The Strange Appeal of Sacred Body Parts
- play show:
Date: 1 July 2009
Whiskers, Bones, Toes and Teeth
In Rag and Bone, author Peter Manseau explores the macabre world of religious relics—the bodily odds and ends of saints, gurus and prophets, scattered all around the world. From Muhammed’s beard whisker to the Buddha’s tooth, he explains why we save and celebrate pieces of the dead.
Peter Manseau, author of Rag and Bone: A Journey Among the World's Holy Dead, founding editor of killingthebuddha.com
Commentary: Health Care For the Common Good
Begins at 22 min 30 sec
The common good is basic in most faith traditions; it means rising above personal interests and considering what’s best for everyone. This week, Maureen shares her thoughts on what that might mean for health care, which she considers a basic human right.
Maureen Fiedler, Host
AIDS, Sex and the Black Church
Begins at 25 min 25 sec
For black Americans, the church has long been the center of powerful social change. But when it comes to AIDS, teen pregnancy and other sexual health matters, the black church has been strangely quiet. Reverend Damita "Penny" Willis, director of the National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality, explains how pastors are beginning to break the silence.
Rev. Damita "Penny" Willis, senior staff officer at Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Inside the Quiverfull Movement
Begins at 34 min 1 sec
Quiverfull Christians believe children are the ultimate blessing from God – and say nothing should get in the way of having them. Not abortions. Not birth control. Not even natural family planning. Though these big-family Christians number only in the thousands, Kathryn Joyce says they’re making a cultural impact that far outweighs their size.
Kathryn Joyce, author of Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement
'It's Not Such a Pretty Picture': One Mother's Story
Begins at 43 min 42 sec
Vyckie Garrison was once the ideal Quiverfull wife: the mother of 7 kids, editor of a pro-family Christian newspaper, and even winner of Nebraska's "family of the year.” But after her domineering husband pushed one of her daughters to attempt suicide, she began to lose her faith. Now an ex-member of the movement, she shares the highs and lows of life as a Quiverfull mother.
Vyckie Garrison, creator of the blog No Longer Quivering
This Week's Interfaith Calendar
July 9- Martyrdom of the Báb (Baha'i)
For Baha’is, the Bab is the messenger of God and one of the founders of their faith.
At noon on this date in 1850, the Bab was scheduled to be executed by a firing squad. He had been imprisoned and sentenced to death by the religious leadership of Persia.
As the story goes, a squad of 750 riflemen lined up and shot the Bab.
But when the smoke cleared, the Bab had disappeared! According to the execution report, recorded in Tehran on July 22, 1850: "When the smoke and dust cleared away after the volley, Báb was not to be seen, and the populace proclaimed that he had ascended to the skies." He was later found back in his prison cell. The Bab surrendered to the guards, and on the second attempt was finally put to death. His followers, known as Babis, recovered his body, which now rests Haifa, Israel (pictured.)
Want more? Check out our 2008 interview with Hollywood’s nerdiest Baha’i: Rainn Wilson, aka Dwight Schrute from ‘The Office.’
