On This Week's Show
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Date: 21 August 2008
A Purpose-Driven President?
Rev. Rick Warren was the amiable emcee at last Saturday’s Civil Forum on the Presidency, featuring presumptive presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain. He is the pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch, in a year when the evangelical vote is reportedly shifting. Since the 1980s, this voting bloc has focused on issues like abortion and gay marriage, but this year, the agenda has broadened to include issues like poverty and the environment. The Saddleback forum reflects that range of issues – and it foreshadows what is likely to be a faith-heavy campaign this election season.
Jacques Berlinerblau, author of Thumpin’ It: The Use and Abuse of the Bible in Today’s Presidential Politics, and the blog, The God Vote
Kim Lawton, managing editor of PBS's Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
Saddleback footage and commentary available at Religion and Ethics Newsweekly's blog, One Nation: Religion and Politics 2008
The Next Satanic Verses?
Begins at 23:54
In mid-August, a historical novel about the favorite wife of the prophet Muhammed, Aisha, was set to be released in bookstores nationwide. But after receiving tips that the book’s racy scenes might spark violence from Muslim extremists, the publisher panicked. Now, Random House has postponed publication of The Jewel of Medina indefinitely. Even though few people have read it, it has sparked an intense debate about censorship, art and Muslim extremism.
Sherry Jones, the author of The Jewel of Medina
Asra Nomani, former Wall Street Journal reporter, author of "You Still Can't Write About Muhammad" in the Wall Street Journal
Sex and the Soul
Begins at 39:16
Two years ago, when religion professor Donna Freitas surveyed more than 2,500 college students about their sexuality, she found two campus cultures that were drastically different. On evangelical campuses, women wore promise rings and men made vows to avoid pornography. Meanwhile, at Catholic and secular schools, students often indulged their sexuality to a destructive extreme, attending theme parties with names like “CEOs and Office Hos.” But no matter which group students fell into, Freitas discovered, the question of what to do about sex was fraught with anxiety, confusion, and an aching longing for romance.
Donna Freitas, author of Sex & the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance, and Religion on America's College Campuses
This Week's Interfaith Calendar
August 24 – Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian)
Zoroastrians celebrate the birth of their prophet, Zarathusthra, today. A prophet and poet, he preached a monotheistic faith in an otherwise polytheistic part of the world – and his theology ended up having a great impact on the monotheistic faiths that developed later, like Judaism and Christianity.
August 24 – Janmashtami (Hindu)
On this day, Hindus celebrate the birth of Krishna, one of Hinduism’s most famous and beloved gods. Hindus remember this heroic warrior and divine teacher by fasting all day and feasting and dancing at midnight.
August 28 - Paryushan (Jain)
Paryushan is the Jain festival of atonement and forgiveness. During this eight-day festival, Jains fast and ask for absolution from the past year's transgressions. The essence of the day is reflected in this Jain prayer, which many Jains can recite by heart: “I grant forgiveness to all living beings. May all living beings grant me forgiveness; My friendship is with all living beings. My enmity is totally non-existent. Let there be peace, harmony, and prosperity for all.”
