Esoterica Parts 1 & 2

This is a conversation between Dr. Hussein and GVSU Professor Eric Covey, facilitated by Frankel Center's Interim Director for 2025-26, Deborah Dash Moore. Their discussion will be followed by a dessert reception. Drawing from his upcoming book, Hebrew Orientalism: Jewish Engagement with Arabo-Islamic Culture in Late Ottoman and British Palestine, Dr. Hussein will explore how Jewish writers in late Ottoman and British Mandate Palestine utilized Arabo-Islamic culture. In the decades before the establishment of a Jewish state in 1948, native and immigrant Jews in Palestine mediated between Jewish and Arab cultures while navigating their evolving identities as settler colonists. Hebrew Orientalism challenges the conventional view that Hebrew thinkers were dismissive of Arabo-Islamic culture, revealing how they both adopted and adapted elements of it that enhanced their aims. Theme music "Nigal."

Just about everyone knows the word "karma." It's so popular that products and companies are using it. But to simply say "what goes around comes around" is a bit too simplistic to describe a doctrine that has influenced civilizations for millennia. In his new book ‘Karmic Relief’ author Phil Goldberg provides the deep detail underlying this concept in a way that is understandable by both theologians and those without advanced Religious Studies degrees alike. This week Fred Stella engages with Phil on the basic beliefs of both karma and rebirth. Theme music "Nigal."

The Gospel COMPARATIVE is an innovative new book that enables anyone to read all 4 gospels simultaneously as one story. This is done in a clear, easy-to-read design that presents all four of the canonical gospels at the same time. Additionally, it provides a side-by-side, line-by-line comparative that seamlessly integrates with the storytelling process. Several things combine to make the design of this book quite unique. For example each 2- page spread is viewed and read as a whole. This is visually explained on the Introduction Page. And just like a movie script, the story is crafted into scenes. This way it provides the fullest possible content, while creating the complete picture for each and every scene. This alone, makes it more accessible to everybody. Next is the stripped-down approach, which uses only the original text. From there the story is simply laid out in a way that follows the timeline progressively. This layout allows all four versions to live side-by-side; duplicating in each account where they will and standing alone where they will. This years-long effort by editor Michael Degnan was inspired by his professional experience of helping corporations and people tell their stories. In Michael's eyes, the Gospels are nothing if not the weaving together of a great story. On this episode of Common Threads, Fred and Michael discuss the benefits of reading Scripture in this manner. Theme music "Nigal."

10 years ago the nation experienced a powerful tragedy when a radicalized racist opened fire in the sanctuary of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, Mother Emanuel is often considered the jewel in the crown of historical Black churches. In his book Mother Emanuel: 2 Centuries of Race, Resistance and Forgiveness in one Charleston Church, Kevin Sack explores in great detail the history of not only Mother Emanuel, but of the development of Black Christianity in the early years of our country. In these episodes Fred Stella speaks with Kevin Sack to discuss his motivation behind writing this book, and how things have both changed and remained the same for the Black Church in the South. Theme music "Nigal."

The Kaufman Interfaith Institute has several affiliates. The Interfaith Dialogue Association, which produces Common Threads, is certainly one. Another newer addition to our family of multi-faith engagement is Interfaith Photovoice, an organized effort that encourages people of different faith backgrounds to use their phones and cameras to document their personal spiritual journey and share the intimacy of that experience with a diverse cohort of other photographer "pilgrims." In today's episode Fred Stella speaks with the founder of Interfaith Photovoice Roman Williams. Together they will discuss Roman's new book "Sacred Snaps." Theme music "Nigal."

The ancient Mediterranean teemed with gods. For centuries, a practical religious pluralism prevailed. How, then, did one Deity come to dominate the politics and piety of the late Roman Empire? In ‘Ancient Christianities,’ Paula Fredriksen traces the evolution of early Christianity, or rather, of early Christianities through five centuries of Empire, mapping its pathways from the hills of Judea to the halls of Rome and Constantinople. It is a story with a sprawling cast of characters: not only theologians, bishops, and emperors, but also gods and demons, angels and magicians, astrologers and ascetics, saints and heretics, aristocratic patrons and millenarian enthusiasts. All played their part in the development of what became and remains an energetically diverse biblical religion. Paula Fredriksen continues with host Fred Stella on the various religious, political, and social reasons that what most call Christianity in the 21st century is the worldview that won out in the marketplace of ideas 2,000 years ago. Paula Fredriksen has been distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, since 2009 (now emerita). Fredriksen served as an historical consultant and featured speaker in many media, including for the BBC production The Lives of Jesus (1996) and for U.S. News & World Report's "The Life and Times of Jesus". Fredriksen's book From Jesus to Christ: The Origins of the Early Images of Jesus served as a template for the Frontline documentary From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians. Theme music "Nigal."

