Crossing Faiths

In this podcast interview, John Pinna and Jack Jewell discuss several controversial topics related to gender, sexuality, and religion. They begin by analyzing the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which they view as promoting a "woke agenda" and queer aesthetics. The conversation then shifts to the issue of transgender athletes competing in women's sports, focusing on a specific boxing match that...

In this conversation, Jack Jewell and John Pinna discuss Islam, its place in Western societies, and the challenges of Muslim integration. They explore topics such as the diversity within Islam, the impact of post-colonial systems on Muslim-majority countries, and the struggle for Muslim identity in secular Western nations. Pinna, drawing from his experience as a Muslim scholar and leader, provides...

In this interview, John Pinna and Jack Jewell discuss the complex and often contentious issues surrounding queer theory, LGBTQ+ identity, and the politicization of sexuality. Jewell, a gay man, critiques what he sees as the ideological capture of LGBTQ+ activism by queer theory and gender identity politics. He argues that these movements have strayed from earlier goals of equality and acceptance,...

Jeff Mitchell was raised in a Christian home but did not fully commit to Christianity until he decided to devote his life to Christ at the age of 16. For the next three decades, he studied the Bible intensively, believing it to be the Holy Inspired Word of God and a direct message from the one true deity. However, over time, Mitchell began to encounter what he perceived as numerous errors, contrad...

In this interview, John Pinna speaks with Nicole Jansezian, a Christian journalist living in Jerusalem. They discuss Jansezian's journey from being an Italian-American New Yorker to marrying into the Armenian community in Jerusalem and her experiences as a religious minority in Israel. The conversation covers various topics including the diversity of religious communities in Jerusalem, recent atta...

In this podcast interview, John Pinna and George Sorial discuss current societal issues, focusing on divisiveness, extremism, and the erosion of traditional values. They express concern over recent protests involving flag burning and anti-American sentiment, questioning the motives and understanding of those involved. The conversation touches on the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...

John Pinna speaks with Josh Heath about Heathenry, a modern revival of Norse pagan religion. Heath discusses his personal journey to Heathenry, the beliefs and practices of the faith, including ancestor worship and the concept of fate, and how it differs from pop culture depictions of Norse mythology. He explains the community structure of Heathenry, from individual practice to larger organization...

Brittney Hartley is an Atheist Spiritual Director through the Center of Nonreligious Spirituality. Her book is entitled No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools, No Faith Required. She has a Masters Degree in Theology with a focus in the Future of American Religion. In this podcast interview, John Pinna and Britt Hartley discuss Hartley's journey from Mormonism to atheism and her work as a secular...

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, host John Pinna interviews Fr. John Anderson about his recent article " Identifying Threats to the Republic. " They discuss the concept of human dignity in relation to concerns about the American republic. Anderson argues that the U.S. has lost sight of individual human value, instead treating humanity as a commodity. He expresses worry about the military-indust...

In this interview, John Pinna speaks with Nury Turkel, a former commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), about his life experiences and work in promoting religious freedom globally. Turkel discusses his background as a Uyghur born in a re-education camp in China, his journey to the United States, and his advocacy for religious minorities. He explains the imp...

In this episode, John Pinna interviews Soraya Ahmadyar, a Muslim woman of Afghan descent living in California. They discuss Soraya's journey of faith, from growing up in a culturally Muslim family to embracing her Islamic identity as a young adult. Soraya shares her experiences balancing her Afghan heritage, American upbringing, and Muslim faith, particularly as she raises her own children. The co...

In this episode, John and Elliot discuss the Biblical figure, Barabbas. During his brief appearance in all four canonical Gospels, Barabbas is presented as the anti-messiah that the people choose instead of Jesus. But John poses an interesting question: Was Barabbas the first recipient of Jesus' salvation? Join us as two thick-skinned friends from respectively Muslim and Evangelical Christian back...

Pinna and Elsanousi discuss how faith leaders and religious institutions can be assets in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts around the world. They highlight examples where religious figures like the Pope and local faith actors have facilitated dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation in conflict-ridden areas. The conversation emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interactions, under...

The conversation covers a range of themes and topics revolving around Jonathan Randall's identity as a Jewish comedian and activist advocating for Palestinian rights. Randall discusses the distinction he sees between Judaism and Zionism, criticizing the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians as a violation of Jewish values. He expresses support for the Palestinian cause, denouncing the occ...

JT Pinna interviews Rabbi David Rosen. The conversation revolves around the Abrahamic Family House, a remarkable multi-faith complex in Abu Dhabi that houses a mosque, church, and synagogue side by side. Rabbi David Rosen, who serves as an advisor to the initiative, provides an in-depth overview of the complex, discussing its architectural design, functioning worship spaces, and the vision behind...

In the conversation, Rachel Miner discusses her organization Bellwether International, which focuses on disrupting the cycle of genocide and creating genocide-resistant societies. She explains their approach of combining top-down systems change with bottom-up grassroots resistance movements, empowering local "bellwethers" to lead peacebuilding efforts. Miner highlights their evidence-based program...

More Information: Unification Church in Atlanta https://www.facebook.com/Atlantafamily English YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@lukehiguchi6044/videos YouTube Channel in Japanese https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBlyDjFRpM49u2L0JeY1icQ Special Guest: Luke Higuchi.

In this interview, Peter Henne discusses his academic work on religion and conflict. He talks about his early involvement with the Pew Research Center's groundbreaking work on quantifying religious persecution globally. Henne reflects on the challenges of engaging with religion from a policy perspective, emphasizing the need for religious literacy and humble, small-scale initiatives rather than gr...

In this conversation, Congressman Frank Wolf discusses the current state of international religious freedom advocacy with John Pinna. Wolf expresses concern that religious leaders and faith communities are not speaking out and advocating for religious freedom as they did in the past, citing examples like Chuck Colson and Rabbi Saperstein. He calls for a resurgence of religious leadership motivatin...

This conversation between John Pinna and Dr. Daisy Khan explores the rise of Islamophobia in the United States, particularly in the wake of the October 9th attack. Khan explains how Islamophobia has manifested at both the individual and institutional levels, with Muslims facing discrimination, harassment, and even job loss for expressing their faith. She emphasizes the importance of building relat...

A Christian and a Muslim talk religion & politics. In this episode, Elliot and John engage in a lively Easter-themed discussion when Elliot starts by posing the question: What to Muslims believe about the Resurrection? The conversation becomes tense at times as John wrestles with the validity of a God who would be willing to die, and Elliot struggles to understand the attraction of a faith tha...

In this interview, John Pinna and Lou Ann Sabatier discuss the importance of effective storytelling, particularly in the context of advocating for international religious freedom and persecuted communities. They explore the challenges facing journalists and content creators in an evolving media landscape, emphasizing the need for strategic, intentional storytelling that resonates with audiences an...

Minhdao Le is a third-generation practitioner of Cao Dai, a religious belief system from Vietnam. In this interview, Minhdao provides some insight into the beliefs of Cao Dai, and brings attention to what he describes as a communist government-led usurping of the religion that took place when the government officially "recognized" Cao Dai in 1997. "THE CAO DAI RELIGION VS. ITS IMPOSTOR" https://vn...

In this episode, John Pinna interviews Dr. John Andrew Morrow, a Muslim academic and author. Dr. Morrow shares his spiritual journey starting from a young age, studying various religious scriptures and ultimately embracing Islam after being deeply moved by the Quran. He highlights the pivotal role of the Covenant of the Prophet Muhammad with the monks of Mount Sinai in shaping his understanding of...

Salvador Litvak is a Hollywood film director who became the Accidental Talmudist after a little miracle launched him into seven years of daily Talmud study. Sal’s Accidental Talmudist platform reaches over a million followers in 70 countries and includes Talmud classes, Torah teachings, live shows, podcast, holiday programming, Israel education, and the Greatest Jewish Jokes of All Time. https://w...