Arts & Culture

Why Oak Flat in Arizona is a sacred space for the Apache and other Native Americans
SUPERIOR, Ariz. (RNS) — The Apache believe Oak Flat is a ‘blessed place’ where Ga’an — guardians or messengers between the people and Usen, Creator God — dwell. The site is at risk of being turned over to an Australian mining company.

‘The Witch of Kings Cross’ finds the woman behind the scandal

MPAC Hollywood Awards to feature ‘The Mauritanian’

On late-night TV and bestseller lists, new books on prayer resonating with readers
(RNS) — After a tumultuous year, several new books about prayer from popular Christian authors seem to be speaking to the moment.

How New York’s 19th-century Jews turned Purim into an American party
(The Conversation) — Purim put a social spotlight on New York’s Jews and their up-and-coming relationship to the city’s most elite class.

VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer calls evangelicalism a ‘hot mess.’ He hasn’t given up hope.
(RNS) — For nearly three decades, the VeggieTales creator has been making people laugh while telling them about Jesus. Now, spurred by his faith, he has been attending to the recent struggles of American evangelicals.

Does NBC have a Jewish problem?
(RNS) — Anti-Semitism. On your television screen.

New Topps cards focus on Muhammad Ali’s faith
(RNS) — ‘Converts to Islam’ tells the impact of his decision on Ali’s life and on the world.

Carman, beloved by ’90s evangelical kids, was a Pentecostal showman at heart
(RNS) — The wildly popular troubadour was equal parts Pentecostal flair and Disney levels of cartoonish imagination.

Why is a photo of Jared Leto dressed like the Joker and Jesus floating around?
(RNS) — It’s from the so-called Snyder Cut of ‘Justice League.’ Or is it?

Carman, Christian music icon and Gospel Music Hall of Famer, dies at 65
(RNS) — The Christian music icon had planned a new tour later this year.

Beyond $1,000 sneakers: Carl Lentz, hype priests and the cult of celebrity
(RNS) — A Christian can believe it is their job to ‘make Jesus famous’ without making the massive leap to the problematic idea that fame is itself good and an effective tool for ministry.

Yolanda Pierce on grandmother theology, Black Jesus and Mariology
(RNS) — ‘I’m really trying to shift the discourse about who can do theology and what counts as theological source material,’ says the first woman dean of Howard University’s divinity school and the author of the new book, ‘In My Grandmother’s House: Black Women, Faith, and the Stories We Inherit.’

Vatican Museums reopen, but visitors decry lack of social distancing
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Some visitors likened the art galleries to ‘a circle of hell’ and condemned the ‘unacceptable organizational error’ by museum curators.

‘Daughters of Kobani’ tells story of all-women Kurdish combat units who fought IS
(RNS) — ‘This was a movement with religious freedom and multiethnic governance with women at the center,’ said the book’s author, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon.