Common Threads: An Interfaith Dialogue

I do take great pains to correctly ID the year of original broadcast of these oldies; but remember, they all came out of 2 big boxes sequestered in my basement. Very few had any markings on the cassette tape itself or the cover. Much of the time I can tell the timeline when I interview an author. We normally bring them on very close to the release date of their book, which is easily found. But sometimes that isn't the case. That is probably true with these excellent episodes on globalism.

The book came out in 2002. I was just about to call it good, but then I hear our guest make reference to the US military raid of Saddam's palace. We didn't invade Iraq until '03, we must have aired these after that. Let's call it 2003, with the chance it might be '04.

Close enough. Theme music "Nigal."

We're taking a break from uploading shows from The Vault of the Ancients to bring you 2 episodes that aired in early 2022. Here we converse with Prof. Humberto Casanova, a Chilean theologian. Mr. Casanova has impeccable credentials in the school of Reformed theology. But his thinking as taken a turn toward the more progressive end of Christianity. In his book Imagining God he examines the poetry, mythology and metaphor that permeate The Bible. While to some this kind of thinking somehow "diminishes" the status of Holy Writ, for others, a book like this can be a lifeline to a refreshed faith.

Enjoy. Theme music "Nigal."

I chortled more than a bit listening to these 2002 episodes. Our guest Quentin Shultze discusses how to engage with new technology from a moral & ethical foundation. But think about where we were then & where we are now. It would be like hearing a discourse on the automobile from 1915 20 years later.

So, here we discuss computers, cell (but not smart!) phones, e-dating in its infancy, and this whole new thing we now call social media before it even had a term. It seems like such a revelation when Dr. Schultze tells me that neo-Nazis are posting hate speech online. I've mentioned before how I enjoy reading old magazines & newspapers to see where we were and where we are now. Well, this is that. So put down your palm pilot, crank up your computing machine & enjoy. Theme music "Nigal."

These episodes from 2005 feature conversations with author Kristin Swenson, who wrote the book "Living Through Pain: Psalms & the Search for Wholeness." Regardless of ones' religion, there is some deep wisdom here. And for such a heavy subject, we do chuckle from time to time.

Enjoy. Theme music "Nigal."

These are 2 episodes from 2008, where I speak with contributors to the book A Global Guide to Interfaith, which came out the previous year. I've mentioned before that for a program with the word "Interfaith" in its title, we don't really examine actual interfaith movements all that often. We did near the beginning, back in the 1990s. But feedback has been almost unanimously favorable on our decision to widen the parameters.

Episode #1 here has us talking to Dena Merriam, a well known interfaith activist who is now on the board of directors of Hindu American Foundation. Episode #2 is with Allison VanDyke, with the Temple of Understanding in NYC. Each of these remarkable women wrote essays for the book.

Listen & Learn. Theme music "Nigal."

While many gentiles know about the 3 main movements within Judaism (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox) the more contemporary movements of Reconstruction & Jewish Renewal do not get as much ink or members. But they are important none the less. In these 2 episodes I'll discuss them with Rabbi Arthur Waskow. He's a remarkable man, so this is not to be missed. We aired these in 2006. Theme music "Nigal."

If you're familiar with our vault of classic episodes, you're aware of the fact that in the past we've interviewed several wonderful authors within the genre of historical fiction to discuss religion, culture and literature of the middle ages. Here is an especially interesting couple of shows that aired in the early 00s. This time, our guest is not an author herself, but an academic who reviews books that share these themes. Susan Weintrob brings great insight into the relationships between Jews & Christians in medieval Europe. She dispels some myths along the way as well.

Listen & learn. Theme music "Nigal."

This one is a real oldie. Back in 2002 we held our annual interfaith conference, with the theme of environmentalism. We shared the duties with the West Michigan Environmental Action Committee. So remember, all this happened a long time ago. Don't go trying to register for it. But like all of these ancient episodes, the conversation is still valid. Our guest is Dr. John Grim. You'll hear how good he is at what he does. Theme music "Nigal."

I'm very pleased to find the cassette that had these 2005 episodes on it. I didn't think I would. Here I enjoy a conversation with Swami Chidananda, one of the main editors that worked intensely on the Gospel commentaries written over the span of many years by Paramhansa Yogananda. The noted Hindu mystic saw the Judeo-Christian scriptures through a Vedantic lens that is quite close to that of some sects of the ancient Gnostics. I'm speculating, of course; but I get the idea that if Emerson or Thoreau had access to the pages of this book ("The 2nd Coming of Christ") they might say, "Yes! That's what Jesus was trying to say!"

It was an honor to speak to Chidananda. Aside from being a wonderful person in his own right, in 2017 he assumed the presidency of Self Realization Fellowship, becoming the spiritual successor to Yogananda. Theme music "Nigal."

We have such an interesting relationship with age here in the US. We tend to worship youth and disregard the wisdom and life experience that comes with more candles on the cake. Of course, it's also possible to gain years and stupidity. Think of the audiences who rely on Tucker and Sean for their news analysis.

But I digress...

In these episodes from 2022 we speak to therapist and spiritual advisor Connie Zwieg. We discuss the need to re-frame the concept of aging. Among her ideas, we must look upon those up in years as honored Elders, as more traditional societies do. And those who reach advanced years should commit to sharing their gifts with the world; not just rack up more time on the golf course.

Enjoy. Theme music "Nigal."