Interfaith Voices Podcast (hour-long version)

When Religion Kills

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:30:07 -0500

A "Korean Exorcism"...Or Something Else?

What happens when religion goes horribly, fatally, wrong? Take, for instance, the case of Rayoung Kim. Last summer, the 18-year-old was found unconscious in her home in suburban Washington, DC. She later died, the victim of blunt force and asphyxiation.
Police suspect she was the subject of an ancient Korean ritual that resembles an exorcism.

But what really happened to the Virginia teen? First we hear Kim’s story from Tom Jackman, the Washington Post reporter who broke the news. Then we speak to an anthropologist who has studied Korean shamanism for more than thirty years. She says Kim’s alleged exorcism is a far cry from the tradition she knows.

Pictured: The performance of a mudang, or Korean shaman (1805).

Tom Jackman, Washington Post reporter

Laurel Kendall, Curator and Chair of Anthropology American Museum of Natural History

Faith Healing and the Law

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Most spiritual healers don’t intend to kill the people they’re trying to help. So when the unthinkable happens, how should the law prosecute these accidental assassins? Sean Peters examines the complex web of legal and ethical questions that surface when faith turns deadly.

Shawn Peters, author of When Prayer Fails: Faith Healing, Children, and the Law

The Other Side of the Wall

Begins at 34 min 6 sec

The Wailing Wall is one of the holiest sites in Jerusalem, the spot where Jews have gone to pray and mourn for two thousand years. And it is segregated by gender—one half is designated for men, one half
for women. In 2002, Jay Ladin went to the wall to pray with his son. Six years later he returned—this time as his true self: a woman named Joy. This is Joy’s story; of faith and family, gender and space, of a journey from male to female.

Pictured: The wall's Mechitza, or partition dividing men and women.

Joy Ladin, author of Transmigration: Poems and an upcoming memoir, Inside Out: Confessions of a Woman Caught in the Act of Becoming

Cracking Open the World's Best-Selling Book

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:47:25 -0400

Reading the Bible: Why and How

Prof. Timothy Beal has a term for the weird feeling some of his students have about studying scripture: Bible Baggage. He says the anxiety comes from all sorts of places-- bad memories of Sunday school, brushes with Bible thumpers, and simply feeling unauthorized to read it. But whether you're religious or not, he says, this much is true: the Bible's stories form the core of Western civilization. In his new book, Beal makes a case for reading, and yes, enjoying, the Bible.

Pictured: Moses With the Ten Commandments by Rembrandt, c.1659

Timothy Beal, author of Biblical Literacy: The Essential Bible Stories Everyone Needs to Know

Vatican to Anglicans: Let's Make a Deal

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

It’s one of the boldest moves to a Protestant Church since the Reformation. On October 20th, the Vatican made an offer to Anglicans who don’t like their church’s liberal policies on gay bishops and women priests: Come join us. The deal would allow Anglicans to convert to Catholicism while keeping many parts of the faith they do enjoy, like their songs, prayers and married clergy. It is, in a sense, an Anglican way to be Catholic.

Thomas Reese, S.J., Senior Fellow of Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University

Turkey's Most Famous Preacher

Begins at 39 min 16 sec

Some 85 years ago, Turkey—a predominately Muslim country—became an officially secular state, sparking an emotional debate over the role of religion in government. Into that mix walks Fethullah Gulen, a controversial Muslim preacher and activist. To his followers, he is a prophet of peace and dialogue. To his secular critics, he is a trojan horse of an Islamic state. B. Jill Carroll, author of a recent book on Gulen, offers her take. Our story first aired in June 2008.

B. Jill Carroll, Executive Director of the Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance at Rice University

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Judaism and Sex (*But Were Afraid to Ask)

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:15:57 -0400

Heavenly Sex

She’s Jewish, she’s 4-foot-7, and she likes to see the Torah as an ancient sex manual. The one and only Dr. Ruth explains the sanctity of sex - good sex - in Jewish law.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, sex therapist and author of Heavenly Sex: Sexuality in the Jewish Tradition

The Scalpel and the Soul

Begins at 22 min 40 sec

How should surgeons, trained so carefully to rely on hard facts, explain miraculous recoveries, out-of-body experiences and other-worldly visions in the operating room? Our guest, Dr. Allan Hamilton, is a Harvard-trained neurosurgeon with 30 years of experience. Once a skeptic, he says he now sees these events as signs of a power far greater than ourselves.

Dr. Allan Hamilton, author of The Scalpel and the Soul: Encounters with Surgery, the Supernatural, and the Healing Power of Hope

Reclaiming a Misunderstood Apostle

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:57:23 -0400

Paul the Radical

The apostle Paul has a mixed reputation. On the one hand he’s known as the quintessential Christian, the man who wrote almost half of the New Testament. On the other, he’s long been read as a misogynistic boor, urging slaves to obey their masters and wives to obey their husbands. Marcus Borg says we’ve got it all wrong, and reveals the crucial fact scholars have known for decades: many of Paul’s letters were written by somebody else.

Pictured: Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, 16th Century

Marcus Borg, co-author of The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon

Paul the Jew

Begins at 22 min 45

Many people trace the roots of anti-Semitism back to a single moment: Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. That’s when, according to traditional teachings, Paul rejected his Judaism for the new, improved version: Christianity. Bible scholar Pamela Eisenbaum says this interpretation of Paul is not only wrong, it’s dangerous.

Pamela Eisenbaum, author of Paul Was Not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle

The Soul of a Dog

Begins at 33 min 45 sec

Do all dogs really go to heaven? Jon Katz says for many pet lovers, they do. We've come a long way from the teachings of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, who believed dogs, cats and other creatures were inferior to humans. These days, he says, many people see their pets as spiritual equals, with a sense of self, purpose and free will.

Jon Katz, author of Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm

"You Can Tell When He's in the Building'

Begins at 44 min

During his five-day visit to Washington, D.C. last week, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with state officials, politicians and not a few celebrities. But he also took the time to teach. Reporter Elizabeth Ryan sat in on one of his lectures, and asked the audience to put the experience into words.

Produced by Elizabeth Ryan

Soundscapes: Sikh Hymns

Begins 46 min 5 sec

This week we hear one final sound in our series, the Soundscapes of Faith. Shabad Kirtan is the mystical poetry of Sikhism, set to music.

Pictured: Mardana Bhai, the first Sikh musician

Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education

Answering the ‘God Question’

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 8 Oct 2009 12:06:36 -0400

It's Not Just For Theologians

That brooding, looming question, ‘What is God?” has long been a favorite thought experiment for philosophers. The man known as “The Genius” on the David Letterman Show traces the concept of the divine over the past 2,500 years, and finds that it’s not God that evolves…it’s us.

Pictured: Creation of the Sun and Moon by Michelangelo, c. 1511

Andrew Pessin, author of The God Question: What Famous Thinkers From Plato to Dawkins Have Said About the Divine

The Cross That Went To Court

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

It sits atop a rock in the dusty California Mojave Desert, ten miles from the nearest highway. The Mojave cross, erected as a war memorial in the middle of a National Preserve, is now the focus of a major Supreme Court case. We hear two very different views on whether the monument amounts to a government endorsement of Christianity.

