Beliefs

Tracking the path of religion through childhood, relationship, and parenting. 

Naomi Schaefer Riley is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute focusing on issues regarding child welfare, as well as a senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum. She also writes about parenting, higher education, religion, philanthropy and culture.  

Naomi and I met to look back across her work and research to explore the relationship between children, partners, and religion. 

Faith and Politics – Debate Prep with RNS National Reporter Jack Jenkins 

The third round of Democratic party debates on September 12th shrinks the field of candidates down to ten. To break down how faith and religion is affecting the debates we’re speaking with RNS reporter Jack Jenkins, about what voters of faith are seeking in their candidates, and what candidates are trying to say to voters. 

A new national reporter, Alejandra Molina, is joining the newsroom at RNS. Molina will be reporting on Latinx religion in the U.S. Molina most recently served as Journalist in Residence at the University of Southern California and as Equitable Cities Fellow at Next City. In 2018, she was named one of the 15 most influential Latina journalists by Latino Journalists of California.

Achieving Discomfort – An Interfaith Agenda of Change and Disruption 

Our guest is interfaith activist Tahil Sharma. Tahil is an interfaith activist based in Los Angeles who was born to a Hindu father and a Sikh mother. He currently serves as one of three Interfaith Ministers in Residence for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and is a member of the NextGen Task Force for the Parliament of the World's Religions. 

A community in service of the value of every human and the profound significance of respect. Our guest is Mary McDougall, the Spiritual Life Coordinator for L’Arche Community in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. L’Arche is an intentional community that develops homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities.  

Our guest is Adelle Banks, national reporter for Religion News Service. Her series of articles on the anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the historic settlement of Jamestown puts a religious lens on the abduction, enslavement, and struggle for civil rights of African-Americans over the last 400 years. 

RNS reporter Adelle Banks joined Beliefs producer Jay Woodward from her home in Maryland. 

Rev. Angela Denker is a sportswriter - turned Lutheran pastor, writer, and speaker. She is a contributor to various publications, including Religion News Service, The Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated. Denker’s also the author of the forthcoming book,  “Red State Christians: Meet the Voters who elected Donald Trump” available August 6th from Fortress Press. 

Susan Jacoby is an independent scholar specializing  in the history of reason, atheism, secularism, and religious liberty. Her best-known books include Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism and the New York Times best-seller, The Age of American Unreason in a Culture of Lies.  

At turns passionate, ardent, funny, and defiant, Jacoby lives her truth and embodies the vibrance of her beliefs. 

In 2011 Chip Skowron was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit securities fraud.  It was a spectacular fall for a hugely successful hedge fund manager and medical doctor. As he prepared for prison, he found comfort in the Bible. Surrounded by supporters and skeptics, financiers and felons, Skowron has embraced a new way of living, and a late-blooming faith. 

As we look back on our first six months of Beliefs, we’ve noticed some themes in the stories and topics we’re bringing you...We’ve covered origins and practices, abuses and pain, and hate speech and bigotry. 

One bright theme we’ve seen is the enduring commitment in all religion to social justice and community. This week on Beliefs, we’re returning to three compelling moments that speak to the way religion asks us to help and protect each other.  

Political activist and social justice advocate, Rabbi Rachel Timoner from Congregation Beth Elohim is our first guest on the inherent responsibility she feels toward social justice she feels as a rabbi and Jew. 

Continuing our review of community and social justice is our conversation with the senior minister of the 350-year-old First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, speaking with guest host Karen Hayward about a Puritan approach to modern society. 

He has turned his attention to a social justice issue that has moved to the front of many faith’s consciousness in recent years. Methodist, Episcopalian, and Evangelical Covenant Churches – just to name a few recent examples - have wrestled with LGBTQ inclusion.

Fr. Martin is the author of the book, “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter Into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.”