Program Particulars
*Times indicated refer to web version of audio

(01:20) Numbers on Evangelical Christians
The number of Evangelical Christians in the United States varies according to the year, the sample group being surveyed, and the demographics of that group. In a 2001 Gallup poll, approximately 40 percent of survey participants described themselves as Evangelical Christians, compared to 45 percent in 2000. On average, 39 percent of Americans identified themselves as born-again/Evangelical since the poll's introduction in 1975. A more recent a 2004 study by the University of Akron places the number of self-identified Evangelicals at 26 percent of the U.S. population.

(01:55–04:08) Music Element
"The Multiples of One"
from Awakening,
performed by Joseph Curiale

(02:22) Religious Right of the 1980s
Founded in 1979, the Moral Majority was an influential organization in American politics for nearly a decade. The group represented social and religious conservative Christians, and is associated with Evangelical Christianity because of its founder, the televangelist minister Jerry Falwell.

The politically active organization advocated a "pro-life, pro-traditional family, pro-national defense and pro-Israel platform" in which they lobbied for issues it considered central to the upholding of Christian values and morals. The group fought for prayer and the teaching of creationism in public schools, opposed the Equal Rights Amendment, homosexual rights, and abortion. The group is credited with helping to elect politically conservative Ronald Reagan into office in the 1980 Presidential election. The Moral Majority was dissolved in 1989, but newer organizations such as Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition of America and a Falwell-revived Moral Majority Coalition endorse a similar political platform.

(03:26) World Economic Forum at Davos
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss organization that annually meets in Davos, Switzerland, and attracts many prominent political and economic leaders from around the world. These leaders discuss issues surrounding global economic development. The event also draws high-profile activists and intellectuals trying to draw attention to important global issues such as climate change and poverty. The World Economic Forum annual meeting has also been criticized by anarchist activists and non-governmental organizations as an opportunity for world leaders and corporations to further ideals of economic liberalism and globalization to the detriment of human development.

(03:55) Revival Preacher
Revivals are Christians worship services that use ecstatic sermons drawing on passages from the Bible and rich music meant to inspire and lead to the conversion or reaffirmation of individuals' commitments to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Evangelical and fundamentalist groups — including Baptists, Methodists, and Pentecostals — are most commonly associated with holding revivals because it emphasizes a Christian's personal relationship with God that appeals to the heart of the believer.

Revivals have come in waves during the last two centuries, beginning with the Great Awakening of the early 18th century. Preachers like Dwight Moody and Billy Sunday held "urban revivals" in the early 20th century and Billy Graham continues the tradition with mass revivals held in large stadiums today.

(05:10) "I Wasn't Saved Yet."
Within Protestant theology, the reluctance to have salvation mediated by an earthly institution (as is the case with Roman Catholicism) ultimately creates a greater emphasis on conscious personal acceptance of the beliefs of the religion. In particular, emphasis is placed on salvation through faith in the life, death and divinity of Jesus. This is further defined by a dislike of the idea of infant baptism as an initiation into the religion. Therefore, the initiation is delayed until a child is old enough to make a conscious decision to accept Christ as their savior. At that stage, children are often encouraged to make a public proclamation of their faith in Christ. Following this proclamation, an Evangelical Christian is considered to be "saved."

(06:08) "My Second Conversion"
Wallis refers to having a "second conversion" in much the same sense that Richard Cizik, an officer at the National Asssociation of Evangelicals, did when he learned about the scientific and theological implications of global climate change. In his conversation with Krista in "Discovering Where We Live: Reimagining Environmentalism," Calvin DeWitt, an Evangelical environmentalist, clarifies what Cizik meant:

Ms. Tippett: I think you make an interesting and important observation, as an evangelical, about how quickly evangelical Christianity can move when it has, you know, as we say, Richard Cizik, the vice president of governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, says he was converted to the science of climate change and…

Mr. DeWitt: Yeah. And he says, 'Much as I was converted to Christ'…

Ms. Tippett: Right.

Mr. DeWitt: …which is quite a statement, but you're quite right.

