist Larry McMurtry.

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