Plus a Christian pastor brutally murdered in Laos and more headlines  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

	Open in app or online Dr. Oz Senate campaign suggests a shift in the voting habits of American Muslims Plus a Christian pastor brutally murdered in Laos and more headlines Religion Unplugged Nov 9   Cross-post   Hi ReligionUnplugged readers, As of this morning, Democrat John Fetterman has won the Pennsylvania Senate race against Republican challenger Mehmet Oz — known as the TV personality “Dr. Oz” — with only a three point lead. Oz is the son of Turkish immigrants, and if elected would have been the highest-elected Muslim in U.S. history, though he has described himself as a “secular Muslim.” Still, his initial victory in the Republican primary against Kathy Barnette, who called to ban the practice of Islam in the U.S., shows a slight shift: more American Muslims are voting Republican. Contributor Joseph Hammond reports. Also this week comes an exclusive report of a Christian pastor in southern Laos who was tortured and brutally murdered. Pastor See had converted from animism to Christianity and faced increasing tension and persecution from neighbors, relatives and local authorities. As churches grow in Laos, so does Christian persecution. See you next week. If you like what you read, share this with your family and friends. Share This is a quick reminder that we’re in the midst of our year-end NewsMatch campaign — and you can help! NewsMatch is a collaborative fundraising movement to support independent, public service journalism like ours. Through December 31, NewsMatch will match your new monthly donation 12 times or double your one-time gift, all up to $1,000. That means that through NewsMatch, we can raise up to $30,000.  For a nonprofit organization like us, this is a big deal and will help us deliver the kind of in-depth journalism you’ve come to expect, every day. It’s the kind of reporting that can make a real difference in our community. And it’s worthy of your support. Give today to double your gift! Dr. Oz Campaign Part Of Subtle Shift In Muslim American Voting Patterns Republican senatorial candidate Mehmet Oz faces an uphill battle as he closes on Democratic rival John Fetterman for the title of next senator of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Yet, Oz’s surprise victory in the Republican primary and his strong showing in the campaign also signals a subtle political shift — many Muslim Americans are increasingly voting Republican. by Joseph Hammond Pastor In Laos Tortured, Brutally Murdered by Anonymous Sources close to the police investigation told ReligionUnplugged.com they believe Pastor See was killed because of his faith during a time of rapid growth in Laotian churches. The number of baptisms is causing tension in communities distrustful of a religion they see as foreign. ‘Spirit Of Toumliline’ Interfaith Inquiry Lives On 50 Years After Moroccan Monastery Closed by Julia Bicknell A film crew started a movement to rebuild a French monastery in Morocco after shooting the award-winning movie “Of Gods and Men” there. The monastery was closed in 1968, leaving abandoned buildings. But “the Spirit of Toumliline” did not leave. Harlem Rev. Calvin Butts Remembered As A Man Of The People by Hamil R. Harris At Harlem’s famous Abyssinian Baptist Church, Rev. Calvin Butts III went from counseling engaged couples to counseling the U.S. president, from the brothers in Harlem to advising diplomats at the United Nations. That is why a long line has wrapped around the block of the megachurch over the last two days as the ordinary and extraordinary paid their final respects to Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III. He died of cancer on Oct. 28 at the age of 73. Clergy Members Become ‘The Unbelieving’ In A New Play by Jillian Cheney “The Unbelieving,” a new play on limited run in New York, explores the lives of clergy who stopped believing in God. The play is based on a qualitative study that interviewed clergy from across faith traditions about their transition away from believing and how the change threatened to take away their families, communities and sense of self. Gloo Mines Big Data To Help Churches Reach Hurting People by Steve Rabey Gloo’s tech platform provides the digital infrastructure behind the He Gets Us campaign. When people see an ad, visit the campaign’s website and provide their contact information, Gloo passes the info on to one of the many churches that use its platform, which offers free and subscription-based services. New Podcast Aims To Educate Listeners On The Teachings Of The Catholic Church by Clemente Lisi The official teachings of the church regarding both faith and morals will soon become a podcast starting in 2023, part of a growing network of audio programs aimed at teaching Catholicism to the masses. 6 Midterm Election Races Where Religion Could Play A Major Factor by Deborah Laker Politicians across the country are in the last stretch of campaigning as Americans prepare to cast the votes in the midterm elections on Nov. 8. ReligionUnplugged.com takes a look at some of the key races where a candidate’s faith could play a big factor in the election results. Americans Who Aren’t Sure About God Are A Fast-Growing Force In Politics by Ryan Burge (ANALYSIS) Turnout will likely play an outsize role in the 2022 midterms, too, as voters determine what political party will have control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in January 2023. If the data is any guide, there are two key communities political analysts often overlook: atheists and agnostics. Bishops-Biden Battle Heats Up Around Abortion Debate Ahead Of Midterms by Clemente Lisi (ANALYSIS) Polls show that voters care more about inflation, but Democrats are hoping that talking up abortion will get out their base. Abortion, however, isn’t just a political issue. As President Joe Biden, a practicing Catholic, promises to make abortion a federal right should Democrats keep a majority, tension among him and prominent U.S. bishops has heated up again. Opinion Faith And Politics: 5 Key Religion Storylines In The 2022 Midterm Elections In Friday’s Weekend Plug-In column, Bobby Ross Jr. highlights five key religion angles in the 2022 midterm elections. 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 Stuck In The Bardo Again by Ira Rifkin LGBTQ Voices Emerging In Vatican’s Synod On Synodality by Terry Mattingly Hong Kong’s National Security Law Is Curtailing The Right To A Fair Trial by Ewelina U. Ochab Could Secular Feminism And Some Kind Of Religion Converge In A Sexual Revolution Rethink? by Richard Ostling What Are Putin’s ‘Filtration Camps’ And Why Are They Concerning? by Ewelina U. Ochab Don’t miss our latest podcast The Religion of Woke America Misses God and Forgiveness Georgetown University professor Joshua Mitchell talks with ReligionUnplugged.com about his new book, “American Awakening,” where he explores how identity politics in America bear a some resemblance to Christianity but miss vital concepts such as forgiveness. Mitchell speaks with Paul Glader and Paul Marshall about the book thesis and Mitchell’s observations and concerns about American life. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or listen directly on our website.  In case you missed it Editorial picks from our archives Who Are The Jews? Kanye West’s Rhetoric Echoes Black Hebrew Israelites’ Antisemitism by Princess Jones (ANALYSIS) According to the controversial singer Ye, formerly called Kanye West, Black people are Jews. This part of his rhetoric is the strongest hint of where exactly his recent outpouring of antisemitism flows from. India’s ‘Hijabi Performer’ Aims To Counter Hate Through Theater by Shadab Farooq When the south Indian state of Karnataka banned hijabs from public schools this year, theater and performance artist Sania Saifi thought about her own experience in school. When she was a student, her school in Delhi banned hijabs from 2013 to 2015. 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. 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.    Cross-post     Like Comment Share   © 2022 Religion Unplugged 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe