Religion and Spirituality (Video)

In the period between 1150 and 1550 a number of Christians in western Europe made pilgrimage to places where material objects - among them paintings, statues, relics, pieces of wood, earth, stones, and Eucharistic wafers - allegedly erupted into life by such activities as bleeding, weeping, and walking about. Carole Walker Bynum, Professor of Western European Middle Ages at the Institute for Advanced Studies, describes the miracles themselves and probes the basic philosophical and scientific assumptions about nature and matter that lay behind them. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Humanities] [Show ID: 17620]

Harry Kreisler welcomes Rich Cohen, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, to discuss his book “Israel is Real.” Cohen explores the changing conception of a homeland for Jews in the Diaspora, the theme of his new book, and explains how Jews turned the loss of the real Zion to a focus on an ideal Zion that would be realized in an unknown future. He traces the rise of the Zionist movement and the ways in which the establishment of the State of Israel created tension between Jews for whom Zion was a virtual vision and Jews in Israel for whom Zion had become a real state with concerns for security and land. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Show ID: 17870]

San Diego Deputy District Attorney Jane Via returns to Osher UCSD to recount what has happened to her in the three years since she was ordained as a Roman Catholic woman priest. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16595]

Conversations with History host Harry Kreisler welcomes the Carnegie Endowment's Karim Sadjadpour for a discussion of U.S.-Iran relations. Topics covered include: the recent Iranian elections, the divisions with the clerical power structure shaping the domestic political conflict, the Iranian nuclear program, the role of the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's strategic goals, its aims in negotiations with the U.S., the implications of the new U.S. policy of engagement, the role of Israel in shaping U.S. Iranian relations, and the dilemmas the Obama administration faces as it shapes a new U.S. foreign policy. Series: "Conversations with History" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 17429]

Who is most beloved by God? Monotheists have often advanced the idea that their relationship with God is unique and superior to all others. Rabbi Reuven Firestone explores the idea of "chosenness" as articulated through the scriptures of the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Humanities] [Show ID: 16030]

Authors Robert Thurman and Pico Iyer reflect on the Dalai Lama's ideas and work as a religious leader, politician, scientist, and philosopher. Series: "Voices" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16536]

What are the most salient and significant features of the current offensive directed against the State of Israel and Jewish communities around the world? Robert Wistrich, Director of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, examined key facets of the challenge and danger that emanates from the new anti-Semitism, including its connections with the global Jihad. He also explored some possible responses and strategies in dealing with this threat. Series: "Taubman Symposia in Jewish Studies" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 16029]

Professor David Sloan Wilson looks at Darwin’s theory of evolution vs. theories of creationism and intelligent design. He considers the assault on Darwin’s theory by those who advance theories of creationism or intelligent design in this installment of the Darwin Evolving Series from UCLA. Series: "Darwin Evolving" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 16922]

Sister Joan D. Chittister, a Benedictine nun, discusses how culture changes and the implications those changes have for contemporary spirituality. She focuses on the stages of revitalization, global definitions of the seven capital sins, and American society as it moves into the 21st century. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 16612]

Author and nondenominational pastor Brian McLaren discusses what he considers to be the most imperative global crises, how Christians are equipped to grapple with them, and how Christians can join with people of other backgrounds as advocates for change. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Humanities] [Show ID: 16611]