State of Belief - Religion and radio done differently.

May 19, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:01:34 +0000

Tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to find out what Christianity after Religion may look like and learn what stories are important to follow in the 2012 battleground states.

Religion in the News
The media often seems to feel a need to fit religion into a nice, neat box, inevitably reinforcing a simple, black-and-white image of faith in this country that for many people of faith is unrecognizable. But for 75 years Religion News Service has provided the kind of professional, objective coverage that is essential to understanding the many ways religion influences our society, our culture and our nation. Joining us this week is Kevin Eckstrom, editor-in-chief of Religion News Service, to talk about the state of religion in the news and the 2012 elections. Watch the video and hear the extended interview here.

Christianity After Religion
Dr. Diana Butler Bass joins Welton on State of Belief this week to talk about her new book: Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of A New Spiritual Awakening. In her new book, Diana explores the reasons behind the rapidly changing state of religious affiliation in America. Unlike some, she believes that we’re not in a cyclical revival of religion in this country, but that there’s a sea change under way. Tune in to find out this sea change means for religion in America. Diana is also the author of A People’s History of Christianity: the Other Side of the Story and Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith. Watch the video, read the transcript and hear the extended interview here.

“7 Religion Stories to Watch in the 2012 Battleground States”
There’s an old saying “all politics is local,” and that’s particularly true when talking about the politics of values and religion – something we often forget with our focus on the national news. But more and more, national elections are determined at the state level, which is why a new article by Joanna Brooks, “7 Religion Stories to Watch in 2012 Battleground States,” is so important. Listen in as Joanna talks to Welton about what those 7 stories are and how religion, in particular Mitt Romney’s Mormonism, is affecting what’s happening on the campaign trail. As a prominent Mormon writer and one of Politico’s “50 politicos to watch,” she offers insights into the level of support Mormons are likely to offer Romney, and how his faith may inform some of his campaign choices. Joanna is also the author of The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith and senior correspondent for Religion Dispatches.

May 12, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:25:28 +0000

This week, America witnessed a monumental change of heart – for the first time in history a sitting President spoke publicly in support of marriage equality. What does it mean to have a change of heart – and go public about that change – even if many around you might disagree with your new belief? Tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to hear Sarah Posner’s analysis on the electoral impact of President Obama’s announcement; Jay Michaelson on the religious context of the historic event; and Louis J. Marinelli about what caused his own Change of Heart on gay marriage.

Electoral Implications of a Change of Heart
When the President spoke out in support of marriage equality this week, it seemed that everyone – on both sides of the debate – had a press release ready to go and they all hit “send” at the same time. Each had its own theory about what this meant for President Obama at the polls in November. Who’s right? Joining us this week to analyze that is our friend Sarah Posner, senior editor at Religion Dispatches. Sarah has a deep understanding of the power and politics of the religious right, and has written excellent articles about this week’s events for both Religion Dispatches and Salon. Click here for the extended interview, video and transcript.

Religious Context for a Change of Heart
The President this week cited his faith as a key factor in his evolution to supporting same-sex marriage. On State of Belief this week is Jay Michaelson, associate editor at Religion Dispatches and founder of Nehirim: GLBT Jewish Culture & Spirituality, to share his thoughts on the religious aspects of this historic event. Jay is the author of God vs. Gay?: The Religious Case for Equality as well as one of the most articulate responses to President Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage.

A Life-changing Change of Heart
Last year, Welton talked to Louis J. Marinelli, once a rising start in the so-called National Organization for Marriage, effectively helping to lead the fight against marriage equality. Then he had a change of heart and walked away. Louis joins us this week to talk about his new book: A Change of Heart: Working for the National Organization of Marriage Led me to Support Marriage Equality. A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to Marriage Equality USA.

May 5th, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 05 May 2012 18:29:48 +0000

It has been quite a week at the intersection of religion, government and politics. Tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to hear from the Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina about the coalition of faith leaders standing in opposition the anti-gay marriage amendment on Tuesday’s ballot. Also, find out which religious denomination is the fastest growing, what’s next for America’s women religious following a condemnation from Rome, and about the American Humanist Association’s National Day of Reason.