Ms. Tippett: And that conversion is an aspect of that faith. It's also very non-hierarchical compared to other traditions, and you say that that also allows evangelical Christianity to be responsive.

Mr. DeWitt: It does. In the evangelical world, there's a fear of hierarchy, and most of these churches are only loosely organized. Some have denominations, but there's a great distrust in human authority, and the teaching is the Bible is our source of life, of work, and of practice. So if the reading of the scriptures shows that caring for Creation is a vital part of the human task and we have been neglecting that, then that calls for a conversion. And evangelicals are very used to the idea of taking about-faces, which is really what "conversion" is about. And this, interestingly, I was able to observe in the early to mid-1970s on world hunger issues. Bread for the World was formed, and all sorts of things like that. Hunger-relief organizations were formed. It was remarkable. So what I'm thinking is going to happen here is much like it's happening at Boise Vineyard right now, the Vineyard church in Idaho.

(07:00) Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 featured several reforms. Title I of the act barred unequal application of voter registration requirements, but did not abolish literacy tests sometimes used to disqualify African Americans and poor white voters.

Title II outlawed discrimination in public businesses participating in interstate commerce, such as hotels and restaurants, but private clubs were exempted. Title III encouraged the desegregation of public schools and authorized the U. S. Attorney General to file suits to force desegregation. Title IV authorized but did not require withdrawal of federal funds from programs which practiced discrimination. Title V outlawed discrimination in employment in any business exceeding 25 people and created.

(08:15) Reference to John 3
Wallis cites a passage from the New Testament gospel of John, chapter 3. Verses 14 through 18 of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible follow:

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

(10:06) Book of Matthew, Sermon on the Mount
The Beatitudes are a group of verses at the beginning of the New Testament's Book of Matthew, chapter 5. The first 12 verses begin with an account of Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount (New Revised Standard Version of the Bible):

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(10:20) Catechetical Instruction
Catechism is a book or body of knowledge used for basic instruction of the principles of Christian belief.

(11:00) Dispensation
In Protestant theology, a dispensation refers to a distinct period of time during which specific God-ordained events are to take place, in relation to covenants between God and his followers. Examples of these dispensations include: The time prior to Adam eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, The time bookended by the lives of Moses and Jesus, The 1,000-year future time period after the return of Jesus.

(11:15) "As You've Done It to the Least of These..."
Wallis cites a passage from the New Testament gospel of Matthew, chapter 25. Verses 31 through 48 of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible follow:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, "You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

(11:38–12:44) Music Element
"Beatitudes"
from Selections 1976-88,
performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock

(12:40) "Don't be conformed to the world."
Wallis cites a passage from the book of Romans, chapter 12. The beginning five verses of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible follow:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

(13:33) Black Panther and Clenched Fists
The Black Panther Party is a revolutionary African-American activist group that rose to prominence at the end of the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s. They advocated self-defense against what they viewed as oppressive and racist power structures, while promoting community development programs. They are often identified by their iconic salute of a raised and clenched fist.

(15:22) Started a Community in the Inner City
Wallis' mention of starting a community is very much like a contemporary movement occurring within the Evangelical community. One of the emerging voices in what is called "New Monasticism" is Shane Claiborne. Krista spoke with him for a May 2007 program exploring this new approach to living among the poor.

(17:32) A 19th-Century Evangelical
Preachers such as Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) were instrumental in the Second Great Awakening, a period of intense religiosity that ultimately contributed to social changes such as abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, and prison reform. Other instrumental social activists of the time include Lucy Stone (1818-1893), Sarah Grimké (1792-1873), Angeline Grimké Weld (1805-1879), and Jonathan Blanchard (1811-1892), who was also president of the Evangelical Wheaton College in Illinois.

(17:59) Altar Call
An altar call is an invitation made by an Evangelical preacher to congregants, calling them forward to renew religious or social commitment.

(19:57) Tony Campolo, Ron Sider
Tony Campolo (1935–) founded The Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, an organization contributing to the development of schools in North America and around the world. Ron Sider (1939–) founded Evangelicals for Social Action, a Christian association that promotes engagement, analysis, and understanding of public issues.

