PODCAST · religion
Multifaith Matters
by John W. Morehead
Conversations to educate and provide an example of discussions through deep differences on religion and religion in culture.
Episodes
-
Demonizing Dehumanization and Monstrosity
Some previous grant research revealed the importance of accounting for dehumanization in interreligious conflict, and this was confirmed by the work of the late neuroscientist Emile Bruneau who encouraged those working in peacemaking to account for elements like this. My work in monster theory…
more -
Eugenia Rainey on Santeria
Eugenia Rainey is our guest to discuss the African diaspora religion of Santeria. Rainey is associate professor William & Mary Rainey where she is a cultural anthropologist who studies religion as a negotiated process. She focuses on this process at the intersection of Lucumí (also referred to as...
-
Batja Mesqita and Emotions of Cultures
In this episode I have a conversation with Batja Mesquita who discusses her book Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions. We unpack the ideas in her book and make application to religious and political conflict. From her book description: A pioneer of cultural psychology argues that emotions are...
-
The Ongoing Spiritual Journey of a None
The Nones, that large demographic of those who have given up on institutional religion, have been the focus of a lot of scholarship and discussion. In this episode we have a conversation with Stephen Bradford Long, a friend and previous guest, who has shared his journey into The Satanic Temple.…
more -
Alan Streett and his book Exploring the Paranormal: Miracles, Magic and the Mysterious
R. Alan Streett returns as our guest in this episode discussing his book Exploring the Paranormal: Miracles, Magic, and the Mysterious (Eerdmans, 2024). Streett is senior research professor emeritus of biblical theology at Criswell College in Dallas, TX. The book's website description: A personal...
-
Andrew DeCort on Blessed Are the Others
In this episode Andrew DeCort discusses his new book Blessed Are the Others: Jesus' Way in a Violent World (BitterSweet Collective). Andrew has been called a dissident theologian by his friends. His work is deeply inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, his writing by James Baldwin, his spirituality by...
-
Reid Locklin and Fred Stella on Hindu Mission, Christian Mission
Reid B. Locklin is Associate Professor of Christianity and the Intellectual Tradition at the University of Toronto, a joint appointment with St Michael’s College and the Department for the Study of Religion. His research focuses on a range of issues in Comparative Theology and Hindu-Christian...
-
Kelly James Clark on the Raging Fire of Love in the Abrahamic Religions
In this podcast Kelly James Clark discusses his book Raging Fire of Love, a book on Muslim, Christian and Jewish love, and shares what he learned about how love of neighbor and even enemy. He discusses compassion in the Abrahamic traditions and what he learned from Christians (his spiritual…
more -
George Chryssides and Fieldwork in New Religious Movements
Christians tend to develop their understanding of other religions, especially new religious movements or "cults," by way of comparison of sacred texts with concerns for orthodoxy and heresy. But other approaches to study add new facets of understanding such as fieldwork can also be helpful. In…
more -
Erin Stiles on Mormon encounters with the spirit world
Erin Stiles is the author of The Devil Sat on My Bed: Encounters with the Spirit World in Mormon Utah. As the back cover describes: "In the mountains of beautiful, bucolic northern Utah, many Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are visited by spirits. Local folklore is filled with stories of uncanny...
-
David J. Halperin on UFOs and Myth
Much of the discussion of UFOs is focused around the two poles of extraterrestrial spaceships or skeptical debunking. In this podcast David J. Halperin provides another perspective, that of myth, to help shed light on UFOs as meaning-making things. We do this by unpacking his book Intimate Alien:...
-
Rabbi Ariel Mellul of the International Raëlian Movement
Rabbi Leon Ariel Mellul of the International Raëlian Movement is the guest who discusses the group's origins in a meeting with extraterrestrials called the Elohim, their work in the creation of humanity, the place of their founder Raël in a long line of prophets from the world's religions, their...
-
Elias D’eis, the Holy Land Trust, and the War in Gaza
Elias D'eis, Executive Director of the Holy Land Trust, shares about his life as a Palestinian Christian in the West Bank, life under the Israeli military occupation, the role of a Christian in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the work of The Holy Land Trust. Elias D'eis was born into a...
-
J. Gordon Melton on the Church of Scientology
J. Gordon Melton, the noted scholar of new religions, joins us in this episode to discuss the Church of Scientology. Dr. J. Gordon Melton, became Distinguished Professor of American Religious History of Baylor University’s Institute for Studies in Religion in March of 2011. He also serves as the...
-
Matthew Bowman and The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill
Matthew Bowman discusses the first American UFO abduction account detailed in his new book The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill: Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America (Yale University Press, 2023). From the book's dust cover: "Bowman tells the fascinating story of the Hills...
-
The Satanic Temple’s Unveiling Day: Pluralism and Archaic Superstition
On July 25 The Satanic Temple (TST) celebrated one of their holidays, Unveiling Day. Their website describes this as a time to commemorate the unveiling of their Baphomet with Children statue in 2015. This holiday includes a "celebration of religious plurality and shedding archaic superstition."…
more -
The Covid Pandemic and the World’s Religions
George Chryssides discusses the book The Covid Pandemic and the World's Religions (Bloomsbury, 2023), which he co-edited with Dan Cohn-Sherbok. In the book, believers from a variety of faith communities were asked to assess how the Covid pandemic has affected their faith. Two exponents of each...
