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Deepak Chopra's Mystical Vision of God and Muslim Satire After Charlie Hebdo
January 08, 2015
Summary: The holistic health guru talks to Jeffrey Kripal about the mystery of being alive. Also, misconceptions about depicting Muhammad, and Maureen's agenda for Pope Francis.

Harmony Books | Random House
Chopra and Kripal: A Meeting of Mystics January 08, 2015
One is a holistic health guru with his own spiritual empire of self-help books, workshops and Oprah-endorsed meditation retreats. The other sticks to university crowds, known for his scholarship on modern mysticism and consciousness. While Deepak Chopra and Jeffrey Kripal come from different worlds, both men, in their own ways, approach the mystery of existence with humility and awe. This week, we’ve brought them together for a heart-to-heart about Dr. Chopra’s new book, The Future of God.


Where the magic happens: lnside the offices of our guests. From left to right, Deepak Chopra pauses before the conversation to take a photo in San Diego, and Jeffrey Kripal in Houston.
 
Jeffrey Kripal, professor of religion at Rice University and author of Comparing Religions

During the interview, Chopra and Kripal discuss an article by skeptic Michael Shermer about an otherworldy experience with a radio that shook his disbelief. You can read it here. 
Valentina Calà | Flickr
Depictions of Muhammad After Charlie Hebdo January 09, 2015
At least 12 people were killed this week when masked gunmen attacked the offices of the French satirical news magazine, Charlie Hebdo. While the motive is still unknown, the paper has published insulting cartoons of the Muslim prophet Muhammad in the past. A Muslim cleric and a scholar of Islamic art clear up the misconception that it's forbidden to depict the prophet, and consider how this extreme act of violence might affect France's Muslim community.

Yasir Qadhi, Muslim cleric and professor of Islamic Studies at Rhodes College
Christiane Gruber, art historian at the University of Michigan




 A recent cover of the paper depicts a rabbi, a pope, and an imam chanting in unison, "We must silence Charlie Hebdo." Credit: Mona Eberhardt, flickr
Commentary: An Agenda for Pope Francis in 2015 January 09, 2015
Our own Maureen Fiedler shines a light on the issues she hopes Pope Francis will address in the coming year. Among many things, she suggests he brush up on feminist theology, further commit to becoming the "Green Pope of 2015," and continue to be one of the most "human" Popes she's lived though. 

Commentary by Maureen Fiedler, based off of her recent blog post for The National Catholic Reporter