(20:20–16:53) Music Element
"Cinquante Six"
from The Source,
performed by Ali Farka Toure

(22:42) "Leveling the Praying Field"
A July 2007 article in Time magazine explored the shifting dynamics of religious and political affiliation in the United States:

The Republican lock on Evangelicals may be breaking. The percentage of white Evangelicals who self-identify as Republicans has declined from roughly 50% in 2004 to about 44% this past February, according to [political scientist John C.] Green. Now the number is closer to 40% as more Evangelicals choose to label themselves independents. "There is a loosening of the Republican coalition, particularly among people under 30," Green says, "but it is not yet a movement toward the Democrats. It is a small but real change."

(24:10) "Faith the size of a mustard seed."
Wallis quote about "faith the size of a mustard seed" comes from the gospel of Matthew, chapter 17. Verses 14 through 20 of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible follow:

When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

(25:40–26:29) Music Element
"And Then So Clear"
from Another Day on Earth,
performed by Brian Eno

(26:50) Audio Clip from Wallis' Speech
The audio clip is excerpted from Jim Wallis' February 8, 2005 address to more than 2,000 students at Wheaton College Chapel in Illinois.

(28:26–31:22) Music Element
"And Still I Am Searching"
from Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger,
performed by Pete Seeger

(32:55) Billy Graham and Evangelicalism
Billy Graham is an American evangelist whose international reputation grew through his friendships with numerous U.S. presidents — first starting with an invitation to the White House by President Truman in 1949. Graham came to prominence as an Evangelical minister during the 1940's through the use of large-scale tent revivals and preaching tours — known as crusades — and radio broadcasts.

Through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association he has published his sermons, the magazine Decision, and numerous other works and has conducted the widely filmed and televised international revival crusades that became his hallmark.

In Krista's conversation with University of Chicago theologian and historian Martin Marty, he said of the great preacher: "I've often thought — I've often said, 'If Billy Graham had been born mean, we'd be in terrible trouble,' because he had so much power, so many gifts, and so on. One of my distinctions in religion is not liberal and conservative, but mean and non-mean. You have mean liberals and mean conservatives, and you have non-mean of both."

(34:56) Global South
"Global South" is a term often used by non-governmental organizations and global anti-poverty groups to refer to developing or industrializing countries, many of which are located in the southern parts of the Earth's land mass. "Global South" is used in preference to "the Third World," a hierarchical term which originated during the Cold War, referring to a group of countries outside the First World of capitalist countries and the Second World of the communist countries.

(36:37) The Slogan "Make Poverty History"
Make Poverty History was a 2005 political initiative originating in Britain and Ireland. The campaign was aimed at combating and ultimately eliminating poverty through three key means:

1. Equitable international trade laws;
2. Pardon of debt of developing countries to industrialized countries and international economic organizations;
3. More effective international aid programs.

A group of concerts known as Live 8 were staged in cities around the world to highlight the issue while entertaining millions, reminiscent of similar concerts in the 1980s such as Live Aid. The concerts coincided with the meeting of the G8 leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, with hundreds of thousands of protestors and heightened media coverage aiming to encourage the leaders to enact the Make Poverty History campaign's ideas. Ahead of the Gleneagles summit, the G8 nations announced the cancellation of $55 billion of debt held by the 18 poorest countries in the world.

(39:45–40:59) Music Element
"Still There"
from Being There,
performed by the Tord Gustavsen Trio

(42:11) Amazing Grace and William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce (1759–1833) was a British politician and Evangelical Christian who led the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade in the British Empire. The Slave Trade Act was passed in 1807, which outlawed the slave trade throughout the British Empire, though the practice of slavery itself was only outlawed in 1833. The efforts of William Wilberforce were dramatized in the 2006 film Amazing Grace.

(45:58–46:29) Music Element
"Shaken Rattled and Rolled"
from The True False Identity,
performed by T Bone Burnett

(48:38) Quote from Wallis' Book
Krista quotes the opening lines from Wallis' book, Faith Works: How to Live Your Beliefs and Ignite Positive Social Change: "Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, then watching the evidence change."

(49:57–52:44) Music Element
"Beatitudes"
from Selections 1976-88,
performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock