AJ Willingham
CNN
Atlanta, GA, United States
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Past articles by AJ:
What do Mormons believe?
Mormonism is a religion practiced by millions around the world. Here, we answer some of the most common questions about Mormonism, with context from religious experts and Mormon literature. → Read More
A church is canceling people’s medical debt for pennies on the dollar. It wants others to join in
US churches are coming together to create outsized relief for debt-strapped members of their communities. Church leaders say debt forgiveness is a modern, but very effective way to do good -- and it has a firm basis in scripture. → Read More
A viral scene from Netflix's 'Beef' nails a very specific religious experience
Korean Americans who grew up in church were thrown headlong into nostalgia by the Netflix show thanks to a church scene featuring Steven Yeun's character. → Read More
ChatGPT can write sermons. Religious leaders don't know how to feel about it
Seeing a computer create sermons in mere seconds has led faith leaders to wrestle with an intriguing problem: Can AI replicate a truly human, spiritual message? And if it can, is the computer just that good, or does the human message need some work? → Read More
Disneyland's record-breaking regular shares his wisdom from nearly 3,000 park visits in a row
Jeff Reitz visited Disneyland every day for eight years -- a feat that recently resulted in a Guinness World Record. Here's what he learned. → Read More
True crime sells, but fans are debating the ethics of their passion
The true crime boom, which has culminated in podcasts, docuseries and biographical dramas like "Dahmer," is causing enthusiasts to consider the ethical ramifications of their passion and ask whether there is an acceptable way to be a fan of the genre. → Read More
Catholics in the US unite to mourn Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Rare masses, red vestments, black shrouds, an ancient mourning period -- and live streams. American Catholics turn to tradition and a little technology to honor the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. → Read More
How to watch (and enjoy) this year’s College Football Playoff games
The NCAA College Football Playoff games are on -- and the two semifinal games on December 31 will determine the match-up for the College Football Playoff Championship game on January 9. Here's everything you need to know to enjoy this year's playoffs events. → Read More
Inside the formula that made ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ a holiday music hit
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" came together with the help of a few brilliant minds, including that of pianist Vince Guaraldi, and a host of unexpected inspiration. The resulting musical formula helped change the sound of Christmas music for generations to come. → Read More
Nativity sets are getting a minimalist makeover
Nativity sets, a familiar part of holiday decor, are becoming simpler and more abstract with some scenes made out of sleek glass or labeled wooden blocks. While they're unusual, they also spark conversations about the Christmas tradition. → Read More
The secrets behind your favorite Christmas movie classics
Unusual props, hidden talents and musical mayhem make holiday staples like "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "It's a Wonderful Life" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" even more fun to watch. → Read More
English speakers, here's how to pronounce 'Qatar'
The beginning of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will kick off another intense international sport: Pronouncing "Qatar." It's a no-brainer for Arabic speakers and speakers of similar languages. But it's one tricky letter after another for English speakers. → Read More
‘Jeopardy!’ fans are frustrated by this controversial Bible clue
"Jeopardy!" fans are confused and more than a little miffed after a controversial Final Jeopardy! clue about the New Testament divided contestants in the final rounds of the program's "Tournament of Champions." → Read More
He is a staunch gun rights supporter. She lost her son to gun violence. They overcame their differences to become close friends
Pati Navalta lost her son to gun violence. Maurice Solis is a staunch gun rights supporter. After Solis criticized Navalta's support of gun buybacks on Facebook, the two met in person -- and something surprising happened. → Read More
Why Anne Hathaway and other women are saying enough to the haters
Anne Hathaway, Constance Wu, Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber are among the recent celebrities who have hit back at hateful trends they say have no place in today's culture. → Read More
For some Christians, 'rapture anxiety' can take a lifetime to heal
Some groups of evangelical and fundamentalist Christians are warned from childhood about the rapture -- an apocalyptic event in which the righteous will ascend to heaven, and sinners remain on Earth to suffer. The toll of so-called rapture anxiety is real, "exvangelicals" say, and it takes years to heal from that fear. → Read More
The NFL's most iconic theme music has roots in everything from Batman to 'Star Wars'
NFL broadcast themes are memorable for the drama and deeply etched in football fans' minds. Learn more about the big names and the ideas behind the music associated with "Sunday Night Football," "Monday Night Football" and more. → Read More
All the nerdy things you need to know about 'House of the Dragon'
Prep for your return to Westeros and all of its dragon-riding, relative-marrying wonders. Here is everything you need to know before you watch the new "Game of Thrones" prequel. → Read More
Why Regency romance still reigns, 200 years after Jane Austen
Netflix's adaptation of "Persuasion" and the revival of the cult-favorite show "Sanditon" are the latest offerings to Jane Austen, whose memory must be regularly appeased by new odes to her groundbreaking romantic novels. However, the allure of Regency-era romance stretches far past her works. → Read More
Chris Evans is not a fan of his fancy new iPhone
The iPhone 12 Pro is too heavy, says the man famous for playing Captain America. Plus, it lacks a key feature his beloved iPhone 6s had. → Read More