Interfaith Voices Podcast (hour-long version)

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

Interfaith Voices — 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

Interfaith Voices — 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.

Leonard Nimoy at 80: 'Practicing Life'

Interfaith Voices — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:40:48 -0500

The acclaimed "Mr. Spock" actor reflects on how Judaism has informed his long career; Would aliens change earthly religion?

Eric Weiner: 'My Flirtations with the Divine'

Interfaith Voices — 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

Ellen Rolfes — 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"

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

Interfaith Voices — 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

Interfaith Voices — 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'

Interfaith Voices — 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

Ellen Rolfes — 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

Interfaith Voices — 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

Interfaith Voices — 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

Interfaith Voices — 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

Toxic Charity: The Dark Side of One-Way Giving

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:17:16 -0500

'Nobody Likes to Be Somebody's Poverty Case'

The can we drop off at a food drive, the well we dig in Haiti, the Christmas gift we give to a needy child – all of it feels good for the giver, but what about for the receiver? Bob Lupton talks candidly about what he calls “the problem with good intentions” – the fact that many handouts leave people feeling powerless, dependent and degraded.

Pictured: Bob Lupton's toy store in Atlanta, Ga., where low-income parents can buy presents at reduced prices.

Bob Lupton, author of "Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse it)"

Proselytizing in Public School

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

When Matthew LaClair’s history teacher began preaching about Jesus in class, he pulled out his tape recorder. “[Jesus] did everything in his power to make sure that you could go to heaven,” his teacher told them. “If you reject that, you belong in hell.” His scratchy recording started an uproar in the working-class town of Kearney, N.J., where the teacher was a beloved crew coach and youth pastor. A new documentary explores both sides of the story.

Vic Losick, director and producer of "In God We Teach"

Project Conversion: Jain Monk Edition

Begins at 34 min 30 sec

Life as a Jain monk is hard. Especially when you’re married with kids and living in a small Southern town. Still, this month Andrew Bowen did his best to follow the Jain vows of carefulness, including carrying a whisk to sweep away insects, wearing white robes, and eating only one meal a day. For his wife, he says one vow wasn’t so easy to keep – celibacy. “She hates it.”

Andrew Bowen, creator of "Project Conversion"

A Response to the 'Please Stop Boring Me' Commentary

Begins at 44 min 40 sec

A lot of you didn’t like last week’s commentary on the spiritual-but-not-religious crowd, and we heard you. In fact we received more feedback on Rev. Lillian Daniel’s commentary than on any other segment in recent months. This week Maureen offers her own thoughts on folks who “always find God in the sunsets.”

Read Rev. Daniel's original commentary for The Huffington Post, "Spiritual But Not Religious? Please Stop Boring Me"

The New Episcopal Bishop of D.C.

Interfaith Voices — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:15:37 -0500

Rev. Mariann Budde: 'I'm So Excited to Be Here'

The new spiritual leader of Washington, D.C.’s Episcopal Church is a woman. Rev. Mariann Budde is the ninth Bishop of Washington, and the first woman elected to that post. She joins us in the studio to talk about what the Episcopal Church needs to work on, where it’s headed, and how she hopes to inspire the city’s Episcopal community.

Reverend Mariann Budde, Ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington

The Army's First Hindu Chaplain

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Five years ago, when Pratima Dharm began her chaplaincy in the U.S. Army, she was endorsed by a Pentecostal Church. Now she has a new sponsor – a Hindu group. But she didn’t convert from Christianity to Hinduism; she’s just returning to her roots, while still embracing her pluralistic background. “I have the Bible next to me, I have the Koran, I have the Jewish Torah,” she says. “I tend to carry those as part of my story.”

Capt. Pratima Dharm, Hindu Chaplain at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Can You Pass the Religious Literacy Test?

Begins at 28 min 24 sec

If you think the Hail Mary is a football move, read on. Though America is the most religious nation in the developed world, when it comes to basic religious knowledge, most Americans can't name the first book of the Bible, or all five major world religions. Stephen Prothero offers a controversial solution: require world religion classes in all public schools. From March 2008.

Stephen Prothero, author of "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn’t"

How do YOU stack up? Take Prothero's religious literacy quiz!

Commentary: Spiritual But Not Religious? Please Stop Boring Me

Begins at 48 min 55 sec

If you find God in the sunsets, don’t sit next to Rev. Lillian Daniel on an airplane. No, seriously, she doesn’t want to sit next to you. “On airplanes, I dread the conversation with the person who finds out I am a minister and wants to use the flight time to explain to me that he is ‘spiritual but not religious,’ she says. “Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn't interest me.”

Rev. Lillian Daniel, senior minister of the First Congregational Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Read her original commentary for The Huffington Post

Web Extra: Personhood in Mississippi

Listen to the interview here

On November 8th, Mississippi voters defeated a startling proposal to change to their state’s Constitution. Initiative 26 would have defined the start of life as at the moment of conception, when a sperm meets an egg - making an embryo or a fetus a legal person. Among other things, the amendment would have made it impossible to get an abortion in Mississippi. Our resident news analyst reflects on the measure that might have been.

Kevin Eckstrom, editor of Religion News Service

Holy Ghost Girl: Growing Up in the Big Tent Revival Circuit

Interfaith Voices — Fri, 4 Nov 2011 13:32:21 -0400

Miracles on the Sawdust Trail

In the 1960s and 70s, thousands of people traveled to see Pentecostal preacher Brother Terrell speak in tongues and perform faith healings. The crowd would dance and stamp their feet until the sawdust beneath them filled the air. All that three-year-old Donna Johnson could see through the haziness was a sea of hands, clapping to the beat.

Donna recounts what it was like to grow up as a “Terrellite,” following the charismatic pastor from town to town, and why she ultimately left the group.

Pictured: Donna Johnson at a tent revival in the 1960s.

Donna Johnson, author of"Holy Ghost Girl: A Memoir"

Web Extra: Full Interview with Donna Johnson

Web Extra: Donna Johnson reads the prologue from "Holy Ghost Girl"

Self-Immolation: A History of Protest

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Sometimes, when nothing else works, protesters turn to a startling act of last resort: setting oneself on fire. Since March, eleven Tibetan monks have set themselves on fire to protest the Chinese government's crackdown on Tibet. Self-immolation also sparked the Arab Spring movement this January, when a Tunisian fruit vendor doused himself with gasoline outside a government building to protest harassment by local police. Michael Biggs looks back at the history of self-immolation as a political and religious tool.

Michael Biggs, author of the study "Dying Without Killing: Self-Immolations 1963-2002"

Inside the Minds of Muslim Extremists

Begins at 35 min

Ken Ballen spent five years interviewing more than one hundred Islamic radicals and terrorists, trying to understand their real motivations. What he found were young men who were often vulnerable, scared and full of conflicting emotions - in other words, not too different from the rest of us.

Ken Ballen, author of "Terrorists in Love: The Real Lives of Islamic Radicals"

The Day of the Dead: When Spirits and Souls Come Home for the Night

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:24:45 -0400

For the Dead and the Living, A Family Reunion

Sugar skulls, painted skeletons and colorful marigolds are all part of the Day of the Dead, a Latino religious festival that honors departed loved ones. According to tradition, the holiday begins at dawn on November 1st, when the spirits of children make their way back to earth. Regina Marchi explains why it’s become one of Latin America’s most popular exports.

Regina Marchi, author of "Day of the Dead in the USA: The Migration and Transformation of a Cultural Phenomenon"

Clergy Occupy Wall Street Protests

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

The problems that are bothering the Occupy protesters - corporate greed, corruption and economic inequality – are also bothering many people of faith. James Salt and Rev. Brian Merritt say religious leaders are lending a new moral authority to the public debate.

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

James Salt, executive director of Catholics United

Rev. Brian Merritt, senior minister of The Palisades Community Church

Study: Gap Grows Larger Between the Pulpit and the Pew

Begins at 36 min 30 sec

A sweeping study finds that more and more American Catholics are ignoring the Vatican on abortion, gay marriage and other bedroom issues - while staying loyal to the faith’s essential teachings.