Pictured: the Mojave cross has been covered by a plywood box since 2002, in compliance with a lower court order.

Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State

Luke Goodrich, Esq., legal counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

Dogs, Cats, Guinea Pigs and Parakeets

Begins at 44min 7 sec

Most pet owners have little doubt that animals have souls. How else could you explain their dog’s steadfast affection, or their cat’s fussy personality? St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, is honored every year with a special ceremony just for pets. Reporter Elizabeth Ryan dropped in on one service and sent us this story.

Produced by Elizabeth Ryan

Soundscapes: Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

Begins at 48 min 40 sec

For the past few weeks we’ve been listening in on holy chants, hums and melodies. This week we hear the mantra that defines Soka Gakkai Buddhism: Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. It’s melodic rhythm, uttered up to a thousand times a day in the morning and evening, is meant to evoke one’s “Buddha nature”: the hidden, natural potential within all believers.

Bill Aiken, Director of Public Affairs at Soka Gakkai International

A Quiet Faith

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:37:27 -0400

Kennedy's 'True Compass'

For four decades, Senator Ted Kennedy was America’s most influential Catholic politician. But he kept his personal faith quiet, hidden. Jonathan Karp, editor of his new memoir, reveals the senator you don’t know—a man who loved the Gospel of Matthew, prayed over rosary beads, and spent only one day in bed at the end of his life.

Jonathan Karp, editor of True Compass, publisher and editor-in-chief of Twelve Books

Leprosy, Stigma and the Bible

Begins at 22 min 29 sec

When Jose Ramirez, Jr. was a teenager, something strange began happening to his body. His arms and legs went numb. His breathing became slow and labored. And large sores began to envelop his skin, leaving deep scars. At 20, after many unsuccessful treatments with Mexican faith healers, Ramirez was finally diagnosed with Hansen’s disease, better known as leprosy. Ramirez has now written a memoir which recounts his quest to accept himself-- as a husband, as a person of faith and as a worthy human being. Our story first aired in March 2009.

Jose Ramirez, Jr., author of Squint: My Journey with Leprosy

Remembering Father Damien

Begins at 37 min 43 sec

For another look at leprosy we turn to Father Damien de Veuster. In the summer of 1873, he landed on the secluded Hawaiian island of Kalaupapa, the home of nearly 1,000 souls living with leprosy. It was, in a word, a “leper colony”: the American government had exiled them there indefinitely.
Fr. Damien ministered to the island's residents for years, ultimately becoming one of them - he died of the disease at age 49. He will be canonized by the Vatican on October 11th. Our story first aired in March 2009.

Fr. Lane Akiona, pastor of St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Honolulu, Hawaii

Audio Postcard: The Muslim Day of Prayer

Begins at 45 min 14 sec

Last Friday, thousands of American Muslims laid their prayer mats down on the lawn of Capitol Hill. They came to observe their Friday prayers, or Jumu'ah, in public. For some, the first-of-its-kind event was a message to the country that Muslims are peaceful, God-loving, and above all, American. But the day was not without its protests. Reporter Elizabeth Ryan brings us this audio postcard.

Produced by Elizabeth Ryan

Soundscapes: Sacred Harp

Begins at 48 min 30 sec

Sound evokes the sacred like no other art form… it stirs our emotions and literally vibrates through our bodies. For the past few weeks we’ve been listening in on holy chants, hums and melodies. This week it’s sacred harp, an early form of American church music. There's no harp in sacred harp singing - it’s all about the voice.

Pictured: Tamara Harris, a singer with Portland Sacred Harp

Nancy Groce, ethnomusicologist at The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress

Unlocking the Mason Mystique

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:10:45 -0400

The Not-So-Secret World of the Freemasons

Dan Brown clearly loves religion – really mysterious religion, like his portrayal of the Catholic group Opus Dei in The Da Vinci Code. But then, groups accused of being religious will do just as well. His new novel, The Lost Symbol, offers a semi-truthful peek inside the Freemasons, who has been accused of everything from conspiring with extra-terrestrials to placing secret symbols on dollar bills. Though the reality is a lot less strange, some faith traditions continue to have bad feelings about the fraternity. Christopher Hodapp, a Freemason for 11 years, debunks the myths.

Pictured: the Square and Compasses, the most recognized emblem of Freemasonry.

Christopher Hodapp, author of Freemasons For Dummies

A Year Alone, Very Alone

Begins at 22 min 56 sec

In February of 2001, Bob Kull arrived on the Chilean island where he would live for a full year by himself. By the end of that year, he gained spiritual insight, peace of mind -- and ultimately a Ph.D. Kull shares stories of twelve months of solitude, from injury, to losing track of time, to fearing he might not make it back alive.

Bob Kull, author of Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes: A Year Alone in the Patagonia Wilderness

Elevating the Soul Through Self Control

Begins at 32 min 25 sec

Religious believers are more likely to exercise, visit the dentist and wear seat belts. That's according to a new study from researchers at the University of Miami, who say that having faith in a higher power increases a key personality trait: self control. Our story first aired in February 2009.

Michael McCullough, professor of psychology and religious studies at the University of Miami

The Domestic Crusaders

Begins at 42 min 57 sec

In many ways, The Domestic Crusaders is a typical kitchen drama, full of laughter and tears. But it's also a theatrical pioneer. Centered around a day in the life of a Muslim-American family, its focus is explosive dialogue, not bombs and terrorist caricatures. Asma Khalid was there for its opening weekend and brings us this story.

Produced by Asma Khalid

Soundscapes: Aum

Begins at 49 min 14 sec

In our third installment of our series on sacred sounds, we listen to the eternal hum said to contain the essence of the entire universe: the Hindu Aum.

Shubha Pathak, professor of religion at American University

The Monk Behind the Myth

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:32:18 -0400

An Intimate Portrait of the 14th Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is a complex figure- at once a Buddhist monk, the leader of the Tibetan community in exile and a spiritual celebrity. He is also a man whose human side few people know. We talk with Pico Iyer, a friend of the Dalai Lama for over thirty years, about the man behind the image.

Pico Iyer, author of The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Joy Ladin, Finding Her True Self

Begins at 23 min 36 sec

Joy Ladin is an English professor at Yeshiva University, the nation's oldest Jewish university. She is also transgender. These identities met three years ago when, as a male, she informed her school that she would be transitioning from Jay to Joy. School officials responded by putting her on leave, though they later took her back. Hers is a story of a poet, a Jew, and above all - a woman, in her own words, "caught in the act of becoming."

Joy Ladin, author of Transmigration: Poems and an upcoming memoir, Inside Out: Confessions of a Woman Caught in the Act of Becoming

For our DC listeners: Joy Ladin will be appearing at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue on Oct. 9th

Soundscapes of Faith: The Call to Prayer

Begins at 48 min 32 sec

In this installment of our ongoing series on sacred sounds, we listen to the call to prayer, or adhan. It rings out in Muslim countries five times a day, reminding believers to pause, pray and reflect on God. Akbar Ahmed explains why the sound is part of the "symphony of Islam itself."

Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic studies at American University

The Unlikely Disciple

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Wed, 9 Sep 2009 17:00:22 -0400

'Studying Abroad' at Liberty University

When Kevin Roose was a sophomore at Brown University, he decided to try a "domestic study abroad" program-- at Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Based in Lynchburg, Virgina, Liberty is an institution Falwell himself described as a “Bible Boot Camp."

Roose went undercover and did his best to blend in; he joined the school choir, he wrote for the student newspaper, he spent his spring break proselytizing to hung-over college kids. We talk to both Roose and Brian Colas, one of the friends he made at Liberty, about his strange experiment in college-as-anthropology.

Kevin Roose, author of
The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University

Brian Colas, former student body president at Liberty University

The Coup in Honduras: A Look From the Ground

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

In the early morning hours of June 28th, a band of soldiers rousted the president of Honduras out his bed. Without time to even change out of his pajamas, they led Manuel Zelaya by gun point to a plane, off to Costa Rica. He was later removed by the Honduran congress and replaced with a new leader. Latin American leaders, President Obama and some religious leaders have condemned the coup as illegal. Jean Stokan gives us her perspective as a person of faith on the ground in the fractured country.

Jean Stokan, Director of the Justice Team, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; part of a delegation to Honduras

Service Through Sound

Begins at 34 min 50 sec

It's not for nothing they're called Mosaic Harmony. With 80 members of 17 different faiths, mostly in rainbow-colored outfits, this gospel-style choir is unlike any other. They began as an effort to heal racial divides, but their mission now includes bridging religious gulfs as well.

David North, choir director, and Suzanne Reynolds, member

An Interfaith Iftar

Begins at 45 min 16 sec

On Ramadan, Muslims end their day of fasting with an iftar, a sacred meal that begins at sunset. This year, Hindus, Christians, Jews and others gathered at a historic synagogue in Washington, DC, to celebrate the meal together. Maureen was there, and sends us this audio postcard.

Recorded at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue

Soundscapes of Faith: The Shofar

Begins at 47 min 44 sec

Every faith tradition has a melody, chant or noise that is unique to it. From the wail of the shofar to the hum of the Hindu om, there is something about sound that makes the holy...real. For the next few weeks we’re going to explore sacred sounds in religions small and large, for a series we’re calling the Soundscapes of Faith. We begin with the shofar, an ancient instrument made from an animal horn.

Rabbi Jack Moline, Rabbi of Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia

Just Say No to "Religious Tolerance"?

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:11:34 -0400

Setting a Higher Bar

"Religious tolerance" may sound nice, but that doesn't cut it for Gustav Niebuhr. Mere "tolerance" of other faiths feels begrudging, he says, and we can do better. The good news is, people do--every day. Niebuhr tells us the stories you won't find in police reports or press releases, stories of ordinary people searching for common ground.

Gustav Niebuhr, author of "Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America"

The Capital Sins of Wall Street

Begins at 22:42

Greed, ignorance and just plain incompetence have created the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Laura Berry says Wall Street could learn a thing or two about investment ethics from Islam's first businessman: the prophet Mohammed.

Laura Berry, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility

Judaism Without God

Begins at 35:01

When Rosh Hashanah begins on September 30th, Jews of all stripes will head to their synogogues. It's a chance to celebrate the Jewish New Year and remember the day when God created humans...or not. For humanist Jews, God may or may not exist. And they say that the high holy days are sacred either way.

Rabbi Arthur Blecher (pictured), rabbi at Beth Chai Congregation

Marji Ross, Beth Chai member

A Hindu-Christian Catastrophe

Begins at 41:13

In a remote corner of Eastern India, extremist Hindus are killing Indian Christians, enraged by the murder of a Hindu leader. The rebel Hindu group has torched churches, homes and orphanages, leaving more than 5,000 people homeless. That may seem surprising – because Hindus and Christians have peacefully co-existed in that country for nearly 2,000 years. Dr. Vasudha Narayanan explains why conversions to Christianity have fanned the flames.

Dr. Vasudha Narayanan, Founder of the Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions at the University of Florida

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

Sept. 29 – Navaratri (Hindu)

Hindus celebrate the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil.

Sept. 30 – Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)

On this Jewish New Year, Jews reflect on the year's mistakes and make resolutions for a better year to come.

Oct. 1 – Eid-Ul-Fitr (Muslim)

Ramadan wraps up today, and Muslims celebrate the end of their month-long fast with a feast.

Health Care as a 'Moral Obligation'

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Wed, 2 Sep 2009 14:18:17 -0400

The Gospel of Reform

In the debate over health care, President Obama is going biblical. On August 18th, the President convened a phone conference with more than 1,000 leaders of different faiths, mainly religious progressives. Obama’s courting of spiritual leaders comes as some religious groups, especially conservative Catholics and evangelical Christians, are raising concerns about what will and won’t be covered under Obama’s plan. Kevin Eckstrom explains why many faith traditions have a real stake in health care reform.

Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service

Losing My Religion

Begins at 22:30

For years, journalist William Lobdell prayed for the religion beat at the LA Times. A devout Christian, he wanted to present a nuanced version of personal faith. But the more he investigated, the more lies he uncovered: pedophile pastors, ostracized ex-Mormons and bishops who hid the crimes of child molesters. Now a reluctant atheist, Lobdell explains how he learned to embrace a life without God. Our story first aired in March 2009.

William Lobdell, author of Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America - And Found Unexpected Peace

Penn Jillette: Beyond Atheism

Begins at 47:41

Penn Jillette, the taller, more talkative half of Penn & Teller, explains why he's beyond atheism: "Not believing in God is easy....you can't prove a negative, so there's no work to do. You can't prove that there isn't an elephant inside the trunk of my car."

Produced for This I Believe by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with Emily Botein, John Gregory and Viki Merrick

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

September 12-16 - Ghambar Paitishem

Sept. 12 marks the beginning of a five-day celebration in the Zoroastrian tradition - one of six celebrations called ghambars that mark the passage of the seasons. The September ghambar is called Ghambar Paitishem, and it honors the earth's creation and the harvesting of summer crops. It's a bit like a Zoroastrian Thanksgiving Day. The main festivity is a large, communal meal.

How to make Aush, an Afghan noodle soup in a tomato-based broth for Ghambar Paitishem

The American Nun Probes: Two Views

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:56:30 -0400

Checking In or Reining In?

Late in 2008, the Vatican quietly announced a two-part "visitation" of American nuns.
On paper, the probes are supposed to examine the sisters' quality of life and adherence to church doctrine. But the real purpose of the extensive questionnaires is fuzzy, depending on whom you ask.

Some conservative nuns see the probes as friendly and unremarkable-- a routine check-in by the Vatican to address declining membership. And many liberal nuns worry it's an attempt to rein in their advocacy for changes in the church, like womens' ordination and gay rights. This week: two views on the Vatican's sweeping survey.

