Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know--And Doesn't
- play show:
Date: 19 March 2008
Can You Pass the Religious Literacy Test?
If you think the "Hail Mary" is a football move, read on... Though America is the most religious nation in the developed world, when it comes to basic religious knowledge, we are amazingly clueless. Stephen Prothero, author of Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know – and Doesn’t, offers a controversial solution: require world religion classes in all public schools.
Stephen Prothero, Chair of the Religion Department at Boston University
Take Prothero's religious literacy quiz!
Understanding Obama's Pastor
Begins at 22:50
To the untrained ear, classic black preaching—especially the brand practiced by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright—can sound brash. But as Dr. William McClain explains, the fiery preaching style is rooted in the truth-telling tradition of the Hebrew prophets.
Dr. William B. McClain, professor of preaching at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC
Keeping the Easter Story Fresh
Begins at 34:00
Every Easter Sunday, preachers face a problem: how to re-tell the ancient Easter story without putting the crowd to sleep. Rev. James Wallace, a professor of homiletics for more than 30 years, offers his tips to would-be preachers on livening up the annual sermon.Rev. James Wallace, Redemptorist priest, professor of homiletics at Washington Theological Union, Washington, DC.
Faith in the Midst of War
Begins at 42:48
On this 5th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Interfaith Voices wondered how war affects faith. Does serving during wartime change one’s relationship to God—and one’s feelings about the war? We spoke to two veterans, from Afghanistan and Iraq, who related very different stories.
John Krenson, a Catholic deacon who served as a US Army major in Afghanistan from 2003-2004; author of Crossfire- A Time for Peace, Love & War
Logan Laituri, a US Army Sergeant who served in Iraq from 2004-2005; speaker at Iraq Veterans Against the War
