State of Belief Blog

OUR NEW HOME

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:00:00 -0400

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OF STATE OF BELIEF

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DON’T FORGET – WE’RE ON TWICE EVERY WEEKEND
10AM-11AM SATURDAYS and 7PM-8PM SUNDAYS
(all times Eastern)

Sunday's Show - May 20th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 18 May 2007 17:55:10 -0400

Rev. Jerry Falwell took the final plunge last week and we'll examine his impact on politics and American culture. How did he help define the Evangelical Christian movement and what has he left behind? Jeff Sharlet, editor of The Revealer, lends us his expertise on the subject.

Susan Friend Harding experienced Falwell's power first-hand. While conducting research on the Religious Right in the 1980s, she found herself in Lynchburg, Virginia, at Falwell's Liberty University. It was there she "came under conviction" due to the persuasive language Falwell cultivated. She'll tell us the stories that are detailed in her study The Book of Jerry Falwell: Fundamentalist Language and Politics.

Faith on Film: We travel behind the camera lens with Joel Engardio, producer and director of the documentary Knocking, a look at Jehovah's Witnesses. What is and is not know about this often misunderstood faith?

And, we've got a major announcement about the future of State of Belief on Air America Radio. We'll give you a hint: More, more, more.

Sunday's Show - May 13th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 11 May 2007 18:05:11 -0400

It's Mother's Day... a day that was created by activist and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe to promote peace throughout the world. We'll talk to Naila Bolus of the Ploughshares Fund about why we lost sight of the day's original intent, and we'll look at the Rediscover Mother's Day campaign that is trying to bring Mother's Day back to it's roots.

Also, Children's Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman visits us again with a Mother's Day Call-To-Action on behalf of children without health care. She'll also introduce us to Susie Flynn, a 9-year-old Presidential Candidate.

And comedian Judy Gold has 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother. Find out what she's been asking mothers all over the country and what they've been saying. You can get tickets for Judy's one-woman show here.

Sunday's Show - May 6th

Brendan McDonald — Sat, 05 May 2007 18:09:14 -0400

We're broadcasting a mile above sea level this week. State of Belief comes to Denver, Colorado, for The Interfaith Alliance's National Leadership Gathering.

While the NLG focuses on what area leaders can do in their communities, we'll focus on what some leaders have already done. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, newly re-elected Mayor of Denver John Hickenlooper, and civil rights activist Rev. Amos Brown join us to talk about their roles in public service.

Governor Ritter also makes a little news on the show when he tells us his plans to sign a bill that has been championed by The Interfaith Alliance's Colorado chapter.

Speaking of legislation that The Interfaith Alliance champions, two bills just received passage in the House of Representatives. We'll tell you why we advocated their passage and why there's still a lot of work to be done.

And, we'll visit a restaurant in Downtown Denver with a unique business philosophy: Pay it forward. Brad Birky of the SAME Cafe (that stands for So All May Eat) tells us why there are no prices on any of his menu items.

Sunday's Show - April 29th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:10:27 -0400

The Summer Movie Season is set to kick off with the release of Spiderman 3 on Friday, May 4. And in that spirit, we'll talk with Rabbi Simcha Weinstein, who is known as the Comic Book Rabbi for finding similarities between religious lore and modern American superheroes. Is Superman really Jewish? Rabbi Simcha will tell us.

Bishop John Shelby Spong continues to challenge all who listen to him with his modern day analysis of Christianity. He talks with Welton about his new book, Jesus for the Non-Religious, and discusses a new way of understanding the divinity of Jesus.

Members of the Wiccan faith scored a victory this week that stands as a triumph for all military service members and for religious freedom. We'll give you the details.

And finally, who hijacked the National Day of Prayer? Would it surprise you if the culprit was James Dobson and his Focus on the Family organization (check out their misleading "official" website)? Ryan Valentine with the Texas Freedom Network has co-authored a report on the National Day of Prayer Task Force, and he lets us in on the group's attempt to eliminate the interfaith nature of the National Day of Prayer.