-
Celucien Joseph on Christianity and Vodou in Dialogue in Haiti
In this podcast Celucien Joseph discusses Christianity and Haitian Vodou in dialgoue, including stereotypes of the tradition, Afrophobia and Vodouphobia, Protestant and Catholic responses to Haitian Vodou, suggestions for productive theological exchanges and dialogue, and the need for greater...
-
The Christian Fascination with”Ex-Occultist” Narratives
Christians are fascinated by conversion stories of ex-occultists, particularly Witches and Satanists. From Mike Warnke and Bill Schnoebelen in the past, to contemporary figures like John Ramirez, these stories help confirm the faith identities and worldview of Christians in a battle of good vs....
-
Kaleb Graves on Psychedelic Theology
Psychedelics have long been connected to religion, including the Jewish and Christian traditions. In addition, there are now psychedelic chaplains, psychedelic churches, and people seeking out psychedelics not only for spiritual reasons but also to treat conditions like PTSD and anxiety. Yet like...
-
George Chryssides on Contested Concepts in the Study of Religion
Greater attention is needed to various concepts in the study of religion that may be assumed to be settled, but in reality need to be contested. George Chryssides discusses this in this episode, including concepts like “religion,” “world religion,” “cult,” and “new religious movement.” Chryssides...
-
Heron Michelle, Street Preachers, and Pagan Religious Freedoms
How might a member of a minority religion feel about aggressive Christian preaching at their sacred venues? Can such evangelistic efforts function in ways that restrict the religious freedoms of others? Heron Michelle, a Pagan, shares her perspective resulting from interactions with a street...
-
Catherine Wessinger on the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Branch Davidian Tragedy
April 19, 2023 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the fire which ended the standoff between federal agents and members of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. Much has been learned about this tragedy over the last few decades, and it continues to be relevant to events in politics and religion....
-
Ida Glaser and the Reading the Bible in the Context of Islam project
Ida Glaser leads the Reading the Bible in the Context of Islam project at the Center for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford, UK, and is the Director of Center for Muslim and Christian Studies, Houston, TX. She also overseas the International Partnership and the Langham Bible Commentaries from…
more -
Dr. Benno van den Toren on interfaith apologetics
Today's cosmopolitan, multicultural, and multifaith environments call for new approaches to apologetics. In order to free Christian apologetics from dominant Western habits of mind ill-suited to interreligious dialogue, we must listen and speak with both humility and confidence. In their book...
-
Jack Hunter and an Anthropology of the Paranormal
Dr. Jack Hunter provides an anthropological perspective on the paranormal. Hunter is an anthropologist exploring the borderlands of ecology, religion and the paranormal. He lives in the hills of Mid-Wales with his family. He is an Honorary Research Fellow with the Alister Hardy Religious…
more -
James Keenan on Moral Theology, the New Testament and Multifaith Encounters
Moral theology provides a helpful but often neglected avenue for multifaith engagement beyond Christian emphasis upon evangelism and apologetics. James Keenan discusses the New Testament's teaching on virtue ethics, particularly humility and love, and how these can be practiced in multifaith...
-
Stephen Bullivant on Nonverts and the Making of Ex-Christian America
One of world's leading experts on contemporary atheism and nonreligiosity, sociologist and theologian Stephen Bullivant draws on dozens of interviews, original analysis of high-quality survey data, and a wealth of cutting-edge studies, to present an entertaining and insightful exploration of...
-
Andrew Perriman and narrative-historical approaches to the gospel, salvation, hell and multifaith
What fresh possibilities open up with a narrative-historical approach to the Bible? Andrew Perriman discusses this in light of the gospel, salvation, hell, and then connecting dots to multifaith encounters. Perriman lives in London, UK. He is the author of several books, including Re: Mission: A...
-
Mohammed Dajani on rhe Israeli Palestinian Conflict
Mohammed Dajani addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dajani is a Jerusalem-born scholar and peace activist who holds two doctorate degrees. He is Founder of the Wasatia Islamic moderate movement in Palestine which he created in 2007 to promote moderation and reconciliation, peace…
more -
June Everett on After School Satan Clubs and a Response to Good News Clubs
June Everett is Campaign Director for the After School Club, and an ordained minister of The Satanic Temple. In this conversation she shares her personal journey, discusses the After School Satan Clubs, and responds to our prior podcast with Lydia Kaiser of Child Evangelism Fellowship and their...
-
Lydia Kaiser on the Good News Clubs and the Response of After School Satan Clubs
Lydia Kaiser, Corporate Communications Specialist for Child Evangelism Fellowship talks about the Good News Clubs in schools, and also responds to the controversy raised by the response of The Satanic Temple to the Clubs and their efforts at putting After School Satan Clubs in schools where the...
-
Darren Duerksen and Christ-Followers in Other Religions
In recent decades many people have begun following Christ while remaining a part of their non-Christian religious communities. These "insider" Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, and other followers of Christ have generated much interest and controversy, particularly in Western mission...
