Arts

Author Kristen J. Sollée takes a journey to the ‘witchy history places’
(RNS) — Kristen J. Sollée’s book ‘Witch Hunt’ is part travelogue, part memoir, with a dash of historical fiction, and it comes at a time when, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, readers aren’t able to travel.

In Disney’s ‘Clouds,’ Justin Baldoni makes a teen cancer movie about joy
(RNS) — Justin Baldoni, best known for his role on the CW’s ‘Jane the Virgin’, has modeled his career of late around Western culture’s allergy to talking about death.

Petition for a new American Girl doll asks popular toy company to tell the modern refugee story
CHICAGO (RNS) — ‘I think by inviting the American Girl Company to pay attention to the importance of refugee stories and people, we are showing God’s love to the world and to refugees,’ said Laura Laurie, petition creator.

Former CCM editor and Christian music publicist Jay Swartzendruber dies at 52
(RNS) — The former CCM editor known for his passion for Christian music and artists is mourned by friends in Nashville and beyond.

Lecrae on growing uncomfortable with white evangelicalism and finding ‘Restoration’
(RNS) — The Christian hip-hop artist’s new book examines the spiritual, personal and artistic dimensions of redemption.

‘Give Me My Colored Coat’: Donny Osmond performs wedding in amazing technicolor dreamcoat
(RNS) — For a wedding ceremony performed by ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ star Donny Osmond, not just any robe will do.

Sex and ‘church ladies’: True-to-life secrets beyond Black church pews
(RNS) — In ‘The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,’ a finalist for the National Book Award, author Deesha Philyaw focuses on Black women and ‘the tug of war they experience between their desires and what they may have learned at church.’

What’s behind the ‘Cuties’ outrage?
(RNS) — The movie has provoked backlash since it landed last week on Netflix, the popular TV and movie streaming service. But what is the movie about, and why has it struck such a dissonant chord?

Christian musician Sean Feucht held defiant Seattle worship protest after concert was banned
SEATTLE (RNS) — After city officials shut down a Seattle park concert, Christian musician Sean Feucht held an outdoor ‘worship protest.’

Keith and Kristyn Getty’s Sing! conference goes online, focuses on singing at home
NASHVILLE (RNS) — Hymn writer Keith Getty hopes the pandemic will lead to a renewal of singing at home. That message will be part of the Getty Music annual Sing! conference, which will be held online this year.

In ‘The Secret: Dare to Dream,’ the law of attraction plays a starring role
(RNS) — ‘The Secret: Dare to Dream,’ a film based on the bestselling book ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, was released on July 31 and features a star-studded cast alongside an inspirational dose of spiritualism.

5 faith moments to watch for in Beyoncé’s ‘Black Is King’
(RNS) — Spirituality has been part of Beyoncé’s journey, from singing ‘Amazing Grace’ and a gospel medley on albums with Destiny’s Child to embodying the divine feminine from a number of religious traditions in her recent visual albums and appearances.

Billy Graham statue to replace that of white supremacist in US Capitol
(RNS) — The 10-foot, 10-inch-tall statue of the renowned evangelist will replace a statue of Charles Aycock that both the state of North Carolina and the US House want removed.

Chicago’s Soldier Field rolls out blue carpet for drive-in screening of movie ‘Fatima’
CHICAGO (RNS) — ‘Just like the churches, we had to pivot, too,’ said Jeanne Berney, chief operating officer of Picturehouse Entertainment, the film’s distributor.

Catholic sculptor re-creating Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ aims to shift the emphasis off hell
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — According to the sculptor, limiting the poem’s scope to the Inferno has led to a secularization of Dante’s work. Schmalz’s sculpture will be the first to represent all 100 cantos of the famous poem.