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GETTING RELIGION

Program 07-06-24-A

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How's your basic knowledge of relgion? Can you name the Ten Commandments? The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism? What happens during Ramadan? In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll hear an argument for why every American should know the basics of the world's religions. Also, Muslim hip hop star Lupe Fiasco, whose last CD hit the top of the rap album charts.

SEGMENT 1:

Stephen Prothero chairs the religion department at Boston University and is the author of "Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - and Doesn't." He tells Steve Paulson why he thinks it's imperative that Americans have a working knowledge of religious traditions at home and abroad to understand other peoples and our own politicians. Also, Lupe Fiasco is a devout Muslim whose album "Food and Liquor" went to number one of the rap album charts and won three Grammy Nominations. Fiasco tells Anne Strainchamps why his album begins with a prayer and how he reconciles his Islamic beliefs with the rap tradition of gang violence and degrading women.

SEGMENT 2:

Religious historian Elaine Pagels talks to Steve Paulson about the book she's written with Karen King. It's called "Reading Judas." Pagels says Judas was the favorite disciple, and the only one Jesus trusted to carry out his final command: to hand him over to the Romans.

SEGMENT 3:

Anne Lamott is famous for her intensely personal and very funny style of writing. Her latest book is "Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith." She tells Anne Strainchamps how she found God after being raised by atheists and becoming a drunk and drug addict. She liked the music, and she finally surrendered.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-06-17-A.

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Books:

Anne Lamott, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith (Riverhead)
Elaine Pagels & Karlen L. King, Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity (Viking)
Stephen Prothero, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know -- And Doesn't (Harper San Francisco)

Extended Audio Interview with Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco's song "Muhammad Walks"
Lyrics to "Muhammad Walks" (in Word)

Websites:

Salon.Com - Steve Paulson Interview with Eileen Pagels

Music:

• Music in Religious Literacy Quiz:
  Anderson w/ “”The Syncopated Clock”
  On The Home Video Album
  RCA Victor
• In Lupe Fiasco:
  ”Intro”
  “He Says She Say”
  “Daydreamin’”
  “Hurt Me Soul”
  “American Terrorist”
  All on the album “Food & Liquor” (Atlantic)
  
• “Muhammad Walks” (click here to listen to "Muhammad Walks")
  
• After Elaine Pagels:
  “It Ain’t Necessarily So”
  On “The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong”
  Verve
• After Anne Lamott:
  John Coltrane w/ “Welcome”
  On “Spiritual”
  Impulse
  
  

Distribution dates: week of 06/24/2007 - hour 1

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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