Category: Religion Unplugged

Religion Unplugged

In rural Oklahoma, a Ukrainian priest prays for his mother — and his homeland

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged JONES, Okla. — At a little country church 20 miles east of Oklahoma City, Ukrainian and U.S. flags fly outside. Inside, the Rev. Stepan Bilogan preaches and prays in his native language as a choir member translates his Ukrainian words into English. Immigrants founded St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church — the only Ukrainian Orthodox congregation for hundreds of miles — more … Continue reading In rural Oklahoma, a Ukrainian priest prays for his mother — and his homeland

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Religion Unplugged

Russia attacks Ukraine: Why some experts insist Putin is motivated by religion

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. What’s religion got to do with Russia’s attack on Ukraine? A whole lot, according to some experts. Here at ReligionUnplugged.com, Richard Ostling stresses that journalists shouldn’t … Continue reading Russia attacks Ukraine: Why some experts insist Putin is motivated by religion

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion Unplugged

How Canada truckers’ protest parallels American-style Christian nationalism

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. “Honk if you love Jesus.” That headline on a recent story by the Ottawa Citizen’s Blair Crawford sets the scene as the Canadian newspaper explains “Why … Continue reading How Canada truckers’ protest parallels American-style Christian nationalism

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion Unplugged

Not just nostalgia: Some pandemic-weary souls want to make Sunday a day of rest once again

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. In a hit song two decades ago, country music group Rascal Flatts offered banjo-tinged commentary on “the world spinning faster than it did in the old … Continue reading Not just nostalgia: Some pandemic-weary souls want to make Sunday a day of rest once again

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion Unplugged

The truth of Brown v. Board of Education

Plaintiff’s daughter sets the record straight on landmark school desegregation case. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged OKLAHOMA CITY — You may think you know the story of the Rev. Oliver Brown, the lead plaintiff in the landmark 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. You probably don’t. Nearly seven decades ago, the African Methodist Episcopal pastor’s name was etched in … Continue reading The truth of Brown v. Board of Education

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Religion Unplugged

Online church and virtual spirituality in the pandemic age: Can we please have a Wordle?

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. Is online church good for your soul? Can real fellowship be attained through virtual reality? Amid a global pandemic, why has Wordle — yes, the online … Continue reading Online church and virtual spirituality in the pandemic age: Can we please have a Wordle?

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion Unplugged

‘We have to stop hate’: Why it’s important to remember the Holocaust

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. To Anna Salton Eisen and her son, Aaron Eisen, Thursday’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day was personal. George and Ruth Salton — Anna’s parents and Aaron’s grandparents … Continue reading ‘We have to stop hate’: Why it’s important to remember the Holocaust

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Religion Unplugged

A personal connection to synagogue where hostages were taken, plus 5 key storylines

By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com. When I first saw news on social media of a ranting man taking hostages at a Texas synagogue Saturday, I immediately clicked the link to an … Continue reading A personal connection to synagogue where hostages were taken, plus 5 key storylines

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Associated Press, Christian Chronicle, Religion Unplugged, The Ross News, Washington Post

Year in review: My Top 10 stories of 2021

By Bobby Ross Jr. The biggest — and best — news of the year was the birth of my granddaughter, Norah. But besides that banner headline, here are my top stories of 2021 (mostly in chronological order): 1. The pandemic: I started the year with coverage of many Christians welcoming the COVID-19 vaccines but others voicing skepticism. In a personal column, I reflected on the joy … Continue reading Year in review: My Top 10 stories of 2021

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