Bill D'Antonio, fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, Catholic University

Project Conversion: The Wiccan Edition

Begins at 48 min 8 sec

One of Andrew Bowen’s favorite parts about being a Wiccan was savouring the beauty of the natural world. “Sometimes with some of our faiths we have so much of a focus on the invisible,” he says. “We forget to look around us.”

Andrew Bowen, creator of the blog, "Project Conversion"

Sen. Joe Lieberman Reflects on 'The Beauty of the Sabbath'

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:48:02 -0400

Making Time for the Fourth Commandment

Sen. Joe Lieberman has been known to work 18 hour days, six days a week. But when the sun sets on Friday night, the senator closes his laptop, opens his prayer book and welcomes the Sabbath, Shabbat, the day of rest. It’s the most sacred observance on the Jewish calendar, and Sen. Lieberman says it’s played a key role in his political career.

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, author of “The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath”

Religion's Role in a New Constitution

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

On paper, Turkey is a secular state. Its constitution doesn’t recognize, or promote, any state religion. So you’d be forgiven if you were a little confused by the government’s Religious Affairs Department, which calculates Muslim prayer times, writes mosque sermons, and organizes the Hajj. Mustafa Akyol explains why all this may change in the next year, now that Turkey is writing a new civil constitution.

Mustafa Akyol, author of “Islam without Extremes: The Muslim Case for Liberty”

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It's…God?

Begins at 48 min 45 sec

In a comic book, God can be the classic bearded man in long robes. Or God can be the white space between panels, a point of light, a stick figure, or a superhero in spandex. David Lewis says comic books and graphic novels are perfectly suited for telling the stories of religion, where ‘characters’ (think Muhammad) are often difficult – or sacrilegious – to visually depict. Interview by Ellen Rolfes.

A. David Lewis, co-editor of “Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books and Graphic Novels”

The Supreme Court Weighs in on Religious Workers' Rights

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:02:14 -0400

When It’s Not OK to Sue Your Employer

In early October, the Supreme Court heard arguments in one of the most important religion cases in 30 years. It centers on a law called the “ministerial exception,” which prevents church teachers and other religious workers considered "ministers" from filing discrimination lawsuits about hiring and firing. So who counts as a minister under the law? Two sides weigh in.

Luke Goodrich, deputy national litigation director at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

Dan Mach, director of the Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief at the American Civil Liberties Union

Trouble in Egypt

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

On Oct. 9, close to 30 Coptic Christians were killed by a mob that some believe was connected to the Egyptian army. And this isn’t the first time - the Copts, who make up roughly 10 percent of the Egyptian population, have been the victims of government oppression for decades. Thomas Farr says that if Egypt doesn’t truly accept its religious minorities, its quest for democracy is doomed to fail.

Correction: In this interview, Thomas Farr said Copts were protesting for state support for repairs to a church. In fact, Coptic Christians were protesting because of a church burning.

Pictured: Copts gather to protest church attacks in May 2011. The riots left 12 Copts dead and 240 injured.

Thomas Farr, director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University

Leymah Gbowee, Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

Begins at 37 min

Nine years ago, Leymah Gbowee was fed up. She was fed up with watching 15-year-olds carrying guns, soldiers raping women, and people being forced to leave their homes. Her mobilization of local women to pray for peace led to the end of the Second Liberian Civil War. Gbowee has now won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for supporting the safety of women and womens' rights.

Leymah Gbowee and producer Abigail Disney talk about the 2008 film that documents her efforts, “Pray the Devil Back to Hell.” Our interview first aired in November 2009.

Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace activist and winner of 2011 Nobel Peace Prize

Abigail Disney, producer of "Pray the Devil Back to Hell"

A Religious Case For Equality

Interfaith Voices — Fri, 7 Oct 2011 17:25:25 -0400

Jay Michaelson: Being Gay in the Eyes of God

After spending a year in Israel, Jay Michaelson became entranced by the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle: the community, the commitment to tradition, the feeling that all parts of life were sanctified by God. But by the time he turned 30, he felt he had to make a choice: accept his gay identity, or leave his faith. He turned to the Bible for answers, and was surprised to find dozens of texts that support gay rights.

