Recently in Pop Culture Category

What would Dumbledore do?

Read about the Harry Potter Alliance, which uses moral lessons from the beloved series to educate and mobilize fans around issues such as workers rights and fighting genocide.

Religious studies professor Kathryn Lofton reflects on Michael Jackson's divine parallels, brand identification and the ritual function of his music.

An excerpt:

Before the casket closes, take a moment, and download "The Way You Make Me Feel." Listen. See what you do. See what your five-year-old does. And think, briefly, about what sort of sublime work a pop song does.

In his latest Sightings column, religion scholar Martin Marty looks back at an eventful week and how the news coincided with religion and ethics.

UPDATE: Michael Jackson's public memorial is planned for Tuesday.

I'm keeping my ears open for details about Michael Jackson's funeral. I'll post an update when the news breaks.

Some have wondered whether MJ arranged for a Muslim burial. He reportedly converted to Islam last year but never publicly confirmed this. His brother Jermaine said at a press conference Friday, "May Allah be with you Michael, always."

In the meantime, don't miss this first-person account by MJ on why he loved the Sabbath.

It was his day for "pioneering" -- the term used for the missionary work that Jehovah's Witnesses do: "In my world, the Sabbath was the day I was able to step away from my unique life and glimpse the everyday," Jackson wrote.

This article in the latest issue of Religion in the News looks at America's fascination with super-sized Christian families and how TV producers tend to avoid the religious underpinnings that inspire these reality TV parents to reproduce in big numbers:

Of these eight families who opened their homes to TLC cameras, six are conservative evangelical (four specifically identifying with the Quiverfull movement), one is Catholic, and one Mormon. Most instantly became celebrities in the conservative religious world, where they go on lucrative speaking tours, sell books, and appear on Christian talk shows. Yet this celebrity status is just one more aspect of the families' religious identity never mentioned on shows purporting to show us the reality of their daily lives.

While your waiting for your ham to bake, here's a roundup of Easter fun for your Sunday.

Test your Easter knowledge with a BeliefNet.com quiz.

Read about the symbolism of eggs in various traditions, make an Easter basket or check out the winners of our Peep contest.

Wondering what to do with leftover hard-boiled eggs? Read on.

The ex-Mormon who was booted from the church for publishing a calendar of beefcake missionaries has plans to sue his alma mater for denying him his diploma from Brigham Young University.

Chad Hardy also told Religion News Service he plans to publish another edition of the calendar and another with photographs of Mormon moms called "Hot Mormon Muffins: A Taste of Motherhood."