Religion And Spirituality (audio)

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes author Gurcharan Das for a discussion of his new book, “The Difficulty of Being Good.” Reflecting on his intellectual odyssey, Gurcharan Das elucidates his purpose in writing an extended commentary on the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In the conversation, he also discusses the complex nature of the characters in the epic and the dilemmas posed by their failings and the constraints of the human condition. He concludes with a discussion of the lessons he learned for his own spiritual development and for understanding the moral dilemmas confronting modern societies. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 20512]

A conversation between Hans Küng, President, Foundation for a Global Ethic; Mark Juergensmeyer, Director, UCSB Ofalea Center; and Wade Clark Roof, Director, UCSB Walter H. Capps Center. Series: "Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 20074]

John Polkinghorne, an Anglican priest who became famous as a young physicist for confirming the existence of quarks and gluons, joins journalist Dean Nelson for a discussion on science and religion in this event sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University. [Humanities] [Show ID: 19861]

Host Harry Kreisler welcomes Oxford University Professor Tariq Ramadan for a discussion of his new book, "What I Believe." Reflecting on the formative experiences of his life, Professor Ramadan traces the influence of his family, his education in Western philosophy and Islamic studies, and the impact of his different careers including high school principal, philosopher, and Islamic scholar. Articulating his commitment to universal principles and resistance to inequality, He analyzes the tensions facing Muslims in an era of globalization as they strive to be fully engaged as citizens committed to Western values. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Show ID: 20378]

Is the danger posed by Muslim immigrants real? If it is exaggerated, why the general hysteria? Award-winning author and journalist Ian Buruma will addresses these questions and others raised in his new book “Taming the Gods,” a sharp-eyed look at the tensions between religion and politics on three continents: Europe, Asia and North America Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 19868]

One of the world’s leading commentators on religious affairs, Karen Armstrong discusses the intersection of religion and secularism in contemporary life. She explores the ideas that Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common and their effect on world events. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 18580]

Michael Fishbane discusses the role of spiritual practices in Judaism, through ritual and meditation, which cultivate different types of consciousness and awareness. He considers diverse examples from the full range of Jewish religious history, including related topics from his recent book “Sacred Attunement: A Jewish Theology”. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 19392]

Elizabeth Johnson, a former president of both the Catholic Theological Society of America and the ecumenical American Theological Society, argues that interfaith dialogue has made clear that each religious tradition has its own distinctive contribution to make. In this Burke lecture, she explores one line of thinking peculiar to the Christian tradition, namely, the meaning of Jesus Christ. Her question is whether the central, organizing figure in Christian faith also has anything intrinsic to do with the natural world. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Show ID: 18746]

Harry Kreisler welcomes Susumu Shimazono, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Tokyo to discuss popular religious movements in Japan. Shimazono discusses the origins of his interest in religious studies; the role of religion in modernization; and the emergence of new religions as a global phenomena in the 1970’s with special reference to Japanese examples. Shimazono distinguishes these spiritual movements from salvation religions by identifying their unique features and future evolution. He analyses the implications of new religions for politics and suggests their strengths and weaknesses as an enduring phenomena. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Show ID: 18709]

In recent decades people in the United States, Europe, and Japan have tended to talk about spirituality rather than religion. Is it just a kind of cultural fashion or does it indicate some fundamental transformation of human civilization? Susumo Shimazono, professor of Religious Studies and the University of Tokyo, proposes that the key to understanding contemporary religions will be found by inquiring into the role of the concept of salvation in the history of religions. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 18720]

How can Jewish ideals of the prophetic tradition be applied through tikkun olam, “perfecting the world,” to the active pursuit of peace and justice? Rabbi David Saperstein discusses the origin of the prophetic tradition in Jewish thought and its role in Jewish history. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 18190]

David Makovsky, Senior Fellow and Director of the Washington Institute’s Project on Middle East Peace and Ghaith al-Omari, previously Senior Advisor to former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and currently Advocacy Director for the American Task Force on Palestine discuss path to Middle East peace. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 17555]

Harry Kreisler welcomes Rich Cohen, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, to discuss his book “Israel is Real.” Cohen explores the changing conception of a homeland for Jews in the Diaspora, the theme of his new book, and explains how Jews turned the loss of the real Zion to a focus on an ideal Zion that would be realized in an unknown future. He traces the rise of the Zionist movement and the ways in which the establishment of the State of Israel created tension between Jews for whom Zion was a virtual vision and Jews in Israel for whom Zion had become a real state with concerns for security and land. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Show ID: 17870]

In the period between 1150 and 1550 a number of Christians in western Europe made pilgrimage to places where material objects - among them paintings, statues, relics, pieces of wood, earth, stones, and Eucharistic wafers - allegedly erupted into life by such activities as bleeding, weeping, and walking about. Carole Walker Bynum, Professor of Western European Middle Ages at the Institute for Advanced Studies, describes the miracles themselves and probes the basic philosophical and scientific assumptions about nature and matter that lay behind them. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 17620]

San Diego Deputy District Attorney Jane Via returns to Osher UCSD to recount what has happened to her in the three years since she was ordained as a Roman Catholic woman priest. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16595]

Conversations with History host Harry Kreisler welcomes the Carnegie Endowment's Karim Sadjadpour for a discussion of U.S.-Iran relations. Topics covered include: the recent Iranian elections, the divisions with the clerical power structure shaping the domestic political conflict, the Iranian nuclear program, the role of the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's strategic goals, its aims in negotiations with the U.S., the implications of the new U.S. policy of engagement, the role of Israel in shaping U.S. Iranian relations, and the dilemmas the Obama administration faces as it shapes a new U.S. foreign policy. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 17429]

Who is most beloved by God? Monotheists have often advanced the idea that their relationship with God is unique and superior to all others. Rabbi Reuven Firestone explores the idea of "chosenness" as articulated through the scriptures of the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 16030]

Authors Robert Thurman and Pico Iyer reflect on the Dalai Lama's ideas and work as a religious leader, politician, scientist, and philosopher. Series: "Voices" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16536]

What are the most salient and significant features of the current offensive directed against the State of Israel and Jewish communities around the world? Robert Wistrich, Director of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, examined key facets of the challenge and danger that emanates from the new anti-Semitism, including its connections with the global Jihad. He also explored some possible responses and strategies in dealing with this threat. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16029]

Professor David Sloan Wilson looks at Darwin’s theory of evolution vs. theories of creationism and intelligent design. He considers the assault on Darwin’s theory by those who advance theories of creationism or intelligent design in this installment of the Darwin Evolving Series from UCLA. Series: "Darwin Evolving" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 16922]