Religion Unplugged

12/31/2025

As we step into 2026, may the year ahead bring clarity, compassion and deeper understanding across faiths. Thank you for reading, engaging and seeking thoughtful coverage of religion in our shared world.

12/30/2025

Now more than ever, your support is invaluable to Religion Unplugged and The Media Project. We are thrilled to share that we are just $2,352 away from reaching our end-of-year fundraising goal!

This is an exciting time of year since every donation received before December 31st is matched by a NewsMatch grant from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

This means that a donation of $50 will be doubled, resulting in a total impact of $100. Additionally, if you choose to set up a new monthly donation of any amount, it will also be matched for a full year. That means a new $20 monthly gift contributes an extra $240 or $10 monthly gift will mean a match of $120 this December.

Your support directly enhances our mission to provide high-quality religion training for journalists around the world and to keep our news site, Religion Unplugged, always ad-free. Please consider a donation before the end of the year.

Now through Dec. 31, every tax-deductible donation you make will be doubled, up to $35,000. That means your gift has twice the power to support independent, high-quality journalism at a time when it’s never been needed more.

12/30/2025

A popular New Year’s resolution is to take up meditation — specifically mindfulness meditation. This is a healthy choice.

Regular mindfulness practice has been linked to many positive health benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep and quicker healing after injury and illness. Mindfulness can help us to be present in a distracted world and to feel more at home in our bodies and in our lives.

There are many different types of meditation. Some mindfulness practices ask meditators simply to sit with whatever thoughts, sensations or emotions arise without immediately reacting to them. Such meditations cultivate focus, while granting more freedom in how we respond to whatever events life throws at us.

(ANALYSIS) Regular mindfulness practice has been linked to many positive health benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep and quicker healing after injury and illness. Mindfulness can help us to be present in a distracted world, especially as we start a new year, and to feel more

12/30/2025

With just 48 hours left, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Many of you have stepped up during our year-end fundraising campaign.

We are close to achieving our goal, but we need your help.

Now through Dec. 31, every tax-deductible donation you make will be doubled, up to $35,000. That means your gift has twice the power to support independent, high-quality journalism at a time when it’s never been needed more.

Now through Dec. 31, every tax-deductible donation you make will be doubled, up to $35,000. That means your gift has twice the power to support independent, high-quality journalism at a time when it’s never been needed more.

12/27/2025

There’s no doubt that faith-based films blew up in 2025. Whether that’s in the faith-based film industry putting out record-breaking theatrical releases of “The Chosen” and other Jesus movies or Hollywood exploring religion with a newfound earnestness in the horror genre or blockbusters, faith was everywhere this year.

(ANALYSIS) There’s no doubt that faith-based films blew up in 2025. For the first time on my list, much of the top ten is a battle between the best, not merely the best of the worst.

12/24/2025

Wishing all our readers a joyful and peaceful holiday season. May this time bring rest, reflection and meaningful moments with those you care about.

12/24/2025

Angela Youngman invites you to see Europe through her eyes.

The veteran Religion Unplugged contributor, who is based in the United Kingdom, writes stories from across the continent. And she can find quirky faith stories.

This year, she has written about a protected bat species making the U.K.’s historic churches their new home; the pagan groups who gather at Stone Henge to mark the end of winter; and WWE-style wrestlers taking England’s churches by storm.

Youngman’s stories are exclusive to Religion Unplugged and provide much-needed levity, narratives of unity and inspiration amid the din of what can often be somewhat depressing headlines.

In 2025, she covered articles including: protected bat species making the U.K.’s historic churches their new home; the pagan groups who gather at Stone Henge to mark the end of winter; and WWE-style wrestlers taking England’s churches by storm.

12/23/2025

Czechia began its own Protestant Reformation over 100 years before Martin Luther posted his “Ninety-Five Theses.” The complete Bible was translated into the Czech language 100 years before the publication of the Gutenberg Bible.

As a result, thousands of Czechs died in the name of Protestantism during the Hussite Wars. But today, the nation has a Protestant population of less than 2%.

“This country’s lost,” said Jeff Rogers, a protestant who serves as pastor at Destiny Church in Prague.

Czechia was once a harbinger of the Protestant Reformation, but now protestant pastors face an uphill battle as the Protestant population drops below 2%.

12/23/2025

Christians have many terms for those who came before them. They are called saints, heroes of the faith and church fathers. But rarely are they referred to simply as ancestors.

Christians have many terms for those who came before them. They are called saints, heroes of the faith, and church fathers. But rarely are they referred to s...

12/23/2025

Near the border with Mozambique lies Mount Darwin, a rural community 125 miles (200 kilometers) north of the capital Harare. The countryside doesn’t have much besides agriculture, but it is known as home to one of the famous hospitals in the country.

Karanda Mission Hospital, operated by the Evangelical Church of Zimbabwe, has emerged as a beacon of hope in a country where the public healthcare system is collapsing due to underpaid personnel and chronic shortages of essential medication.

Karanda Mission Hospital has emerged as a beacon of hope in a country where the public healthcare system is collapsing due to underpaid personnel and chronic shortages of essential medication.

12/22/2025

Nestled among the calm and modest apartment blocks of the small district of Strašnice in the Czech capital is an equally modest site of worship. From the outside, it looks like just another construction complex decorating the ordinary streets of Strašnice. However, closer inspection reveals that there is something more than meets the eye.

Established by a small group of Turkish immigrants originally coming from Germany, the Süleymaniye Mosque has been part of Prague’s predominantly atheistic community for more than 30 years.

While the number of Muslims in Czechia is quite small — some studies say it’s around 5,000 people, and other estimates say it’s closer to 20,000 in a country of almost 11 million — the Süleymaniye Mosque has been steadfast in its commitment to provide the Islamic community much-needed prayer services and a sense of community, united by faith.

PRAGUE — Nestled among the calm and modest apartment blocks of the small district of Strašnice in Prague, Czechia, is an equally modest site of worship. From the outside, it looks like just another construction complex decorating the ordinary streets of Strašnice. However, closer inspection reve...

12/22/2025

In a few days we’ll arrive again at Christmas. Christmases come around faster now than they used to. When I was young it seemed as if the next one would never get here, and now they zoom past at such warp speed I have to set an alarm to even notice them.

I’ve been trying to pay attention to this Christmas, though, given that earlier in the year I wasn’t altogether certain I’d be around to see it. But here I am.

(ANALYSIS) In a few days we’ll arrive again at Christmas. Christmases come around faster now than they used to. When I was young it seemed as if the next one would never get here, and now they zoom past at such warp speed I have to set an alarm to even notice them.