“Pastors Against Amendment One”
On Tuesday, North Carolina voters go to the polls. Even without a crystal ball, we can predict that Mitt Romney will win the Republican primary, and President Barack Obama will win the Democratic primary. So it’s tough to imagine many voters going to the trouble, except that the voters who do turn out will hold the future of many North Carolina families in their hands. They’ll be voting on Amendment One, a mean-spirited and broadly restrictive measure that is redundant in banning same-gender marriage in that state, since it’s already illegal. This week we’re joined by The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, who is the Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina, to talk about “Pastors Against Amendment One,” the coalition of faith leaders he joined to oppose to the amendment. Welton and Bishop Curry discuss the work the coalition has been doing and some of the headlines we’ve seen out of North Carolina, such as the Baptist minister who suggested to his congregation it’s ok for a parent to punch children who don’t conform to standard gender roles. For more on Pastors Against Amendment One, you can visit: http://pastorsagainstamendmentone.org. Click here for extended interview and transcript.

The 2010 Religion Census
Every 10 years, the Association of Religion Data Archives publishes the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies’ 2010 US Religions Census: Congregations and Memberships Study. One of the contributors is Dr. Dale Jones, director of research services at the Church of the Nazarene Global Ministry Center in Kansas, and he joins us this week on State of Belief Radio. Be sure to turn in to learn with us about the 150 million Americans who do not identify with a house of worship at all and which denomination is growing the fastest. The full study, including state-by-state and other geographic breakouts, is available online at www.thearda.com. Click here for extended interview and transcript.

The possible future of the American women religious
It’s no secret that many American Catholics are sick of the church scandals, of the politicization of their faith by American bishops, of much of what their Church has become – and for many of them, it’s the women religious that give them some hope in the future of the Church. But since the story broke about the Vatican condemning the work of American women religious, and imposing a new supervisor on that work, there’s been a lot of speculation about what’s next. Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, joins us this week to talk about the far-reaching impact of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Faith condemnation of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Click here for extended interview and transcript.

National Day of Reason
On Thursday, many Americans observed what President Obama proclaimed to be a “National Day of Prayer.” He was legally mandated to do so, in a practice dating back to 1952. Thousands of events took place around the country, most organized by politically-oriented, conservative-leaning Christian groups. In truth, this annual celebration is most ostracizing to Americans who do not subscribe to any faith tradition. But precisely because we do enjoy the liberties guaranteed by our Constitution, Thursday was also observed as a “National Day of Reason,” organized by a coalition of Secular, Humanist and Atheist groups, led by the American Humanist Association. AHA Executive Director Roy Speckhardt is an old friend of Welton’s – and a former colleague here at Interfaith Alliance – and so we’re delighted that he was able to join us this week to talk about the National Day of Reason. Click here for extended interview and transcript.

What is religious liberty?
The language of religious freedom has been hijacked for political purposes, and it is a grave disservice to the many people around the world who have suffered and even died in the name of their convictions to cheapen these words. It is not religious freedom that’s under attack in this country today; it is the PHRASE “religious freedom.” We’re asking you to help defend it by joining us at http://interfaithalliance.org/firstperson.

April 28, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:00:33 +0000

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about what political and religious leaders are doing wrong as they infuse religion into the 2012 campaign. But tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to hear about some of the people of faith who are starting to object to this politicization of their faith tradition.

“A Generation in Transition”
The 2012 general election is just getting started, and already the questions have begun: will the youth vote turn out in 2012? Who is the 2012 youth vote? What do they believe? This week we’re joined by Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO and founder of Public Religion Research Institute, fresh off the release of a new national survey of 18-to-24-year-old Americans conducted with Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs: A Generation in Transition: Religion, Values and Politics among College-age Millennials. You don’t want to miss his insights into the striking views and opinions college-age Millennials hold about organized religion – particularly modern-day Christianity. Several of those views are perhaps a sign that the of some denominations’ relentless focus on social issues are turning off a large percentage of the next generation of believers. Click here for the extended interview and transcript.