Ann Carey, author of Sisters in Crisis: The Tragic Unraveling of Women's Religious Communities

Sr. Joan Chittister, author of over 40 books on spirituality, including The Way We Were: A Story of Conversion and Renewal

Gay Clergy and the Lutheran Church

Begins at 28 min 30 sec

America’s largest Lutheran denomination is officially more gay-friendly. On August 21, leaders of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to allow all gay and and lesbians to serve as clergy—including those who are sexually active and in serious relationships. Before the vote, only celibate gays and lesbians were allowed to serve as ministers. We ask Kevin Eckstrom if the Lutheran decision, which comes just weeks after a similar vote by the Episcopal church, is the beginning of a trend in mainline Protestantism.

Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service

The Gospel According to Bono

Begins at 37 min

Religion and the modern music industry share this common thread: people often live or die, succeed or fail, based on the labels they’re assigned, and the labels they claim for themselves.
This week we explore what it means to be called a "Christian" band, and why we seem to care. We begin with U2, the Irish rock & rollers thought by some to be the biggest Christian band in the world.

Greg Garrett, author of We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel according to U2

In the Studio With Jars of Clay

Begins at 40 min 47 sec

The contemporary Christian music industry has had its share of crossover acts: Amy Grant, dc Talk, Stryper. Then, in 1995, Jars of Clay came out with the breakthrough single, “Flood," an earnest, optimistic pop tune about suffering, guilt and redemption. The album would sell more than 2 million copies.

But the song’s mainstream appeal created a strange problem for the group…a problem that gets to the core of why the label “alternative Christian music” can be so difficult. Laura Kwerel sits down with the band to talk about their new album, The Long Fall Back to Earth, and find out how they’ve struggled to transcend industry stereotypes.

Jars of Clay

Hear their in-studio performance of Flood

Hear their in-studio performance of Boys (Lesson One)

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

August 29 - The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

August 29th is the day Roman Catholics commemorate the beheading of John the Baptist, the saint Catholics believe baptized Jesus. The story of his gruesome decapitation begins when John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, the ruler of Palestine. John was accused of publicly criticizing Herod’s new wife-- prompting her to hatch a plan to get rid of him. So she convinced her daughter, Salome, to perform a sultry dance for Herod at his birthday party, hoping to woo him into giving her anything. Her seduction worked. Her wish? To have John the Baptist’s head delivered...on a platter. Herod reluctantly agreed.

Rainn Wilson, a Baha'i in Hollywood

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:37:24 -0400

Nerdy, Bright and Baha'i

Actor Rainn Wilson is best known for playing loners, oddballs and weirdos. Exhibit A: Dwight Schrute, the abrasive nerd-in-residence on NBC’s “The Office.” Dwight’s interests include beet farming, science fiction movies and violent weaponry of all kinds. In real life, Rainn is a devout Baha'i, and this week he lets us in on how he balances his 'Office' life with his faith life.
Our interview originally aired in November 2008.

Rainn Wilson, star of The Office

Peacemaking and Law-breaking

Begins at: 22 min 30 sec

For a Catholic priest, Rev. John Dear has a curious claim to fame: he’s been arrested more than 75 times. The Jesuit uses civil disobedience to take on huge government institutions in an effort to make peace. He recounts his activism, jail time and the day he attacked an F-15 bomber in a new book called A Persistent Peace: One Man’s Struggle for a Nonviolent World. Our interview first aired in December 2008.

Rev. John Dear, peace activist and nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

Aug. 21-Sept. 19 - Ramadan (Islam)

Ramadan is sometimes known as the holy month of self-control. That’s because between sunrise and sunset, observant Muslims abstain from all eating,
drinking, sexual contact and even gossip. For Muslims, Ramadan is a highly personal time, a chance to leave behind life's distractions and focus on a more intimate connection with God. Ramadan is the most important season on Islamic calendar, marking the month when the Koran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad.

Web extra: Listen back to our 2007 interview on the convergence of Ramadan and the Jewish high holy days.

Pictured: The meal served at the end of every day during Ramadan to break the fast, called an iftar.

Anne Rice, 'Called Out of Darkness'

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Tue, 4 Aug 2009 13:00:55 -0400

Interview with an (Ex)Vampire Writer

Anne Rice is well known for her Gothic tales of witches, blood and all things horror. But 10 years ago she shocked her fans when she renounced her dark past, coming to see cult classics like Interview with the Vampire and The Witching Hour as portraits of her own quest for God. In 2005 she began writing novels about the life of Christ, trying to bring the Gospels—not vampires—into living color. In her 2008 memoir, Anne Rice described her surprising journey from Catholicism, to Atheism and back again. Originally aired in November 2008.

Anne Rice, author of Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession

Why Do We Suffer?

Begins At: 22 min 48 sec

It’s one of the world’s oldest questions: If God is all powerful, and loving and caring, why is suffering allowed to exist? Religious scholar Bart Ehrman reviewed the major biblical answers to this question, and found them all wanting. Originally aired in May 2008.

Bart Ehrman, author of God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question: Why We Suffer

It's Hip to Be a Jew

Begins At: 43 min

There’s a cultural revolution underfoot…and it kind of looks like Adam Sandler. From “Yenta” T-shirts and Moses action figures to He'Brew Beer, hipster Judaism is all the rage. Lisa Alcalay Klug joined us in January to catalogue the “Jewniverse”.

Lisa Alcalay Klug, author of Cool Jew: The Ultimate Guide for Every Member of the Tribe

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary/Dormition of the Theotokos (Catholic Christian/Orthodox Christian)

Roman Catholics believe that Jesus' mother, Mary, did not experience death. Instead, the church teaches that she was taken, or assumed, body and soul into heaven.

The Orthodox church has a different teaching on what happened at the end of Mary's life. On this day, Orthodox Christians commemorate the "falling asleep" (or "dormition") of Mary, whom they refer to as the Theotokos. Above is a rare Western depiction of Mary's physical death, painted by Caravaggio in 1606 (from Wikimedia Commons).

August 17 - Paryushana (Jain)

During the eight- to ten-day festival of Paryushana, Jains dedicate themselves to the ideals of fasting, repentance and nonviolence. The word 'Paryushana' means 'to stay in one place,’ and refers to the beginning of India’s rainy season, when Jain ascetics take a break from their continuous wandering and settle in one spot. This gives their lay followers the opportunity to visit with them and learn more about their faith.

The 'Secret Fundamentalism' Behind America's Public Policy

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Tue, 4 Aug 2009 12:58:53 -0400

Blood Runs Thick in 'The Family'

A little-known Christian network that takes leadership cues from Hitler and Mao may seem like the stuff of conspiracy theories, but our guest Jeff Sharlet insists that the Family's political clout is real. Best known for sponsoring the annual high-profile National Prayer Breakfast, this secretive, close-knit group has impacted public policy since it sponsored anti-New Deal legislation in the 1930s – and gives all the credit to God.

This week, we re-visit our look inside their house on C Street, which has been called home by a number of politicians linked to recent sex scandals, including Governor Mark Sanford, the South Carolina Republican infamous for his visit to the “Appalachian Trail," and Senator John Ensign, the Republican from Nevada who admitted to an affair with a female staff member.

