The Faith & Culture 5

Where Meaning Meets the Moment: A Weekly Cultural Digest

Happy Friday!

In a world of endless open tabs and information overload, let me do the heavy lifting of sifting through it all. Each week, The Faith & Culture 5 brings you five hand-picked pieces of exceptional content plus one book recommendation that are genuinely worth your attention.

What caught your eye this week? We’d love to hear about your latest watch/read/listen in the comments. If you’re reading this in the Substack app, simply touch/click the speech bubble on the bottom of your screen. If you’re reading this via email, you can touch the speech/click the bubble at the top or bottom of the email, and you’ll be brought to Substack to add your thoughts.

Now, onto The Faith & Culture 5:

1. Hallowed Be Thy App

Since it was launched in 2018, the Christian prayer app Hallow has been downloaded 23 million times. Is this the beginning of a religious revival?

2. Loathe Thy Neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian Right are Waging War on Empathy

Trump’s actions are irreconcilable with Christian compassion. But an unholy alliance seeks to cast empathy as a parasitic plague

3. Jesus Christ Superstar: How the Messiah Became TV and Box Office Gold

Faith-based entertainment is booming, thanks to a ready-made audience and the backing of the American right. The TV series The Chosen, with Jonathan Roumie playing Christ, claims to have reached more than a quarter of a billion viewers. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

4. What Happened to the Q Conference?

How a gathering for a common-good Christian leaders has seemingly embraced a more divisive, ideologically charged vision of cultural engagement.

5. Most Americans View Israel Unfavorably According to New Pew Poll

Israel is no longer perceived as David, but as Goliath, the poll suggests.

I Thought It Would be Better Than This: Rise From Disappointment, Regain Control, and Rebuild a Life You Love.

What happens when you look at your life and think, I thought it would be better than this? You know you can’t stay where you are, but have no idea what to do next.

When Jessica N. Turner, a mom of three, lost her 16-year-marriage after her husband came out as gay, her life shattered. With grit and determination, she picked up the pieces, chose hope and courageously rebuilt a beautiful next chapter.

Thank you so much for being a part of this community! I’ll see you next week.

Jm

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