Scholars critical of Donald Trump target the ‘Christian Nationalist’ movement supporting him

COVER STORY—The reason many historians, sociologists and now Christian ethicist Dr. David Gushee are weighing in with dire warnings about the 2024 presidential campaign is that their research shows the re-election of Donald Trump would dramatically alter the course of American democracy.

This is territory that scholars typically shy away from—but the urgency of their warnings is palpable and timely. Please read our Cover Story this week and consider sharing a link to the article with friends. Dr. Gushee’s book is designed for individual reflection and small-group discussion, especially in congregations that want to discuss their relationship to America’s centuries-old democratic values.

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and speaking of activists …

… it turns out that book-banning activists are few

IN OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING COLUMN, this week, we thank The Washington Post for reporting that reveals the tiny number of individuals who are carrying out political and verbal attacks on our libraries for allegedly inappropriate books.

 

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And now, please—
meet 3 remarkably wise women

Kalyani Pardeshi’s anti-bullying message

THIS WEEK, resiliency expert and author Howard Brown brings his growing podcast audience an interview with Canada-based anti-bullying educator Kalyani Pardeshi, who grew up in South Africa in an Indian family. Please, enjoy Howard’s conversation with Kalyani in which she describes her unique toolbox of techniques for tackling the roots of bullying.

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Meet Ann Bell Worley and her family

A NEW FAMILY WEBSITE RAISES AWARENESS OF ‘PANS’—Our colleague, writer and editor Ann Bell Worley, has just launched a website to raise awareness of families living with PANS. What is that? Well, read our story and share it with friends if you’d like to learn more and help Ann with her effort.

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Laura Elizabeth

Transports us to a new part of the world

THAT’S WHAT COZY MYSTERY AUTHOR KATHY MANOS PENN is telling her readers. Kathy writes that Laura Elizabeth has achieved that marvelous ability to transport readers in her own debut mystery, set on historic Daufuskie Island along the Atlantic Coast. Don’t take our word for it—for weeks, we’ve been telling readers about Laura’s wonderful mystery, which is available on Amazon right now.

Click here to read Kathy’s column in the Georgia-based online news magazine sponsored by Appen Media.

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Holidays & Festivals

The Feast of St. Francis

INTERESTED IN PET BLESSINGS? Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton points out that the growing number of pet blessings, associated with St. Francis’ feast day, are sprinkled across the autumn calendar. The biggest annual blessing, each year, already took place in New York City on October 1, but others are coming later this week. Please, enjoy Stephanie’s column about St. Francis and share it with friends via social media.

AND HERE’S A ST. FRANCIS MOVIE TIP: Our Faith & Film columnist Ed McNulty suggests we look at a 2007 Italian production that is more than three hours long.

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:

• THE SWIMMERS—Ed highly recommends this film, based on a true story, about “two teenage girls who were among the Syrians forced to flee their war-torn nation and risk the dangerous waters of the Aegean Sea.”
• THE INVENTOR—”The title of the new film by writer Jim Capobianco (and co-director with Pierre-Luc Granjon) refers to the 16th century genius Leonardo da Vinci, voiced in this delightful, animated film by Stephen Fry.”
• THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER—”André Øvredal’s horror film is based on just one chapter, the Captain’s Log, from Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel Dracula.”
• DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST—Ed also suggests we look back this week to the 1991 award-winning film.
• WAR SAILOR—”Norwegian director/ writer Gunnar Vikene has given us a grim visual parable about an overlooked group of World War II combatants—Norwegian merchant sailors drafted into the war effort when Germany invaded their country.”
• LITTLE BIG VOICE—Looking for a good family film? Ed writes, “Austrian director Wolfgang Murnberger’s 2015 film, set in postwar Vienna, drew me at first because its young hero seeks to become a member of the famed Vienna Boys’ Choir.”
• A MILLION MILES AWAY—”Director-cowriter Alejandra Márquez Abella brings us this true story of a Mexican American son of migrants who dreams of rocketing into space as a NASA astronaut.”
• SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE—”I love it when a film far exceeds my expectations, as this MGM-Amazon produced film did. What I thought would be an amusing boy-meets-girl flick turned out to be a deeply moving celebration of a friendship between two young woman.”
• MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3—”Those crazy Greeks are back, even though the one who claimed they invented everything is missing.”

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George A. Mason and David Gushee speak out against extremism and Christian Nationalism

THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF READ THE SPIRIT MAGAZINE appears on Yom Kippur (and Stephanie Fenton’s column about this Jewish observance is linked below).