Jeff Sharlet, author of The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power

Rev. Barry Black, Chaplain to Senators

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

It’s been a tumultuous year in the House and Senate. And if there’s one person on Capitol Hill keeping his cool, it’s Rev. Barry Black. As the Senate Chaplain, it’s his job to stay out of the partisan fray. He sits down with senators from both sides of the aisle, providing spiritual and ethical counseling to people who really need it. Our story originally aired last October.

Rev. Barry Black, 62nd Chaplain to the United States Senate, author of From the Hood to the Hill: A Story of Overcoming

The Life and Times of Akbar Ahmed

Begins at 35 min 16 sec

A pair of of converging railroad tracks, projected onto a screen, sets the tone for Akbar Ahmed’s new one-man play about finding identity between the East and the West. In From Waziristan to Washington: A Muslim at the Crossroads, the Islamic scholar traces the story of his life, spanning his administration of the Waziristan (now troubled by the Taliban) and his current work as a global leader of interfaith dialogue. Our interview first aired in February 2009.

Akbar Ahmed, Chair of Islamic Studies at American University

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

Aug. 14- Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)

A celebration of the birth of Krishna, one of the most beloved Gods in the Hindu pantheon. Many believers consider Krishna an incarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu deity who maintains law and order in the universe. Devotion to Krishna can also be found in the Jain, Buddhist and Baha’i traditions.

Where Do We Go When We Die?

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:26:47 -0400

Beyond Heaven and Hell

Bishop John Shelby Spong grew up with an angry, judgmental God. For him, God--and the Christian church--exerted authority through fear, threatening non-believers with the fiery pits of Hell. Now 78, Bishop Spong imagines the afterlife without a Heaven or Hell, and says the task of religion is not to guide us to eternity but to help us “live now, and love wastefully.”

Bishop John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey, author of Eternal Life: A New Vision: Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell

Web Extra: Hear the full interview

Pictured: Dante and Beatrice contemplate Heaven; from Gustave Doré's illustrations to Dante's Divine Comedy

A History of Inventing Eternity

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Our image of the afterlife is in constant flux; a reflection of the hopes, anxieties and power structures of the world we live in now. In his monumental book from 2004, Alan Segal says we should examine the people who benefited from these shifting views. Among the benefactors: Socrates and Plato, who he says invented the idea of the soul’s immortality to reward learned men, and the ancient Israelites, who imagined Hell as a place to put your enemies.

Alan F. Segal, author of Life After Death: A History of the Afterlife in Western Religion

Web Extra: Gary Laderman on Heaven, Hell and sacred death rituals

Pictured: Osiris, the Egyptian god of the afterlife

Commentary: Why I Wear the Hijab

Begins at 40 min

When Alaa El-Saad was in 6th grade, she decided it was a good time to start wearing a hijab, a traditional Islamic head covering. She wanted to show her respect to Allah, and if it made her stand out a little... well, she liked that, too. In her essay for “This I Believe,” she explains why she is “proud to be a Muslim, proud to be wearing the hijab, proud to be different.”

Produced for This I Believe by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, with John Gregory and Viki Merrick

My Muslim Hairdresser

Begins at 43 min 27 sec

Meet Alice Snyder, a devout Muslim hairdresser who wears a hijab that completely covers her hair. At first she wondered if she should cover up her "moneymaker" in a busy salon, but she eventually decided it was worth the double takes.

An update: After this piece was produced in 2005, Alice was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She passed away four months later. She leaves behind 2 children, Wesley and Delicia.

Produced by Shana Sheeny of Anchorage, Alaska

Sneakers, Shots and Skirts

Begins at 47 min 39 sec

They call themselves the BCA Skirts. BCA – for Beth Chana Academy, a private Orthodox Jewish school in Orange, Connecticut. And skirts for their “unorthodox” uniforms on the basketball court. Orthodox Jewish law requires young women to dress modestly, with skirts that fall below the knee and shirts that cover below the elbow. As one player explains, her outfit is a chance "to show the world out there that I have more to me than what meets the eye."

Watch a slideshow of the BCA Skirts

Produced by Diane Orson for WNPR in Connecticut

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

August 5- Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)

Hindu siblings show each other a little extra love during this ancient festival, which celebrates the special bond between brothers and sisters. The word raksha means "protection" and bandhan means to “tie,” so on this day, sisters tie a holy thread called a rakhi around their brothers' wrists. Traditionally, as they tie the band, the sister says a prayer asking for love and protection.

Web Extra: Clearing up Hindu myths and misconceptions with Ishani Chowdhury of The Hindu American Foundation

The Battle Over Gay Rights in the Episcopal Church

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:22:04 -0400

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You

Earlier this month, the Episcopal Church did what many clergy thought impossible just three years ago. The church's national convention voted to ordain gay and lesbian bishops, beginning what some have called the church's 'coming out' process. The outcome rocked the delegates, who sat in stunned silence after the result was announced. Frank Kirkpatick explains why the decision is widening the rift with the church's larger fellowship, the Anglican Communion.

Frank Kirkpatrick, author of The Episcopal Church in Crisis: How Sex, the Bible and Authority are Dividing the Faithful

Inside Scientology

Beliefs and Practices

Begins at 23 min 31 sec

This week we’re taking an in-depth look at the Church of Scientology, the controversial religion created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1952. We begin with an overview of the Church’s theology, which is based on the idea that everyone can discover a powerful, spiritual self, or Thetan.

Hugh Urban, author of the 2006 article, “Fair Game: Secrecy, Security and the Church of Scientology in Cold War America”

Web Extra: Hear the full interview

The St. Petersburg Times Investigation

Begins at 31 min 10 sec

According to the highest-ranking officials to ever leave the church, Scientology’s upper management is ruled by violence, secrecy and humiliation. They allege that the church’s current leader, David Miscavige (pictured), abused his staff for decades. They told their story to reporters at the St. Petersburg Times, which broke the news last month in a three-part series, The Truth Rundown.

Joe Childs, supervisor of the St. Petersburg Times' Scientology coverage

Thomas Tobin, St. Petersburg Times reporter on the Scientology beat since 1996

Web Extra: Hear the full interview

‘You’re On a Crusade': Amy Scobee’s Story

Begins at 37 min 45 sec

Amy Scobee joined the Church of Scientology when she was just 14 years old. She went on to become a top staff member, managing the church's international base and helping build the network of Scientology Celebrity Centres. But she says after watching David Miscavige beat and taunt her colleagues for years, she decided the church had become a "cult." Scobee was one of the four defectors interviewed for the St. Petersburg Times series.

Amy Scobee, oversaw several Scientology operations during a 20-year career

Audio courtesy of the St. Petersburg Times and tampabay.com

Scientology Responds

Begins at 46 min 1 sec

In a written statement, the Church adamantly denies the findings of the Times report, stating that the four defectors are unreliable, and that the reporters did not give David Miscavige enough time to respond.

