David Zepf examines the success of the viral streaming series The Chosen and its user-funded model, with storylines that feature biblical characters with issues that resonate today, such as anxiety disorders and autism.
Check out "Divine Algorithms and Evangelical Mass Media."
@anujbehal.bsky.social investigates the popularity of astrology apps in India and how they bridge religious beliefs, emotional support, and current technology to offer people quick comfort on their phones.
Check it out in our April issue available now!
Our April issue is here!
Featuring articles on the popularity of astrology apps in India, the unique success of the evangelical streaming series The Chosen, Pope Leo's politically complicated namesake, LGBTQ Christians of color, Puerto Rican converts to Islam, and more! therevealer.org
What's happening to historic Black churches as neighborhoods face gentrification and declining church attendance?
Check out Marquisha Scott's "Smoke Signals from the Church Stoop" from our March issue.
therevealer.org/smoke-signal...
NEW podcast episode! "Puerto Rican Converts to Islam"
What is contributing to Puerto Ricans converting to Islam? Ken Chitwood, author of Borícua Muslims, discusses how Puerto Rican Muslims blend their ethnic & religious identities and navigate marginalization. Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
Do you want to write for a mainstream religion publication? Join us on April 8 at 6pm ET on Zoom as editors from Religion Dispatches (@religiondispatches.org), Arc, & The Revealer share tips on pitching & writing. An audience Q & A will follow. More info and register here: wp.nyu.edu/crm/events/
Emma Cieslik ( @eocieslik.bsky.social) explores how Catholic social media figures are enabling a far-right shift.
Don't miss "The Rise of the Catholic Priest-Influencer" from our March issue.
Interesting read.
Ken Chitwood explores the long history of Iranian winemaking, and how Iranians have revived the practice abroad since the 1979 Revolution.
Check it out in "Persian Wine, Made with Swedish Spirit" from our March issue.
Leslie Williams investigates the growing interreligious movement of people who are turning to death doulas rather than traditional funeral homes to make end-of-life decisions.
Check out "Death Doulas and the Gospel of Green Burials" from our March issue!
therevealer.org/death-doulas...
Mary-Jane Rubenstein (@mjrubenstein.bsky.social) explores why NASA is allowing corporations to deposit cremated human remains on the moon, and why the Navajo nation has expressed concerns about such missions.
Check out "Cosmic Consecration, Cosmic Desecration" from our March issue!
Our March issue is here!
With articles on companies sending cremated remains to the moon, death doulas, Iranian wine, Catholic priest influencers, Black churches in decline, Gaza, & more from @mjrubenstein.bsky.social, @eocieslik.bsky.social , @gilbert-achcar.bsky.social & others! therevealer.org
Vani Kannan reviews Azad Essa’s Hostile Homelands (@plutopress.bsky.social) and considers India and Israel’s longstanding, often secret, relationship.
Check out “The Rhetoric and Reality of India’s Relationship with Israel” from the Revealer's February issue.
therevealer.org/the-rhetoric...
NEW podcast episode! "Understanding Gaza"
What is life like in Gaza today? @gilbert-achcar.bsky.social, author of Gaza Catastrophe, discusses the situation in Gaza, Gazans' views of Hamas, & what needs to happen to improve the situation for Palestinians. Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
“Hostile Homelands does not aim to offer a social or regional history; it is a progressive journalist’s intervention in the contemporary media landscape”
Hostile Homelands by Azad Essa reviewed in @therevealer.bsky.social:
therevealer.org/the-rhetoric...
How is MAGA trying to co-opt Andy Warhol's legacy?
A.W. Strouse reflects on why MAGA influencers are trying to claim that Warhol was a strictly religious celibate and what we actually know about the famous gay artist’s religious and sexual lives.
Don't miss "Andy Warhol's Queer Catholicism."
Safiyah Zaidi examines the massive migrant labor population in Saudi Arabia and how their often-exploited labor keeps pilgrimages to holy sites thriving.
Check out "Invisible Hands in the Holy Land" from our February issue.
@billkole.bsky.social investigates the dangerous coalition of white evangelicals and supporters for unrestricted access to firearms, and reflects on why evangelicals have embraced gun ownership.
Check out "Why God and Guns Don't Mix" from our February issue.
therevealer.org/why-guns-and...
The first piece of @nberlat.bsky.social's new column, "Skeptic's Corner," is out now in our February issue!
Check out “‘Un-Christian’ Trump and the Ethics of Combating Christian Nationalism,” on the limits of calling Trump’s actions “un-Christian” and alternative ways to rebuke him.
Our 1st issue of 2026 is here!
Featuring articles on combatting Christian nationalism, guns & white evangelicals, migrant labor in Saudi Arabia, India & Israel's relationship, Andy Warhol's religious life, & more from @nberlat.bsky.social, @billkole.bsky.social, & others! therevealer.org
hey, that's me! going to have a column at the revealer on religion and culture. first one is out tomorrow!
To get a taste of Noah Berlatsky's writing about religion, check out his recent piece in The Revealer: "What We Can Learn from the Right's Attack on 'Toxic Empathy.'" See more of @nberlat.bsky.social writings about religion in his new column "Skeptic's Corner" at The Revealer starting Feb. 4! (2/2)
We're thrilled to announce that @nberlat.bsky.social is joining The Revealer as a columnist. Noah's column, "Skeptic's Corner," will look at religion in culture, from religion's influence in politics to religion in mass media. The first piece in "Skeptic's Corner" comes out on Wed, Feb 4! (1/2)
1st podcast episode of 2026! "Guns and White Evangelicals"
Why do many white evangelicals believe they have a “God-given right” to own guns? @billkole.bsky.social, author of In Guns We Trust, discusses evangelicals’ fixation w/gun access & what we can do about it. Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
if you prefer your atrocities in writing, we (and @therevealer.bsky.social ) got you
therevealer.org/all-aboard-t...
As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Niyati Evers has long considered how to respect the memories and legacies of those who died. Here, she reflects on what the post-Holocaust declaration of "Never Again" can mean today.
Many of the most popular Christmas songs were written by Jewish musicians. In this popular article, @nberlat.bsky.social explores how Jewish songwriters captured the spirit of Christmas so well, and what that says about Jews in America & the winter holiday season. therevealer.org/dreaming-of-...
Looking for great books or an excellent podcast series? Here is our *annual list of winter reading and listening recommendations.* Featuring excellent work by @thislynne.bsky.social, @katherinestewart.bsky.social, @angeladenker.bsky.social, @judithweisenfeld.com, @adriennekrone.bsky.social, & more!
what I argue here is that the right is lying when they say they don't use empathy. fascists are very dependent on empathy towards *certain people* to justify violence and revenge. I think that's important to understand if we want to defeat them.