Our special “Cover Story” this week recognizes the urgency of repairing the divisions in our world—a calling often described as “tikkun olam” in Judaism—and our story focuses on two Christian leaders who are prophetically speaking out agains the dangers of Christian Nationalism. The rising tide of hate speech and hateful actions—including record rates of antisemitism as documented by the ADL—calls for all of us to get involved in helping to confront extremism and encourage communities to recognize the dangers of escalating violence.

Please read our Cover Story for this Yom Kippur week—focusing on the latest efforts by Christian leaders George A. Mason, David Gushee and others—and share this story with friends who may share these concerns.

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Holidays & Festivals

Yom Kippur

THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE JEWISH YEAR started at sunset on Sunday September 24 this year—a solemn 25-hour fast that includes participation in traditional services for millions of Jewish families. This year is especially memorable, because it is the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War when Egypt and Syria attacked on the holiday. Stephanie Fenton has our Yom Kippur story with lots of fascinating links for additional reading—and recipes for break-the-fast meals.

 

Meskel festival in Ethiopia

A UNIQUE CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION—Across Ethiopian Orthodox Christian and Eritrean Orthodox Christian communities, bonfires on the eve of Meskel remind families of an ancient story.

Michaelmas

WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS IN IRELAND AND THE UK—Beyond honoring St. Michael the Archangel, Michaelmas has taken on a seasonal association through the centuries, signaling the beginning of autumn.

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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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From Our Authors

Howard Brown (and lots and lots of friends)

… speaking of renewing our world, one welcoming smile at a time

IN OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING COLUMN, this week, Howard Brown writes about his energized readers are sharing kindness and a little bit of sunshine each day. Howard actually dares readers to try to avoid smiling as you meet some of his many Shining Brightly friends. C’mon, couldn’t you use a smile right now?

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Larry Buxton

 

… and speaking of ‘the power of a smile’

LARRY BUXTON’s Leading with Spirit video, this month, is all about “the power of a smile.” Please click here to visit Larry’s website to watch (and share with friends) this inspiring 3-minute video. As Larry talks about why we should smile, he says at one point: “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.” … “a smile for some mysterious reason activates a sense of gratitude smiling is like opening a window and letting a fresh spring breeze flow through your spirit.” That’s right: It’s an inspiring little video meditation you’ll likely want to quote this week.

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Laura Elizabeth

Meet Carr Jepson, owner of Books & Brew (and a part-time detective)

COZY-MYSTERY AUTHOR LAURA ELIZABETH was invited to write a special character sketch for the popular Dru’s Book Musings website. Over the years, “Dru” has been honored for her work in promoting mysteries—especially cozy mysteries—by innovative approaches to blogging. In this instance, Dru invited Laura to write a sketch in the voice of her novel’s main character, Carr Jepson, who opens up the Books & Brew shop on a historic island along the Atlantic coast—but soon finds herself neck-deep in helping police solve a tragic murder.

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Jack Harnish

Women worldwide plan to read Jack’s inspiring 30 Days with E. Stanley Jones

OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF WRITERS is celebrating with Jack Harnish over the news that the worldwide Women in Faith organization has selected Jack’s book 30 Days with E. Stanley Jones for the organization’s 2024 recommended-leading list. If you click on this link, you can read the group’s multi-page 2024 list of reading recommendations and you’ll find Jack as the first book on page 9, where the actual book listings begin in this PDF. This remarkable organization was founded in 1869 so that women of faith could “get things done” in the world—including immediately establishing one of India’s first women’s colleges. Since then, these women have encouraged education around the world through programs that include their carefully selected annual reading lists. (If you would like to order your own copy of Jack’s book right now, here’s a direct link to its Amazon page.)

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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:

