Reclaiming a Misunderstood Apostle

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Date: 15 October 2009

Paul the Radical

The apostle Paul has a mixed reputation. On the one hand he’s known as the quintessential Christian, the man who wrote almost half of the New Testament. On the other, he’s long been read as a misogynistic boor, urging slaves to obey their masters and wives to obey their husbands. Marcus Borg says we’ve got it all wrong, and reveals the crucial fact scholars have known for decades: many of Paul’s letters were written by somebody else.

Pictured: Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, 16th Century

Marcus Borg, co-author of The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon

Paul the Jew

Begins at 22 min 45

Many people trace the roots of anti-Semitism back to a single moment: Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. That’s when, according to traditional teachings, Paul rejected his Judaism for the new, improved version: Christianity. Bible scholar Pamela Eisenbaum says this interpretation of Paul is not only wrong, it’s dangerous.

Pamela Eisenbaum, author of Paul Was Not a Christian: The Original Message of a Misunderstood Apostle

The Soul of a Dog

Begins at 33 min 45 sec

Do all dogs really go to heaven? Jon Katz says for many pet lovers, they do. We've come a long way from the teachings of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, who believed dogs, cats and other creatures were inferior to humans. These days, he says, many people see their pets as spiritual equals, with a sense of self, purpose and free will.

Jon Katz, author of Soul of a Dog: Reflections on the Spirits of the Animals of Bedlam Farm

"You Can Tell When He's in the Building'

Begins at 44 min

During his five-day visit to Washington, D.C. last week, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with state officials, politicians and not a few celebrities. But he also took the time to teach. Reporter Elizabeth Ryan sat in on one of his lectures, and asked the audience to put the experience into words.

Produced by Elizabeth Ryan