In his editor’s letter, Brett Krutzsch recalls his experience in Jerusalem on the eve of Y2K. The 21st century “did not bring an end to the internet or the global reliance on computer technologies,” he writes. “Let’s hope that’s for the best.”
This month’s Revealer issue explores how the internet has altered the religio-political landscape by connecting people across the globe, in ways both good and bad. It begins with a global phenomenon that has origins in Pennsylvania but that now spans countries worldwide: Taylor Swift. In “The Church of Taylor Swift,” Shira Telushkin investigates the incredible popularity of Taylor Swift dance parties where fans come together to dance exclusively to Swift’s music, where they join in community, and where their emotions run wild – all in what looks, and feels, like ecstatic religious experience.
Then, in “The Muslim Women Using Feminine Pronouns for Allah,” Hafsa Lodi explores the growing global trend of Muslim women who describe God as “She” as a way to tap into the tradition’s teachings that God possesses feminine qualities.
Next, in “The Brazil Riots, Bolsonaro, and Spiritual Warfare,” Miguel Petrosky explores the significant role Pentecostals played in the January 8, 2023 insurrection in Brazil, the growing place of Pentecostals in rightwing politics, and their connections to conservative politicians throughout the Americas.
Then, in “Do You Have to Hate Jews to Be a Nazi? Ask Anton Webern,” Noah Berlatsky reflects on Kanye West’s antisemitism by turning to the Austrian composer Anton Webern, a Nazi sympathizer who remained close friends with Jews, to try to make sense of how someone can fail to see how they support hateful political movements.
Following that, in “Awakening Islam through Pop Music,” Shanon Shah considers the global success of Muslim pop music and how it has changed the image of Islam, often in strategic ways.
And finally, in “Vodou Fashion and Faith,” Eziaku Nwokocha shares an excerpt from her forthcoming book Vodou En Vogue: Fashioning Black Divinities in Haiti and the United States, where she reflects on what clothing and “religious fashion” can reveal about Vodou practices.
Our May issue also includes the newest episode of the Revealer podcast: “Vodou, Gender Variance, and Black Politics Today.” Eziaku Nwokocha joins us to discuss Vodou practices, especially as they relate to issues of gender, sexuality, and race. We explore how Vodou transcends gender and sexual binaries, how the gods of Vodou inhabit people’s lives and influence their decisions, and how Vodou helps Black Americans and others counter racism today. You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