Jay Michaelson, author of “God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality”

For our DC listeners, Jay will be speaking at the Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival on Oct. 23

Ed Husain: Killing Anwar al-Awlaki Was Wrong

22 min 30 sec

Ed Husain believes the CIA killing of Anwar al-Awlaki was morally, and legally, wrong. Despite his connection to terrorist plots, he argues that as an American citizen he deserved a trial by jury. "When America kills its own without a trial," he writes, "it hands over a propaganda victory to its enemies."

Pictured: A screen shot from one of the many YouTube videos posted by Anwar al-Alwaki. His audiotapes, videos, and blog taught the fundamentals of Islam to English-speaking Muslims.

Ed Husain, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies for the Council on Foreign Relations

Bazingen! In the Studio With The Klezmatics

Begins at 41 min 38 sec

Call it Avant-Garde Klezmer: For 25 years, the Klezmatics have infused the traditional dance music of Eastern European Jews with the sounds of jazz, folk and ska. The Grammy Award-winning band joins Laura Kwerel for a performance of two of their most popular songs, “Davenen” and “Ale Brider.” Their new album is Live At Town Hall.

Members of The Klezmatics: Lorin Sklamberg, accordion; Frank London, trumpet; Lisa Gutkin, fiddle; and Matt Darriau, saxophone and clarinet

Randy Cohen, Former ‘Ethicist’ For The New York Times

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:40:06 -0400

Choosing Right From Wrong: A Brief Guide

For twelve years, Randy Cohen offered advice on life’s most vexing moral questions, large and small: Should you ever out a cheating spouse? Is it OK for pastors to download old sermons from the internet? This week, Cohen reflects back on what he learned as the resident “Ethicist” for The New York Times Magazine.

Randy Cohen, host of WAMC's "Person, Place, Thing"

The Changing Face of the Catholic Church

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Tom Roberts has spent almost 30 years studying the inner workings of the Catholic Church. His new book reflects on the church he sees now: a church buckling under its hierarchical culture, wrestling with the progressive changes of Vatican II, and seeking a modern identity.

Tom Roberts, editor of National Catholic Reporter and author of "The Emerging Catholic Church: A Community's Search for Itself"

To Wear, Or Not to Wear, the Sikh Turban

Begins at 37 min 32 sec

For Sikhs, hair is a sacred extension of the body, a connection between humankind and God. Cut your hair – and you cut your connection to the divine. But millions of Sikh men are doing it anyway, while still maintaining their Sikh identity. A new documentary explores why about 75 percent of Sikh men living outside India are choosing to wear their hair short, and often without a turban.

Harjant Gill, director of "Roots of Love"

For our DC listeners: “Roots of Love” will screen at the Asian Pacific American Film Festival on Oct. 7

Project Conversion: The Sikh Edition

Begins at 45 min 21 sec

Many Sikh men don the 5 Ks – five physical articles of faith that represent their commitment to the Sikh way of life. For Andrew Bowen, waking up every morning and putting on a turban, iron bracelet and sacred dagger tapped into his inner warrior. “Every day,” he says, “I was getting ready to represent something.”

Pictured: Andrew Bowen wearing the 5 Ks: Kesh (uncut hair), Kanga (comb), Kara (iron bracelet), Kacchera (undergarment), and Kirpan (dagger)

Andrew Bowen, creator of Project Conversion

Religion in the 2012 Election

Interfaith Voices — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:40:16 -0400

Why Faith Matters in 2012

Some commentators call Rick Perry a theocrat. Mitt Romney still has a Mormon problem. And Michele Bachmann says Hurricane Irene had a political message, sent from God. (She later said she was just joking.) Religion pollster Robert Jones explains why this election season, the faith of the candidates could be a game-changer, especially in the Republican primary.

Pictured: Rick Perry at a Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans.

Robert P. Jones, CEO and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute

How Religious Language Became a Political Weapon

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

How to win a presidential election: say “scripture” not “the Bible”; say “I’m a person of faith” not “I’m a Roman Catholic”; end major speeches with “God bless America.” These are just a few of the tips David Domke has learned from talking to campaign strategists and studying more than 15,000 political speeches from FDR to George W. Bush.