• THE INVENTOR—Ed writes, “The title of the new film by writer Jim Capobianco (and co-director with Pierre-Luc Granjon) refers to the 16th century genius Leonardo da Vinci, voiced in this delightful, animated film by Stephen Fry.”
• THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER—”André Øvredal’s horror film is based on just one chapter, the Captain’s Log, from Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel Dracula.”
• DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST—Ed also suggests we look back this week to the 1991 award-winning film.
• WAR SAILOR—”Norwegian director/ writer Gunnar Vikene has given us a grim visual parable about an overlooked group of World War II combatants—Norwegian merchant sailors drafted into the war effort when Germany invaded their country.”
• LITTLE BIG VOICE—Looking for a good family film? Ed writes, “Austrian director Wolfgang Murnberger’s 2015 film, set in postwar Vienna, drew me at first because its young hero seeks to become a member of the famed Vienna Boys’ Choir.”
• A MILLION MILES AWAY—”Director-cowriter Alejandra Márquez Abella brings us this true story of a Mexican American son of migrants who dreams of rocketing into space as a NASA astronaut.”
• THE HILL—Ed gives a mixed review to this inspirational story of a young and aspiring baseball player who faces a multitude of challenges, including opposition from his father, a pastor played by Dennis Quaid.
• CLARE and FRANCIS—Ed suggests we look back to 2007 for this Italian production that is more than three hours long as the annual feast of St. Francis nears in early October.
• THE GOOD MOTHER—Ed writes, “Both Hillary Swank and Olivia Cooke give their all to their respective roles.” Ed recommends this film about a range of dramatic challenges from writer’s block to how drug addiction can challenge relationships.
• SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE—”I love it when a film far exceeds my expectations, as this MGM-Amazon produced film did. What I thought would be an amusing boy-meets-girl flick turned out to be a deeply moving celebration of a friendship between two young woman.”
• MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3—”Those crazy Greeks are back, even though the one who claimed they invented everything is missing.”

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Celebrate the Jewish New Year with this story of a vibrant Jewish community

OUR COVER STORY THIS WEEK coincides with the first days of the Jewish New Year 5784. If you’re Jewish, you’ll love this novel by Lynne Golodner because it warmly embraces family life and community culture. If you’re not Jewish, but have always wanted to learn more about what life is like inside an observant Jewish neighborhood—then you’ll find yourself quickly immersed in Lynne’s novel, as well. Right now—please enjoy our cover story featuring an interview with Lynne—and share it with friends to help spread awareness of the importance of religious diversity in our world.

 

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From Our Authors

Laura Elizabeth

‘A tale of advocating, commitment, and believing in something bigger than yourself’

LAST WEEK, our magazine reported on the launch of Laura Elizabeth’s unique cozy mystery, which is based on the real-life, historic Daufuskie Island off the Atlantic Coast.

NOW—we’re also pleased to see other news media chiming in with their own recommendations of this novel. And, we are especially thrilled to see media from that part of the U.S. affirming that Laura really captured the beauty and culture of local island life. In this week’s Front Edge column, we share one of the most glowing regional endorsements of Laura’s novel, describing how well she evokes the particular island that she and her family have come to love.

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Holidays & Festivals

Yom Kippur

THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE JEWISH YEAR starts at sundown on Sunday September 24 this year—a solemn 25-hour fast that includes participation in traditional services for millions of Jewish families. This year is especially memorable, because it is the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War when Egypt and Syria attacked on the holiday. Stephanie Fenton has our Yom Kippur story with lots of fascinating links for additional reading—and recipes for break-the-fast meals.

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And for Jains, Paryushan Parva

THIS ANNUAL PERIOD OF FORGIVENESS AND RENEWAL is one of the most important festivals in the Jain year, as Stephanie Fenton explains.

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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:

• WAR SAILOR—Ed writes, “Norwegian director/ writer Gunnar Vikene has given us a grim visual parable about an overlooked group of World War II combatants—Norwegian merchant sailors drafted into the war effort when Germany invaded their country.”
• LITTLE BIG VOICE—Looking for a good family film? Ed writes, “Austrian director Wolfgang Murnberger’s 2015 film, set in postwar Vienna, drew me at first because its young hero seeks to become a member of the famed Vienna Boys’ Choir.”
• A MILLION MILES AWAY—”Director-cowriter Alejandra Márquez Abella brings us this true story of a Mexican American son of migrants who dreams of rocketing into space as a NASA astronaut.”
• THE HILL—Ed gives a mixed review to this inspirational story of a young and aspiring baseball player who faces a multitude of challenges, including opposition from his father, a pastor played by Dennis Quaid.
• CLARE and FRANCIS—Ed suggests we look back to 2007 for this Italian production that is more than three hours long as the annual feast of St. Francis nears in early October.
• THE GOOD MOTHER—Ed writes, “Both Hillary Swank and Olivia Cooke give their all to their respective roles.” Ed recommends this film about a range of dramatic challenges from writer’s block to how drug addiction can challenge relationships.
• SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE—”I love it when a film far exceeds my expectations, as this MGM-Amazon produced film did. What I thought would be an amusing boy-meets-girl flick turned out to be a deeply moving celebration of a friendship between two young woman.”
• MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3—”Those crazy Greeks are back, even though the one who claimed they invented everything is missing.”
• THE POPE’S EXORCIST—”Julius Avery’s film is based on the writings of real life Father Gabriele Amorth, the Catholic priest who served for 30 years as the head exorcist of the Diocese of Rome. Despite this, it stretches to the breaking point our acceptance of the title card ‘Based on true events’ at the beginning of the film.”

