• play show:

Date: 29 November 2007

 

Faith on the Campaign Trail

From a former pastor's rise in the polls to the New York Times' declaration of an "evangelical crackup," much has changed since our last political discussion in late September.  Join us as two of our favorite analysts mull over the latest religious developments in the 2008 election, including:

• Rev. Pat Robertson's surprising endorsement of Rudy Guiliani

• Hillary Clinton's attempt to level the "praying" field

• The Catholic Bishops' guidance for Catholic voters...with some issues more equal than others    

Guests: Kevin Eckstrom, Editor, Religion News Service, regular analyst for Interfaith Voices
Kim Lawton, Managing Editor and correspondent for PBS' Religion and Ethics Newsweekly

 

A Methodist Pioneer at 300

Starts at 22:28

Charles Wesley, pioneer of the Methodist movement, would have been 300 years old this December. The Anglican priest co-founded the movement with his brother, John, as a reaction to what he believed was a lack of spiritual depth in the Church of England.

Scott Kisker, a professor of Wesley's theology, joins us in our studios to reflect on the man who began a church that now boasts some 70 million people around the globe.

Guest: Dr. Scott T. Kisker, the James C. Logan Chair in Evangelism and Wesley Studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.

 

The Hymns of Charles Wesley

Starts at 28:10

If only he could collect the royalties!   Of Charles Wesley's thousands of hymns, many are still performed in churches worldwide.  

And not just Methodist Churches-Wesley's  hymns are sung in practically all Christian denominations.   The songwriter's most famous songs include "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today."

Join us as a church music professor, two sopranos and one tenor perform some of Wesley's most enduring hymns live in our studios.

Guest: Dr. Eileen Guenther, Associate Professor of Church Music, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC
Singers:  Theresa Severin, Robert Baker and Christina Guenther

 

The Jewish December Dilemma

Starts at 40:16

Hanukkah begins on December 4th this year, which, like every year, brings a quandary for Jewish parents (and indeed all non-Christian parents.)  How do Jewish mothers and fathers make their children feel included during the Christmas holiday hype?  

Rabbi Bruce Lustig, senior rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC, offers his solutions to the "December dilemma."

Produced by Laura Kwerel. 

Guest: Rabbi Bruce Lustig, Senior Rabbi, Washington Hebrew Congregation