Religion And Spirituality (audio)

Vali Nasr, author of "The Shia Revival," and UC San Diego sociologist Gershon Shafir explore the tensions between the Shiites and Sunnis and how the longstanding rivalries have affected the Middle East in this discussion led by historian Michael Bernstein, the dean of UCSD's Division of Arts and Humanities. Series: "Body Politic, The" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 12120]

University of Chicago Law Professor Martha Nussbaum traces the philosophical and historical origins of the American tradition of liberty of conscience by looking at the career and writings of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island and author of important works about religious freedom. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11996]

On this edition of Frontiers, Madhavi Sunder and Keith Watenpaugh, discuss how Muslims are dealing with human rights and working to transform their societies from within. Then, Matthew Augustine from the UC Davis chemistry department discusses how his invention for scanning wine for spoilage could be used for airport security. Series: "UC Davis Frontiers" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 12122]

Michael Lerner, a rabbi in the Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal, has been an outspoken advocate for rejecting what he considers to be ethnocentric interpretations of the Torah. Lerner's publications promote religious pluralism and liberal approaches to political problems. He has worked to build bridges with Muslim leaders around such issues as attacks against immigrant communities in the U.S. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 12028]

In 2006 Israel went from being essentially at peace to being embroiled in a vicious war on two fronts. Was Israel weakened in the Hezbollah War? Can the Jewish State survive? How will Israel, and Israelis, have to change, if Israel is to reach the age of 100? Join author and vice-president of the Mandel Foundation Daniel Gordis. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 12108]

Robert T. Pennock, the scientist, philosopher and author of "Tower of Babel, The Evidence Against the New Creationism" speaks on the controversial movement to include intelligent design creationism in the curricula of public schools. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 12066]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Iranian journalist and human rights activist Akbar Ganji for a discussion of the dynamics of change in Iran. Topics covered include the Iranian Revolution in comparative context, the problem of establishing democracy in Islamic societies, power in Iran, and U.S. Iranian Relations. Ganji also talks about his work as an investigative journalist in Iran and his political imprisonment. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 11934]

Nobel Peace Laureate and lawyer Shirin Ebadi of Iran describes how education can lead to peace in the Middle East and calls for an end to discrimination against women in this riveting address presented by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice and the School of Law at the University of San Diego. Series: "Peace exChange -- Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 11869]

Series of debates on extending marriage and adoption to same-sex couples co-sponsored by The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, Brigham Young University, and the UCLA Interdisciplinary Relationship Science Program. This installment of the series focuses on religion and education. Series: "Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11913]

What is properly secular and what is legitimately religious in American politics? Americans are uncertain and divided about those questions. Join Peter Steinfels as he explores these questions and contemplates the new demands on being an active citizen in a pluralist America. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11756]

Best-selling author and political commentator Kevin Phillips discusses his book, "American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century " in this event sponsored by the Revelle Forum at UC San Diego. Series: "Revelle Forum" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11663]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes political scientist Robert A. Pape for a discussion of how social science can help us understand suicide terrorism. Professor Pape also reflects on international relations theory and its implications for foreign policy. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11599]

News program on religion and beliefs produced by students at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Series: "California News Service (CNS)" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11649]

Jeffrey Schloss, Professor of Biology at Westmont College and Director of Biological Programs for the Christian Environmental Association; and Nancey Murphy, Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary reflect on current debates about intelligent design, emergent research on science and religion, the environment, and other issues of contemporary concern. Series: "New Visions" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11411]

Born between 1962-1982, Gen-Xers grew up with computers, video games, and MTV. Who are they and what are their values, beliefs, and world views? Wade Clark Roof, Director of the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB explores how are they changing American religion and notions of spirituality. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11504]

Two acclaimed thinkers about religion—Reza Aslan and Jack Miles—conduct an enlightening on-stage conversation about the state of Islam. An author and scholar of comparative religions the Iran-born Aslan challenges the “clash of civilizations” mentality that he claims has distorted the West’s view of Islam and he examines this critical faith in all its complexity, beauty and compassion. Series: "Humanitas" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11461]

Can ecology and the newer cognitive sciences inform understandings of religion? Join Professor Robert Ulanowicz and Professor Antje Jackelen as they explore scientific and theological issues. Series: "New Visions" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11525]

Abraham is often described as the common father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the three traditions that venerate his memory. Noted Harvard Professor of Jewish Studies, Jon D. Levenson argues that Abraham both separates and links the surviving Abrahamic religious communities and does so in interesting ways. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11497]

Former Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart presents a critical analysis of the impact of religious fundamentalists taking over mainstream political parties in Part One of the 2006 Writer's Symposium by the Sea, sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University. Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 11449]

Does evolution inform or frame human moral action? Jeffrey Schloss, Professor of Biology at Westmont College and Director of Biological Programs for the Christian Environmental Association; and Nancey Murphy, Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary, provide accessible and non-technical perspectives on biological and philosophical aspects of altruism. Series: "New Visions" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11410]