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This novel with real-life roots is attracting readers nationwide

COVER STORY—Even before Laura Elizabeth reached the launch date of her new cozy mystery, All Is Now Lost, this week, readers of advance copies of her book have been spreading the buzz nationwide. There’s a theater group already planning to produce a version of her story. There’s a popular “book box” offering her novel with other goodies online. Clearly, readers nationwide already are enjoying this novel. Please, start with our Cover Story this week about the launch of Laura’s novel.

Then, follow up by reading a second story about the new “book box” option. How did her novel become part of a book box? Laura’s debut novel was chosen by a minority-and-woman-owned small book-box business based in Arizona.

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From Our Authors

‘Shining Brightly’

 

Howard Brown’s doctor pulls his port

AND WE’RE ALL CELEBRATING! If your family has struggled with cancer, you may already be smiling at this headline. Having a “chemo port” removed is a major milestone in recovery for cancer patients after a years-long battle with the disease. Author Howard Brown, a two-time survivor of stage IV cancer, works every day to help struggling patients and their families find hope. That’s the theme of his memoir, Shining Brightly. Please enjoy this new Shining Brightly podcast in which Howard talks about this major milestone. It’s an inspiring story—including links to some very helpful information—that you can share this week with friends who may be battling cancer.

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Larry Buxton

Remembrance of Things Past

FOR MILLIONS of AMERICANS, “9/11” remains an emotionally challenging day. We know that, since 22 years have passed, most college seniors now were not even born when airplanes crashed into New York City’s “twin towers.” Still, this is a milestone of reflection for so many families and, this year, for Jewish families the spiritual disciplines of the High Holy Days also are close to this 9/11 memory of national tragedy.

Millions are surfacing and savoring memories this week—often opening unexpected vistas from our past. That’s what author and leadership coach Larry Buxton discovered when the leader of a writing class he was taking at Chautauqua this year asked participants to begin writing from the prompt of a single image.

In Larry’s case it was a tree. Please enjoy Larry’s inspiring journey into his memories of family, love and loss. This story may prompt you to begin writing about some of your own family memories.

If you are interested in learning more about Larry’s work, consider ordering a copy of his book, Thirty Days with King David: On Leadership.

To read more about how millions of American families are living with memories of 9/11—and to find journalist Bill Tammeus’s pragmatic recommendations for “unplugging extremism”—order a copy of his book, Love, Loss and Endurance.

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Holidays & Festivals

Sweetly greeting the New Year 5784

ROSH HASHANAH STARTS SUNSET on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15—Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton reports on the Jewish New Year, which starts the period known as the Jewish High Holy Days. Yom Kippur starts at sunset on Sunday, September 24 this year. And, yes, as always, Stephanie has gathered some wonderfully delicious links to holiday recipes.

THE BUZZ on SUPERHEROES and BEES—Also, Stephanie’s Rosh Hashanah column this week includes two unusual news items: Did you know there’s a popular Marvel super hero who’s Jewish—and he’s starring in a special Rosh Hashanah cartoon for kids on Disney+ this week? And, did you know that urban beekeeping is booming in New York City, especially at Rosh Hashanah? Again, Stephanie has the news in her New Year column.

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And for Jains, September brings Paryushan Parva

THIS ANNUAL PERIOD OF FORGIVENESS AND RENEWAL is one of the most important festivals in the Jain year, as Stephanie Fenton explains.

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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:

• THE GOOD MOTHER—Ed writes, “Both Hillary Swank and Olivia Cooke give their all to their respective roles.” Ed recommends this film about a range of dramatic challenges from writer’s block to how drug addiction can challenge relationships.
• SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE—”I love it when a film far exceeds my expectations, as this MGM-Amazon produced film did. What I thought would be an amusing boy-meets-girl flick turned out to be a deeply moving celebration of a friendship between two young woman.”
• MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3—”Those crazy Greeks are back, even though the one who claimed they invented everything is missing.”
• THE POPE’S EXORCIST—”Julius Avery’s film is based on the writings of real life Father Gabriele Amorth, the Catholic priest who served for 30 years as the head exorcist of the Diocese of Rome. Despite this, it stretches to the breaking point our acceptance of the title card ‘Based on true events’ at the beginning of the film.”
• GOLDA—”Reactions to this film have been mixed, though the majority of critics have praised Helen Mirren’s remarkable performance, enhanced by prosthetics and wig, as the title character.”
• JULES—”Director Marc Turtletaub’s film is a modest tale about a 79-year-old widower living in a small western Pennsylvania town. With a plot similar in some ways with E.T. or Close Encounters…, it is less a science fiction film than it is a parable of aging and loneliness.”
• THE LAW ACCORDING TO LYDIA POËT—Ed highly recommends this new Netflix series about Italy’s first female lawyer.

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Within the Parliament’s Peaceful Mission Is Spiritual Support for Embattled Ukraine

CHICAGO—The first Parliament of the World’s Religions, held in Chicago in 1893, was billed as a national dialogue about faith. Now, the event is known as the birth of the worldwide interfaith movement. Its 2023 edition, held Aug. 14-18 in Chicago, sustains that vision in new ways. Joe Grimm, the founder of the Michigan State University School of Journalism Bias Busters project, attended the 2023 Parliament and has provided us two stories and colorful photos as well.

FOCUSING ON UKRAINE is a story headlined: 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions shows the peaceful potential of our diverse faith traditions.

THEN, IN A REPORT HIGHLIGHTING one of the most important religious groups participating in the Parliament is this second story: Sikhs show the world their spiritual commitment to service at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions.

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From Our Authors

David Gushee

The Search for a Book to Teach Christian Ethics

NEWS FROM EUROPE THIS WEEK is reported in our Front Edge Publishing column: A major Christian scholar from Belgium has published a journal article recommending Dr. David Gushee’s new Introducing Christian Ethics to his colleagues in academia. Dr. Gushee and our team designed and published this unique multi-media book with the aim of welcoming both individual readers wanting to learn more about Christian perspectives on timely issues—and academic scholars and students around the world who are studying this centuries-old field of Christian ethical teaching.

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Holidays & Milestones

Labor Day celebrations—and memories

IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN FUN, SALES AND TRAVEL—Our Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton reports on both 2023 travel trends for this big holiday weekend—and about the rich history of the American labor movement.

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Are you ready for the New Year 5784?

ROSH HASHANA STARTS SUNSET SEPTEMBER 15—Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton reports on the Jewish New Year, which starts the period known as the Jewish High Holy Days. Yom Kippur starts at sunset on Sunday, September 24 this year. And, yes, as always, Stephanie has gathered some wonderfully delicious links to holiday recipes.

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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:

• GOLDA—Ed writes, “Reactions to this film have been mixed, though the majority of critics have praised Helen Mirren’s remarkable performance, enhanced by prosthetics and wig, as the title character.”
• JULES—”Director Marc Turtletaub’s film is a modest tale about a 79-year-old widower living in a small western Pennsylvania town. With a plot similar in some ways with E.T. or Close Encounters…, it is less a science fiction film than it is a parable of aging and loneliness.”
• THE LAW ACCORDING TO LYDIA POËT—Ed highly recommends this new Netflix series about Italy’s first female lawyer.
• OPPENHEIMER—”Christopher Nolan’s massive film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, shows how the scientist that presided over Trinity clearly understood” the power he had unleashed.
• TIGER WITHIN—”It is good to see that actor Ed Asner’s last film was one decrying ignorance and advocating love, forgiveness and friendship.”
• BARBIE—”I was thankful for the TIME magazine article that convinced me that I should watch Barbie despite my many reservations regarding it.”

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Remembering Our Earth,
Even in a Wooden Bowl

THIS WEEK’S COVER STORY welcomes the Native American writer Steven Charleston, who bridges the realms of Christian and Native spirituality in his many books and talks. In his newest book, Spirit Wheel, Charleston gives us a wondrous array of short, daily readings that he wrote day by day while reflecting on his own life. In our interview, he says, “I am trying to help readers find those places that are already there in their lives. That sense of transcendence and connection is there in all human beings. Finding those and releasing those are a part of life. That’s what my writing is all about.”

Please, enjoy our Cover Story this week with Steven Charleston and share it with friends via social media and email, because you may discover that friends would like to read this book, too, and discuss it with you.

