To the Best of Our Knowledge

PROMO FOR HOUR ONE  6/24/07   "Getting Religion"
*How's your basic knowledge of religion? 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.

PROGRAM RUNDOWN:   "Getting Religion" ***Language Advisory***

0:00 - 25:15        SEGMENT 1: (25:16)
            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. 

***Language Advisory***

            Lupe Fiasco discusses his lyrics and we also hear him in
            performance.  His music is rap, and while most of it is
            very devout, it occasionally uses the kind of language
            rap is famous for.  In these excerpts the word "Bitch"
            occurs several times and "titties" is used once.
            Generally, Fiasco is objecting to the use of this
            language in music.  
                    
            Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

25:16 - 25:45  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

25:46 - 39:09       SEGMENT 2: (13:25)
            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 Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

39:10 - 39:39       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

39:40 - 53:00       SEGMENT 3: (13:20)
            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. 
                    
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
6-24-A.