The Exuberant World of Hindu Gods and Goddesses
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Date: 9 March 2011
The Hindu Divine: One God, Many Faces
Most Hindus believe there is only one true god, Brahman. But this supreme spirit - the heartbeat of the universe - takes many shapes. Millions, in fact. There’s Durga, the warrior goddess with many arms; Ganesha, the god of good fortune with the head of an elephant; and Kali, the blue goddess of time who wears a garland of human heads...just to name a few. This week: the brilliant Hindu pantheon.
Pictured: A conjoined image of three popular incarnations of the Hindu Divine Mother: Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati.
V.V. Raman, professor emeritus of physics and humanities at the Rochester Institute of Technology
In Philadelphia, A New Scandal
Begins at 22 min 28 sec
If you thought the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church was mostly resolved, think again. In February, a grand jury issued a scathing report. It accuses the highest-ranking church leaders in Philadelphia of providing a safe haven for as many as 37 priests. All 37 have been credibly accused of sexual abuse or inappropriate behavior toward minors.
Tom Roberts, editor at the National Catholic Reporter
'I'm So Sorry You Have Any Reason to Read this Book'
Begins at 38 min 45 sec
When Eric Marcus was just 12, his father killed himself. His was told to attend synagogue every day for a year, but never felt a sense of comfort. Now, he has written the book he wanted then - answering the most commonly asked questions about faith, coping, and the big "Why." He talks to Laura Kwerel.
Pictured: Eric Marcus at age 12, with his father.
Eric Marcus, author of "Why Suicide?"