-
Andrew Chesnut and Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint
Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint, is the heart of the fastest growing new religious movement in the Americas and the West. Andrew Chesnut is our guest who shares his research on the topic. Chesnut is Professor of Religious Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of Devoted to...
-
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
Massimo Introvigne discusses the Korean cultural context of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church, as well as various developments within the church, its mention in the news in connection with the assassination of the former Prime Minister...
-
Monotheism and Multifaith Engagement
Christians recognize and emphasize monotheism in the Bible, but on closer look at appears to have developed over time. This is important not only for a more careful understanding of the Bible and the Christian faith, but also as we develop arguments and critiques of other religions on their view…
more -
Public Theology with Ted Peters
Public theology seeks to articulate a theology beyond church and academy for the broader public and the common good. Ted Peters helps us understand how this can be done in light of the credibility challenges the church faces in America and the West. Dr. Peters teaches systematic theology and…
more -
Zoe Alderton and the fiction-based religion Snapewives
Popular culture and the internet help resource various fiction-based religions. In this episode Zoe Alderton discusses one such religion known as Snapewives or Snapeism, a new religion taking inspiration from the literary work of J.K. Rowling and the book and film franchise of Harry Potter and a...
-
The Bahá’í Faith
The Bahá’í Faith teaches that throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators—known as Manifestations of God—whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus,...
-
Anuttama Dasa and the International Society of Krishna Consciousness
In the 1960s and 1970s the Hare Krishnas were known for wearing saffron robes, chanting in the streets, and raising money at airports. Many people feared them and considered them a cult. A lot has changed in the over fifty years since the founding of the International Society of Krishna...
-
Episode 4: Peter C. Hill and the context of theistic humility
Evangelicals and Humility in Multifaith Engagement American Evangelicals are not known for embracing intellectual humility, but there are notable and promising examples. This podcast series explores the topic through the story of how Evangelical Christians and Zen Buddhists in Portland have been...
-
Episode 3: Daryl Van Tongeren and the psychology of humility
Evangelicals and Humility in Multifaith Engagement American Evangelicals are not known for embracing intellectual humility, but there are notable and promising examples. This podcast series explores the topic through the story of how Evangelical Christians and Zen Buddhists in Portland have been...
-
Episode 2: Evangelicals and Zen Buddhists reflect on 20 years of dialogue
Evangelicals and Humility in Multifaith Engagement American Evangelicals are not known for embracing intellectual humility, but there are notable and promising examples. This podcast series explores the topic through the story of how Evangelical Christians and Zen Buddhists in Portland have been...
-
Episode 1: Wes Markofski and the “other evangelicals”
Evangelicals and Humility in Multifaith Engagement American Evangelicals are not known for embracing intellectual humility, but there are notable and promising examples. This podcast series explores the topic through the story of how Evangelical Christians and Zen Buddhists in Portland have been...
-
Religion and Hiroshima: Beyond the Mushroom Cloud
How should the horror of the atom bomb be remembered? In what ways might we remember so that the terrible experience of its use might be transformed into hope for a universal community of peace? In a fascinating case study, Yuki Miyamoto compares how Buddhist and Catholic survivors of the 1945...
-
Summum
A conversation with three leaders of Summum (a Latin term meaning “the sum total of creation”), a religious group in Salt Lake City, including Su Menu, president of Summum, Bernie Aua, vice president, and Ron Temu, counselor who oversees their mummification practices. Summum began in the fall of...
-
Massimo Introvigne on The Church of Almighty God
In this conversation, Massimo Introvigne shares the story of The Church of Almighty God, a group in China that has seen rapid growth, dramatic persecution, and the struggle of believers to see asylum in countries around the world. Among the items discussed, Introvigne reconstructs the Church's...
-
George Chryssides Introduces Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Jehovah's Witnesses have been the focus of much evangelical apologetic and secular media critique. In this podcast, new religions scholar George Chryssides presents an overview of the Watch Tower organization's origins, their lived religion, key beliefs and practices, and controversial…
more -
Divine and Demonic COVID-19 Vaccine Explanations
A discussion of research around demonic and divine attributions surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Julie Exline discusses a research paper of she and her colleagues which showed that demonic vaccine attributions were linked with more anti-vaccination attitudes, and were also linked with conspiracy...
-
Latter-day Saints (Mormonism) as Lived Religion
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whose members were formerly known as Mormons have been the focus of evangelical critique for many years by way of a doctrinal contrast and a heresy apologetic template. But what might we learn about the LDS by other pathways? In this conversation...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Conversations to educate and provide an example of discussions through deep differences on religion and religion in culture.
HOSTED BY
John W. Morehead
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Multifaith Matters have?
Multifaith Matters currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Multifaith Matters about?
Conversations to educate and provide an example of discussions through deep differences on religion and religion in culture.
How often does Multifaith Matters release new episodes?
Multifaith Matters has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Multifaith Matters?
You can listen to Multifaith Matters on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Multifaith Matters?
Multifaith Matters is created and hosted by John W. Morehead.
URL copied to clipboard!