|
This is your place to publicly comment on the topics and issues addressed in Speaking of Faith programs. React in a personal way, and put into words what this program meant to you.
Submit Your Reflection about "Globalization and the Rise of Religion."
Shows about Religion and Europe (February 1, 2007)
I am simply impressed by your wonderful show. Because I live in Germany, I am listening to your show over the Internet. In Germany, unfortunately, there does not exist such an interesting conversation about religion as your program offers. Each week's show is wonderful to listen to. Being a European, I would be delighted if your program would, from time to time, engage in topics which cover the development of religion and religious issues in Europe. Some suggestions for topics would be:
- Why has religion been declining in Europe for so many decades now. Is there or can there be some revival of faith?
- Islamic communities, especially in France and Germany. Could Europe profit in sharing in their religious faith. Also interesting would be a comparison between the U.S. and Europe in their approach to integrate the Muslims into their society.
- Pope Benedict XVI. What does he mean for a Christian revival in Germany?
Gerriet Adena
Berlin, Germany (Listens to SOF OnDemand)
Teaching Intercultural Communication (October 15, 2006)
I am an instructor of Speech Communication in Rochester, Minnesota. We have been organizing an International Service Learning Trip to Cambodia for this winter break. I will be teaching Intercultural Communication in conjunction with the trip — I have been pondering how I will teach the unit on faith and its influence — how to keep it at a sophomore level, yet include the complex discussion topics it includes. I was so pleasantly surprised to hear your program on globalization and faith! This program will become the core piece of material we will use. I was impressed, as I am always, with the credibility of your speakers, the organization of your interviews, and the discussion-eliciting nature of your program.
In preparation for this trip, we traveled to Cambodia last year. As a Christian, being immersed in a Buddhist society was new to me personally. The suggestions on how to process materials and share view points were valuable! I will give considerable thought in how I will use this material. In the meantime, if anyone among your listeners have comments or suggestions about how globalization has affected faith communities and people in Cambodia, I would love to hear more! I can be contacted at lori.halverson@roch.edu and our course Web site is www.cambodiarctc.project.mnscu.edu. Again, thank you for superb programming!
Lori Halverson-Wente
Dodge Center, MN (KZSE, 90.7 FM)
Effective Efforts Are Necessary (December 25, 2005)
It's strange to cite British Petroleum's efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, and then say that it's not important whether they actually are effective, but it's the intention that counts. It is important that they're doing something real, and that greenhouse gases are reduced — which I believe is BP's real intention and direction — and that we not accept phony, feel-good efforts and PR ploys. The environment (and society) are falling apart, and real, effective efforts are needed.
Jim Terr
Santa Fe, NM (KSFR, 90.7 FM)
Educate But Don't Attack (May 25, 2005)
I listen to Speaking of Faith every Sunday with great interest because of the many points of view Krista Tippett brings with broad ecumenical sympathy. I also listen with the cringing fear that I will be wantonly whipped in irrelevant asides by your guests. I am an agnostic (that is what most theists call a cowardly atheist) precisely because of my sympathetic consideration of many systems of spirituality. Each of them provides a detailed map of the truth. All of the religions I have had the honor of having passing acquaintance with are practiced by many sincere people who, in their hearts, know they are inspired by the true good. Having no direct vocation from God, I have no right to think any one of their detailed and incompatible descriptions should be chosen over others.
As for everyday life, I behave and think as though some practical matters of causality were "true." As a public health professional, I should consider the mutation and evolution of bacteria to maintain the efficiency of antibiotics. I can do this without ever coming to believe whether God is one, or three, or three-in-one, or many. But I grant that microbiology is a different, if you want, drossy, reality than the fundamental truth known implicitly by the world's many religions, that is — god is one, or three, or three-in-one or many.
Even though so-called "evil" happens in an apparently uninhibited way in the world, I would never dispute that there is an (or many) omnipotent good God(s); so long as it is a given that I do not understand what god is, I do not understand what omnipotence is, and I do not understand what good is. (By "understand," I mean in a way that is compatible with the all of religions I am acquainted with and respect.) Since I cannot refute that something I don't know does something I don't know for the purpose I don't know, I do not deny god — how could anyone call me an anti-theist, or even an atheist, in good faith?
I fully understand that this "lack of faith" point of view is outside the scope of Speaking of Faith — and neither do I listen to the program for someone speaking on my behalf. Rather, I am looking for insights from people, decent nonviolent people, about how they came to this distinct confidence in their inner discovery of transcendent truth.