Sunday's Show - April 22nd

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 18:08:11 -0400

Following the tragic events that occurred last Monday on the campus of Virginia Tech, we've been grappling with the role of faith during a time of unspeakable sadness. Welton will moderate an interfaith roundtable including Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon, Imam Mahdi Bray, and Rabbi Ethan Seidel to try and deal with the tough questions that linger in the aftermath of the shooting.

It's also Earth Day, and the Coaltion on the Environment and Jewish Life is getting out the message that environmentalism is rooted in Jewish traditions. Executive Director Barbara Lerman-Golumb tells us what's Jewish about protecting the environment.

Our Your Voice segment this week introduces us to Greg Epstein. He's the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard, and if you don't know what that is, you'll probably be surprised to learn that Harvard's Humanist Chaplaincy just turned 30 years old.

And red lights abound in our Intersection Awards. Presidential Candidate Tommy Thompson, religious conservative Lou Sheldon, and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tx.)are the inauspicious recipients.

Sunday's Show - April 15th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:08:07 -0400

We're broadcasting on Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day. And in Welton's Preaching to the Choir segment, he reflects on why we must continue to engage with the sounds and scenes of the Holocaust, no matter how horrifying the images.

Dr. David Marwell says it's important to focus on the active resistance exhibited by the Jews during the Nazi atrocities. David is the director of the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. He tells us about a new exhibition opening on Monday called Daring to Resist - Jewish Defiance in the Holocaust.

Also on the program, John Prendergast, a peace-activist who has made it his mission to end the genocide in Darfur. Who says one man can't make a difference? John is leading the Save Darfur Coalition and telling us what people all around the world can do to help.

The detention center at Guantanamo Bay has been operating (and creating controversy) for five years, but last week was the first time a Muslim-American was invited to tour the prison camp. Salam al-Marayati, Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, tells us about his trip.

Sunday's Show - April 8th

Brendan McDonald — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:57:09 -0400

Rev. Oliver "Buzz" Thomas deals with difficult questions in his role as a constitutional lawyer. But as a Baptist Minister, he's given hard answers to some of the toughest questions about religion. He'll tell us the 10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You (But Can't Because He Needs the Job).

In a week when Christian lawmakers formed the Congressional Prayer Caucus, it was especially encouraging to see an interfaith resolution such as the one introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY). He'll tell us why he proposed a National Week of Reflection and Tolerance as well as why he hasn't had a bad day since an incident during the Korean War.

Intersection Awards: Dr. James Dobson and Pat Robertson should have a special wing of their offices dedicated to the multitude of Intersection Awards we've given them. Recent comments made by the two of them have qualified for yet another pair of red lights.

Make sure to check out our yellow light this week, which sends a beam of caution to anyone who checks out a questionable psychological study conducted by anti-gay activist Dr. Paul Cameron.

And a green light goes to the students, faculty, and alumni at Brigham Young University. It may be one of the most conservative campuses in America, but their actions in trying to prevent a certain graduation speaker from showing up proves that it's a campus with integrity.

Sunday's Show - April 1st

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:51:28 -0400

We're broadcasting from our affiliate in Chicago, Illinois, WCPT AM!

Mick Foley is known as one of the toughest men in the history of professional wrestling. But he may also be the toughest card-carrying member of the Interfaith Alliance. He tells us what reflections on religion and charity are doing in his new memoir, The Hardcore Diaries.

We'll also talk with local leaders that are working on behalf of interfaith communities in Chicago. Rev. Alison Boden is the Dean of the Rochester Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago, which houses a new Interreligious Center. Dr. Eboo Patel is the founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, which is training young people around the globe to combat religious totalitarianism.

Faith on Film - Matthew Avery Sutton discusses the life of Aimee Semple McPherson. His biography of the female preacher is the source material for the documentary Sister Aimee, airing tomorrow on PBS.

Religious Right Update - Why is Chuck Norris trying to karate kick the Bible into public schools? The answer lies in a commercial for the group known as the National Council On Bible Curriculum In Public Schools.

