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Category: Countries
Tracy McKenzie on The First Thanksgiving (Encore Presentation)
Do you want to sound extra smart around the holiday dinner table? Check out our encore presentation of Tracy McKenzie discussing his book “The First Thanksgiving” (originally recorded in 2012). We separate the fact from fiction, and take you back to the time of the Pilgrims as well as discuss how the holiday evolved over time. While you are passing the pumpkin pie, please let your family and friends know about our educational delicacies as well! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] David Mislin on Embracing Religious Pluralism
When and how did embracing religious pluralism become an American value? Prof. David Mislin (Temple University) discusses the significant changes that occurred within mainline Protestantism between 1875 and 1925 that helped shape the way the United States manages religious diversity. David argues that increased global travel, the rise of new scientific theories, and other cultural changes prompted a number of clergy and theologians within the mainline Protestant tradition to embrace religious pluralism, an intellectual shift that has had lasting impact to this day. At the end of the podcast, Tony asks Prof. Mislin a “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” question. We are free on iTunes! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] David Patel on Religion & Social Order in Iraq
Why have women in the Middle East resorted to more conservative forms of dress in recent decades? And what happens when social order breaks down in Iraq following the US invasion in 2003? These two questions, along with an analysis of the rise of ISIS, are answered by Dr. David Patel of Brandeis University. He connects these threads via a political economy approach to religious institutions and behavior by showing how signaling and common knowledge are important in coordinating society, and how religious leaders may play a role in enhancing such coordination. David explains how and why Shiites were more successful in building social networks in Iraq following the collapse of the Hussein regime as compared to their Sunni counterparts, and what ISIS has been doing in recent years to account for its success. Check out our archive for more great episodes on Islam and other topics! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Joseph Castleberry on the New Pilgrims
Dr. Joseph Castleberry, president of Northwest University, discusses how the recent wave of immigrants have been revitalizing religion in America, both spiritually and in terms of civil religion. He connects this revitalization back early “great awakenings” in American history that were spurred by waves of individuals coming to America in search of greater opportunity, and relays stories of how the “new pilgrims” are planting churches and inspiring success. Please connect with us on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates on guests and topics. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Ann Wainscott on Morocco’s Religious Foreign Policy
During the past two years, the Moroccan government has begun exporting various religious education programs as part of its foreign policy strategy in the North and West African region. Prof. Ann Wainscott explains how this new development is both an outgrowth if its domestic religious strategy, and a response by other nations to adopt some of the policies implemented in Morocco. The success of this foreign policy, as witnessed by its embrace by nations such as Mali and Senegal, is in part a function of Morocco’s cultural-historical legitimacy in the region, the existence of pre-existing educational institutions, and the ability to link religious education to great economic integration. Prof. Wainscott also explains the unique flavor of Moroccan and West African Islam. Invite a friend to visit our website. Suggest a podcast that they might like. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Bradley Wright on Religion, Race, and Discrimination
When it comes to welcoming a stranger to a new church, are mainline churches, evangelicals, or Catholics more likely to discriminate based upon racial-sounding names? Prof. Bradley Wright (Connecticut) reveals the findings from his field experiment designed to answer this question. We discuss the methodology of this study and how a focus on structural versus interpersonal justice may have affected the surprising results. Prof. Wright also gives us a brief taste of what is happening with his other innovative research project, SoulPulse, and how listeners can participate. Click “read more” to discover Prof. Wright’s books and information about participating in SoulPulse. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] John Inazu on the Four Freedoms, Religious Liberty, and Assembly
Prof. John Inazu of Washington University Law School (St. Louis) explains how four of the main freedoms contained in the US Constitution’s First Amendment are interrelated and how a series of court cases during the latter half of the 20th century has boiled down these separate, but related, freedoms into a single free speech dimension. Our primary focus is on the relationship between the free expression clause and the freedom of assembly, though other issues come into play. We review important court cases from Roberts v Jaycees to Hosanna-Tabor. Browse our vast archives to find many more interesting episodes. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Paul Kubicek on Islam, Political Islam, and Democracy
Can democratic governance on a national scale coincide with Islam? Prof. Paul Kubicek (Oakland University) takes us on a comparative journey to show where predominately Islamic populations have existed successfully with democracy. While much of media and scholarly attention on the topic of Islam and democracy has focused on the Middle East, Paul discusses the interesting cases of Turkey, Senegal, Mali, and Tunisia, while also noting some of the difficulties in democratic transitions in places such as Bangladesh. He also shares his reflections on the Arab Spring. Connect with us on social media: We are on Facebook and Twitter. See the links in the column to the right. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Phoenix Moomaw on Ronald Reagan’s Faith (Our 250th Episode!)
For our annual Fourth of July episode, and for our 250th podcast, we invite our very first “just graduated” high school student, Phoenix Moomaw, to discuss his senior project on the faith of President Ronald Reagan. As the grandson of Reagan’s pastor in Southern California, Phoenix came across several folders of personal letters between Reagan (as governor and president) and his grandfather. He uses these letters and some additional research at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley to determine how much Reagan’s faith affected his policies and style of governing. His answer to this question is surprisingly nuanced. Help us celebrate the completion of our fifth year in existence by mentioning this podcast to at least five friends, colleagues, or family members. Thanks! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Matthew Isaacs on Religion & Ethnic Rebellion
Why do some ethnic conflicts become infused with religious rhetoric while others do not? Matthew Isaacs, a PhD candidate at Brandeis University, discusses his dissertation research investigating why Protestants in Northern Ireland were quick to attach religion to their conflict whereas Catholics were not. He also examines the role of Buddhist monks in the civil war in Sri Lanka to discover some interesting patterns. Matt argues that when religious groups within an ethnicity face significant competition among confessional lines, and when resources to these religious groups are on the wane, religion has a tendency to become more salient. Don’t forget that we are on Facebook and Twitter. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] |
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