In what he acknowledged to be joke, but one that made a point, Dr. Berger said that the ACLU view of religion was that it should be practiced privately inside the home by consenting adults. This was in the context of general criticism of secular intellectuals. Though I am not a member of the ACLU, I am what all theists will call a "secular intellectual" who supports the separation of church and state. So I do think Dr. Berger was referring to me. He is very wrong in his characterization of me. I do not think religion is only to be practiced behind closed doors and off the public square. I only think it should not be practiced with taxpayer money. Any money that the government spends from off my taxes telling me about the Judeo-Christian theory of marriage (which I am acquainted with), is money I cannot spend on buying a book about the Navajo notions of marriage (which I am not acquainted with).
To say that secularization of government is the same as public religious intolerance is a slander on me. When theists talk about secular scientists with disgust on Speaking of Faith you defame me. In the secular science I research, I merely am trying to explain the lesser reality that can be communicated to many people whose spiritual understandings have reached different truths. For example, it is convenient to assume as "true" that bacteria do mutate and that the mutated versions are somewhat similar to the originals, and that acting from this rule-of-thumb "truth" we appear to have better treatment success. This convenience in no way contradicts the higher TRUE reality that so many people know in their hearts: that living beings do not evolve, or that they evolve into beings that are completely different due to the transmigration of souls.
I am filled with pride as a human being that my fellows can, in their lifetimes, arrive to TRUE understandings. But because the many versions dictate different hospital policies, I would prefer that Medicare use the tentative not-really-real secular version of the mutability of bacteria when they spend my taxes.
I listen to the wisdom from Speaking of Faith cowering all the time, because without warning, someone will say that because I do not celebrate Christmas, I want to ban Christmas. Gentle guests and host of Speaking of Faith! Christmas is safe; I actually happen to enjoy seeing people having spiritually motivated fun! For those of the Speaking of Faith guests and listeners who have found the truth, I am not the enemy, just an admiring alien in your universe. Could you please not attack me even as you educate me?
Dhananjay Vaidya
Baltimore, MD (WYPR, 88.1 FM)
Finding A Niche? (May 22, 2005)
This was an absolutely excellent forum and discussion regarding a wide and diverse range of subjects — a reason for hope when cast in a broad and encompassing vision as presented by Peter Berger and the other guests. It's a most welcome contribution to public discourse — and to radio. Well done! And continue the good work.
Berger's perspectives linger with insight, and all contributed measurably to greater perspective and understanding. What is most needed to solve pressing global problems and to enlighten the public toward directing the energies of both government and the democratic free market toward positive resolution of national and international issues?
Ley Westcott
Lincoln, RI (WGBH, 89.7 FM)
Ties to Other Factors (May 22, 2005)
I enjoy your show because it makes me think. However, in tonight's show on globalization you talk about religious activity as if it sprung from a well that was unconnected to economic, political, or social forces. You know this is not true. If you haven't done it, maybe this relationship is worth exploring.
Carol Glassman
New York, NY (WNYC, 820 AM)
Secular Answers to Human Needs (May 22, 2005)
I found it revealing that one of the interviewees [Peter Berger] mentioned upper 16th Street in Washington, DC, with its smorgasbord of churches, temples, etc., but failed to note the presence in that corridor of the Washington Ethical Society, a full-service secular alternative to all of those other religious institutions. One of the reasons religion continues to thrive is that most people are under the impression that religion has some sort of monopoly on functions ranging from the moral instruction of children to the celebration of the winter solstice.
Timothy Carr
Arlington, VA (WETA, 90.9 FM)
The Influence of Religion (May 22, 2005)
I look forward to hearing this program on Sunday morning and listen to it most of the times. I have shared info about the program with others also. Of all the programs of Speaking of Faith I have heard, this was the one most enlightening. It gave me a view of influence of religion which I was not aware of. It was excellent! Krista, you do a splendid job of selecting the topics and the participants. Continue the good job. Thank you.
Saroj Kapur
East Lansing, MI (WUOM, 91.7 FM)
Intellectual Elite (May 22, 2005)
I was listening to the Peter Berger interview this morning and got a little irritated by Tippett and Berger's happy acceptance of an intellectual elite. The right, if not ability, to intellectualize (i.e., observe, think, and form considered conclusions) is universal.
Steve Chiswell
Wellington, New Zealand (WNPR, 89.1 FM)
Globalization of Faith (May 22, 2005)
Thank you for such excellent, critically important programs on religion and society. There is no [public radio] program more needed than you are providing. You have exquisite vision and selectivity for choosing outstanding, intelligent guests to discuss religion, faith, ethics, morality, justice, peace, and how to respect dialogue. My bias is very liberal. Unless our society hears much more of your humanitarian, highly educated guests of various religions, to "educate" our poorly educated nation — in matters of "healthy" theology, biblical criticism, philosophy, science — our polarization will rapidly become deeper and wider.
