The 'Secret Fundamentalism' Behind America's Public Policy
- play show:
Date: 4 August 2009
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.
