We take viewers to New Haven and New York to hear students and instructors speak artistically and spiritually about the power of experiencing sacred music. Many students who devote themselves to studying religious music and theology at the more-than-40-year-old Yale Institute of Sacred Music feel it deepens their spiritual lives and connects them to a tradition they hope to pass along and make relevant for contemporary audiences. Says institute director Martin Jean: “We exist to integrate theological education and musical education with artistic education.” Institute students study music, art history, the Bible, Christian theology, literature, poetry, architecture, and liturgy—all at the same time.
Author Archives: Fred Yi
Mark Burnett on the Cradle of Christianity Fund
Humanitarian groups are urging donors not to ignore ongoing crises in the Middle East, especially the millions of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in need of help. After hearing reports of Christian and other minority religious communities in Iraq and Syria being targeted by ISIS, reality TV producer Mark Burnett, who recently produced the NBC series “A.D. The Bible Continues,” and his wife, actress Roma Downey, launched “The Cradle of Christianity Fund” to assist refugees fleeing violence, and they donated the first million dollars. “A.D. The Bible Continues” footage provided by NBC.
Making Peace in Baltimore; Same-Sex Marriage Cases; Converting to Judaism
Episcopal Bishop of Maryland Eugene Sutton discusses the moral voice of churches in response to Baltimore’s problems of race, poverty, and violence; the Supreme Court hears lawyers argue a case that could make same-sex marriage legal in every state; and Jewish converts talk about both the fulfillment and the challenges they have found in their new faith.
Making Peace in Baltimore
The death of Freddie Gray, an African-American man who died while in police custody, set off widespread—and sometimes violent—protests, marches, and demonstrations that have focused the attention of religious and civic leaders on issues of poverty, hopelessness, race, and police violence. Bishop Eugene Sutton, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, tells R&E “the cycle of hopelessness and poverty and violence has been building up for years,” but “the church has a moral voice that it can use,” and “eventually justice has to be done in order for there to be peace.”
Same-Sex Marriage Case
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week as it considers a constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples nationwide. Religious groups have been actively lobbying on both sides of the issue. Correspondent Tim O’Brien reports on the arguments and the implications of this important decision.
Converting to Judaism
Despite the sometimes lengthy and challenging conversion process—and concerns that converted Jews are not “100 percent” Jewish—many converts to Judaism find fulfillment and a sense of identity in the Jewish faith. According to Shmuly Yanklowitz, an Orthodox rabbi and himself a convert, Judaism will need to become more inclusive and more accepting of converts if it is to to survive in the 21st century.
Evangelicals and LGBT Acceptance; America’s Incarcerated
Growing social acceptance of gay marriage and an upcoming Supreme Court case cause some evangelicals to reexamine their views on sexuality and marriage; criminal justice reformers question the social and economic costs of extreme punishments, lengthy sentences, and a history of racial inequality and injustice in the US prison system.
Matthew Vines on God and the Gay Christian
Watch excerpts from R&E’s recent interview with Matthew Vines, author of the book “God and the Gay Christian” and founder and president of the Reformation Project, an effort “to train Christians to support and affirm LGBT people.” On November 6-8, 2014, the project is holding its first regional training conference at National City Christian Church in Washington, DC.
Creating Artificial Intelligence; Church Mass Mobs
What happens if computers become capable of human intelligence and moral decision-making? Also, a growing grassroots movement uses social media to organize “flash mobs” that fill empty pews and collection plates at struggling urban churches.
Creating Artificial Intelligence
Can artificial intelligence think and feel like a human being? Does it have a soul? Can it make moral decisions? Based on what? We speak with scientists and theologians at MIT, Yale, Georgetown, and Catholic University about the benefits and risks of AI and the fear of losing human control of technology.
