Plus India’s religious headwear ban and more headlines  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

	A Texas pastor wants evangelicals to forge ties with Muslims and Jews. Will they listen? Plus India’s religious headwear ban and more headlines Religion Unplugged Mar 16 Hi ReligionUnplugged readers, The Multi-Faith Neighbors Network is a group co-founded by a Christian pastor, a Muslim imam and a Jewish rabbi. Their goal is to increase cooperation and understanding between the Abrahamic faiths and advocate for international religious freedom. Co-founders Bob Roberts Jr. and Mohamad Magid are upfront about their plain theological differences, yet they treat each other like brothers. These bonds between leaders and faiths are the focus of today’s top story by Chris Moody.   On March 15, an Indian court upheld a state “hijab ban,” which could spark similar rulings against the Muslim minority by the ruling Hindu-first BJP party. It has sparked protests, with some female students who are told they can’t take their exams if they remove their hijabs — leaving their hijabs on regardless. See you next week! If you like what you read, share this with your family and friends. Share A Texas Pastor Wants Evangelicals To Forge Ties With Muslims And Jews. Will They Listen? Multi-Faith Neighbors Network was co-founded by a Christian pastor, a Muslim imam and a Jewish rabbi to promote international religious freedom and increase cooperation and understanding between the Abrahamic faiths. The friendship between co-founders Bob Roberts Jr., an evangelical pastor in Texas, and Mohamad Magid, an imam in Virginia, illustrates that mission. “Imam Magid is literally one of the best friends I have on the face of the earth,” Roberts said. “I’d rather hang out with him than most Christians I know.” by Chris Moody Q&A With Alabama Minister Who Escaped Ukraine After War Broke Out by Timothy Hall Alabama minister Mark Posey was preaching the gospel in Ukraine when Russia began its latest incursion into the former Soviet nation. “If we wait for ideal circumstances, then we’ll never go anywhere or do anything,” he said in an interview, now back home in North Alabama. How India’s Religious Headwear Ban Affects Muslims And Not Hindus by Myrian Garcia On March 15 an Indian court upheld a state “hijab ban” that prevents Muslim girls from wearing the head covering at schools. The ruling could set a precedent for other states governed by the ruling Hindu-first Bharatiya Janata Party. 'A Journal For Jordan' Is A Sweet Love Story And A Reflection On Good Parenting by Jillian Cheney (REVIEW) “A Journal for Jordan,” a new movie directed by Denzel Washington, tells the true story of a family whose father died while serving in Iraq while his son was still a baby. The son gets to know his father through journal entries addressed to him and of his mother’s love even during grief. Member Of John MacArthur's Megachurch Publicly Shamed For Leaving Abusive Husband by Anne Stych A former member of John MacArthur’s megachurch says she was publicly shamed by the pastor in 2002 for her decision to leave her abusive husband and defy church counsel, according to The Roys Report. MacArthur told his congregation it was necessary for him to call out Eileen Gray, who had rejected church elders’ direction to reconcile. How Sikhs Became A New Target Of India’s Right Wing And Voted No To BJP by Midhat Fatimah Election results in India show a crushing defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the northern farming state of Punjab, the heart of Sikhism, after a surge of anti-Sikhism among the right-wing. The Hindu-first BJP needed support from Sikhs in the state but only bagged two seats out of 117 in the state’s legislative assembly. Documentary ‘Lincoln’s Dilemma’ Shows President’s Belief In God And Need For Repentance by Jillian Cheney (REVIEW) “Lincoln’s Dilemma,” a new four-part documentary series streaming on Apple TV+, chronicles the trajectory of Lincoln’s morality and political ideology from his early career to his death. Some Churches Take Virtual Worship All The Way, Ditching Buildings Entirely by Diana Kruzman As the pandemic enters its third year, more churches are having to weigh the costs and benefits of online versus in-person worship. While most will not choose to become fully virtual, the dramatic shifts brought on by COVID-19 restrictions are forcing nearly existential questions about the nature of worship and the purpose of community. As Russian Attacks Intensify, Churches Organize Rescue Missions, Relief Centers And Baptisms by Erik Tryggestad Fighting has intensified in eastern Ukrainian cities near the separatist-held regions. Meanwhile, Christians take supplies to congregations in these hard-hit cities. They plan to help churches set up bomb shelters and deliver aid. They also plan to bring refugees back with them. Emotions, Mandalas And Buddhism: A Reflection On The Rubin's Interactive Exhibit by Bethany Johnson (REVIEW) Museum goers are challenged to “transform” their emotions at the Rubin Museum of Art’s latest exhibit, “Mandala Lab.” It aims for those who complete the interactions to leave with a greater awareness of their emotions and a new understanding