Category: Christianity
Roger Finke on Religious Persecution
Roger Finke of Penn State University talks with Tony about the prevalence and reasons for religious persecution around the globe. We explore the connectcions between seemingly small violations of religious liberty and religious persecution. Prof. Finke further argues that even small violations of religious liberty can presage greater threats to a wider set of civil liberties. Our discussion covers all regions of the globe, with a focus on Japan, Nigeria, Iran, Russia, France and the United States.
Listerners are encouraged to email the host and let him know you are listening and to provide feedback (good or bad). The host’s email is: tgill (at) uw (dot) edu
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Paul Froese on America’s Four Gods
Paul Froese of Baylor University discusses how Americans have different views of God and how these different concepts affect our beliefs and actions in other areas of life. Based on extensive survey research and in-depth interviews he conducted with his colleague Chris Bader, Prof. Froese details four distinct images of God, including authoritative, benevolent, critical and distant. Click “read more” to find a connection to the authors’ website where you can take a survey to find out what your image of God is relative to others in the U.S.
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Merisa Davis on Bill Cosby, Religion, and African American Churches
Merisa Parson Davis joins Research on Religion to talk about her new book on Bill Cosby’s much publicized “Pound Cake Speech” that he gave to an audience on the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education. She points out that much of the discussion of this speech in the popular media overlooked the religious dimensions of Dr. Cosby’s remarks. We discuss how African American churches and other religious organizations have responded (and can respond) to various social problems facing the Black community, including school dropout rates, incarceration of young Black men, and the challenge of entrepreneurship in the inner city. Your host also reveals his three favorite shows growing up.
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Jon Shields on Democratic Virtues & the Christian Right
Prof. Jon A. Shields (Claremont McKenna College) examines whether the Christian Right conforms to norms of democratic deliberation and civil discourse. Our discussion covers the history of the pro-life movement, the rise of the Religious Right, and how those movements have changed over time. Prof. Shields offers evidence that Christian conservatives do, for the most part, enhance the democratic process contrary to popular opinion.
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Margaret Poloma on Pentecotalism, the Assemblies of God, and Godly Love
Prof. Margaret Poloma shares her extensive research on Pentecostalism and the Assemblies of God. We examine the tension between the charisma needed to generate enthusiasm and growth in a new religious movement, what happens when those movements become institutionalized, and how Pentecostalism has been able to regenerate itself over the course of a century. Dr. Poloma discusses the crucial role of Godly Love in religious revivalism.
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David Brody on the 2010 Midterm Elections and Religious Journalism
David Brody, chief political correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network, shares his reflections on the 2010 midterm elections in the US. We discuss the role of evangelical Christians in the Tea Party movement, the impact that religion had on the campaigns of Christine O’Donnell and Sharron Angle, and the effect that the Ground Zero mosque may have played in the elections. Mr. Brody then discusses what it is like to be a Christian journalist in Washington, DC and a secular media world.
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Thomas Kidd on the Pilgrims
Thomas Kidd (Baylor University) makes his second appearance on RoR to talk about the history of the Pilgrims, tracing their roots in 16th century England to The Netherlands and eventually to the Plymouth Colony in what is now today Massachusetts. Prof. Kidd discusses the differences the Pilgrims had with the Church of England and their Puritan brethren. We also explore why the king of England would allow a group of his critics to settle land in North America, the hardships that this group of religious refugees faced in their first years in the wilderness, and the imprint the Pilgrims left on U.S. history.
A great podcast for high school educators and homeschoolers, as well as a nice refresher course for those of us who think we remember our American colonial history. Plus, you get to hear your host recite poetry!
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Mark Driscoll on the Growth of Mars Hill Church
Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church talks with Tony about how he managed to transform a small Bible study group in Seattle, WA into one of America’s largest and fastest growing churches. We discuss the history of Mars Hill, the church’s organization and Pastor Driscoll’s innovative pastoral stategy. Unlike many churches, Mars Hill appeals strongly to young adult males. This is a great podcast for people interested in church growth and re-invigorating church culture and organization.
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James Wellman on Evangelical vs Liberal Christians
Prof. James Wellman (University of Washington) discusses the findings of his recent research on evangelical versus liberal Christians in the Pacific Northwest. We cover the differences in these two distinct religious subcultures in terms of their core values and how this affects their pastoral organization. The podcast concludes with speculation as to why evangelical Christianity is growing in the Pacific Northwest, whereas liberal mainline Protestantism is not.
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Michael McBride on Religious Free-Riding and the Mormon Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has exhibited remarkable growth and its members show remarkable commitment and satisfaction with their church. Prof. Michael McBride (UC-Irvine) talks about LDS organization and how Mormons overcome the free-riding problem that is common in many other denominations.
You can now subscribe to our podcast by entering http://www.researchonreligion.org/podcast on iTunes or Zune.
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