WISE GUIDE FOR AUTUMN 2016
MEET ROGER HOUSDEN—In one week, millions of Americans are going to fear what will happen next in our world. Whoever “wins” on November 8, millions of “us” as Americans will be very hurt and angry. However high your partisan hopes may be this week—we need to remember this truth about “the other side” if we truly share a vocation of peacemaking. After 10 years in publication, our online magazine has drawn together thousands of readers united by that hope: We can contribute to a better world through pursuing the hope of peace. (This literally is part of the founding principles we posted one decade ago as we launched ReadTheSpirit.)
In searching for the proper Cover Story to prepare for November 8, we thank the team at the New World Library for providing two excerpts from Roger Housden’s new book, Dropping the Struggle. One way to look at Housden’s book is as a classic Eastern appeal to end the spiritual strife, striving and struggling in our lives. After all, Housden is a close colleague of spiritual sages who have appeared in the pages of our magazine over the past decade, including Ram Das, Thich Nhat Hanh and Jacob Needleman. Housden also is British—so he’s not a partisan in American politics.
But as November 8 approaches in the U.S., the message of his book seems to resonate with a powerful spiritual “click.” Whatever happens on Election Day, remember: Millions of “us,” our neighbors, will be hurting. First, read this excerpt from the “Introduction” to Housden’s book.
Then, here is an excerpt of his chapter on struggling with “Change” itself.
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PIONEERING DR.
(AND MOM)
GOD SIGNS—This week, Suzy Farbman’s GodSigns column tells the inspiring story of the late Dr. Eve Lahti, who was a pioneer as a physician and was a beloved working Mom as well. And, yes, there’s a remarkable, romantic “GodSigns” twist in the course of Eve’s long life. Enjoy!
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HOLIDAYS and FESTIVALS
Check out all the holidays! Tell friends about the simply Web address: www.InterfaithHolidays.com
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY
EXPLORING THE REFORMATION—There’s no bigger anniversary in our lifetime than the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. A year-long commemoration of that revolution begins on October 31, 2016. Editor David Crumm collaborates with Berlin-based correspondent Maria-Paz Lopez this week in a Cover Story about six important tips for accurately exploring this milestone in world history. Want a movie with that? Faith-and-film reviewer Ed McNulty reminds us that the 2003 film about Luther is quite good. (4.5 out of 5 stars)
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HALLOWEEN
(AND MORE)
SAMHAIN / DIA DE LOS MUERTOS—Yes, these festivals have ancient roots. But the modern expressions show how much traditional ideas can be transformed by popular culture. Holidays specialist Stephanie Fenton sorts the facts from the phantasms in these super-popular festivals.
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BULLYING
PREVENTION
MONTH
SHARE THE NEWS—Our column on Bullying Prevention Month is a one-stop web page for quickly gathering the information you’ll need to get friends involved in combatting bigotry and predatory behavior.
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FILM, FAITH
& POPULAR CULTURE
ED McNULTY—Enjoy all of the free resources from Ed McNulty’s faith-and-film website: VisualParables.org.
Among Ed’s latest movie reviews are:
- POST-HOLOCAUST 1—This week, Ed reviews two important films about the struggle for justice after the Holocaust. The first is The People vs. Fritz Bauer, which Ed says is 5-star drama.
- POST-HOLOCAUST 2—Based on Deborah Lipstadt’s book about the David Irving case of Holocaust denial, Ed says this also is an important film to see. (4.5 stars)
- AMERICAN HONEY—Ed gives director Andrea Arnold’s new road trip movie 4 out of 5 stars.
- A MAN NAMED OVE—Writer/director Hannes Holm’s tragicomedy, based on the best-selling novel by Fredrik Backman, is Sweden’s official Oscar nomination for 2016. (5 out of 5 stars)
- MAX ROSE—Jerry Lewis’s performance as an aging, widowed jazz musician is truly magical, says Ed. (4.5 stars)
- 13TH—It’s new on Netflix and Ed says it’s a very thought-provoking look at racial injustice in America. (5 stars)
- BIRTH OF A NATION—Ed says this provocative film will spark lots of positive dialogue and gives it 5 stars.
- BULLWORTH—Given some of the angry rhetoric in the presidential campaign, Ed suggests we look back at this 1998 satire. (4.5 stars)
- QUEEN OF KATWE—Look for this film. It’s a terrific movie set in Uganda. (5 stars)
- INFERNO—Ed says: Feel free to skip Dan Brown’s latest thriller, unless you’re hooked on the series. (3 stars)
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