David S. Domke, professor of communications, University of Washington, Seattle

Spiritual Warriors, Fighting Demons and Controlling Governments

Begins at 36 min 38 sec

In early August, Rick Perry stood in front of a crowd of 30,000 to pray for Jesus to guide America’s politicians. On his left stood Alice Patterson, a top leader in a Christian movement called the New Apostolic Reformation. Though she didn’t say a word, her presence on stage sent a powerful message to those who had ears to hear it: the Apostles’ campaign to control government has begun. Rachel Tabachnik explains why the group is pinning its hopes on Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann.

Pictured: "Christian’s Combat With Apollyon," c. 1890. Members of the New Apostolic Reformation believe that corruption on earth is caused be demons, and can only be stopped through spiritual warfare.

Rachel Tabachnick, independent researcher and blogger, Talk2action.org

The Interfaith Movement After 9/11

Interfaith Voices — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 09:45:31 -0400

Faith-To-Faith Dialogue, Ten Years Later

Nine days after the events of 9/11, President George W. Bush met with more than two dozen religious leaders at the White House. They prayed, condemned anti-Muslim bigotry, and called for respect among different religions. Has that energy been sustained? This week, three faith leaders consider how 9/11 has changed interfaith dialogue in America.

Pictured: President George W. Bush meets with American faith leaders in the Roosevelt Room on September 20, 2001.

Akbar Ahmed, Professor of Islamic Studies at American University

Diana Eck, Director of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Welton Gaddy, President of the Interfaith Alliance

Does Religion Condone or Condemn Violence?

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Most religions teach compassion, kindness and peace. So why have so many acts of violence been committed in the name of faith, from the Christian crusades to the 9/11 attacks?

Pictured: The Siege of Constantinople in 1204. The Fourth Crusade is considered one of the last acts of schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Reza Aslan, author of “How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror”

Jack David Eller, author of “Cruel Creeds, Virtuous Violence: Religious Violence Across Culture and History” and professor at the Community College of Denver

Searching For God After 9/11: Anne Mulderry

Begins at 45 min 56 sec

Stephen Mulderry worked on the 89th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. His mother, Anne, says her Catholic faith helped her come to terms with Stephen’s death, and to ultimately forgive Osama bin Laden.

Pictured: Anne Mulderry with her son Stephen at his high school graduation in Albany, New York.

Anne Mulderry, member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows

Why Much of the Bible Was Forged - And Other Things You Didn't Learn in Sunday School

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 1 Sep 2011 13:31:38 -0400

Writing in the Name of God

If you went to Sunday school, you probably learned some basic facts about the authors of the New Testament. For example, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the four gospels, the accounts of the life of Jesus. And Paul the apostle wrote all 13 letters that bear his name. Right? Bart Ehrman says, not exactly. In fact, he says many of the books of the Bible were written by anonymous Greeks, 40 or 50 years later. From March 2011.

Pictured: St. Paul writing his letters. Many scholars say Paul is the author of just six of the 13 Pauline letters in the New Testament.

Bart Ehrman, author of "Forged: Writing in the Name of God: Why the Bible's Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are"

Web Extra: Full Interview

'This Does Not Hurt Me': A 9/11 Mother Speaks Out

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

This week we re-visit debate over Park51, the Islamic cultural center and mosque still planned to be built two blocks from Ground Zero. Many are still asking — what about the 9/11 family members? Wouldn't they disapprove? Not Donna Marsh O'Connor, the mother of a 29-year-old who died in the South Tower. She supports the Islamic center, and says the 9/11 families are not a monolith. From August 2010.

Donna Marsh O'Connor, Spokesperson for
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows

Searching For For God After 9/11: Asim Rehman

Begins at 37 min 23 sec

On Sept. 11, Asim Rehman was working at a law firm just 4 blocks away from the World Trade Center. He soon found his Muslim faith becoming a central part of how defined himself, and he went on to create one of the most active bar associations for Muslim lawyers in America.

Asim Rehman, vice president of the Muslim Bar Association of New York

Searching For For God After 9/11: Rev. Tom Faulkner

Begins at 45 min 24 sec

For eight grueling months, Rev. Tom Faulkner supervised the 60 chaplains who worked at Ground Zero. One of his most important duties was to bless the human remains at the Ground Zero morgue.