Sunday's Show - March 25th

Brendan McDonald — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 15:41:50 -0400

Stephen Prothero is fighting religious illiteracy. The Boston University religion professor says that what Americans don't know about religion can hurt our democracy and our standing in the world. He tells Welton his solution to the problem, which is also outlined in his new book, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - And Doesn't.

Also, what does a bill about hate crimes have to do with religious liberty? How about the fact that many Religious Right organizations are the most vocal opponents of the legislation? Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) tells us why he co-sponsored the bill.

Plus, we'll give out some Intersection Awards and another listener gets to Choose the News from our batch of stranger-than-fiction news stories.

Sunday's Show - March 18th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 21:59:01 -0400

Grace Under Fire: Letters of Faith in Times of War is Andrew Carroll's remarkable new collection of wartime correspondence that he's collected as part of The Legacy Project.

Andrew talks with Welton about what these letters tell us about war, about faith, and about ourselves. They're also joined by Gloria Caldas, a mother who lost her son in Iraq and contributed some of her own letters to the collection.

The fourth anniversary of the Iraq War was marked this weekend with a march on Washington by 3,500 Christian leaders, organized by Christian Peace Witness for Iraq. Celeste Zappala tells us why she was involved with the peaceful protest. Click here to learn more about the group she helped found, Gold Star Families Speak Out.

Also, Rep. Pete Stark (D-Ca.) made history last week when he became the first member of Congress to state that he does not believe in God. Lori Lipman Brown, director of the Secular Coalition for America tells us why he made his declaration.

Sunday's Show - March 11th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:24:01 -0500

Dan Gilgoff, senior editor at U.S. News & World Report, is one of the few journalists ever to be given unfettered access to James Dobson's Focus on the Family empire.

His new book The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War proves that Dr. Dobson has become the most powerful political leader of the Religious Right. Dan Gilgoff tells us what we need to know about Dobson's political influence.

Faith on Film - In our new segment on current cinema, Welton talks with producer and co-writer of Beyond the Gates, a new film about the Rwandan genocide. David Belton tells us how one finds faith in a tragic story.

We'll also focus on the Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, taking place this weekend. Organizer Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchel tells us why 1,000 faith leaders have gathered in the nation's capitol.

And finally, get ready to drink up and cash in. Holy Drinking Water has hit store shelves. Won't you sip from our cup of cynicism with us?

Sunday's Show - March 4th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:20:35 -0500

On the program, we'll tell you why a case being heard by the Supreme Court could turn out to be a wrecking ball that slams right through the wall between church and state. Holly Hollman, General Counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, attended oral arguments and helps explain the case of Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation.

And you can get more perspectives on the case here, here, and here.

Plus, we'll hear from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend - daughter of RFK, niece of JFK - on why everything's not OK when it comes to America's Faithful.

We'll also see if one of our listeners can spot a fake news story in another installment of our Choose the News segment.

We'll find out why the White House is touting Alberto Gonzales and the Justice Department as defenders of religious freedom.

And, in Welton's Preaching to the Choir, he'll ask you to turn down an invitation to a funeral.

Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon

Brendan McDonald — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 16:40:54 -0500

The Right Reverend Jane Holmes Dixon serves as Senior Advisor for Inter-Religious Affairs with The Interfaith Alliance Foundation. But she's known to a wider audience as the former Bishop of Washington in the Episcopal Church. She spoke with Welton on Sunday's program about the possible split between the Episcopal Church of the United States and the global Anglican Communion. Click here to listen to the full interview, including material that did not air on Sunday's show.

Sunday's Show - February 25th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:07:07 -0500

Sunday is Oscar Night in Hollywood, and State of Belief isn't going to be left out of the festivities. We'll look at what Beliefnet picked as it's "Best Spiritual Film" and "Best Spiritual Performance" for its annual Film Awards. Beliefnet entertainment editor Michael Kress gives us the winners.

And sticking with the focus on film, we'll talk with Billy Ray, the director and co-screenwriter of the new movie Breach. How did he deal with religious themes in a political thriller and why was he afraid that religion would become "the bad guy" of the film.

We're also taking a look at the tension between the worldwide Anglican Church and the Episcopal Church of the United States. Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon tells us why she believes a schism is inevitable.

Blogs of Blief: This week's blogger is Gary Stern, who told us about The U2-charist a few weeks ago. This time we'll find out what he's dealing with on his blog called On Religion.

CHOOSE THE NEWS

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:13:56 -0500

The State of Belief game show Choose the News is looking for contestants. Why shouldn't our next contestant be you?

IF YOU WANT TO BE A CONTESTANT IN OUR CHOOSE THE NEWS SEGMENT, CALL US AT 212-871-8172. OR EMAIL US HERE AND PUT CHOOSE THE NEWS IN THE SUBJECT LINE.

Whether you call or email, make sure you leave your name and a phone number. It's also helpful if you let us know what is a good time for us to speak with you.

LISTEN TO THE NEWS STORIES... CHOOSE THE FAKE ONE... WIN SOME PRIZES!!! IT'S THAT SIMPLE!!!

Sunday's Show - February 18th

Brendan McDonald — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:15:46 -0500

Former Senator and one-time presidential candidate Gary Hart looks at a bygone era, when candidates could run on their words and deeds, not their religion. He tells us why today's candidates have to use religion in order to win.

And if you're wondering about Senator Hart's backround in dealing with religion and politics, you would do yourself a favor by reading his fantastic book God and Caesar in America: An Essay on Religion and Politics.

Also, we'll talk about spiritual activism with Marisa Handler, author of the new book Loyal to the Sky: Notes from an Activst. And while we're at it, we'll find out how Marisa reconciles her roles as an activist and journalist.

And finally, we'll hear Pat Roberton's plastic surgery advice, complete with Pat's outmoded ethnic slurs. Yes... he's doing what you think he's doing with his eyes in that picture.

Sunday's Show - February 11th

Brendan McDonald — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:22:24 -0500

Today, we're coming to you from New Orleans, at the close of the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference's annual meeting. Dr. Iva Carruthers, the General Secretary of the Conference, tells us why we need to keep a focus on the Gulf Coast region, and pressure our elected officials to promote change. You can read the SDP Conference's report by the Katrina National Justice Commission here.

Bruce Nolan, religion reporter for the Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans, has been reporting on poverty in New Orleans before and after the storm. In an powerful interview, he tells Welton why it's so hard for the media to convey the scope of this story, and what covering the aftermath has done to him personally.

Attorney Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund, was also participating in this week's events. In addition to giving a voice to the children of Katrina, she's also spearheadding a movement to get health coverage for all children in 2007.

What else is being done to keep the rebuilding of this region in public consciousness? And what can you do to help right now? Well, here are some suggestions:

Get involved in grassroots efforts at the local, state, and federal levels to push for policies that will aid Katrina survivors.
Pressure elected officials to advocate for the rights of displaced Katrina survivors.
Volunteer to help with the physical rebuilding of the region.

Sunday's Show - February 4th

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:12:45 -0500

Why have 14 Methodist bishops signed a petition saying no way to the proposed George W. Bush Presidential Library, Museum, and Institute at Southern Methodist University? Rev. Andrew Weaver tells why he organized the petition and why it's gaining momentum.

Plus, the Anatomy of a Smear - How did the lies about Barack Obama's religious upbringing gain so much steam? And how did it wind up getting associated with the Clinton campaign? Joe Conason tells us why this all reminds him of Watergate.

What are the broader implications of this smear? Does it mean words like "Islam" and "Muslim" can be used as weapons against political opponents? We'll talk with two experts on Islam and Western Culture, Jane I. Smith of Hartford Seminary and John Esposito of Georgetown University.

We'll also bring you the State of Belief Bandstand, our look at the everlasting collaboration between faith and music. This week, we explore The U2-charist. Gary Stein of The Journal News tells us about the rock phenomenon in the Episcopal Church.

Sunday's Show - January 28

Brendan McDonald — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:11:47 -0500

Today's show has an international flair, as Welton wraps up his participation in the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland. He'll talk about what he was doing there and what he's hoping comes out of the week-long conference.

We'll also take a look at the global impact of the Christian Right. Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director of Faith in Public Life saw the influence of the Religious Right first-hand while working at the United Nations. She details it all in her book Born Again: The Christian Right Globalized.