God, Politics and the First Amendment
“Despite or perhaps even because of, the prohibition of an officially established church in the United States, religion has always been a factor in American politics,” writes Dr. Dennis J. Goldford, who joins us this week, at the beginning of his new book: The Constitution of Religious Freedom: God, Politics, and the First Amendment. Goldford, a politics professor at Drake University in Iowa, talks to Welton about the different impacts of personal expressions of faith and organized religion on our politics as well as today’s de facto religious test that inevitably creeps into and influences our elections.

Bishop Backlash
There’s been a flurry of American Catholic bishops who, perhaps emboldened by the media attention to their claims of violations of religious liberty, seem to be getting ever-louder in injecting themselves into partisan politics. But, at the same time, it seems a growing number of Catholics in the pews who think the bishops are going too far. Entire congregations are beginning to push back against being treated as pawns in a political chess match. Peter Montgomery, Religion Dispatches Associate Editor and Senior Fellow at People for the American Way, joins us this week to talk about the bishop backlash and how some clergy and lay people are starting to say: “enough is enough” to this politicization of their faith tradition. Click here for the extended interview, video, and transcript.

April 21, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:56:23 +0000

Tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to find out what’s next in the race for the White House, what it would be like to live each month by a different set of beliefs and learn how you can join us in our new campaign: “First Person, First Freedom.”

State of the Race: On to the General
The Republican primary field is down to three candidates, but only one has the mathematical ability to amass the delegates needed for the nomination. Joining us this week to talk about the state of the race as it shifts to the general election is Greg Lebel, presidential campaign veteran and assistant professor of Political Management at the George Washington University. Greg answers our questions about the timing of Santorum’s suspension announcement, the sudden team switch to Romney by many evangelical leaders including Pastor Robert Jeffress (yeah, you’re remembering right – the pastor who called Mormonism a cult) and what he’ll tell future classes about the 2012 Republican primaries. Click here for the extended interview, video and transcript.

Project Conversion: 12 belief systems in 12 months

Many of us are learning about and from each other’s religious experiences, but what if someone committed to learn about others’ beliefs by living them – one month at a time? “Theology is a playground” for Andrew Bowen, who joins us this week on State of Belief. Bowen spent each month of 2011 living the teachings of 12 different faith traditions. Find out what led him to become “spiritually promiscuous” and what he learned from the experience that he now calls “Project Conversion.”

What is religious liberty?
While we believe there are real threats to religious freedom in our nation today, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there are many in politics today whose definition of religious freedom is one that is only concerned with theri own beliefs and practices and makes no room for those whose views differ. So we’ve launched a new initiative called “First Person, First Freedom.” Listen in as our own Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy explains the new campaign and his definition of religious liberty. We also want to hear from you – what is religious liberty? Send us a 30 – 60 second video of you explaining what religious liberty means. You can visit our website to submit your video.

April 14, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:52:55 +0000

Broadcasting from our own Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy’s hometown of Monroe, Louisiana, tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to find out what’s next now that the Republican primary field is down one, get a historical perspective on religion and Presidential politics and learn what some overseas think about the 2012 campaigns.

Religion on the Campaign Trail
In case you haven’t yet heard, former Senator Rick Santorum suspended his Presidential campaign this past week. With Santorum out, we’re curious to find out if the end of one of the most religiously-oriented campaigns in memory will take the subject out of the spotlight. Or will it simply shift to an examination of Mormonism, Obama’s rumored commitment to Islam or some other obsessive, unforeseen focus on faith? Joining us this week to talk about what’s next on the trail is Sarah Posner, senior editor of Religion Dispatches.

