https://simplecast.com The Harvard Religion Beat A podcast examining religion’s underestimated and often misunderstood role in society. President and Fellows of Harvard College en-us Thu, 12 May 2022 13:12:10 +0000 Thu, 7 Mar 2024 15:36:21 +0000 https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ The Harvard Religion Beat https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/66ae9931-0e8d-4c5c-a0c1-4d5e309df4d9/bb5d4d0c-f4e4-4ceb-a72a-69303e8002eb/3000x3000/1554731931artwork.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ episodic A podcast examining religion’s underestimated and often misunderstood role in society. Harvard Divinity School no https://feeds.simplecast.com/zK_lDc3z politics, current events, U.S. government, world affairs, faith, religion, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, culture, u.s. news Harvard University jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu 790f0086-291d-4f0a-bc69-95c5aca7d41d Psychedelics, Spirituality, and a Culture of Seekership Thu, 12 May 2022 13:12:10 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ Psychedelics, Spirituality, and a Culture of Seekership Harvard University 00:24:47 Sixty years ago on Good Friday, a famous experiment took place at Boston University's Marsh Chapel conducted by Harvard Divinity School student Walter Pahnke, where he tried to answer the question: Do psychedelic drugs occasioned mystical experiences? In 2022, conversations about the connections between psychedelics, science and medicine, and spirituality are again top of mind, from Harvard and the academy to research hospitals and beyond. In this episode, Harvard Divinity School student Paul Gillis-Smith speaks to scholar J. Christian Greer about the impact of the “Marsh Chapel Miracle,” what role psychedelics might play in the future of religion, and why, he says, there’s potential for great harm, but reasons to be hopeful, too. Sixty years ago on Good Friday, a famous experiment took place at Boston University's Marsh Chapel conducted by Harvard Divinity School student Walter Pahnke, where he tried to answer the question: Do psychedelic drugs occasioned mystical experiences? In 2022, conversations about the connections between psychedelics, science and medicine, and spirituality are again top of mind, from Harvard and the academy to research hospitals and beyond. In this episode, Harvard Divinity School student Paul Gillis-Smith speaks to scholar J. Christian Greer about the impact of the “Marsh Chapel Miracle,” what role psychedelics might play in the future of religion, and why, he says, there’s potential for great harm, but reasons to be hopeful, too. religion, harvard, harvard divinity school, science, spirituality, psychedelics no full 11 9391a32c-6608-4dbd-bec8-d4fd2bbcfe2d Putin's Unholy War Vladimir Putin's invasion and war on Ukraine is a crisis. It's a crisis that is unfolding before our very eyes across social media and cable and online news, and it's more than just a political crisis, though that's likely what most of us are hearing about. Putin's war is crisis of humanity. It's a crisis of conscience … and it's a crisis with deep religious ties.

I'm Jonathan Beasley, and in today's episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, I'm speaking with Sean Eriksen about the religious connection to Putin's war on Ukraine. Sean is a graduate student at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, specializing in contemporary Russian national identity and regime ideology. Sean is originally from Australia. He holds degrees in law and international relations, and he's lived in Kyiv, Ukraine, and has travelled throughout the former Soviet Union.

]]> Thu, 10 Mar 2022 14:00:25 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ Vladimir Putin's invasion and war on Ukraine is a crisis. It's a crisis that is unfolding before our very eyes across social media and cable and online news, and it's more than just a political crisis, though that's likely what most of us are hearing about. Putin's war is crisis of humanity. It's a crisis of conscience … and it's a crisis with deep religious ties.

I'm Jonathan Beasley, and in today's episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, I'm speaking with Sean Eriksen about the religious connection to Putin's war on Ukraine. Sean is a graduate student at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, specializing in contemporary Russian national identity and regime ideology. Sean is originally from Australia. He holds degrees in law and international relations, and he's lived in Kyiv, Ukraine, and has travelled throughout the former Soviet Union.

]]> Putin's Unholy War Harvard University 00:20:31 Vladimir Putin's invasion and war on Ukraine is a crisis. It's a crisis that is unfolding before our very eyes across social media and cable and online news, and it's more than just a political crisis, though that's likely what most of us are hearing about. Putin's war is crisis of humanity. It's a crisis of conscience … and it's a crisis with deep religious ties. I'm Jonathan Beasley, and in today's episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, I'm speaking with Sean Eriksen about the religious connection to Putin's war on Ukraine. Sean is a graduate student at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, specializing in contemporary Russian national identity and regime ideology. Sean is originally from Australia. He holds degrees in law and international relations, and he's lived in Kyiv, Ukraine, and has travelled throughout the former Soviet Union. Vladimir Putin's invasion and war on Ukraine is a crisis. It's a crisis that is unfolding before our very eyes across social media and cable and online news, and it's more than just a political crisis, though that's likely what most of us are hearing about. Putin's war is crisis of humanity. It's a crisis of conscience … and it's a crisis with deep religious ties. I'm Jonathan Beasley, and in today's episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, I'm speaking with Sean Eriksen about the religious connection to Putin's war on Ukraine. Sean is a graduate student at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, specializing in contemporary Russian national identity and regime ideology. Sean is originally from Australia. He holds degrees in law and international relations, and he's lived in Kyiv, Ukraine, and has travelled throughout the former Soviet Union. christianity, war, russian orthodox church, religion, zelensky, world news, putin, harvard, harvard divinity school, ukraine, russia no full 10 9901397b-ccd6-49ec-9fb7-c9a3cbb2a72b When Boston Banned Christmas ‘Tis this season of peace and goodwill, of traditions, both familial, and religious, and to some, it’s the time of year to freak out about the so called “War on Christmas.”