of how Buddhism and its art, used as sacred tools, can improve one’s everyday life. With No Mosque, Rohingya Refugees Worship In Their Homes by Shadab Farooq When government officials demolished a makeshift mosque last summer as part of an anti-encroachment drive to clear land settled by refugees and migrant workers, the Rohingya community in Delhi’s Madanpur Khadar neighborhood mourned the loss of not only tents and homes along the polluted riverbank but also its place of worship. Eastern European Mission Switches To Relief As Refugees Flee Ukraine by Steve Rabey In 1961, seven young couples moved to Vienna, Austria, to set up a printing press that would churn out tiny Bibles as small as a pack of cigarettes — small enough to be snuck through the Iron Curtain. But now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, the mission they founded is working with its longtime partners in the region to deliver emergency aid. Christian Broadcasting Network TBN To Launch ‘Centerpoint’ News Program by Anne Stych A network known for religious programming ranging from talk shows to music programs and preaching from celebrity pastors will join the news business later this month with a program hosted by former Fox News correspondent Doug McKelway and journalist Blynda Layne. Lone Church Makes A Difference, Feeding Children On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast’ by Audrey Jackson In Franklin County, Florida — where 19% of the 12,451 residents lived below the poverty line in 2020 — children ages 3 to 11 flock to the the Eastpoint Church of Christ van driven by Jenny Johnson each Sunday while her husband, Mike, the church’s minister, cooks breakfast at the building. For some kids, it’s their first meal since school on Friday. Opinion Must Reads: Understanding The Russia-Ukraine War From A Religious Perspective In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. highlights the religion angles key to understanding the Russia-Ukraine war. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith. Don’t forget! You can subscribe to receive Bobby’s column early on Fridays for only $5 a month. Click the button below to subscribe! Subscribe to Weekend Plug-In Stories About Ukrainian Jews? Try A 1,000-Year History, The Pale Of Settlement And A Global Diaspora by Ira Rifkin Will Russia's Ruler Listen To Orthodox Christian Voices Praying For Ceasefire?  by Terry Mattingly Two Insiders' Writings Should Be Weighed Carefully By Evangelical-Watchers In The Press by Richard Ostling Missing The Main Thing About The Lenten Purpose by Michael Metzger How David Brooks, Peter Wehner And Others Fail To Address Evangelical Divisions by Paul Marshall Don’t miss our latest podcast Ukraine Prepares to Stand Against a Bully Mariya Kapinos is a Ukrainian journalist and game designer normally based in Kyev. She fled her city in recent days as Russia prepared to invade. As tanks rolled into her home country, Kapinos spoke with ReligionUnplugged.com executive editor Paul Glader about the military, political and religious conflicts between her homeland, Ukraine, and Russia. An alumna of The Media Project's European Journalism Institute in Prague, Kapinos explains the anger, loss and fear that millions of Ukrainians are feeling right now. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or listen directly on our website.  In case you missed it Editorial picks from our archives Russian Invasion Reveals Fissures Among Orthodox Christians by Meagan Clark Orthodox churches around the world are all preparing for Easter, a celebration of Christ defeating death, by reflecting on Judgment Day. Despite this relative unity in worship, the Orthodox schism between Moscow and Constantinople that broke open in 2019 is cracking further. What is good and what is evil in the war in Ukraine is far from agreed upon. Q&A: Orthodox Ecumenism Expert Cyril Hovorun Talks Ukraine, Russia And Schism by Jovan Tripkovic In the last couple years, Ukraine has been in the center of the Orthodox schism between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Moscow Patriarchate over independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Many Orthodox theologians argue that the war in Ukraine will determine the future of the OCU. Cyril Hovorun is one of them. Thanks again for reading! ReligionUnplugged is a non-profit news organization that benefits greatly from your contributions. Your monetary donations allow us to continue our reporting and expand our coverage. You can always donate on our website by clicking the button below. Donate Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. For $5 a month, subscribe to our Weekend Plug-In Substack. Any news tips for us? Is there a story you think we should be covering? We want to know! Email our managing editor Meagan at meagan@themediaproject.org. Like Comment Share Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. For $5 a month, subscribe to receive our Weekend Plug-In in your inbox.  Any news tips for us? Is there a story you think we should be covering? We want to know! Email our managing editor Meagan at meagan@themediaproject.org.  © 2022 Religion Unplugged Unsubscribe 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104