Cover Story: Plan for your Spring or Lenten reading now

GREAT INSPIRATIONAL READING

FOR SPRING/LENT—For a decade, our online magazine has recommended the best in books and films that inspire readers and celebrate our diverse lives. Each year, one of the biggest reading seasons is spring—and, in particular, the 40-day period of Lent when millions of Christians make a point of deepening their spiritual reflections. Now is the time to plan for that reading. In an ongoing way, we recommend books from a wide range of authors and publishing houses, so please scroll through our home page to see some of the titles and authors we have recommended recently. And, please, we also ask that you help encourage and support our own ReadTheSpirit authors by considering one of these books in 2017:

 

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‘DISINVITED AGAIN’

DR. DAVID GUSHEE—Have you been stung by unexpected divisions among friends in this deeply divided era in American culture? Well, you’re not alone! Author David Gushee, who is celebrated nationwide for his pioneering book Changing Our Mindhas paid a price for his courageous and inspirational writing about Christian inclusion. In this column for Religion News Service, he tells the story.

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HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS

CHECK OUT ALL OF 2017’s SPECIAL DAYS—It’s as simple as visiting www.InterfaithHolidays.org where you’ll find all of 2017’s major observances listed. Please, alert us if you spot an occasion we’ve missed.

VALENTINE’S DAYStephanie Fenton has the story about this very popular holiday and its ancient roots.

THERE’S ONE EASTER THIS YEAR! 
This is one of the unusual years when the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity converge on a single date for Easter: April 16. That means Eastern Orthodox Great Lent begins with Clean Monday on February 27; and Western Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 1.

MEATFARE / CHEESEFAREStephanie Fenton reports on Eastern Orthodox preparations for fasting during Lent—and she includes links to some delicious recipes as Eastern Christians prepare to give up meat and then cheese.

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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. And please, consider subscribing to the one resource that supports Ed’s ongoing work—and is enjoyed by individuals and small groups nationwide: Visual Parables Journal. Each monthly issue is packed with complete study guides to current films. The new February issue is now available to subscribers.

Among Ed’s latest free movie reviews are:

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