In 2010 Anne Rice announced on her Facebook page, "Today I quit being a Christian." The announcement sparked headlines around the world. She talks about her complicated history with Catholicism and why she no longer wants to be part of any church.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
When evangelical Christians say they talk to God, what do they mean? Anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann wanted to find out, so she spent two years as a participant observer in a Charismatic church, talking to the congregation and even praying herself. She says prayer involves cultivating the imagination. Luhrmann also describes her cross-cultural study of schizophrenics who hear voices.
The celebrated poet Edward Hirsch says the history of poetry is the history of poetic forms. And to prove it he wrote a 700-page compendium about all things poetry.
Playwright and actress Anna Deveare Smith tells Steve Paulson about her book “Talk To Me: Listening Between the Lines.” Smith did over 400 interviews with Washington residents, including President Clinton.
AL Kennedy is the author of “On Bullfighting.” She tells Steve Paulson what happens in the ring and tries to explain bullfighting’s primal power and beauty.
Alister McGrath, a historical theologian at Oxford, shares Dawkins' interest in science, but little else. He and Steve Paulson talk about the role of religious zealotry.
Kevin Powers served as a machine gunner in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. His novel “The Yellow Birds” was a finalist for the National Book Award.
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