A rallying cry for certain sectors of the media, Christmas, apparently, has been under siege for decades, with liberals and the non-religious doing everything they can to take Christ out of Christmas. 

But is Christmas really under threat? Even taking into consideration the constitutional separation of church and state, you can’t go anywhere in America during December and not be reminded that it’s Christmas. Decorations and ornaments, garland and lights, Christmas trees, even the media that surrounds us across any and all platforms, reminds us that Christmas is everywhere. So, if there’s a war on Christmas, then surely it’s being lost by whomever is waging it. 

Now, if you want to wage a real war on Christmas, as far as I can tell, the best way to do it is to just make it illegal, which is exactly what happened from 1659 to 1681 here in Boston, Massachusetts, when anyone caught celebrating the holiday would be subject to a fine of 5 shillings. 

And do you know who was responsible for canceling Christmas? Was it some anti-religious group or a bunch of pagans? Was it liberal policymakers or a rogue state official? Nope. It was one of the most pious groups of people at the time: the Puritans.

I’m Jonathan Beasley, and this is the Harvard Religion Beat, a podcast examining religion's underestimated and often misunderstood role in society.

Today, I’m speaking with David F. Holland, who is the John A. Bartlett Professor of New England Church History here at Harvard Divinity School. I wanted to get Professor Holland’s insight into two specific questions: Why did the Puritans ban the celebration of Christmas, and did that ban set the stage both for future similar laws, and even a particular New England way of life? 

]]> Wed, 15 Dec 2021 18:40:38 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ ‘Tis this season of peace and goodwill, of traditions, both familial, and religious, and to some, it’s the time of year to freak out about the so called “War on Christmas.”

A rallying cry for certain sectors of the media, Christmas, apparently, has been under siege for decades, with liberals and the non-religious doing everything they can to take Christ out of Christmas. 

But is Christmas really under threat? Even taking into consideration the constitutional separation of church and state, you can’t go anywhere in America during December and not be reminded that it’s Christmas. Decorations and ornaments, garland and lights, Christmas trees, even the media that surrounds us across any and all platforms, reminds us that Christmas is everywhere. So, if there’s a war on Christmas, then surely it’s being lost by whomever is waging it. 

Now, if you want to wage a real war on Christmas, as far as I can tell, the best way to do it is to just make it illegal, which is exactly what happened from 1659 to 1681 here in Boston, Massachusetts, when anyone caught celebrating the holiday would be subject to a fine of 5 shillings. 

And do you know who was responsible for canceling Christmas? Was it some anti-religious group or a bunch of pagans? Was it liberal policymakers or a rogue state official? Nope. It was one of the most pious groups of people at the time: the Puritans.

I’m Jonathan Beasley, and this is the Harvard Religion Beat, a podcast examining religion's underestimated and often misunderstood role in society.

Today, I’m speaking with David F. Holland, who is the John A. Bartlett Professor of New England Church History here at Harvard Divinity School. I wanted to get Professor Holland’s insight into two specific questions: Why did the Puritans ban the celebration of Christmas, and did that ban set the stage both for future similar laws, and even a particular New England way of life? 

