Religion and Spirituality (Video)

The Temple Mount is the most sacred and contested real estate on earth. Yet it is also a physical place in the center of a city -- and the center of a century of conflict between Jews and Arabs. Gershom Gorenberg, an American-born journalist who has lived in Jerusalem since 1977, ponders if God's mountain can ever become a symbol of peace. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affai...

Conversations with History host Harry Kreisler welcomes Professor Fawaz A. Gerges for a discussion on the origins, evolution and future direction of Islamic militancy. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 13466]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Berkeley Professor Yuri Slezkine for a discussion of the Jewish odyssey in the 20th century. His comparative analysis focuses on the similarity of the Jews to other "Mercurians" and provides new insight into understanding the paths the Jews took amidst the chaos of the last century. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Show ID: 13297]

Join Tom Levy, UCSD Professor of Archaeology on a journey from the largest pre-biblical copper factory in the Middle East, to present-day India where the lost-wax process is still practiced by hereditary bronze casters. [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 13190]

Afif Safieh, scholar, diplomat and head of the Palestine Liberation Organization's mission to the United States, is joined by a panel consisting of Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer, Hilal Elver and Stanley Roden for a discussion involving the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestine. Series: "Voices" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 13168]

Rabbi Michael Lerner, an outspoken advocate of religious pluralism, and Michael Novak, a Roman Catholic social theorist and director of Social and Political Studies at the American Enterprise Institute debate the place of religion in American politics. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 13170]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes writer/critic Mark Steyn, the 2007 Nimitz Lecturer at Berkeley. Focusing on his new book, "America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It," they discuss Europe and America's relations with the Islamic world. In the interview, their conversation also focuses on the craft of writing in a multi media globalized world. Series: "Conversations with History"...

How did Christianity come to be popularly viewed as a "Western religion" as opposed to "Asian religions" such as Hinduism and Buddhism? Peter Phan of Georgetown University presents an alternative vision of Christianity as a global "catholic" religion and examines several historical movements in support of "World Christianity." Series: "Humanitas" [Humanities] [Show ID: 12482]

Jane Via, a deputy district attorney and former university professor, tells her remarkable story of how she became ordained as a Roman Catholic woman priest and her efforts to build a growing congregation in San Diego. Via was presented by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC San Diego. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 12244]

Author, poet, pastor and professor Eugene Peterson charms his audience as he recalls his effort to translate the Bible into The Message, an interpretation geared for modern readers. The book has such wide appeal that U2’s Bono began quoting from it at concerts. But when told of this, Peterson’s response was “Who is Bono?” Peterson is joined host Dean Nelson in Part 2 of the 2007 Writers Symposium...

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes distinguished French political scientist Olivier Roy for a discussion of globalization’s impact on religion and culture. The conversation focuses on changes within Islam. They explore the balance of power between Islamists and neo fundamentalists, the dynamic propelling terrorism, and the appropriate response of the West to the challenges posed by the int...

Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza of the Harvard Divinity School has done pioneering work in biblical interpretation and feminist theology. She explores how the power of empire has historically shaped Christian Scriptures but also how it continues to shape our self-understanding and public discourse in the present. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show...

Biblical scholar Robert Alter argues that the distinctive organizing literary conventions and techniques of the Bible have been lost. He shows how a recovery of these conventions enables us to see more sharply what is going on in the Bible. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 12252]

Vali Nasr, author of "The Shia Revival," and UC San Diego sociologist Gershon Shafir explore the tensions between the Shiites and Sunnis and how the longstanding rivalries have affected the Middle East in this discussion led by historian Michael Bernstein, the dean of UCSD's Division of Arts and Humanities. Series: "Body Politic, The" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 12120]

University of Chicago Law Professor Martha Nussbaum traces the philosophical and historical origins of the American tradition of liberty of conscience by looking at the career and writings of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island and author of important works about religious freedom. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 11996]

On this edition of Frontiers, Madhavi Sunder and Keith Watenpaugh, discuss how Muslims are dealing with human rights and working to transform their societies from within. Then, Matthew Augustine from the UC Davis chemistry department discusses how his invention for scanning wine for spoilage could be used for airport security. Series: "UC Davis Frontiers" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 12122]

Michael Lerner, a rabbi in the Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal, has been an outspoken advocate for rejecting what he considers to be ethnocentric interpretations of the Torah. Lerner's publications promote religious pluralism and liberal approaches to political problems. He has worked to build bridges with Muslim leaders around such issues as attacks against immigrant communities in the U.S. Ser...

In 2006 Israel went from being essentially at peace to being embroiled in a vicious war on two fronts. Was Israel weakened in the Hezbollah War? Can the Jewish State survive? How will Israel, and Israelis, have to change, if Israel is to reach the age of 100? Join author and vice-president of the Mandel Foundation Daniel Gordis. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Humani...

Robert T. Pennock, the scientist, philosopher and author of "Tower of Babel, The Evidence Against the New Creationism" speaks on the controversial movement to include intelligent design creationism in the curricula of public schools. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 12066]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Iranian journalist and human rights activist Akbar Ganji for a discussion of the dynamics of change in Iran. Topics covered include the Iranian Revolution in comparative context, the problem of establishing democracy in Islamic societies, power in Iran, and U.S. Iranian Relations. Ganji also talks about his work as an investigative journalist in Iran and...

Nobel Peace Laureate and lawyer Shirin Ebadi of Iran describes how education can lead to peace in the Middle East and calls for an end to discrimination against women in this riveting address presented by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice and the School of Law at the University of San Diego. Series: "Peace exChange -- Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego" [Public Affa...

Series of debates on extending marriage and adoption to same-sex couples co-sponsored by The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, Brigham Young University, and the UCLA Interdisciplinary Relationship Science Program. This installment of the series focuses on religion and education. Series: "Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11913]

What is properly secular and what is legitimately religious in American politics? Americans are uncertain and divided about those questions. Join Peter Steinfels as he explores these questions and contemplates the new demands on being an active citizen in a pluralist America. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11756]

Best-selling author and political commentator Kevin Phillips discusses his book, "American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century " in this event sponsored by the Revelle Forum at UC San Diego. Series: "Revelle Forum" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11663]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes political scientist Robert A. Pape for a discussion of how social science can help us understand suicide terrorism. Professor Pape also reflects on international relations theory and its implications for foreign policy. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 11599]