Arts & Culture

Riz Ahmed launches new effort seeking to increase Muslims in Hollywood

By Joseph Hammond — June 11, 2021

(RNS) — While the Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actor is spearheading the effort, he is joined by some of Hollywood’s leading Muslim professionals.

Liberty grad Nightbirde captures hearts, Golden Buzzer on ‘America’s Got Talent’

By Emily McFarlan Miller — June 11, 2021

‘Serenade’ album celebrates LGBTQ youth ahead of Queer Youth of Faith Day

By Emily McFarlan Miller — June 8, 2021

PTL! Andrew Garfield, Jessica Chastain to star as Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in biopic

By Emily McFarlan Miller — June 2, 2021

(RNS) — The biopic also will depict a number of other evangelicals who were prominent during the 1980s, including Jerry Falwell Sr., Jimmy Swaggart and Pat Robertson.

The film ‘Two Gods’ studies the life of a Muslim casket maker

By Joseph Hammond — May 27, 2021

(RNS) — The film ‘explores the juxtaposition of grief and the rituals of death with the vibrancy of coming of age,’ said director Zeshawn Ali.

A new digital exhibit maps the Jewish histories of Los Angeles’ Eastside

By Alejandra Molina — May 20, 2021

LOS ANGELES (RNS) — The virtual exhibit, 'Jewish Histories in Multiethnic Boyle Heights,' launched by the UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies, explores the Jewish institutions that made up the historical landscape of this Eastside community.

Day by day: Musical ‘Godspell’ celebrates 50th anniversary

By Mark Kennedy — May 10, 2021

(AP) — "Godspell" was an off-Broadway hit in 1971. It was made into a 1973 movie and jumped to Broadway in 1976, nominated for best score at the Tony Awards and a Grammy winner.

Man or robot? Justin Baldoni takes on masculinity in a new book

By Paul O'Donnell — May 7, 2021

(RNS) — 'You can be masculine,' said the film director and 'Jane the Virgin' actor, 'but not at the expense of your humanity.'

Goodbye, Van Morrison

By Jeffrey Salkin — May 7, 2021

(RNS) — A veteran rocker goes antisemitic on us. I'm so done.

To break Ramadan fast, many Muslims turn to apricot drink with ‘lunar’ name

By Joseph Hammond — May 4, 2021

(RNS) — In the Arab world, an apricot juice drink known as Qamar al-Din, or ‘moon of the religion,’ satisfies the requirements for breaking the daily fast.

Oscar nominee ‘Minari’ spotlights Korean American faith and the role of the church

By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 23, 2021

(RNS) — 'For many Korean American immigrants, the church has been a central place for community,' said Jessica Chang.

RNS Oscars: 10 movies from 2020 with spiritual angles you may have missed

By RNS staff — April 23, 2021

(RNS) — These films caught hold of some truth about faith or glimpsed the spiritual in the stories they told.

Beth Allison Barr wants Christians to know where ‘biblical womanhood’ comes from (it’s not the Bible)

By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 20, 2021

(RNS) — The author and historian talked to Religion News Service about where the idea of biblical womanhood comes from, what she believes the Bible actually has to say about the role of women and what it will take for things to change.