The Presidents and their Faith: From Washington to Obama
With all the focus on faith in this year’s presidential election, we decided to go to the co-author of the new book The Presidents and their Faith: From Washington to Obama for some perspective. Dr. Darrin Grinder, chair of the English Department at Northwest Nazarene University and associate professor of American Literature, talks with our host Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy about the historical reality of a candidate’s use of religion on the campaign trail and in governing. Be sure to listen in to find out what Dr. Grinder means when he writes “no serious candidate for the White House can run the risk of violating the norm that one be religious. The candidate should be not just religious, but acceptably religious.”

State of Belief – Overseas
Our producer Ray Kirstein has been on assignment in Europe, gathering foreign opinions and perceptions about the current presidential race. He spoke with Daniel Ogden, lecturer on globalization and American Politics at the Uppsala University in Sweden, and Dr. James W. Davis, director of the Institute for Political Science and professor of political science at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland about what their conversations about the 2012 race in America sound like and what role religion plays in their own elections. Hear the extended interviews and read the transcripts here.

April 7, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 18:04:20 +0000

Tune in this weekend for a special spring holiday edition of Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief. Our own Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy sat down with the Right Rev. Gene Robinson, the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, for a far-ranging and insightful conversation. Over the course of his life and 40+ year ministry, Bishop Robinson has broken barriers and opened doors for many – often at great personal cost.

Listen in to hear Bishop Robinson reflect with Rev. Gaddy about the course his ministry has taken, the challenges he’s faced as an openly gay bishop and his take on some of the social issues unexpectedly dominating our political discourse.

Set to retire in 2013, Bishop Robinson, a hero to many, is the author of In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God and the upcoming God Believes in Love: Straight Talk about Gay Marriage. In addition to leading the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, he serves as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Please Click Here for the extended interview, transcript and video.

March 31, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:39:12 +0000

Broadcasting from our own Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy’s hometown of Monroe, Louisiana, tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to take a look back at the ballot box in Louisiana, find out what shocking alert we received from a listener and learn about the Sacramento Mosque hosting a church for Easter. Also, you won’t want to miss Rev. Gaddy’s special commentary on the state of religion and the presidential race.

A Look Back at the Ballot Box in Louisiana
Last weekend, Louisianans took their turn at the ballot box, overwhelmingly choosing Rick Santorum – the candidate who has been most shamelessly pushing the hot buttons of religion in the service of his electoral ambitions. Santorum racked up 41,556 more votes than Mitt Romney, giving him one of his largest margins of victory yet this cycle. Dr. G. Pearson Cross, a much sought-after commentator on Louisiana politics, joins us this week to provide historical perspective and to help break-down the results. When not commenting on Louisiana politics for people like us, Dr. Cross spends his time playing jazz piano, enjoying southern cooking and molding new sought-after commentators as assistant professor and chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.

A Note from a Listener
We recently received an email from a listener alerting us to a blatant conflation of religion and politics – an initiative to organize 40 days of mass prayer to defeat Barack Obama in November! Here at State of Belief, we’re still not convinced that God takes sides in presidential elections. Dr. Norine Hemping of Naples, FL, joins us this week to share what motivated her to send us the alert.

“Easter at the Mosque”
Next week is Easter Sunday, the day for celebrating the mystery of the resurrection for Christians around the world – a day of celebrating the triumph of life, of hope and of good over the many challenges faced. That’s why it’s so profoundly symbolic that on that day members of Sacramento’s Spiritual Life Center church will gather at the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM). Joining us this week on State of Belief to talk about the deep meaning of the celebration and its origins are both Reverend Michael Moran, senior minister of worship at the Spiritual Life Center, and Dr. Metwalli Amer, co-founder of SALAM.

Community, Connection and Conversation
This past week, our own Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show and talked about the exclusionary rhetoric escalating within the Rick Santorum campaign and the divisive language his supporters are using. On this week’s State of Belief, Rev. Gaddy reflects on his conversation with Maddow, the overwhelming positive response he’s gotten and what it all means for the future of both religion and politics.