"Moral values" have been emphasized in countless elections, but only recently has poverty taken a prominent place on that list of "moral values." Rev. Paul Sherry leads Let Justice Roll, a coalition that advocates for the living wage. He'll tell us what we can expect out of the impending increase in the federal minimum wage.

Plus, we'll get one of our listeners on the line to play the latest edition of Choose the News!

Sunday's Show - January 21

Brendan McDonald — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:11:02 -0500

Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Harvard Divinity School graduate. So when he talks, we listen. And when he talks about a fascist movement masquerading as religion, we reallylisten. Chris talks with Welton about his new book American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America.

This past week, John McCain ran into some trouble that may plague him during his entire presidential campaign. Hear what Focus on the Family leader James Dobson had to say about McCain and find out why the Senator is reaching out to former enemies like Jerry Falwell.

Paul Waldman of Media Matters for America tells us how this criticism from the Religious Right against John McCain and now Barack Obama will play out in the media. Check out the great piece Paul wrote on this subject at Tom Paine.

And, how could we forget, we'll have the first installment of State of Belief's new game show, Choose the News. And our first contestant will be none other than our Fearless Leader, The Rev. Welton Gaddy!

The Chaplain Chronicles

Brendan McDonald — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:45:09 -0500

A few weeks ago, some comments by our guest, Senate Chaplain Barry Black, provoked quite the debate over the appropriateness of legislative chaplains. You can read a discussion about the segment over at Street Prophets.

Well, it looks like someone else has taken issue with Chaplain Black's recent statements, only this person says he's being punished for disagreeing.

BPNews.net has the story:

"Lt. Cmdr. Gary Stewart said he is being transferred on short notice as retribution for challenging a statement by former Chief of Chaplains (and current U.S. Senate Chaplain) Barry Black at a congressional meeting last June."

Oh, and did we mention that Lt. Cmdr. Stewart is a military chaplain? Check out the story above to find out what went down between Stewart and Black in Sen. Lindsay Graham's office, and read what Stewart says was a threat made against him by Chaplain Black.

Sunday's Show - January 14th - Our One-Year Anniversary!

Brendan McDonald — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:10:57 -0500

Yes, State of Belief is a year old! This Sunday, we're looking back and we're looking forward, with help from some of the people who have been with us since the very beginning.

We'll talk with one of our earliest guests, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), about his new role as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and his priorities for 2007.

Diana Eck, religion professor at Harvard University, spoke on our very first show about attitudes toward Muslim Americans. We'll find out from her if those attitudes have changed over the course of a year.

And, former State of Belief producer Isaac Aronson turns the tables on Welton for an interview with and about our fearless host.

Plus, a few surprises (it wouldn't be a birthday without some)!

Chaplain Barry Black

Brendan McDonald — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 11:31:36 -0500

If you missed Sunday's State of Belief, then you missed Welton's interview with Senate Chaplain Barry Black.

If you heard Sunday's show, then you're probably interested in hearing more about how the Chaplain views his role as a spiritual advisor to the Senate membership. Well, due to time constraints not all of what Chaplain black had to say made it on the air.

Click here for Welton's full 13-and-a-half-minute conversation with the Chaplain.

Sunday's Show - January 7

Brendan McDonald — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 00:43:46 -0500

We're welcoming the New Year and, along with it, the new Congress. We'll find out how religiously diverse the 110th Congress is, courtesy of Albert Menendez. He's been breaking down the religious make-up of Congress since 1972. His analysis can be found in Voice of Reason, the newsletter of Americans for Religious Liberty.

Also, what's the role of a Senate Chaplain? Welton talks with current Senate Chaplain Barry Black. Find out what he means when he says, "There might be a separation of chuch and state, but there is not a separation of God and state."

We'll add a new site to our Blogs of Belief, but it comes by way of an old friend. Dr. Bruce Prescott lets us know what's going on at his site, Mainstream Baptist.

And, in our Intersection Awards, newly sworn-in member of Congress Keith Ellison gets a green light for partnering with a very reliable defender of religious liberty.