The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell talks with Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, about sacred texts, why religious extremists are just literalists, his life-long commitment to bringing the Abrahamic faiths together, his deep love of Iran – and how its image is distorted in the West – and why America has become vilified in many countries around the world. They also talk poignantly about the Qur’an as an oral revelation, equating the beauty of its oral recitation in Arabic as transforming to the psyche and the soul, not unlike examples in music or Latin liturgies in Catholic mass.

Host> The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, director, Department of Religion
Guest> Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, University Professor of Islamic studies, George Washington University.

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Chautauqua’s 2005 theologin-in-residence, the Rev. Dr. Robert Franklin, returns to the lecture platform to speak about sacred texts, literalism and the misinterpretations of sacred texts as they apply to slavery in this country. Talking here with the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Rev. Franklin identifies three problems with sacred texts: “the problem with the Book,” the problem with the author,” and “the problem with the reader.” He addresses concerns about ideologies that say “righteousness produces riches,” thus inherently labeling the poor as not righteous. And you’ll also learn what constitutes a “Morehouse Man.”

Host> The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, director, Department of Religion
Guest> Rev. Dr. Robert Franklin, President, Morehouse College

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“The Abrahamic traditions must take the lead in repairing a world that is broken,” says Dr. David Gordis, President of Hebrew College. In this conversation with the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Chautauqua’s Director of Religion, Dr. Gordis addresses the issue of sacred texts that seemingly call for violence, and the contradictions that exist within each religion’s sacred texts. He also speaks about Pope Benedict’s edict saying the Catholic Church is the only true church, and what he describes as the “pathology of religion.”

Host> The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, director, Department of Religion
Guest> Dr. David Gordis, President and professor of Rabbinics, Hebrew College.

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