GRIEVING? LISTEN TO THIS!
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COVER STORY—Start your week with a short conversation between nationally known grief counselor Mitch Carmody and the creators of the remarkable new picture book: Never Long Enough. You don’t even need to leave the pages of our online magazine. We have a video clip of that interview, featuring audio and imagery, posted with an inspiring summary of the story.
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ANGRY? TELL YOUR STORY OF HOPE!
WHAT ARE YOU TELLING THE WORLD? News events moved so rapidly this week—from threats of global nuclear war to deaths sparked by violent right-wing activists in Charlottesville, Virginia. We know that many of our readers look to ReadTheSpirit magazine for hope each week. And, our staff feels the same way: We look to you, our community of readers, to share those stories with us. On Sunday morning, Editor David Crumm was struck by the passionate preaching of the staff at Clarkston United Methodist Church in Michigan. Perhaps words from that service may help you, too.
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WE ARE UNITED—Do you think that Americans are hopelessly divided? Do you think nothing can bring us together? Well, that “story” of irreconcilable division is false. While many thorny political issues do divide us, the fact is that many values unite Americans. That’s not simply a matter of faith. That’s based on years of evidence from nationwide surveys conducted through the University of Michigan. The basic findings are presented by sociologist Dr. Wayne Baker in United America, with this lengthy subtitle: The Surprising Truth about American Values, American Identity and the 10 Beliefs that a Large Majority of Americans Hold Dear.
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A PARENT’S GRIEF—
A STORY TOLD IN LETTERS
GOD SIGNS—This week’s themes come together in one family’s story, as told by columnist Suzy Farbman in GodSigns. Grief and anger over the sudden loss of a young son became a devastating wave of emotions that led the family’s patriarch, Marc Schupan, to begin writing letters. And to keep writing letters. In an ongoing way, that storytelling in letter form has helped to keep positive, healing memories alive.
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HOLIDAYS!
Want to see all the holidays? Remember www.InterfaithHolidays.org.
KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI—Hindus around the world celebrate Krishna’s birthday, also known as Janmashtami. In Stephanie Fenton’s column, she explains: “An observance that lasts eight days in some regions, Krishna Janmashtami honors the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.”
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HONORING MARY—In the Catholic world, August 15 marks the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Eastern Christianity, it’s called the Dormition of the Theotokos. The event remembered is the same: Mary, the mother of Jesus, taken up into Heaven. Stephanie Fenton explains the traditions around this ancient Christian festival.
PARYSHAN PARVA—Forgiveness plays a central role in many world religions, but for Jains, it’s the focus of the most important festival each year. This spiritually intense period is known as Paryushan Parva, or Paryushana.
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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 at VisualParables.org. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with complete study 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 latest free movie reviews are:
- THE WOMEN’S BALCONY—You’ll have to look around to find this new film set in Jerusalem, but the search is worth the effort, says Ed, giving this movie 5 out of 5 stars.
- DETROIT—Ed joins many other critics praising the hard-to-watch drama based on the 1967 Detroit rebellion and the so-called Algiers Motel incident. (4.5 stars)
- THE BIG SICK—Delightful, says Ed. (4.5 stars)
- RADIO DREAMS—4 stars for this unusual film that Ed describes as: “What might be regarded as an Iranian version of WKRP in Cincinnati combined with Waiting for Godot has its share of laughs, but also many quieter moments.” (4 stars)
- MAUDIE—Look around for this terrific film about the unusual life of the Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis. (5 out of 5 stars)
- BEATRIZ AT DINNER—Ed writes, “The film’s fish-out-of-water story shines a spotlight on the darker side of American business practices.” He urges us not to miss it. (5 stars)
- AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL—Want the latest on climate change from the point of view of real scientists? Catch this new documentary featuring Al Gore. (4 stars)
- WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES—”Who is truly humane?” That’s the thought-provoking question swirling through the action and excitement of this movie, writes Ed McNulty (5 out of 5 stars)
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