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What happens when our polarization becomes ‘an existential threat’?

Searching our religious heritage for solutions

WE ARE PROUD TO WELCOME BACK Virginia-based columnist Henry Brinton, who always brings us a fresh perspective on challenges we all face in embracing America’s growing diversity. Henry has been teaching and writing about this theme for many years—from his books, public appearances and ongoing columns. This week, you’ll likely be startled by a chapter of American history you’ve never heard about before Henry’s reporting. Please, read this column and share it with friends via social media and email.

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From our writers—

Pedro Brieger:

The Pope and Latin America

OUR FRIENDS TRULY FORM A GLOBAL NETWORK! ReadTheSpirit magazine is an active part of the International Association of Religion Journalists. This week, we assisted with the bilingual publication of award-winning Argentinian journalist Pedro Brieger’s news-analysis, El Papa Francisco y America Latina. His column appears on the IARJ website in both Spanish and English.

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Bill Tammeus:

Imagine if all our houses of worship—vanished?!

THIS WEEK, veteran journalist Bill Tammeus offers readers a 3-for-the-price-of-1 news roundup that you won’t want to miss. First, he poses a provocative idea: “Suppose all the faith communities just—disappeared.” Then, he offers a fascinating news item about “Monsters in the Bible.” And, wait! There’s more! He even offers a third item about reflections on the astonishing images from the new Webb telescope. Don’t miss this column! (and consider sharing this with friends)

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Carol Trembath:

Remember to Review?

WERE YOU AMONG OUR READERS, last week, who read our Cover Story about the remarkable new Native American story by Carol Trembath? Carol’s book, Pass the Feather, continues her inspiring series of books about the real-life group of Native American women who have walked more than 20,000 miles around the Great Lakes, praying for our waters as they walk. If you were among those who decided to order a copy—please remember to be supportive of Carol’s work by visiting Amazon and adding a review!

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Dmitri Barvinok:

What’s new in the 56th edition of the AP Stylebook? 

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR ALL THE WRITERS AMONG US—As Dmitri Barvinok explains in our Front Edge Publishing column this week, “The Associated Press Stylebook is the trusted companion of writers and editors around the world.” It’s the guide we use in editing this online magazine—and in editing the books we publish through Front Edge. This new guide includes “300 new and revised entries”—so Dmitri highlights a few of the most important for our community of writers and includes links to learn more about this new Stylebook. If you know other writers, please share this column with them via social media or email.
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Holidays & Festivals

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Lammas, Lughnasadh

Yes, autumn is coming …

ON AUGUST 1, each year, many families with cultural roots in the UK mark this beginning-of-the-harvest festival.

Feast of the Transfiguration

AUGUST 6—An event revered by St. Thomas Aquinas as “the greatest miracle” is recalled by both Eastern and Western Christians today, on the centuries-old Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.

Raksha Bandhan

AND ON AUGUST 11—Across India and in Hindu communities worldwide, the sacred bonds between brothers and sisters are honored on Raksha Bandhan.

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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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. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

• EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE—”This unusual film combines the sci-fi multi-universe theme, popularized by Marvel films and the Matrix franchise, as well as embracing the genres of Kung Fu, Mother-Daughter, Husband-Wife estrangement.”
• BRIAN AND CHARLES—Ed writes, “Starting out as a faux documentary about a Welsh village eccentric, this evolves into a buddy movie, with one of the members of the duo being a home-made robot, and then it becomes a threesome when the pair are joined by a supportive woman. A real hoot of a little film!”
• BENEDICTION—”Five years after his film about Emily Dickson, A Quiet Passion, writer-director Terence Davies focuses upon another poet, one from his native England, Siegfried Sassoon.”
• DON’T MAKE ME GO—”Hannah Marks (director) and Vera Herbert’s (writer) film is a road trip film—not a buddy one but a father and daughter tale.”
• ELVIS—”When I first learned that Baz Luhrmann would be directing the Elvis Presley biopic, I knew the film would be flamboyant—look what he did with Romeo and Juliette and Moulin Rouge.”
• THE FIRST LADY—”The ten-part series The First Ladies takes full advantage of the opportunity that a TV series offers to explore details of history not possible in a two-hour movie. Created by Aaron Cooley and executive-produced by Viola Davis.”
• EIFFEL—”French director Martin Bourboulon seems to have gone Hollywood in his period film about Gustave Eiffel and the building of the iconic Parisian landmark.”
• ON GUN VIOLENCE—Ed also recommends viewing three films about gun violence in America. First, he reaches back and points out that the 1989 documentary Bowling for Columbine is as relevant today as it was when originally released. More recent is the documentary 91%, which features interviews with a wide cross section of Americans and makes the point that there is nearly unanimous consensus on the need for more effective background checks on gun buyers. Finally, he recommends Behind the Bullet, a documentary that explores the impact of guns from the perspective of people who have fired them.

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