Provided by Tommy Davis, Scientology spokesperson and director of the Scientology Celebrity Centre

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

July 30- Tisha B'Av (Jewish)

At sundown, Jews commemorate what has been called the
"saddest day in Jewish history”-- Tisha B'Av. On the Hebrew calendar
it falls on the 9th of Av, and according to tradition, by some strange coincidence a whole
list of tragedies have struck the Jewish people on that day. The
first catastrophe happened in 586 BCE, when the first sacred temple
built by the ancient Israelites was destroyed. Then, 656 years later
on the very same day, the second temple, which had been built to
replace the first one, was also burned. Other misfortunes include the
9th of Av, 1492, when the edict to expel all Jews from Spain was made
official. Observant Jews honor Tisha B'Av by fasting and practicing mourning customs similar to those following the death of a close
relative.

Pope Benedict, the Radical Liberal

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:34:57 -0400

A Holy Blueprint for the World Economy

Think Pope Benedict XVI is an uncompromising, unwavering conservative? Think again. In his first official statement on the worldwide economic meltdown, he calls for deep cuts in consumer spending, government regulation and even redistributing wealth around the world.

Rev. Thomas Reese, SJ, senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University

Commentary: To Cover or Not to Cover?

Begins at 24 min 12 sec

If you watched Obama's meeting with the Pope last week, it was hard not to notice Mrs. Obama's designer black veil. For Maureen, this simple lace headdress conjured up images of nuns in habits, Amish women in bonnets, Orthodox Jewish women in wigs, and Muslim women in hijabs. Why, she wonders, do so many religious groups want women to cover their heads?

Maureen Fiedler, Host

Francis Collins, Finding God in the Human Genome

Begins at 26 min 25 sec

Dr. Francis Collins, the scientist who led the team that deciphered our genetic code, has just been nominated to head the National Institutes of Health. Most reports describe Collins as an evangelical Christian, but in our interview from April, he calls himself non-denominational, saying, "I haven't noticed that there's all the much of a difference when you're on your knees in the church with other believers."

Collins grew up an agnostic, became an atheist, and then – just as his immersion in the scientific world was deepening – he became a Christian. His story is the reverse of popular stereotypes: science didn't destroy his faith, it strengthened it.

Dr. Francis Collins, author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, now nominated to direct the National Institutes of Health

Crashing the Party

Begins at 47 min 37 sec

Back before the economy went into the tank, many Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties had become so competitive that "over the top" was becoming the new normal. Think filet mignon appetizers, hand-delivered invitations, and $10,000 celebrity impersonators. But the growing financial crisis may be crashing the party. Rebecca Sheir explains.

Produced by Rebecca Sheir

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

July 19 - Lailat al Miraj (Muslim)

Lailat al Miraj honors the one-night journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca
to Jerusalem, and finally, to the heavens. Many Muslims consider it a
physical journey, but some scholars think of it as a mystical
vision. And there's definitely something dream-like about the story. According to tradition, Muhammad flies skyward on a strange creature
called a Buraq, the traditional steed of the prophets. It’s often
depicted as a horse-like animal with the head of a man and
long, beautiful wings.

Here is a description of the night-time journey from the Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the six major hadith collections of Sunni Islam:

I was brought by the Buraq, which is an animal white and long, larger than a donkey but smaller than a mule, who would place its hoof at a distance equal to the range of vision.

Five Hundred Years of John Calvin

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 9 Jul 2009 15:00:55 -0400

John Calvin, Not So Calvinist

This week, it’s the life and legacy of John Calvin, the father of Presbyterianism, born 500 years ago this month. He's often remembered as a moralistic party pooper, wagging his finger at graceless Christians. In a new biography, Bruce Gordon paints the Protestant reformer as more complex, at once shy, hot-headed, intolerant and brilliant.

Calvin is best known for adding a controversial twist to the idea of predestination, the belief that God has already decided who is saved. In Calvin’s view, God also knows who is damned—leaving his critics asking, if you can’t change your fate, what’s the point of being good?

Bruce Gordon, author of Calvin

American Idols and American Idolatry

Begins at 23 min 24 sec

For many of his followers, Michael Jackson’s funeral wasn't just a glitzy tribute, it was a religious experience. That’s because Jackson’s music, like the music of Elvis, David Bowie and countless others, has the real ability to transport fans elsewhere, taking them to a realm beyond pop culture. Gary Laderman explains why celebrity worship doesn’t just seem religious, it is religious.

Gary Laderman, author of Sacred Matters: Celebrity Worship, Sexual Ecstasies, the Living Dead, and Other Signs of Religious Life in the United States

Commentary: Sweatin’ to the Holy

Begins at 32 min 22 sec

A few Sundays ago, writer Karen Anderson laced up her running shoes for an early morning jog. As she ran past worshippers on their way out of church, she had a strange epiphany: she was in church, too.

Karen Anderson, writer based in Traverse City, Mich.

God Goes Missing In Scandinavia

Begins at 36 min 15 sec

By some standards, Scandinavia is home to the most well-adjusted societies on earth. The region is known for its high literacy rates, low crime rates, top-notch education and welfare systems, and an overall knack for making the trains run on time. But in countries like Denmark and Sweden, there’s something noticeably missing in the lives of most citizens: a belief in God.

Phil Zuckerman, author of Society Without God: What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us About Contentment

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

July 13 - Obon (Buddhist)

Do you ever wish that your long-deceased grandparents could come back for a visit? According to the Buddhist tradition in Japan, the spirits of deceased ancestors do visit their living relatives during the summertime festival of Obon. It’s a time for family reunions and homecomings, when the airports are as busy as Thanksgiving weekend in the United States. At night, the ancestors are welcomed with a ritual dance called the Obon Odori and paper lanterns are lit to aid their return journey to the land of the dead.

The Strange Appeal of Sacred Body Parts

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:36:49 -0400

Whiskers, Bones, Toes and Teeth

In Rag and Bone, author Peter Manseau explores the macabre world of religious relics—the bodily odds and ends of saints, gurus and prophets, scattered all around the world. From Muhammed’s beard whisker to the Buddha’s tooth, he explains why we save and celebrate pieces of the dead.

Peter Manseau, author of Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Dead, founding editor of killingthebuddha.com

Commentary: Health Care For the Common Good

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

The common good is basic in most faith traditions; it means rising above personal interests and considering what’s best for everyone. This week, Maureen shares her thoughts on what that might mean for health care, which she considers a basic human right.

Maureen Fiedler, Host

AIDS, Sex and the Black Church

Begins at 25 min 25 sec

For black Americans, the church has long been the center of powerful social change. But when it comes to AIDS, teen pregnancy and other sexual health matters, the black church has been strangely quiet. Reverend Damita "Penny" Willis, director of the National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality, explains how pastors are beginning to break the silence.

Rev. Damita "Penny" Willis, senior staff officer at Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Inside the Quiverfull Movement

Begins at 34 min 1 sec

Quiverfull Christians believe children are the ultimate blessing from God – and say nothing should get in the way of having them. Not abortions. Not birth control. Not even natural family planning. Though these big-family Christians number only in the thousands, Kathryn Joyce says they’re making a cultural impact that far outweighs their size.