As Christianity began as a sect of Judaism, Jainism was once considered a branch of Hinduism. These religions continue to share a great deal of theology, history and ritual. Yet, Jains do most often claim an identity separate from Hindus. In this episode Fred speaks with Monica Shah, Director of Education for the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington. They discuss the intricacies of this ancient faith whose pious adherents practice "radical" forms of nonviolence. Theme music "Nigal."

n 2024 Programs Podcast Topics Schedule Community Calendar Contact Common Threads Pew Research Center Religious survey By Fred Stella Published June 30, 2025 at 8:54 AM EDT Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Jonathan Evans David Hills / Courtesy Pew Research Center Jonathan Evans Fred Stella speaks with Pew senior researcher Jonathan Evans What is the state of religion in the world? For decades now that question has been addressed by one of the world's foremost authorities in polling and analysis, Pew Research. In this episode we speak to Jonathan Evans, the director of a recent project of some size. Over the past few years Pew has conducted thousands of interviews in countries across the globe on the growth, diminishment and status quo of the various religious and secular movements that inspire, correct and sometimes challenge us. Jonathan Evans is a senior researcher at Pew Research Center, where he contributes to international polling projects focused on religion and national identity. Jonathan received his master’s degree from Georgetown University and holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. Theme music "Nigal."

American democracy is in danger. How do we protect it from authoritarian reactionary Christianity? On January 6, 2021, hundreds of Americans stormed the Capitol to prevent the certification of their political opponent’s election. At the forefront were Christians claiming to act in the name of Jesus Christ and his supposed representative on earth, Donald Trump. How can this have happened? David P. Gushee tackles the question in this timely work of Christian political ethics. Gushee calls us to preserve democratic norms, including constitutional government, the rule of law, and equal rights for all, even as many Christians take a reactionary and antidemocratic stance. Surveying global politics and modern history, he analyzes how Christians have discarded their commitment to democracy and bought into authoritarianism. He urges us to fight back by reviving our hard-won traditions of congregational democracy, dissident Black Christian politics, and covenantal theology. Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies makes a robust case for a renewed commitment to democracy on the part of Christians—not by succumbing to secular liberalism, but by drawing on our own best traditions. Any concerned Christian will leave its pages with eyes wide open to the dangers of our current form of political engagement. Readers will gain insight into what democracy is truly meant to be and why Christians once supported it wholeheartedly—and should do so again. This conversation and book talk with David P. Gushee and Kristin Kobes Du Mez took place on March 15, 2024 and was sponsored by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Schuler Books, and the Kaufman Interfaith Institute. Theme music "Nigal."

Millions of people practice yoga, attracted to the mat by its promise of physical and mental benefits, social connection, and spiritual nourishment. Promoted as a way of healing the body and mind from wounds inflicted by the world, modern yoga may be a critique of the social order – an “anti-world” to which practitioners escape. Yet yoga can never free itself entirely from the compromises and contradictions of reality. In these episodes we speak with the author of ‘Yogalands: In Search of Practice on the Mat and in the World,’ wherein Paul Bramadat wrestles with his position as a skeptical scholar who is also a devoted yoga practitioner. Drawing from his own experience, and from conversations with hundreds of yoga teachers and students in the United States and Canada, he seeks to understand what yoga means for people in the modern West. In doing so, he addresses issues that often sit beneath the surface in yogaland: why yoga’s religious dimensions are rarely mentioned in classes; how the relationship between yoga and trauma might be reconsidered; and how yoga seems to have survived debates around nationalism, cultural appropriation, and sexual misconduct. Yogalands encourages practitioners and critics to be more curious about yoga. For insiders, this can deepen their practice, and for observers, this approach is an inspiring and unsettling model for engaging with other passionate commitments. Theme music "Nigal."