Interfaith Voices audio files

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

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 15:19:29 -0500

Heavenly Sex

She’s Jewish, she’s 4-foot-7, and she likes to see the Torah as an ancient sex manual. This Valentine's Day, the one and only Dr. Ruth explains the sanctity of sex - good sex - in Jewish law. From April 2009.

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

Saying 'I Do' in an Interfaith Relationship

Begins at 21 min

Christmas tree or Menorah? Honey baked ham or brisket? CCD or Hebrew School? For the 27 percent of Americans in mixed-religion marriages, (many of which are Catholic-Jewish,) what to do about holidays and religious school are just a few of the worries that often come up. Interfaith marriage counselor Mary Helen Rosenbaum says, fear not: there are practical ways to make it work over the long haul. We’re also joined by two interfaith couples who share their own experience. From February 2008.

Pictured: Jen Liebreich, a Catholic, and Rob Liebreich, a Jew, were married in an interfaith ceremony in 2002.

Two interfaith couples: Eve and Scott Edwards and Jen and Rob Liebreich

Mary Helene Rosenbaum, co-author of "Celebrating Our Differences: Living Two Faiths in One Marriage"

Special Thanks to the Interfaith Families Project of Greater Washington and the Jewish-Catholic Family Network

'Coming Out' as an African-American Atheist

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 16:04:39 -0500

For Many Black Americans, 'Atheist' is a Four-Letter Word

Jamila Bey was 19 when she told her mother she was agnostic. In a country where nearly 90 percent of black Americans believe in God with “absolute certainty,” that didn’t go over very well. “And she said to me, I can’t believe I have a child who thinks that way.” This week: two black atheists talk frankly about why being a non-believer is a cultural taboo, and how that’s beginning to change.

Pictured: Members of Secular Students at Howard University. Mark Hatcher created the group in 2010.

Mark Hatcher, founder of Secular Students of Howard University

Jamila Bey, journalist and host of "SPARring With Jamila: The Sex, Politics and Religion Hour on the Voice of Russia Radio"

Sacred Dance and Censorship in Pakistan

Begins at 37 min

In the 1970s, the Pakistani government outlawed all kinds of cultural performances, from theater and music shows to classical dancing. Under General Zia ul Haq, the arts were considered haraam, or forbidden by the teachings of Islam. But that didn’t stop a tiny group of Pakistani dancers, who continued to practice and perform privately. One of them is Tehreema Mitha, the subject of a new documentary, "The Vigil."

Tehreema Mitha now travels around the world to perform traditional Bharatanatyam dances. She also performs in a style of her own design, fusing contemporary and classical dance styles to tell modern, human stories.

For our DC listeners: The Vigil will be screened at the Goethe Institute on February 12th as part of the Our City Film Festival.

Tehreema Mitha, founder of the Tehreema Mitha Dance Company

Arya Surowijojo, director and producer of "The Vigil"

Web Extra: Your Feedback to the March for Life Rally

Last week we asked for your responses to our audio snapshot of the 2012 March for Life Rally - and we heard you. Take a listen to some of the reactions.

Listen here.

Web Extra: Your Feedback to the March for Life Rally

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:54:19 -0500

Eric Weiner: 'My Flirtations with the Divine'

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:13:26 -0500

Man Seeks God

When a health scare and the onset of middle age launched him into a deep spiritual crisis, Eric Weiner, a self-described “Confusionist,” started looking for answers in the world’s religions. Eight traditions and three years later, he’s still asking questions, and says he can't "ride off into the sunset with the deity of my dreams.” But he did settle on something. He calls it an "Ikea God" - a kind of religion mix tape, with some assembly required.

Eric Weiner, author of "Man Seeks God: My Flirtations with the Divine"

The Ethics of Drone Warfare

Begins at 32 min 15 sec

Drone warfare – dropping bombs remotely with the push of a button - is less expensive and less risky than traditional combat. And it's changing the rules about what it means to go to war. Two sides weigh the moral pros and cons of the new weapon of choice in the war against terrorism.