Kathryn Joyce, author of Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement

'It's Not Such a Pretty Picture': One Mother's Story

Begins at 43 min 42 sec

Vyckie Garrison was once the ideal Quiverfull wife: the mother of 7 kids, editor of a pro-family Christian newspaper, and even winner of Nebraska's "family of the year.” But after her domineering husband pushed one of her daughters to attempt suicide, she began to lose her faith. Now an ex-member of the movement, she shares the highs and lows of life as a Quiverfull mother.

Vyckie Garrison, creator of the blog No Longer Quivering

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

July 9- Martyrdom of the Báb (Baha'i)

For Baha’is, the Bab is the messenger of God and one of the founders of their faith.
At noon on this date in 1850, the Bab was scheduled to be executed by a firing squad. He had been imprisoned and sentenced to death by the religious leadership of Persia.

As the story goes, a squad of 750 riflemen lined up and shot the Bab.
But when the smoke cleared, the Bab had disappeared! According to the execution report, recorded in Tehran on July 22, 1850: "When the smoke and dust cleared away after the volley, Báb was not to be seen, and the populace proclaimed that he had ascended to the skies." He was later found back in his prison cell. The Bab surrendered to the guards, and on the second attempt was finally put to death. His followers, known as Babis, recovered his body, which now rests Haifa, Israel (pictured.)

Want more? Check out our 2008 interview with Hollywood’s nerdiest Baha’i: Rainn Wilson, aka Dwight Schrute from ‘The Office.’

Taking the Long View on Democracy in Iran

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:09:15 -0400

An American Bishop in Tehran

Last year, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington visited Iran to discuss the impact of democracy on politics and religion. His audience? The man who is now at the center of Iran’s disputed elections, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In this special rebroadcast from January, Bishop John Chane recounts his conversation with the Aytaollah, who is that country’s spiritual leader and highest authority.

Bishop John Bryson Chane, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C.

Shalom Auslander: Incurably, Miserably Religious

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Shalom Auslander has got a bone to pick with God. Raised an Orthodox Jew, he reflects on what he learned about the Big Man Upstairs – an angry god who writes rules, punishes you for eating a cheeseburger, and walks around drunk in His underwear.

Shalom Auslander, author of Foreskin’s Lament

Made Perfectly, and Disabled

Begins at 43 min 49 sec

For people of faith living with disability, an equal place in church doesn’t mean just wheelchair ramps. They struggle with their fellow believers’ inability to understand them, and with their own trouble understanding why God made them the way they are. But instead of asking, "Why me?" many say, "Why not me?"

Laura Lee Wright, Team Leader for Access Ministry at Northland Church, Orlando, Fla.

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

July 7 - Asalha Puja Day (Theraveda Buddhist)

In Thailand and other predominantly Theravedin cultures, Buddhists honor the Buddha’s very first sermon, which he delivered to five of his disciples in the Deer Park near Benares, India.

He outlined the four noble truths, which form the core of Buddhist teaching. They are:

1. Life involves suffering.

2. The origin of suffering is attachment.

3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.

4. The eightfold path leads to the cessation of suffering.

The components of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path:

1. Right View

2. Right Intention

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

Want to learn more? Listen to actress Vinessa Shaw and singer-songwriter Ravenna describe their journeys along the path to Enlightenment.

A Mid-Year News Roundup

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:54:52 -0400

Religion Redux

An abortion doctor is murdered in church, Obama addresses the Muslim world, and gay marriage becomes legal in several states. Our regular news commentators discuss the ongoing impact of the most important stories on the religion beat over the last six months.

Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service

Kim Lawton, reporter and managing editor of Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly

KidSpirit Magazine: The World According to Middle Schoolers

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

KidSpirit magazine helps young people tap into their natural wonder about God, religion and the origins of the Universe. Each issue asks 11-to 15-year-olds big, spiritual questions, like, "Can Science explain religion?" or, "Is There a Limit to What We Should Know?" It's all created for kids, by kids, and this week we meet its editor. Plus, members of the KidSpirit editorial board read selections from the magazine, and 15-year-old Susan Yassky shares an essay about her grandfather.

Elizabeth Dabney Hochman, editor and publisher of KidSpirit

Susan Yassky, member of the KidSpirit Editorial Board

Short Term Missions = Short Term Impact?

Begins at 36 min 6 sec

This year, between 1 and 2 million American Christian missionaries will head to a foreign country, paint some houses, and go home. But what happens to the people they leave behind? Are they really better off? Andy Crouch explains why there's often a huge gap between what Americans want to accomplish and what their hosts actually need. His new documentary, Round Trip, helps missionaries prepare for their journey.

Andy Crouch, executive producer of Round Trip, senior editor at Christianity Today

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

June 21- Solstice (Pagan)

On the summer solstice, daylight lasts longer than at any other time of the year. Followers of earth-based religions in Europe and elsewhere often celebrate the solstice, also known as Litha, by lighting a Midsummer’s bonfire.

June 24- Birth of Saint John the Baptist (Christian)

This Christian feast celebrates the birth of Jesus’ cousin, Saint John the Baptist. According to Christian tradition, Saint John baptized Jesus, along with many of Jesus’ followers, on the banks of the Jordan river. Most scholars believe this event actually happened during the life of the historical Jesus.

Margot Adler, Redefining the "Witch Word"

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:59:31 -0400

Witches, Goddesses and Public Radio

This week we're revisiting one of our favorite interviews from last year, with Margot Adler. Radio junkies know her as an NPR reporter whose pieces air regularly on Morning Edition and All Things Considered. And pagans consider her a scholar of earth-based religion.
The former Jewish-atheist joins us to talk about the changing perception of the "witch word" and why if you look far enough back, all of us come from a pagan heritage.

Margot Adler, NPR reporter, author of Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-worshippers, and Other Pagans in America

Commentary: Obama's Interfaith Fluency

Begins at 23 min 4 sec

President Obama "speaks Muslim"...and Catholic, and Jewish. Words from the Qu'ran roll off his tongue as easily as words from the Talmud or the New Testament. He can name Mohammed, Moses and Jesus in the same breath, and bless them all with the common Muslim phrase, "peace by upon them." Our own Maureen Fiedler reflects on the subtle messages behind Obama's interfaith fluency.

Maureen Fiedler, host

Catholic and Hispanic

Begins at 28 min 39 sec

Miguel Diaz, a Hispanic Roman Catholic theologian, is Obama's pick for the next U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. That news came the same week Obama nominated another Hispanic Catholic, Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. Carmen Nanko-Fernandez explains why for many observers, being Catholic is no longer an issue, but being Hispanic is.

Carmen Nanko-Fernandez, former president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States

Postcard: Holy Martyrs of Vietnam

Begins at 35 min 12 sec

This week we visit the oldest Vietnamese Catholic parish in the country, on a tree-lined street in Arlington, Virginia. It's called Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, and this year the congregation celebrates its 30th anniversary. Laura Kwerel brings us this audio postcard from October.

