AN INVITATION TO GET ‘GROUNDED’
READ ALONG WITH US—Here at ReadTheSpirit, we are thrilled to welcome Christian educator Debbie Houghton to a collaborative, five-week series that will help readers reflect on Diana Butler Bass’s new book Grounded: Finding God in the World. Consider this a free, public study guide. Think of it as a summer-time, inspirational pilgrimage with friends. Come on, read Part 1 right now—and don’t miss the invitation to get involved yourself.
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VISIONARIES WHO REDEFINED HOME
‘ART HOUSE’—Diana Butler Bass isn’t the first American to think about the need to “ground” ourselves spiritually. This quest goes back centuries. This summer, filmmaker Don Freeman has released on DVD an amazing video meditation on 11 American designers (some were known as artists, some as architects) who turned their homes into visions of their connection with their place on the Earth. Read our review—and you may find landmarks you want to visit this year coast to coast.
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SHARE YOUR HOUSE OF WORSHIP
GET INVOLVED—Show the world your house of worship—the home base of your religious community. Wikimedia Commons, the worldwide database of shared photographs, hopes to document as many notable religious sites as possible. And that includes houses of worship—wherever you life around the world. It’s not difficult to get involved, but it does take a little orientation. Today, read our introduction to sharing photos on Wikimedia Commons. Think of it as part of grounding yourself and your spiritual community by sharing an image.
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A FLUXUS VISONARY
GOD SIGNS—Columnist Suzy Farbman remembers the life of her friend and art collector Gilbert Silverman, who—among many other connections with the art world—helped to amass a collection of artworks in the emerging Fluxus movement. What is that? Well, one piece in the MOMA collection is a crumpled blue paper bag.
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HOLIDAYS & MILESTONES
Don’t miss a date! Remember www.InterfaithHolidays.org, our master calendar.
OBON CIRCLES THE GLOBE—Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton explains how an ancient Buddhist story evolved and moved across Asia until it has become, today, a quintessentially Japanese summer-time festival. Observances now can be found around the world and in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Traditions include a dance that echoes ancient Buddhist practice and lots of other treats borrowed from Japanese culture.
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FILM, FAITH & CULTURE
Enjoy all of the free resources from Ed McNulty’s faith-and-film website: VisualParables.org. Please consider subscribing to The Visual Parables Journal, a monthly digital magazine packed with full-scale study guides to current films—a resource used by individuals and small groups nationwide. The new July issue is now available.
Among Ed’s latest free movie reviews are:
- FREE STATE OF JONES—There’s controversy about this film, based on a little-known chapter in Civil War history. But, overall, it’s a fascinating movie that Ed urges us to go see. (4.5 out of 5 stars)
- THE LEGEND OF TARZAN—Here’s another film that revises history—yes, there’s an actual chapter of world history reflected in this new Tarzan movie. It’s pretty good. (4 stars)
- THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR—You can skip the third installment in this series, Ed says. (3 stars)
- CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE—It’s just a little bit better than a “lame brain concoction,” Ed says. (3 stars)
- OUR KIND OF TRAITOR—This story by John Le Carre reminds Ed of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much. (4 stars)
- FINDING DORY—Ed says it’s a 5 star treat for the whole family.
- ME BEFORE YOU—It’s a solid drama, not just a tearjerker. (4 stars)
- POP STAR—If you’re a fan of Spinal Tap and Mighty Wind, then you’ll probably enjoy this musical mockumentary. (4 stars)
- THE CONGRESS—Ed reaches back to 2013 to recommend this unusual animated film. (4.5 stars)
- NOW YOU SEE ME 2—Might as well skip this one. (2.5 stars)
- AND, A BOOK REVIEW—Are you a film buff who loves classic movies? Ed recommends a book analyzing Hollywood biblical epics.
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