Religion & Ethic NewsWeekly talked with the Blind Boys of Alabama about gospel music and the spiritual dimensions of their new album, “I’ll Find a Way,” produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, when their current tour brought them recently to Washington, DC. The group collaborates here with many young musicians, including Shara Worden on the title song. Produced by Lauren Talley and Nick Liao. Interviews by Nick Liao. Edited by Lauren Talley.
Author Archives: Fred Yi
Muslim Initiatives Against Extremism; India’s Sacred Cows; Women’s Purim
US Muslims pursue programs to counter extremist recruiting; the age-old Hindu reverence for cows in modern India; and Orthodox Jewish women take more of a leading role in Purim festivities.
India’s Sacred Cows
Cows are considered sacred by Hindus in India. They were the favorite animal of Lord Krishna, and they serve as a symbol of wealth, strength, and abundance. But people who want to protect these creatures must also deal with those who think cows are little more than a nuisance.
White House Summit on Extremism; A Conversation with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks; Churches in Pubs
Haris Tarin of the Muslim Public Affairs Council on terrorism, religion, and violent extremism; more of our conversation with the former chief rabbi of the UK; and churches talk theology and worship with beer on tap.
White House Summit on Countering Extremism
Watch our conversation with Haris Tarin, director of the Washington office of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, about the White House summit on countering violent extremism.
A Conversation with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Click here for our February 13th video.
In the second of our two-part discussion, the retired British chief rabbi shares his thoughts on science and religion, belief in God, hope and optimism, and the capacity of Judaism, a religion of deeds, to make the world better.
Also, in this web-only video, watch Rabbi Sacks speak about how he was influenced to become a Jewish leader by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VntwB082hk&w=560&h=315]
Churches in Pubs
Pastor Phillip Heinze began holding church services in a bar when he realized that attending a regular church was uncomfortable for some people. “They say the most difficult thing for us was walking through those doors—that for us church just is a scary place. That was probably the conversation that informed me the most. I said, well, let’s try a new church in place that’s not so scary.” There are a growing number of religious services and conversations in pubs, but the trend has its critics.
Church Economics Prize; Rabbi Jonathan Sacks; Preparing for Losar
A United Methodist church in Brooklyn offers an award for the best explanation of why the U.S. economy is doing so poorly; Britain’s former chief rabbi leads a global effort against religious extremism and violence; and Tibetan Buddhists make their spiritual preparations for the new year, the Year of the Sheep.
Church Economics Prize
“To me, the idea of a church offering an economic well-being award makes perfect sense,” says Bay Ridge United Methodist Church pastor Robert Emerick. The idea of offering a prize for the best explanation about why the economy is doing so poorly compared to a generation ago started when Rev. Emerick felt overwhelmed by the competing claims of politicians during the recent mid-term elections. “It seemed to me as a Christian minister that I needed to know whether the claims were true or false,” he says.
Preparing for Losar
Sharing a special meal and performing rituals of spiritual cleansing help Tibetan Buddhists get ready for the upcoming new year.
