Moving Beyond Camps of Believers and Nones
LET’S LEARN FROM THE TURTLES—First, these turtles are cute! You will simply enjoy the beautiful photos with this week’s cover story. So, c’mon! Take a moment to let these images lift your spirits.
Then, what is the story here? Each month, veteran journalist Martin Davis contributes a column to our magazine from the perspective of the millions of Americans who answer pollsters’ questions about religious affiliation with the option: “None.” Few writers, today, are exploring this realm as thoughtfully as Martin. And, we keep hearing from our readers that many are looking for such compassionate companions on this journey. Collectively, we need this kind of writing.
.
.
And Speaking of Gorgeous Photos …
THEY CALL THE FOG ‘KARL’—Author, journalist and star photographer Rodney Curtis takes us on another one of his wild rides—this time through the hills of San Francisco with a tale about two friends, one named Kurt and one named Karl. This really is an excuse for some eye-popping photography as well as some fun about the twists and turns of friendship. C’mon! You’ve got a few more minutes to spare. Enjoy Rodney’s tale.
.
.
HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS
Speaking of Colorful Travels …
RAKSHA BANDHAN 2019—One of the most widely observed and beloved of Indian festivals falls on August 15, this year, as Indian sisters visit their brothers to give them a colorful wrist band, known as a rakshi. Holidays & Festivals expert Stephanie Fenton has the story, complete with lots of fun links to 2019 news about this holiday. A couple of links take readers to holiday foods—from very sweet to savory. And there’s news about one very strange new rakshi this year—and only in India!
Want to see all the stories about Holidays & Festivals & Seasons? Just remember www.InterfaithHolidays.com
.
.
What Is That Checkerboard Thing Called?
IT’S A QR CODE—This week, in our Front Edge Publishing column, Production Manager Dmitri Barvinok offers some valuable tips about how to find the best, most stable URLs to share in online columns and new books. Following Dmitri’s best practices can help you avoid busting your links—and frustrating your readers.
To read Dmitri’s column, you can click on the text link, above, or you can aim your phone’s QR code app at this image, at right, and you’ll see his column pop up on your phone.
.
.
Click this photo of Leonard and Marianne to read Ed’s review.
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.
Among Ed’s free reviews and columns are:
- MARIANNE & LEONARD—If you love Leonard Cohen’s music, like Hallelujah, then you’ll definitely enjoy this documentary about his love and his muse: Marianne Ihlen. (4.5 out of 5 stars)
-
Click the image to read the review.
SWORD OF TRUST—Ed gives this quirky, indie satire 4 stars—and it certainly sounds like it has a wealth of strange twists and turns.
- THE LION KING—Ed gives the new live-action remake 5 stars. His review details many of the changes in this version, including the addition of more African American voices in the cast and some terrific new vocals.
- THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE—Denys Arcand, who in 1989 gave us the challenging Jesus of Montreal, returns to that Canadian metropolis in this satirical crime caper. (4.5 stars)
- ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD—Ed writes, “Not since Pulp Fiction have I been so mesmerized by a Quentin Tarantino film. From start to finish this tale of friendship and declining celebrityhood set in the glittering world of Hollywood is a delight to watch.” (4.5 stars)
- PAVAROTTI—Although opera lovers will be the first drawn to this biographical film, anyone who loves music will be entranced. After all, it’s full of soul-stirring singing by Luciano Pavarotti. (4.5 stars)
- ECHO IN THE CANYON—Director/writer/producer Andrew Slater has assembled a galaxy of musicians and uses Grammy award-winning musician Jakob Dylan as his host for this fascinating documentary. (4 stars)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