David Cortright, Director of Policy Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies

Amitai Etzioni, professor of international affairs and sociology at The George Washington University.

Audio Postcard: The 2012 March for Life

Begins at 48 min 20 sec

Every year since 1974, hundreds of thousands of anti-abortion advocates have traveled from all over the country to Washington D.C. to be part of the March for Life. It’s a way to protest Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. For many marchers, it’s also a way to show their commitment to their faith. This year’s rally was on Monday, January 23rd. We spoke to some of the crowd about why they were there.

Produced by Ellen Rolfes

Thomas Jefferson's Secret Bible

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:39:18 -0500

Cutting and Pasting the New Testament

With a razor blade and glue brush, our third President carefully excised parts of the Gospels he considered supernatural and untrue - including all references to the divinity of Jesus. The final product is known as the Jefferson Bible. It was a work of private reflection, written in secret. Had it been published during his lifetime, it might have become one of the most controversial religious works of the time.

The Jefferson Bible has just been re-issued by Tarcher/Penguin. The original copy, newly conserved, is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History until May 2012. Flip through virtual pages of the Thomas Jefferson Bible, courtesy of the Smithsonian.

Pictured: a fold-out tab Jefferson glued to the margin of page 56.

Mitch Horowitz, editor-in-chief at Tarcher/Penguin Publishing House

A Groundbreaking Poll of Mormons in America

Begins at 24 min 2 sec

The Pew Forum has just published the largest survey of Mormon attitudes and beliefs ever conducted by a non-Mormon group. Some findings are what you might expect: most American Mormons are white, conservative, well-educated and family-oriented. Others are surprising: many Mormons still feel misunderstood, but optimistic about their acceptance by the rest of society.

Greg Smith, a senior researcher for the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life

Sex, Mom and God

Begins at 38 min 16 sec

Frank Schaeffer spent his early career in the evangelical royalty - a "700 Club" regular and the son of a famous Christian theologian, Francis Schaeffer. He eventually turned his back on many fundamentalist teachings, and discovered that his mother, Edith, had her own reservations. Especially about teachings on sex.

Frank Schaeffer, author of "Sex, Mom and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics - and How I learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway"

Leonard Nimoy at 80: 'Practicing Life'

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:36:23 -0500

On Judaism, Spock and Spirituality

From 1966 to 1969, Leonard Nimoy played Mr. Spock on the original Star Trek series. Those three years as a half-human, half-Vulcan science fiction character would change his life, making him the public face of one of the most popular franchises in television history.

But there is an intensely private, spiritual side of Leonard Nimoy that isn’t as well known. The son of a barber, Nimoy grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Boston, where he became captivated by the mystery and poetry of Jewish rituals. His interest in Judaism has stayed with him, informing his work as a poet, photographer, and even his portrayal of Mr. Spock.

He spoke to Nadine Epstein, editor of Moment Magazine, the national independent Jewish publication co-founded by Elie Wiesel. This is part of our collaboration with Moment that explores great Jewish artists and thinkers.

Leonard Nimoy, photographer, film director, poet and actor

Would Alien Contact Change Religion on Earth?

Begins at 19 min 21 sec

There will be a moment - perhaps as soon as twenty years from now – when humans make contact with intelligent alien life. And when we do, a host of theologians, scientists and religious leaders will be prepared with questions. Will knowing we're not alone in the universe change the way we understand humanity? Will it change the way we understand God?

Pictured: The star-forming region of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy about 160,000 light-years away from the Milky Way.

Douglas Vakoch, director of Interstellar Message Composition at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute

Ted Peters, professor of theology at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

Brian Greene: Understanding Science, and Ourselves

Begins at 46 min 52 sec

Brian Greene is a cosmologist who studies string theory – a ‘theory of everything’ that attempts to explain all the forces of matter within the cosmos. For him, studying the laws of time and space can lead to a deeper knowledge. “The better we understand the universe's rules,” he says, “the more deeply we can appreciate our lives within it.”

