Religion Unplugged, 6125 Luther Lane, #255, Dallas, TX (2025)

12/01/2025

Humans have always relied on storytelling to help make sense of their lives and the world around them. For Cyril Zenda, a Religion Unplugged contributor based in Zimbabwe, the goal is to delve into underreported news stories.

Here at Religion Unplugged, we know that religion is a powerful force in people’s lives and public life. Faith is often more than a personal conviction: It shapes policies, laws and communities. Religion has been, and will always be, a through line of the human experience — a major theme in our collective story.

“Religion Unplugged does not promote one religion — or faith or sect — over another, so it is a valuable source of high-quality news and investigative stories that are accurate, balanced and authoritative,” Zenda said. “I’m based in Africa, where a lot of stories are underreported, so my articles help readers make sense of the world from an African point of view.”

“I’m based in Africa, where a lot of stories are underreported, so my articles help readers make sense of the world from an African point of view.”

12/01/2025

Bhutan hosts the first-ever Global Peace Prayer Festival 2025 in Thimphu, held in continuation of the celebrations marking the 70th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck — the visionary behind Gross National Happiness.

The two-week festival brings together spiritual leaders, monks and practitioners from around the world to offer prayers for peace, compassion, and global harmony.

The event features powerful rituals such as the Jabzhi Dhoechog, Bazaguru mantra recitation, and the Kalachakra Empowerment led by His Holiness the Je Khenpo. It also marks historic milestones — including the ordination of over 250 Buddhist nuns, symbolizing inclusivity and empowerment.

Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama — the Buddha — is a spiritual tradition centered on compassion, mindfulness, and the path to liberation from suffering. Over time, it evolved into three major sects. Theravada, practiced mainly in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, preserves the earliest teachi...

11/28/2025

Every December, the same chorus returns — pastors, pundits and pious influencers lamenting that Christmas has been “commercialized.” That somewhere between the shepherds and the self-checkout lane, we traded our souls for stuff.

But that story’s too simple. Christianity, at its core, has never been allergic to the material — it was founded on it. God didn’t descend as an idea. He came wrapped in flesh, born not in abstraction but in a feeding trough. The Incarnation sanctified substance — stone and soil, blood and bone. Matter mattered because the Almighty took its shape.

Every December, the same chorus returns — pastors, pundits, and pious influencers lamenting that Christmas has been “commercialized.” But gift-giving isn’t a betrayal of Christmas. In truth, it’s a reenactment of it.

11/26/2025

Throughout His ministry, Jesus asked his followers and critics alike many probing questions. Some 307 to be precise, according to Biblical scholars. Perhaps the most pivotal was “Who do you say that I am?” — a query that remains central to the study and understanding of the Christian faith.

In this new analysis of Jesus’ life, renowned religious historian Elaine Pagels takes up the challenge of unpacking Christ’s identity through a compelling combination of historical background, Biblical criticism and theological reflection.

(REVIEW) In “Miracles and Wonder,” historian Elaine Pagels examines the life of Jesus through historical, textual and theological lenses. Balancing faith and skepticism, she revisits questions of the virgin birth, miracles, crucifixion and the resurrection — ultimately portraying Christianity....

11/25/2025

Whether you are new to the Religion Unplugged community or you’ve been with us for years, you know the value of reliable, fact-based journalism.

Our network of contributors across the world work hard to bring you award-winning journalism that takes religion — and its impact on policy, politics, culture and society — seriously. In addition to our news and feature articles, our columnists and guest opinion writers help you expand your understanding of issues relevant to your life and faith.

And now, we need your help.

This holiday season, there are two ways to support our work.

We want to get to know our readers!

11/25/2025

Many writers have been credited with the authorship of the Bible. Some Biblical books list their writers explicitly, others are more ambiguous. But is writing the same as narrating?

Many writers have been credited with the authorship of the Bible. Some Biblical books list their writers explicitly, others are more ambiguous. But is writin...

11/25/2025

In a small Santa Clara classroom at Mission City Church in Northern California, a group of students huddle together, their voices rising in harmony. Leading them stands Makayla Hannah, their vocal coach for Youth Utilizing Power and Praise.

Hannah is teaching more than pitch and breath control. She’s helping students discover their voice both literally and spiritually. Her work, she says, goes beyond music. It’s ministry.

She said she believes hope is not lost in a generation often dismissed. Instead, she sees a new generation of leaders, rising up and standing up for their faith.

While surveys often show Gen Z and Gen Alpha moving away from organized religion, this ministry leader sees a desire for spiritual truth over tradition. Today’s youth want to encounter God in a real way.

11/25/2025

In Laos, the tiny Communist country tucked between Thailand and Vietnam, Christians have been increasingly facing religious persecution in large numbers. Despite guaranteeing religious freedom on paper, the Communist authorities heavily monitor the religious activities of Christians.

(ANALYSIS) In Laos, Christian burials are barred from cemeteries, churches have to find improvised worship spaces, and Christians are often pressured to engage in activities that go against their religion. And with neighboring China's new influence, it may get even worse.

11/24/2025

At a Delhi temple, Afghan Sikhs gather in prayer, their voices rising in unison, yet their hearts weighed down with longing for a homeland they were forced to leave. Among them is Daya Singh. He fled Afghanistan twice — first in 1992 when the Taliban seized control, and again in 2006 after facing persecution for being Sikh.

A delegation of Sikhs met at the Afghan Embassy in Delhi. The dialogue was historic — a rare, direct conversation between Afghan officials and members of a religious minority displaced by decades of conflict.

11/24/2025

The U.S. designation of Nigeria as an egregious violator of religious freedoms has not gone far enough to stem violence there, top persecution watchdogs said amid an intense uptick in attacks on Christians in the African nation.

The comments came after a string of murderous attacks, including one during a livestreamed worship service Nov. 18 at Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara, a state in Nigeria’s middle belt but with significant ties to the north. Terrorists killed three and kidnapped at least 30 including the pastor, it was widely reported, capping three days of intense violence.

The U.S. designation of Nigeria as an egregious violator of religious freedoms has not gone far enough to stem violence there, top persecution watchdogs said amid an intense uptick in attacks on Christians in the African nation.

11/22/2025

Nine in 10 Americans gather around a table to share food on Thanksgiving. At this polarizing moment, anything that promises to bring Americans together warrants our attention.

But as a historian of religion, I feel obliged to recount how popular interpretations of Thanksgiving also have pulled us apart.

Communal rituals of giving thanks have a longer history in North America, and it was only around the turn of the 20th century that most people in the U.S. came to associate Thanksgiving with Plymouth “Pilgrims” and generic “Indians” sharing a historic meal.

(ANALYSIS) Nine in 10 Americans gather around a table to share food on Thanksgiving. At this polarizing moment, anything that promises to bring Americans together warrants our attention. The emphasis on the Pilgrims’ 1620 landing and 1621 feast erased a great deal of religious history and narrowed...

11/21/2025

Jennifer Arul, an Indian journalist and a board member at The Media Project, interviews Kinley Tshering, who is the world’s first — and so far only — Bhutanese Catholic priest. He currently serves in Bhutan, a kingdom nestled in the Himalayas between India and China.

Jennifer Arul, an Indian journalist and a board member at The Media Project, interviews Kinley Tshering, who is the world’s first — and so far only — Bhutane...

Religion Unplugged

12/01/2025

12/01/2025

11/28/2025

11/26/2025

11/25/2025

11/25/2025

11/25/2025

11/25/2025

11/24/2025

11/24/2025

11/22/2025

11/21/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category