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Holidays & Milestones

Raksha Bandhan

A RENEWAL OF HINDU FAMILY “TIES”—As our Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton explains today, Raksha Bandhan is one of the most beloved customs in Hindu communities around the world—an occasion for sisters and brothers to renew and strengthen their family “ties.”

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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:

• GOLDA—Ed writes, “Reactions to this film have been mixed, though the majority of critics have praised Helen Mirren’s remarkable performance, enhanced by prosthetics and wig, as the title character.”
• JULS—”Director Marc Turtletaub’s film is a modest tale about a 79-year-old widower living in a small western Pennsylvania town. With a plot similar in some ways with E.T. or Close Encounters…, it is less a science fiction film than it is a parable of aging and loneliness.”
• THE LAW ACCORDING TO LYDIA POËT—Ed highly recommends this new Netflix series about Italy’s first female lawyer.
• OPPENHEIMER—”Christopher Nolan’s massive film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, shows how the scientist that presided over Trinity clearly understood” the power he had unleashed.
• TIGER WITHIN—”It is good to see that actor Ed Asner’s last film was one decrying ignorance and advocating love, forgiveness and friendship.”
• BARBIE—”I was thankful for the TIME magazine article that convinced me that I should watch Barbie despite my many reservations regarding it.”

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‘An enormous need for hope among so many people and their families’

COVER STORY—This week, Dr. David Gushee is celebrating with our publishing house reaching the milestone of 30,000 copies of his international bestseller Changing Our Mind. We’re not only marking the sheer number of books sold—we’re celebrating with the thousands of people those numbers represent. In an interview with Editor David Crumm, Dr. Gushee tells some of the stories his readers have shared with him about the hope they have found through his book. Please, spread a little hope yourself this week by sharing this story with friends via social media or email.

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Speaking of prophetic voices—

Naming the sin of racism 

AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST BENJAMIN PRATT adds to our theme this week of the importance of prophetic Christian voices. Weary of the many tragic acts of racist violence we are witnessing across America, Ben Pratt recalls another courageous Christian voice who dared to name the sin of racism many decades ago: Harry Emerson Fosdick. As a pastor himself, now retired, Ben urges readers to remember that prophetic voices within our houses of worship have been calling Americans toward justice for many, many years.

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And Still Preaching to the World

The Rev. Dr. George A. Mason’s ‘positive and hopeful vision’

OUR THANKS GO TO THE Rev. Dr. Robert D. Cornwall for a very thoughtful overview of the new book The Word Made Fresh by the Rev. Dr. George A. Mason. Versions of Cornwall’s column have appeared on his own website and also in the historic Word & Way magazine, founded in 1896. Our publishing house team thanks Cornwall for such a thorough interpretation of the ways Mason’s new book can be useful in our world today.

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Spreading the word online

Howard Brown in Canvas Rebel

NO, WE HADN’T HEARD OF CANVAS REBEL until this week, but the point of this Front Edge Publishing column is that colorful new magazines like Canvas Rebel are popping up all the time—and we want to help our authors find their way into these realms of online media.

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Holidays & Milestones

Raksha Bandhan

A RENEWAL OF HINDU FAMILY “TIES”—As our Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton explains today, Raksha Bandhan is one of the most beloved customs in Hindu communities around the world—an occasion for sisters and brothers to renew and strengthen their family “ties.”

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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:

• THE LAW ACCORDING TO LYDIA POËT—Ed highly recommends this new Netflix series about Italy’s first female lawyer.
• THEATER CAMP—Ed also praises this new “mockumentary” with Amy Sedaris.
• SHORT COMINGS—”The title of actor-turned director Randall Park’s film refers to its main character Ben Tanaka (Justin H. Min). And does he ever have shortcomings!”
• LOOKING BACK—Ed also suggests this week that we look back at two thought-provoking films: Anatomy of an Illness (1984) with Ed Asner and Half Nelson (2006) with Ryan Gosling.
• AFIRE—Ed writes, “With destructive fires ravaging so many countries around the world, German director Christian Petzold’s film has a strange relevance.”
• OPPENHEIMER—”Christopher Nolan’s massive film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, shows how the scientist that presided over Trinity clearly understood” the power he had unleashed.
• TIGER WITHIN—”It is good to see that actor Ed Asner’s last film was one decrying ignorance and advocating love, forgiveness and friendship.”
• BARBIE—”I was thankful for the TIME magazine article that convinced me that I should watch Barbie despite my many reservations regarding it.”

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