Weekend Plug-in 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” meets readers at the intersection of faith and news. Click to join nearly 10,000 subscribers who get this column delivered straight to their inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr.

(ANALYSIS) Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!

Last week, we highlighted the best religion journalism of 2024 as picked by more than 60 of the nation’s top Godbeat pros.

For today’s special year-end edition, we count down Religion Unplugged’s Top 10 most popular articles of 2024.

Top 10 Most Popular Reads

10. ‘God Versus Aliens’: Inside The Vatican’s High-Stakes UFO Hunt (by John Mac Ghlionn)

9. How Islam And Redemption Transformed Boxer Mike Tyson’s Life (by Clemente Lisi) 

8. Why The Amish Could Decide This Year’s Presidential Race (by Clemente Lisi)

7. Head Coach Joe Mazzulla’s Faith Helped Guide The Boston Celtics To An NBA Title (by Clemente Lisi)

6. ‘The Chosen’ Finale Brings An Uneven Ending To One Of Its Best Seasons (by Joseph Holmes) 

5. If You Want Young Men to Leave Christianity, Have Them Watch ‘The Forge’ (by Joseph Holmes) 

4. Caitlin Clark: How The Catholic Star Captivated A Nation And Rewrote The Record Books (by Clemente Lisi)

3. Passover And Easter Usually Overlap: Why Not This Year? (by Clemente Lisi) 

2. Drag Queen ‘Last Supper’ At Olympics Opening Ceremony Sparks Outrage (by Clemente Lisi)

1. The Last Supper Vs. Feast Of Dionysus: What We Actually Witnessed At The Olympics (by Randall E. King) 

The Final Plug

I’m taking off next week to celebrate the new year, but please look for Plug-in again in two weeks.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

Running through Dec. 31, NewsMatch and The Media Project will match your donations up to $1,000. Your generosity will help keep Religion Unplugged going in 2025. You can donate here.

Bobby Ross Jr. writes the Weekend Plug-in column for Religion Unplugged and serves as editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 18 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.