Rev. Thomas Faulkner, sculptor and Vicar of Christ Church in Sparkill, NY

See Rev. Faulkner's artist page

The Exuberant World of Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:22:49 -0400

The Hindu Divine: One God, Many Faces

Most Hindus believe there is only one true god, Brahman. But this supreme spirit 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 we listen back to our March interview on 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

Elaine and Francis: A New Beginning

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Elaine was a nun; Francis was a priest. But that didn’t stop them from falling deeply in love, in the fall of 1968. They were married for nearly 40 years until, in 2010, Francis passed away from bone cancer. Elaine now embraces his death not as an ending, but as the next phase of their marriage. Producer Carolyn Barnwell shares Elaine's story of loss, faith and new beginnings. Our story first aired in February 2011.

Produced by Carolyn Barnwell for the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

Web extra: Read Elaine's blog about her relationship with Francis

Searching For God After 9/11: Rev. Frank Geer

Begins at 31 min 52 sec

Rev. Frank Geer oversaw religious services at a Manhattan hospital that received many of the people who escaped the World Trade Center. One of his patients' biggest spiritual challenges was survivor's guilt, and grappling with the question, "Why me?"

Rev. Frank Geer, Director of Religious Services at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1992 - 2002

Searching For God After 9/11: Diqui La Penta

Begins at 42 min 39 sec

On the morning of Sept. 11, Diqui La Penta was on her way to work at the College of the Redwoods in California, where she teaches biology. Her fiance, Richard, was on United 93, the plane that was hijacked by terrorists and crashed in Pennsylvania. Looking back, she doesn't believe God was there that day, and is now a firm atheist.

Diqui La Penta, biology professor at College of the Redwoods

Debunking Religion's Most Poisonous Myth

Interfaith Voices — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:20:22 -0400

Jews, Jesus and the Stain of Deicide

In early March, the Pope published a book renouncing the idea that the Jewish people are responsible for the death of Christ. Though the story has been officially rejected by the Catholic Church since the 1960s, it never quite went away. Much of the myth derives from one line in the Gospel of Matthew, attributed to the Jewish crowd at the trial of Jesus: “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” For those who read the Bible literally, it casts a stain of deicide — of killing a god — on Jews for all eternity.

To explore the roots of this story, and its consequences, we turn to James Carroll. He’s one of the world’s leading scholars on anti-Semitism and he has written the definitive book on the topic. Our story first aired in March 2011.

Listen to our full interview

Pictured: A crowd pins Christ to the ground on the way to his crucifixion. Painting by Domenichino, 17th century.

James Carroll, author of "Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews: A History" and "Jerusalem, Jerusalem: How the Ancient City Ignited Our Modern World"

Paul the Jew

Begins at 22 min 30 sec

Many people trace the roots of anti-Semitism back to a single moment: St. Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. That’s when, according to traditional teachings, Paul rejected his Judaism for the new, improved version: Christianity. Bible scholar Pamela Eisenbaum says this interpretation of Paul is not only wrong, it’s dangerous. She spoke to Laura Kwerel in October 2009.

Pamela Eisenbaum, author of "Paul Was Not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle"

Project Conversion: Muslim Edition

Begins at 31 min 36 sec

Becoming an honorary Muslim - during Ramadan no less - was a hard at first. No food and drink during a heat wave in his hometown of North Carolina. Praying fives times a day. And growing out a beard - despite the objections of his wife- to follow the example of Muhammad. But he also experienced a profound, radically different understanding of what it means to be Muslim in America.

Andrew Bowen, creator of Project Conversion

Searching For God After 9/11: The First Hate Crime

Begins at 41 min 23 sec

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since the unspeakable events of September 11th. Looking back, many of us are still struggling with questions about God, faith, and the nature of evil. Was this really done in the name of religion? And how could a loving God allow this to happen?

This week we begin our new series, Searching For God After 9/11, with the story of a Sikh American named Rana Singh Sodhi. His brother, Balbir, was murdered on Sept 15, 2001, in America's first hate crime after 9/11.

Rana Singh Sodhi, Sikh educator