Plus the complex history of Russian Orthodoxy and more headlines  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

	These evangelicals are equipping church leaders to address COVID-19 misinformation Plus the complex history of Russian Orthodoxy and more headlines Religion Unplugged Mar 23 Hi ReligionUnplugged readers, This week, meet the evangelicals who want to reframe the COVID-19 vaccine as in-line with a biblical worldview for Christians who are on the fence. Christians & the Vaccine, a project of Redeeming Babel, has produced short videos online that help answer common questions and clear up misconceptions about the vaccine. Contributor Chelsea Langston Bombino spoke to founders Curtis Chang and Kris Carter about the project and the results they’ve seen so far. In Lithuania, the world-famous Hill of Crosses has been a place to pray for soldiers killed in uprisings against Russia. Now, a Ukraine flag stands anchored to a cross, and many Lithuanians come to pray for the country in its struggle against Russia. Michael Ray Smith reports. Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses. Photo by Michael Ray Smith. Don’t miss our other latest coverage of the war in Ukraine: In our latest podcast, Dr. Scott Kenworthy spoke with Managing Editor Meagan Clark about the religious aspects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the complex history of Russian Orthodoxy. Intern Camila Da Silva writes on five anti-war anthems leading Ukraine resistance with faith. See you next week! If you like what you read, share this with your family and friends. Share These Evangelicals Are Equipping Church Leaders To Address COVID-19 Misinformation A new project by evangelicals, for evangelicals aims to persuade those on the fence about vaccination to go ahead and get the shots and equip church leaders to lead fact-based discussions while appealing to biblical values. by Chelsea Langston Bombino Lithuania's World-Famous Hill Of Crosses Attracts Visitors To Ponder, Pray For Ukraine by Michael Ray Smith Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses, where many visitors have left crosses to honor soldiers who died in uprisings against czarist Russia, has become a site to pray for Ukraine. The history of the Hill of Crosses is unclear. Folklore says the first cross was placed on the hill, formerly the home of a wooden castle, to remind others to pray for mercy and health of people. Soon, crosses began appearing to honor soldiers who died fighting against Russia, which disapproved and repeatedly demolished them. Here Are The Top Anti-War Rock Songs That Represent Faith In The Ukrainian Resistance by Camila Da Silva Folk and rock anthems in response to the Russian invasion have created an air of nationalism and unity among Ukrainians. Besides the explicit protest in their lyrics, they recall other historical periods of conflict in the country. Former New Hampshire Pastor Still Living At Church While Facing Child Porn Charges by Anne Stych The pastor of a New Hampshire church has been removed from his duties after being charged with possession of child pornography, but conditions of his bail require that he continue living at the church. Despite COVID Measures Lifting, In-Person Church Attendance Remains Stagnant by Camila Da Silva Mask mandates are receding, COVID-19 cases are declining, and more houses of worship are going back to normal — holding in-person services once again. But attendance at those in-person services has not risen over the past six months, a new report by Pew Research finds. University Of Oregon To Buy Campus Of Defunct Lutheran University For $60 Million by Anne Stych The University of Oregon plans to purchase the former Portland campus of Concordia University for $60.5 million and build a children’s behavioral health institute on the 13-acre site, funded by a $425 million gift from former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie, who is a University of Oregon graduate. New Lenten Cookbook Gives Catholics Tasty Choices For ‘Meatless Fridays’ by Clemente Lisi (REVIEW) Since many Catholics — ones in America in particular — are so carnivorous throughout much of the year, a new cookbook out just in time for Lent focuses on the very dilemma of what to eat on Fridays this month. Scott Hahn’s book “The Lenten Cookbook” from Sophia Institute Press serves up easy-to-make meals this spring. Azerbaijan Government Takes Charge Of Appointing Imams by Felix Corley On March 11, President Ilham Aliyev signed further religion law amendments handing responsibility for naming prayer leaders in all mosques from the Caucasian Muslim Board to the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations. Meet The Little Jesuit School That Could: St. Peter’s Busts March Madness Brackets by Clemente Lisi March may be all about dressing in green and celebrating St. Patrick, but March Madness has been all about wearing blue and cheering on St. Peter’s in Jersey City. The small Jesuit school socked the field by reaching the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. ‘Raised By Wolves’ Examines The Role Of Religion In Mankind’s Future by Paige Hagy (REVIEW) In Ridley Scott’s sci-fi television drama, two androids are sent by atheists to planet Kepler-22b to raise human children after Earth is destroyed by a war with the ruling religious group called the Mithraic. The Mithraic arrive on Kepler 13 years later, forcing the two groups to live together on yet another planet and face the same problems they did on Earth — and more. Christians Across The US Find Ways To Support Ukraine by Calvin Cockrell As Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, many American Christians are trying to help in any way they can, whether through prayer, donations or housing refugees. There is a tremendous amount of care and concern for Ukrainians — and a desire to do something. 5 Ways To Celebrate The Hindu Spring Festival Of Holi by Myrian Garcia Holi is one of Hinduism’s major festivals celebrating new seasons and joy with colorful powders, bonfires, sweets, singing and dancing. This year Holi falls on March 18. Russian Orthodox Priest Fined For Condemning War In Ukraine by Victoria Arnold On March 10, a court fined the Rev. Ioann Burdin of the Moscow Patriarchate's Kostroma Diocese one month's average local wages for online remarks and a Sunday sermon in church condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and stressing the importance of the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” Pope Urges Patriarch Kirill To Use ‘Language Of Jesus’ After Russia Invades Ukraine by Clemente Lisi Pope Francis — in a private video call on March 16 with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church — said religious leaders “must not use the language of politics, but the language of Jesus.” Francis’ remarks to Patriarch Kirill, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, were the latest in a series of moves to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Opinion Why News Of Sexual Harassment Inside Christianity Today Is Doubly Shocking In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. explains why news of sexual harassment inside Christianity Today magazine was so shocking. 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 Press Uses Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Catholicism Against Him On Social Issues by Clemente Lisi Beyond The Orthodox Questions: How Might The Ukraine War Scramble World Christianity? by Richard Ostling Why Is Russia’s Church Backing Putin’s War? Church-State History Gives A Clue by Scott Kenworthy Finding The Main Thing — The Central Metaphor — Of The Gospel Story by Michael Metzger Is The Southern Baptist Convention Preparing To Fight Its 1979 All Over Again? by Terry Mattingly The Latest United Methodist Bombshell Will Create News Throughout 2022 And Beyond by Richard Ostling What Is ‘Christian Nationalism’ And Is It Connected To The Jan. 6 Insurrection? by Richard Ostling Don’t miss our latest podcast Unpacking Myths About Russian History and Orthodoxy Dr. Scott Kenworthy, a professor in the Department of Comparative Religion at Miami University, spoke with ReligionUnplugged’s Managing Editor Meagan Clark about the religious aspects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the complex history of Russian Orthodoxy. Kenworthy's research interests focus on the history and thought of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, particularly in modern Russia. His recent book co-authored with Alexander Agadjanian, “Understanding World Christianity: Russia” aims to correct Western myths and misunderstandings about Russian Christianity and history. 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. A Texas Pastor Wants Evangelicals To Forge Ties With Muslims And Jews  by Chris Moody 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.” 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