Produced by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, with John Gregory and Viki Merrick. Available in "This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women"

Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University and author of "The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and The Deep Laws of the Cosmos"

Great Jewish Thinkers: Leonard Nimoy

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:54:51 -0500

Great Jewish Thinkers: Theodore Bikel

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:30:39 -0500

The Top Religion Books of 2011: What's Hot, What's Not

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 09:54:59 -0500

A Year in Religious Publishing

What everyone was talking about: an evangelical pastor’s reflection on where non-Christians spend eternity. What everyone had enough of: books about the King James Bible. This week, we look back on a year in religious publishing. The best-of list includes a memoir of a new Christian mother who’s child has Down syndrome; the story of a group of Buddhist monks who saved their monastery from a wildfire; and a humor book that makes “a serious argument for joy” in religion.

Check out Marcia's selections for the Best Books of 2011

Marcia Nelson, Associate Religion Editor at Publishers Weekly

Churches Take on Big Banks

Begins at 13 min 38 sec

All around the country, a growing number of churches, mosques and synagogues are switching bank accounts. They’re withdrawing millions of dollars out of big banks, like Bank of America and Wells Fargo, and putting their money into community banks and credit unions. It’s a way to protest what they see as unfair mortgage and lending habits- and they’re not quiet about the change.

Pictured: Rev. Bell speaks to crowd about why his church is divesting from Bank of America.

Rev. Ryan Bell, pastor of Hollywood Adventist Church

The Quest for the Historical Satan

Begins at 24 min 53 sec

Most of us imagine Satan as a red guy with hooves, a forked tongue, a tail, and a big pitchfork. We also imagine him as the incarnation of absolute evil. But you won’t find that description anywhere in the Bible. In fact, the scriptures say he looks a lot like us.

Pictured: Satan as Lucifer, the fallen archangel, tempting Jesus in the desert. The name "Lucifer" wasn't clearly applied to Satan until around the third century.

Albert Hernandez, co-author of "The Quest for the Historical Satan"

The Church of Satan: Loving the Carnal Self

Begins at 35 min 31 sec

Despite their name, Satanists don’t worship the Devil. They don’t even believe he exists. For members of the Church of Satan, there is nothing supernatural about the universe. There is no God or devil, no heaven or hell, and no need to worship in religious organizations. Magus Peter Gilmore explains that Satanists
"see Satan as a symbol of a deeply human approach to existence, of triumphing carnally and enjoying life, and not putting it off to look for some possible spiritual existence.”

Magus Peter H. Gilmore, high priest of the Church of Satan

Why We Believe

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:48:08 -0500

Inside the Believing Brain

Don’t tell Michael Shermer about your quirky new medical cure or folk legend – he probably won’t believe you. He’s the founding publisher of Skeptic Magazine, which he created in 1992 to help people think more critically about pseudoscience and superstitions – everything from Holocaust denial to a belief in Bigfoot. In his new book, Shermer says we’re hardwired to form strong beliefs, even when those beliefs don’t make much sense. From July 2011.

Michael Shermer, author of "The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies: How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths"

Should Doctors Hasten Death?

Begins at 21 min 36 sec

Dr. Jack Kevorkian – the public face of physician-assisted suicide – died in early June. He said he helped about 130 people end their lives with homemade machines he called the “Mercitron” and “Thanatron.” A bioethicist explains the pros and cons of one of the most controversial practices in both religion and medicine. From June 2011.

Web extra: Hear the full interview

Art Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania

Making the Choice: Merrily's Story

Begins at 42 min 25 sec

Last year, when Merrily Laytner learned that her ovarian cancer left her with only a few months to live, she chose the option of a physician-assisted suicide – or as she preferred to call it, death with dignity. She passed away Oct. 24, 2010, though in the end she chose not to take the prescription that would end her life. Her husband, Rabbi Anson Laytner, talks about the most difficult decision he and his wife ever had to make. From June 2011.

Pictured: Anson and Merrily Laytner in February 2010.

Rabbi Anson Laytner, hospice chaplain at Kline Galland Home

Handel's 'Messiah'

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:46:36 -0500

A Short History of the Christmas Masterpiece

You know it’s Christmas when you hear Handel’s Messiah, an 18th century oratorio best known for the 'Hallelujah' chorus. Its words are taken from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, covering the entire arc of Christ as the Christian savior - from Isaiah’s first prophecy to his ascension into heaven. This week we find out why, 270 years after it was first composed, it remains one of the most beloved choral works in all of Western music.

Ellen Harris, music historian and professor of music at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Listen to Handel's 'Messiah'

Five Years 'On Faith'

Begins at 25 min 30 sec

Five years ago, Washington Post reporter Sally Quinn – a devout non-believer - decided to tackle one of the touchiest topics in all of journalism. She created the Web site and blog, On Faith, which has become a public forum for clergy, scholars, and the interested public to reflect on religion in the news.

Sally Quinn, Washington Post columnist and moderator for "On Faith"

Project Conversion: Reflecting Back on a Year of 'Spiritual Promiscuity'

Begins at 39 min 15 sec

This week we say a sad farewell to Andrew Bowen, creator of Project Conversion. We’ve followed him as he slept on the floor as a Jain monk, got harassed as a Sikh, celebrated Passover as a Jew, and fasted as a Muslim – among other things.
He joins us with his wife, Heather, who says the year was “the greatest challenge, blessing and threat” to their seven-year marriage.

Pictured: Bowen praying the Rosary. He spent December practicing Roman Catholicism.

Andrew Bowen, creator of Project Conversion, and his wife, Heather Bowen

The Top Religion News of 2011

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:27:28 -0500

'Taking it to the Streets'

Clergy joined protesters to Occupy Wall Street. The United States government killed Osama Bin Laden, creating a moral debate among theologians. Oh, and the world was supposed to end - twice. Our two favorite news analysts count down the religion stories that mattered in 2011.

Pictured: James Salt's handmade golden calf - in the shape of the Merrill Lynch bull - parades down Wall Street in October.

Kim Lawton, managing editor of Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service

Water Bottles and Plastic Bags: The Unholy Side of Pilgrimages

Begins at 27 min 29 sec

One hundred million people make pilgrimages each year, whether it’s Sikhs traveling to Pakistan or Muslims traveling to Mecca. But there’s nothing holy about the tons of used water bottles, plastic bags and airplane exhaust that these trips create. Alison Hilliard explains how to make a religious pilgrimage a greener experience.

Pictured: The Kaaba, or 'Black Stone," at Mecca is the holiest site for Muslims.

Alison Hilliard, deputy director of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation

Druids, Stonehenge and the Winter Solstice

Begins at 38 min 16 sec

On Dec. 22, the northern tip of our planet will tilt further away from the sun than on any other day of the year, making it the longest and darkest day. This is the annual winter solstice – a word taken from the Latin phrase for "sun stands still.” For Druids and other pagans it’s one of the most sacred days of the year, a time to honor the mystery and power of the natural world.

Pictured: Arthur Pendragon leads a solstice celebration at Stonehenge.

Arthur Uther Pendragon, Battle Chieftain of the Council of British Druid Orders

John Michael Greer, Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America

Why Men Hate Going to Church

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 11:22:19 -0500

It's Not Just the Pastel Color Scheme (But That Doesn't Help)

From the moment a man walks into a church, says David Murrow, he gets the message that he doesn’t belong. There’s the feminine décor, which Murrow calls “Victorian parlor motif”: quilted banners, flowers, lace doilies, boxes of tissues.

Then there are the sermons, which often ask men to take on the role of damsel in distress – the lost, broken soul who needs to be saved. And don’t forget the music, which can describe Jesus as a love object, with lyrics like “I’m desperate for you,” and “I am so in love with you.” This female focus makes a difference, and Murrow says it’s the reason why most churches are 60 percent female, 40 percent male.