Produced by Laura Kwerel

Web Extra: Hear a song from their Sunday service

Matisyahu, From Dreadlocks to Sidelocks

Begins at 41 min 35 sec

Under the yarmulke, curly beard and long side locks, Matisyahu is a lot like Bob Marley... the Orthodox Jewish version. Laura Kwerel caught up with the 29-year-old musician in our Washington, D.C. studio, where he played us a song from his new album, Shattered. Our story originally aired in December.

Matisyahu, Jewish reggae star

Web extra: Full in-studio performance of King Without a Crown and I Will Be Light

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

June 16 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh)

On this day, Sikhs remember the first person to be martyred for their faith: Guru Arjan Dev (pictured, right). As the 5th Sikh guru, he compiled the Adi Granth, an early collection of hymns and prayers. It literally means "the first book." This later became the core of the Granth Sahib, the sacred text that Sikhs revere as their tenth and final Guru.

In the Sikh tradition, a guru is a spiritual teacher. Gurus are not incarnations of God themselves; they are simply highly gifted mentors who help others reach God. The first Guru and founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, explained the Guru's role this way:

"The Palace of the Lord God is so beautiful. Within it, there are gems, rubies, pearls and flawless diamonds. A fortress of gold surrounds this Source of Nectar. How can I climb up to the Fortress without a ladder? By meditating on the Lord, through the Guru, I am blessed and exalted. The Guru is the Ladder, the Guru is the Boat, and the Guru is the Raft to take me to the Lord's Name."

Feminist Theology 101

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 4 Jun 2009 13:46:47 -0400

All About Eve

We often hear about Abraham, the Biblical father of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, but not so much about his wife, Sarah. We hear God described as a man, a white-bearded disciplinarian in the sky…but rarely is God called a mother, a nurturer, a woman. And then there’s Eve, who, according to the standard interpretation of the book of Genesis, sprung forth from Adam’s rib: the original second-class citizen. Feminist theology is trying to change these kinds of views, and this week, we find out how—and why.

Judith Plaskow, author of Standing Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective

Mary Hunt, author of Fierce Tenderness: Toward a Feminist Theology of Friendship

Web Extra: Hear Maureen's unedited interview

Israel’s Holocaust ‘Obsession’?

Begins at 22 min 56 sec

In a controversial new book, Avraham Burg argues that Israel is “stuck in Auschwitz,” using the Holocaust as the defining experience of Jewish identity. This former speaker of the Israeli Parliament says his country's preoccupation has led to an unhealthy nationalism that mourns the past, fears the future and feeds violence.

Avraham Burg, author of The Holocaust is Over: We Must Rise from Its Ashes

Jews and The Shoah: Another View

Begins at 37 min 12 sec

Daniel Gordis also views Israel as Holocaust-centric, but doesn’t think it impacts Israeli politics as negatively as Burg suggests. He emphasizes Israel’s mandate to remember, and points out that the country was founded by survivors of the Holocaust.

Daniel Gordis, author of Saving Israel: How the Jewish State Can Win a War That May Never End

Thomas Berry, Eco-Theologian

Begins at 49 min 15 sec

Maureen remembers Rev. Thomas Berry, a beloved Catholic priest and cosmologist. He died this week at the age of 94. Berry celebrated the connection between human beings and the Earth, and was one of the first theologians to suggest that the environmental crisis is a spiritual crisis.

Maureen Fiedler, Host

Read Maureen's commentary

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

June 11 - Corpus Christi (Catholic Christian)

Catholic Christians believe that during the Mass, ordinary bread and wine become the living body and blood of Jesus, which they call the "Eucharist." On the feast of Corpus Christi ("body of Christ" in Latin), Catholics in Poland, Italy and other countries parade the Eucharist through the streets, using a special container called a monstrance (pictured).

Other Christian denominations also celebrate the Eucharist. Here's a recipe for Eucharistic bread used by St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Mountain View, Calif.:

4 cups whole wheat flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

4 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup honey or molasses (or a 1/4 cup of each)

1/2 cup oil

3/4 cup milk

3/4 cup warm water

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate large bowl, mix together honey (and molasses), oil, milk and warm water. Add the dry ingredients one cup at a time to avoid lumping. Knead for 1 minute using more whole-wheat flour until the dough is not sticky. Roll into 1/2 inch thickness and cut into 2"-5" circles (depending on your need). Score the top of one side in quarters (don't be too shy because the light scoring disappears in the baking process).

Bake for 5 minutes on each side. Cool completely before storing in plastic bags. Enjoy!

Searching For 'The Fingerprints of God'

laura@interfaithradio.org (Interfaith Voices) — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:58:37 -0400

The Science of Spirituality

National Public Radio's religion correspondent ponders the limits of science, and raises some big questions: Does spirituality run in families? Is there a God gene? And how do we explain near-death experiences? She explains how new technologies are helping scientists study the brain during intense religious experiences, from drug-induced ecstasies to meditation.

Barbara Bradley Hagerty, author of Fingerprints of God: The Search for the Science of Spirituality

The Psychology of the Soul

Begins at 23 min 17 sec

Thinkers like Carl Jung and William James paved the way for Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, which debuted earlier this year. Published by the American Psychological Association, it’s the first academic journal of peer-reviewed research on how faith affects human behavior.

Dr. Ralph Piedmont, editor of Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Commentary: Shareholder Activism

Begins at 31 min 38 sec

For decades, religious groups have been watching their stocks to make sure the companies they’re invested in are socially responsible. And they're not afraid to speak up, pushing resolutions on worker justice, pollution, executive compensation and much more.

Mary Ann McGivern, member of the Loretto Community of women religious

Sacred Jazz

Begins at 36 min 49 sec

Jazz great Mary Lou Williams (pictured) believed that jazz and prayer were "twin mates of spiritual expression." She developed a style known as “sacred jazz,” which went on to inspire Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. Catholic jazz artist Deanna Witkowski introduces us to this little-known genre, and shares her new album, which sets Christians prayers, hymns and psalms to music for a jazz quartet.

Deanna Witkowski, jazz pianist/composer/vocalist. Her new album is From This Place

Twenty-Four Hour Chant

Begins at 49 min 4 sec

This Earth Day, about 60 Buddhists gathered at a Unitarian church in Colorado Springs to chant for 24 hours. They chanted in shifts, from one to four hours at a time, in the language of the early Buddhist scriptures. Producer Bob Thomason was there, and sent us this audio postcard.

Produced by Bob Thomason, producer and reporter for KRCC

This Week's Interfaith Calendar

May 31 - Pentecost (Christian)

On Pentecost, Christians remember the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the followers of Jesus. As the story goes in the New Testament, the disciples had all gathered in Jerusalem, when a violent, blowing wind came down from the heavens, filling the place with sound. The Holy Spirit came to rest on them, in the form of “tongues of fire”, and everyone began to understand each other's native language, even though they had come from many different nations. This is the first mention in the Bible of what we now call "speaking in tongues," and the basis of the modern Christian Pentecostal movement.

Hear a recording of speaking in tongues, or glossololia, from the lab of Dr. Andrew Newberg. He's leading a fascinating new field called neurotheology, which studies the biological basis of spirituality.