Culture
Movie review: Office Christmas Party
Cubicle drones cuts loose in "Office Christmas Party" (Paramount). The result is a sleazy soiree, an "Animal House" toga wingding for the spreading-middle and receding-hairline set.
Scholar explores significance of menorah to Jews, Christians, Muslims
Steven Fine, a professor of Jewish history at Yeshiva University in New York City, explores biblical, cultural and religious history through the lens of what he rightly calls in his conclusion "the oldest religious symbol in all of Western culture."
It’s still a wonderful life, if you ‘Believe’
Evangelical Christian faith hovers in the background of this holiday-themed drama. While lacking polish, the movie stands as a modern-day retelling of the Frank Capra tale of everyman hero George Bailey.
Director Martin Scorsese talks about his home in the Catholic faith
In two interviews with Jesuit publications, the filmmaker discussed his lifelong pilgrimage of faith from childhood up to the release of his new film about missionaries to Japan, "Silence."
Study: Parents just as attached to devices as their kids are
For adults complaining about America's youth being saturated in media usage, it appears the apple hasn't fallen far from the iPad.
New inspirational children’s books will make great gifts for Christmas
The following books for children and teenagers are suitable for Christmas giving.
Movie review: Loving
Dignity and understatement are usually noble qualities in a film. "Loving" (Focus), the fact-based story behind a landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision, is so restrained and decorous, however, that it nearly obscures the historical significance of the events it recounts.
‘Face of Mercy’ documentary showcases living examples of mercy
Though predictably free of objectionable content, "The Face of Mercy" does touch on such mature themes as war, genocide, narcotics and the nature of evil. Accordingly, it will best be appreciated by teens and their elders.
Book on monks offers some excellent insights but skimpy theology
"Illuminating the Way" excels for those looking for the horizontal church and horizontal spiritual practice, which is to say for a strong me-centered path of therapeutic religion.
For book on Pope Francis, author retraces pope’s life in Argentina, Rome
Over two and one-half years, Mark Shriver extensively researched the pope's life, his writings and speeches, interviewed close to a hundred people who knew Jorge Mario Bergoglio before he became pope, and retraced the pope's life, from his childhood in Argentina to his papacy in Rome.