(Note – This is NOT a paid review; the author took all tours anonymously) A few years ago I spent two weeks traveling across Israel and the West Bank. For the most part I planned and travelled on my own.  But with so many places to see (even considering how relatively small Israel is), I did participate in several day tours.  There are a number of very reputable … [Read more...]

From ancient Egypt in the second millennium BC to Great Britain in the 20th century, there has been a three thousand year parade of empires marching across the world stage. One has replaced another on a routine basis. At any given time, there has been a greatest empire on Earth, at least until the end of the Second World War. And all of these empires has had exactly one … [Read more...]

America’s 243rd birthday is fast approaching, with all of the barbecues, parades and fireworks that that entails.  But for those planning on taking in a movie or two on this Independence Day, what to watch?  Well, thankfully, Hollywood has produced nearly a century of films to stir the patriotic fervor of every American’s heart.  But which ones to watch?  As a movie lover, I … [Read more...]

From the earliest days of Hollywood, movies about war have proved to be one of the most prolific and popular cinematic genres; and with America’s military history, there is no shortage of stories to tell. From the American Revolution to the modern day wars in the Middle East, Hollywood has covered everything in perhaps over a thousand films.  But there are a few that stand out … [Read more...]

As an enthusiast of religious history and architecture I have visited many churches over the years. Many many churches.  Churches of all ages and denominations.  I estimate that over time I have probably made pilgrimages to hundreds of churches, perhaps more than five hundred.  I have honestly lost count. I was recently asked how many churches I have visited, and how many I … [Read more...]

The Biblical story of Moses is one of the great narratives, if not the definitive story, of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). It is a great personal favorite, and watching “The Ten Commandments” with Charlton Heston during Holy Week is a cherished tradition in many families.  Beyond the familiarity of the film is the Biblical text of course, which has been endlessly pored … [Read more...]

God (as in the One God of the monotheistic religions) has been depicted in film since the earliest days of the cinema. From a deep throated, disembodied off-screen voices to full blown depictions of the Lord in all of his majesty, the Almighty as a character has shown up in movies dozens of times.  If depictions of Jesus are included, than that number easily jumps into the … [Read more...]

To date, approximately a thousand movies have been nominated for Academy Awards since they began in 1929. Surprisingly few of these have had religious or spiritual themes.  However, the few religious movies that have been so honored are among the most successful and beloved films of all time.  In order to narrow down this exceptional list, there were only three criteria: each … [Read more...]

Since the first step in overcoming a problem is admitting that you have a problem, let me begin by saying, “My name is Howard, and I am a tourist”; a fourteen-hours-a-day, site-mongering, camera-clicking tourist, as often as I get a chance.  And, may I add, I am darn proud of it.  Yet nowadays there seems to be a stigma associated with being a tourist: “Don’t be just another … [Read more...]

Are we entering a dark age of Christmas pop culture?  Some might argue that we already have. Christmas has always been a magnet for writers, artists and musicians seeking to put their stamp on the western world’s most beloved time of year.  Some have done it for the love of the holidays, or simply because they are inspired (and of course, more than a few have done it to … [Read more...]