I believe the most heated conflict in the near future will the the "public" awareness of the crisis in hermeneutics. When educated citizens, who have not been exposed to liberal theology and biblical study read books like Borg's The Heart of Christianity, Ogden's The Point of Christology and Is There Only One Religion or Are There Many?, and other books with similar points — when this happens, the mainline church will hear lots of questions and anger that pulpits have "protected" them from the best theological scholarship… because ministers were afraid of losing members.
And when fundamentalists realize that more thinking, educated citizens begin to question literalism, I expect the conservatives will become more afraid, entrenched, defensive, judgmental, and reactionary. Your program points the way to helping confused "ex-church-goers," depressed, conflicted present mainstream church members, and folks who have no theological language, images and philosophical worldview discover the excitement of thinking theologically or philosophically, humanistically. And to know that religion and science are allies. And to be informed by classic theological "discoveries", e.g., "faith seeking understanding, and understanding seeking faith."
Ms. Tippett, thank you for what you are giving to not just our nation, but to the world. I cannot imagine a more useful, enjoyable career. You're a fortunate lady, and we are a fortunate audience. Wishing you all the best. Bless you.
George Purvis
Miami, FL (WLRN, 91.3 FM)
Condo Community Discussion (May 22, 2005)
You've done it again, Krista! Another outstanding program. A tape of this program will make a good discussion starter in our condo community and church. Thank you.
Jerry Moyar
Naperville, IL (WBEZ, 91.5 FM)
A Major Omission (May 22, 2005)
I think the program you put on this Sunday conveys some glaring errors and misrepresentations! Berger did not want to touch the subject of Islamic terrorism and just side-stepped the issue! This is a major omission on his part because that event on September 11, 2001 changed everything in the Western world! A simple act of terrorism against a free and democratic country, predominantly Christian, should not be taken lightly. You are mistaken for taking such a naive and simplistic view of a religion which preaches hate and murder! Islam is not for globalization but for world domination of its "religion."
Berger says that Indonesian Islam is moderate? I am from that part of the world, and I don't see it happening. It may be in the minds of liberals like you and Berger who write books, but it is not reality. In fact, the Islamic terrorists used the very technologies developed in America to harm innocent people, e.g., cell phones, internet, GPS, etc. So do you think that they will use the tools of globalization for the common good of the people of this planet? I doubt it very much. Only time will tell.
Nihal DeSilva
St. Louis, MO (KWMU, 90.7 FM)
Liberation Theology (May 20, 2005)
After reading this week's edition I was struck at how the commentator said that Pentecostalism was "liberating" in Latin America, and I immediately thought of Liberation Theology. But Liberation Theology was a Catholic concept, and this is Protestant. Is Catholicism losing out again?
Mike Culloty
Derwood, MD (WETA, 90.9 FM)
The Rise of Religion? (May 20, 2005)
Religion has been part of the human existence and expression for much longer than secularism or atheism. We are religious creatures is my opinion. Religion is not on the "rise." Religious people are responding, (well or badly), to the aggressive, militant secularism that accompanies our (Western, Northern, Anglo-Saxon, free-market capitalism) 18th-century narrative with its "disinterested contemplation." Religious people are treated as objects to be studied, then altered if not destroyed. The West has told the rest of the world, "To share in the wealth we have acquired, (by exploiting you and your resources), you and your societies must become like us. Materialistic, utilitarian, and relative." The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, is correct in calling this demand from the Western developed nations a "dictatorship of relativism." In America, "diversity" is picturesque, but not to be exercised.
Jamie Ballenger
Charlottesville, VA (Listens via Web Audio)
Everyone Has a System of Belief (May 19, 2005)
There is no such thing as "secular"; there is no void in which "religion" does not hold sway. The assumption within "secular" is that some systems of belief or faith do not
hold true with established systems of belief or faith thus they are "void." The truth is that no one can exist without a belief or faith system that engages something bigger than oneself. This can even be true of saying one only believes in oneself as something bigger
than oneself.
For example, capitalism is a "religion"; one believes that capitalism can and will enhance one's life in the face of poverty, insecurity, suffering, etc. To believe in capitalism is to have faith in capitalism, thus it becomes a system of belief. To be human is to be afraid and insecure and "religion" is the antidote. The issue is not "secular" versus "religion" the issue is "religion" versus "religion" running out of room again. I think your show is great. As Bob Dylan says: "Ya gotta serve somebody…"
Carl Reynolds
Willington, CT (WNPR, 89.1 FM)
|