March 24, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:57:24 +0000

Find out if the neon lights are always bright on Broadway when religion takes the stage. Get an insider’s look at the secret love lives of American Muslim Women and discover why one author thinks Rick Santorum may turn out to be a champion for the secular left. And one more thing – you don’t want to miss a special comment from our own Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy about religion on the campaign trail.

Religion on Broadway
We look a lot on State of Belief at the ways religion permeates our politics today, but we also look at how religion influences our culture. The Tony Award-winning musical Book of Mormon has been playing to packed houses since opening night a year ago. But that’s not the only religiously-themed production on Broadway. There are the revivals of Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell, the play Leap of Faith, and new musical Sister Act. There are only a limited number of shows on Broadway at any given time, so the number of religiously-themed shows seems noteworthy. Joining us this week to give us a better perspective on religion on Broadway is Robert Viagas, theatre historian, founder of Playbill.com and has 16 books on the performing arts to his name, including The Backstage Guide to Broadway and The Alchemy of Theatre.

The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women
“Everyone has an opinion about Muslim women, even those – especially those – who have never met one. As Muslim women born and raised in America, we’re tired of hearing everyone . . . talk about Muslim women without ever stopping to listen to what we have to say about our lives,” wrote this week’s guest Nura Maznavi in a recent Huffington Post piece. Maznavi is the editor of a new book entitled Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women. She joins us this week to talk about her book and about the diverse lives of American Muslim Women.

Piatt: “Rick Santorum, Champion of the Secular Left”
Many of us have watched the Republican primary campaign unfold with growing concern about the prevalence of religious language in it. And we have worried about the potential permanent damage to the separation of Church and State, as enshrined in our Constitution. However, author Christian Piatt, who we had a chance to talk to this week, argues that the overabundance of religious rhetoric may actually be good for our democracy in the long run. Be sure to listen in this week to find out why Piatt, editor of Banned Questions about the Bible and Banned Questions about Jesus, thinks Rick Santorum may turn out to be a champion of the secular left.

A New Religious Test
Our own Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy weighs in on what just may be a new low in a race that some days seems more like a campaign for Pastor-in-Chief than Commander-in-Chief. Not only was Rick Santorum introduced by a pastor telling Americans who don’t share his conservative Christian views to “get out,” Santorum himself questioned the seriousness of the faith of Americans who choose to support his opponents. You don’t want to miss what Rev. Gaddy has to say, so make sure you listen in this week.

March 17, 2012

jcraig@interfaithalliance.org — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:23:45 +0000

Tune in this weekend to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief to learn what Americans really think about religious liberty, explore the history of the “culture wars” and get a glimpse into Muslims communities around the country.

Americans and Religious Liberty
Hot off the presses, a new survey, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service, asked Americans about a popular news subject – religious liberty. Despite the recent non-stop religious and political messaging, most Americans (including Catholics) don’t think their religious liberty is under attack. This week Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO of PRRI, fills us in on their surprising findings and gives us great new insight into the state of religious liberty in America. Click here for extended interview, video and transcript.

Science and Faith in American Politics
It’s always assumed that the conservative campaign against reproductive rights is an age-old battle, but Jonathan Dudley, author of Broken Words: The Abuse of Science and Faith in American Politics, this week lets us in on a secret – this campaign isn’t just politically convenient, it’s also very new. Listen in as Dudley, an alumnus of Yale Divinity School, walks us through the history of the “culture wars” and the changes in attitude toward abortion in the very recent past.

Muslims in America
With headlines about mosque protests, police surveillance and the now-cancelled “All-American Muslims” television series, it would have been easy to conclude that in recent years Islamic communities from coast-to-coast have been embroiled in controversy. But reality, as always, is much more complicated than that. Dr. Ihsan Bagby, associate professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky, is the author of the 2011 U.S. Mosque study entitled Basic Characteristics of Mosque Attitudes of Mosque Leaders and joins us this week to share with us the key findings from the comprehensive new study. You won’t want to miss these eye-opening insights into America’s Muslim communities.