Arts & Culture

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.

DMX was my John the Forerunner

By T.C. Moore — April 14, 2021

(RNS) — DMX pointed me to Jesus not through a sermon or a Bible study, but through his bold faith that didn’t paper over his flaws.

I love all Jews — even the ones I don’t like

By Jeffrey Salkin — April 13, 2021

(RNS) — We Jews are a small people, but we are a large family.

Marketing ploy or sacred art? Bible publishers appeal to millennials with focus on design

By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 13, 2021

(RNS) — In the last decade, independent projects like Bibliotheca have brought an eye for design to the Bible — and shown big Bible publishers there’s a market for it.

Justin Bieber’s Easter surprise EP, ‘Freedom,’ adds to his Jesus-filled chapter

By Kathryn Post — April 7, 2021

(RNS) — Justin Bieber’s latest recording is his most explicitly religious project to date.

Church faces backlash for showing Mass at a cinema, as Italy faces severe lockdown

By Claire Giangravé — April 7, 2021

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The case highlights growing tensions between Italians and the Catholic Church, which critics say has been granted more leeway while the weary peninsula faces another severe lockdown more than a year into the pandemic.