Speaking Of Faith, good radio

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This is a program I follow every week. The range of stuff that is considered is amazing (One of the most moving things I have ever heard was Krista Tippett's interview with the wife of Daniel Pearl), and it always takes a thoughtful and multi-sided viewpoint. This past week's program may be of interest to members interested in or associated with Native American belief.

The program was about the spiritual elements associated with addiction itself, adn with recovery from it. The first half (also very good) was about AA, and the interview was with Susan Cheever, the daughter of the author John Cheever, who was an alcoholic and difficult father and family member. She has written a biography of "Bill," the founder of AA. But it is the second half that was just riveting. The interview was with Basil Braveheart, a Lakota man who served in Korea and began drinking during his tour of duty. His explanation of the specific elements of indigenous spirituality that helped him overcome it was nothing I have ever heard, and I've been involved with substance abuse counseling training for a while now. The interview just as a plain human interaction was also very moving.

Here's the site. You can listen for yourself. The full interview with Mr Braveheart is also on the site, not just the parts used for the radio show. Also check out the last six weeks -- last week's talk on Darwin and evolution was also very fine:

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/

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http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/pro...age/index.shtml

This is a very thought-provoking set of two interviews -- one pro and one con -- that are well worth listening to if the debate still interests you. Some of it centers around the controversial passage of Romans chapter 1 that is widely cited as the chief proscription against gay love.

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There was some mention of the idea of civil religion in purportedly "atheist" governments in the thread on Castro and Cuba recently -- this week's "Speaking of Faith" goes deep into the perversion of faith or worship into the cult of personality of a totalitarian leader like Chairman Mao, even though the regime professed official atheism. A very personal story -- this was a great interview session.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/pro...min/index.shtml

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I thought this past week was a particularly good program -- this interview session examined some of the passionate youth psychology that ends up in extremist or fundamentalist expression of faith that often becomes destructive. I do recommend listening to or reading through the materials on this one.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/pro...uth/index.shtml

Also, here is a link to the transcript of last week's program, concerning the longstanding poverty in New Orleans that set up the disaster and consequences of the hurricane. Whether or not you agree with this line of argument, it's worth reading.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/pro...ranscript.shtml