Rainn Wilson, a Baha'i in Hollywood
- play show:
Date: 19 November 2008
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.
Rainn Wilson, star of The Office and The Rocker
Defying Rome, Finding Peace
Begins at 22:50
A few weeks ago, a Catholic priest named Rev. Roy Bourgeois (pictured) received a startling message from the Vatican: be prepared to be excommunicated. The reason? In August, the 36-year-veteran of the Maryknoll Order preached at the ordination of a woman priest. In a long, personal letter to the Vatican, Rev. Bourgeois refused to repent for his role in the ordination, knowing it could mean the end of his career.
Rev. Roy Bourgeois, founder of the School of the Americas Watch
Religion and the Rights of Women
Begins at 36:06
Gender inequality is an aching problem in the world’s developing countries. A new UN study is trying to figure out how to can fix that—and finds that religious sensitivity is a good place to start.
Azza Karam, Senior Culture Adviser for the United Nations Population Fund
Rehab For 'Jihadists'
Begins at 43:01
Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of militant extremists, sometimes called "jihadists." In fact, 15 of the 19 September 11th hijackers were Saudi. Now, the Saudi government is trying to reverse that trend with a new kind of rehab program, which is kind of like a halfway house for would-be troublemakers.
Katherine Zoepf, author of the New York Times article “Deprogramming Jihadists”
This Week's Interfaith Calendar
Nov. 24 - Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh)
The ninth guru of Sikhism was known as a defender of religious freedom, and was executed in 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam.
Nov. 27 - Thanksgiving (Interfaith)
Although officially recognized as a secular holiday, this festival is popularly known to have been first celebrated in 1621. At the first Thanksgiving feast, Christian Pilgrims and Native Americans of Massachusetts gave thanks to God at an "interfaith banquet" for a bountiful harvest.
