THE GREG GARRETT INTERVIEW
AN ENTERTAINING AFTERLIFE—Greg Garrett returns for an interview on his new book about Americans’ love affair with the denizens of Heaven, Purgatory and Hell. It’s called Entertaining Judgment: The Afterlife in Popular Imagination. In Greg’s tour of cosmic realms, you’ll meet Gandalf, Zombies, Batman, Katniss and the entire cast of Lost. Come along with us! We’ve rarely published such a wide-ranging interview.
- FAITH GOES POP—If you like Greg Garrett’s approach to exploring our spiritual imagination—then you’ll love Ken Chitwood’s columns in FaithGoesPop. Check out Ken Chitwood’s favorite true story about the supernatural—from his own boyhood. And, find out how to share your own angel or demon sighting.
JOIN US IN A LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
OUR LENT—It’s time to order your copy of Our Lent: Things We Carry, an inspirational pilgrimage through Lent with ReadTheSpirit Editor David Crumm. These 40 stories connect Jesus’s final journey with events in our world, today.
- SHROVE TUESDAY—You may say Mardi Gras, Carnival or even Pancake Day. Whatever you call it, columnist Stephanie Fenton has the story.
- ASH WEDNESDAY—Christianity is divided East and West this year over the start of Lent. Western Christians begin this week with Ash Wednesday. Eastern Christians start with Clean Monday on February 23.
- MAHA SHIVARATRI—Hindus honor Lord Shiva.
- CHINESE NEW YEAR—Are you ready for the Year of the Goat?
- ALL THE HOLIDAYS—Our master calendar is at www.InterfaithHolidays.com
DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD
GOOD media builds good community. That’s a goal shared by our community of writers, scholars, peace activists and authors.
WE ARE CAREGIVERS—Popular author and speaker Benjamin Pratt returns with “Hands,” a moving column on the timeless power of our hands to establish healthy relationships.
THIRD WAY NEWSLETTER—Thanks to readers who sent us encouraging notes about our cover story last week on the launch of the Third Way Newsletter, a national campaign by evangelical leaders to welcome gay and lesbian men and women into their congregations. If you missed it last week, visit the Newsletter website and sign up for their free email updates.
DAVID GUSHEE—A major figure in this campaign is Dr. David Gushee, author of Changing Our Mind. Gushee is continuing a nationwide tour this week at the Together in This event at Eastlake Community Church in Bothell, Washington on Saturday, February 21. Sharing the platform with Gushee are Matthew Vines and Stan Mitchell. On February 22, Gushee will speak at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.
INTERFAITH PEACEMAKERS—Author and international peacemaker Daniel Buttry continues to publish an inspiring series of stories from Africa, part of our special emphasis on Black History Month. New this week are profiles of …
- LEYMAH GBOWEE—A Nobel Peace Prize winner.
- WILSON GATHUNGU—A special column contributed from Kenya by Tarris Rosell.
- ASHAFA & WUYE—A hopeful interfaith partnership in Nigeria.
BULLYING IS NO LAUGHING MATTER—In our anti-bullying comic section, this week, we are showcasing a colorful cartoon by Tobias Neal from his series The Sword. Check out that “comic of the week” and our entire array of comic activity guides.
WHY ARE WE DIVIDED ON VACCINATION?
OUR-VALUES—This week, sociologist Dr. Wayne Baker explores changing American attitudes about vaccination, which once was such a successful campaign that measles was all but eliminated in the U.S. Now, it’s back in headlines and Americans are debating whether vaccines should be required.
- PART 1—Is opposition to vaccination a clash of generations?
- PART 2—How many kids die from measles every hour?
- PART 3—Do we have a civic duty to maintain “herd immunity”?
- PART 4—No vaccine, no school?
- PART 5—Is the measles vaccine safe?
SHAKE OFF THOSE WINTER CHILLS
- FEED THE SPIRIT—Columnist Bobbie Lewis has the perfect mid-winter tonic: Delicious recipes for a steaming pot of chicken noodle soup. Get those soup pots simmering!
- RODNEY CURTIS—Dreading the effort of pulling your recycling bins to the street through the snow? Rodney Curtis serves up some mid-winter encouragement to get you rolling again!
- SUZY FARBMAN—Our Godsigns author and columnist tells the true story of a woman who dared to open the door out of an abusive marriage—and discovered a whole new world opening up for her.
FAITH & FILM
VISUAL PARABLES—This week, faith-and-film writer Edward McNulty urges viewers to seek out a French-language film, Two Days, One Night, about a woman at risk of losing the blue-collar job on which her family depends. (5 out of 5 stars) This week, Ed also recommends:
- MATCH—A performance by Patrick Stewart makes this drama work. (4.5 stars)
- BLACK OR WHITE—And Kevin Costner’s performance is the key to this thoughtful film’s success. (4.5 stars)
- 25 YEARS of MOVIES—This month, Ed is marking a quarter century of Visual Parables.
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