David Murrow, author of the newly revised edition of "Why Men Hate Going to Church"

Translating for the Dalai Lama

Begins at 28 min 15 sec

For more than 25 years, Thupten Jinpa has been by the Dalai Lama’s side, working as his primary English translator. He knows the leader of Tibetan Buddhism in a way few people do, and says he’s truly the way you imagine him to be - kind, compassionate, funny, humble. And also extremely smart. Jinpa joins us to reflect back on his years of translating, and to talk about the Dalai Lama’s new book,“Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World.”

Pictured: Thupten Jinpa with the Dalai Lama, Sept. 2006.

Geshe Thupten Jinpa, lead English translator for His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Father James Martin: Religion Needs to Lighten Up

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 10:50:34 -0500

Divine Comedy

Somewhere along the line, piety became linked with gloominess. It seems there’s something noble about being dour and dangerous about being joyful -
think the concerned nuns in “The Sound of Music” who chastise Sister Maria for her sunny spirit. Father James Martin says it doesn’t have to be that way, and reminds us that the Bible is full of jokes and puns that are often lost on modern readers.

Jim Martin, Jesuit priest and author of "Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of Spiritual Life"

Lobbying For God

Begins at 26 min 30 sec

When it comes to lobbying and advocacy in Washington, D.C., religious groups are increasingly part of the mix. According to a new Pew study, creating media campaigns, meeting with White House officials, holding demonstrations, and other efforts to affect public policy have increased fivefold since 1970.

Pictured: In Washington, D.C., most lobbying groups are on K Street, only blocks away from the White House and Congress.

Allen Hertzke, visiting senior fellow at The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life

Lessons From Rev. Billy Graham on Faith, Aging and 'Nearing Home'

Begins at 34 min

Rev. Billy Graham, often called “America’s pastor,” is now 93. In his new book, he says we’re all taught how to live - but not how to die. His son shares his father's wisdom on how to prepare for the end - a task Billy Graham calls “finishing well.”

Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Commentary: Joe Paterno and the Catholic Church

Begins at 47 min 58 sec

In the priest sexual abuse crisis, the Pope could take a cue from Penn State. Maureen points out that while that school's head football coach was fired for not doing enough to stop alleged abuse, no such action has ever been taken to remove any Catholic Bishops who covered up abuse for years.

Maureen Fiedler, host of Interfaith Voices

America's Religious Mixing Bowl

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:35:44 -0500

Switching, Matching and Mixing

This week we look inside America’s religious landscape - a shifting, shuffling marketplace where roughly one-third of all Americans practice a different religion than the one they were raised in.

In one of the most comprehensive studies of American religion to date, David Campbell reveals surprising findings about how faith has evolved during the past 50 years, including the fact that Jews are now the most popular religious group in America, and that most people change their religion to fit their politics, not the other way around.

"American Grace" recently won Princeton's 2011 Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award. From November 2010.

David Campbell, co-author (with Robert Putnam) of "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us"

The Spirituality of 'Black Like Me'

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

In 1961, white journalist John Howard Griffin spent six weeks living as a black man, traveling on Greyhound buses through the most racially-segregated parts of the country. His groundbreaking book, “Black Like Me,” helped white Americans understand the everyday cruelty of racism. A PBS documentary explores the little-known spiritual side of Griffin, one of the early activists of the civil rights movement. From February 2011.

Morgan Atkinson, director of "Uncommon Vision: The Life and Times of John Howard Griffin"

Finding the Holy Foreskin

Begins at 37 min

Five years ago, journalist David Farley went to a tiny Italian village in search of the weirdest, most taboo relic in the history of the Catholic Church: the Holy Prepuce. The foreskin of Jesus Christ. Farley’s book traces the mythical journey of that sacred bit of flesh, from an angel’s hand, to a gift to Charlemagne, to Calcata, where it was last seen in a shoebox in the back of a priest’s wardrobe. From January 2011. Interview by Laura Kwerel.

Pictured: The circumcision of Christ, from a fresco in Bulgaria's Preobrazhenski Monastery.

David Farley, author of "An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church's Strangest Relic in Italy's Oddest Town"

Web Extra: The Holy Foreskin, uncut