]]> When Boston Banned Christmas Harvard University 00:23:41 Did you know that Christmas was illegal in Massachusetts from 1659 to 1681, and anyone caught celebrating the holiday would be subject to a fine of 5 shillings? And who was responsible for canceling Christmas? Was it pagans, or liberal policymakers, or the anti-religious? Nope, it was one of the most pious groups of people at the time: the Puritans. "Puritans abided by what's sometimes been called the regulative principle of Biblicism, which is that not only do you need to do what the Bible enjoins you to do, but you should avoid establishing, as practices of spiritual significance, things that the Bible does not expressly endorse," says HDS Professor David F. Holland. “And so the absence of Christmas in scripture was the primary source of the kind of Puritan concern about it and condemnation of it.” But there was also another big reason for the ban, namely that Christmas had a tradition of being a time of social disorder, similar to Carnival. And that disorder, drunkenness, irreverence, and often sexual licentiousness, was something Puritans found unacceptable. Even though anti-Christmas sentiment and culture was still very much prevalent in New England until the mid-nineteenth century, Christmas became a national holiday in 1870 thanks to one particular phenomenon. “What really kind of gives Christmas it's propriety or its legitimacy in the culture of New England is the rise of a kind of cult of domesticity in the early nineteenth century and what some scholars have referred to as the birth of childhood,” says Holland, “the recognition of childhood as a distinctive stage of human development that deserves a certain kind of indulgence and a certain kind of happiness.” Did you know that Christmas was illegal in Massachusetts from 1659 to 1681, and anyone caught celebrating the holiday would be subject to a fine of 5 shillings? And who was responsible for canceling Christmas? Was it pagans, or liberal policymakers, or the anti-religious? Nope, it was one of the most pious groups of people at the time: the Puritans. "Puritans abided by what's sometimes been called the regulative principle of Biblicism, which is that not only do you need to do what the Bible enjoins you to do, but you should avoid establishing, as practices of spiritual significance, things that the Bible does not expressly endorse," says HDS Professor David F. Holland. “And so the absence of Christmas in scripture was the primary source of the kind of Puritan concern about it and condemnation of it.” But there was also another big reason for the ban, namely that Christmas had a tradition of being a time of social disorder, similar to Carnival. And that disorder, drunkenness, irreverence, and often sexual licentiousness, was something Puritans found unacceptable. Even though anti-Christmas sentiment and culture was still very much prevalent in New England until the mid-nineteenth century, Christmas became a national holiday in 1870 thanks to one particular phenomenon. “What really kind of gives Christmas it's propriety or its legitimacy in the culture of New England is the rise of a kind of cult of domesticity in the early nineteenth century and what some scholars have referred to as the birth of childhood,” says Holland, “the recognition of childhood as a distinctive stage of human development that deserves a certain kind of indulgence and a certain kind of happiness.” christianity, new england, holidays, massachusetts, harvard, boston, harvard divinity school, american history, christmas, u.s. history no full 9 468ac246-285b-44be-9206-b77c5315a9f7 Fantastic Faiths and What We Can Learn From Them Wed, 27 Oct 2021 14:15:53 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ Fantastic Faiths and What We Can Learn From Them Harvard University 00:19:40 Dune. The Matrix. Blade Runner. Star Wars. We know that fantasy and sci-fi use religion, but do they change actual religion in the process? Do they impact how we believe, what we believe, and even the nature of belief itself? Today we're speaking with HDS Professor Charles Stang, who teaches the binge-worthy course, “Aliens, Artificial Intelligence, and Apocalypse: Ancient Mythology and Contemporary Film." We investigate why fantasy and sci-fi use religious elements in storytelling and even create full religions of their own. Do they appropriate or appreciate, respect or denigrate? Dune. The Matrix. Blade Runner. Star Wars. We know that fantasy and sci-fi use religion, but do they change actual religion in the process? Do they impact how we believe, what we believe, and even the nature of belief itself? Today we're speaking with HDS Professor Charles Stang, who teaches the binge-worthy course, “Aliens, Artificial Intelligence, and Apocalypse: Ancient Mythology and Contemporary Film." We investigate why fantasy and sci-fi use religious elements in storytelling and even create full religions of their own. Do they appropriate or appreciate, respect or denigrate? harvard divinity, harry potter, science fiction, terminator, star wars, religion, dune, fantasy, sci-fi, c.s. lewis, frank herbert, tolkien, harvard, lord of the rings, marvel, blade runner, matrix no full 8 b45677b7-dfa0-4dcf-8d04-9d7fb3df50cc Finding Beauty in a Broken World The modern environmental movement was born 51 years ago when millions of people took part in protests and rallies in streets, parks, auditoriums, and on college campuses as part of the first-ever Earth Day.

Yet today, as species continue to face extinction, and as weather events, heatwaves, floods, and wildfires around the world wreak havoc on populations and our planet, it can seem like, when it comes to protecting and healing our natural world, we’re taking one step forward but two steps backward.

So, how do we face the harsh realities and the loss associated with climate change, while still finding joy in the natural wonder that surrounds us? How do we reconcile beauty and brokenness?

In this episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, I’m speaking with Terry Tempest Williams, activist, conservationist, Harvard Divinity School Writer in Residence, and author of numerous books, including the environmental literature classic, Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place.

For Earth Day 2021, I wanted to speak with Terry about the course she’s teaching this semester, and about the spiritual implications of climate change, and how we can still find beauty despite the chaos that surrounds us.
 

]]> Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:08:21 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ The modern environmental movement was born 51 years ago when millions of people took part in protests and rallies in streets, parks, auditoriums, and on college campuses as part of the first-ever Earth Day.

Yet today, as species continue to face extinction, and as weather events, heatwaves, floods, and wildfires around the world wreak havoc on populations and our planet, it can seem like, when it comes to protecting and healing our natural world, we’re taking one step forward but two steps backward.

So, how do we face the harsh realities and the loss associated with climate change, while still finding joy in the natural wonder that surrounds us? How do we reconcile beauty and brokenness?

In this episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, I’m speaking with Terry Tempest Williams, activist, conservationist, Harvard Divinity School Writer in Residence, and author of numerous books, including the environmental literature classic, Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place.

For Earth Day 2021, I wanted to speak with Terry about the course she’s teaching this semester, and about the spiritual implications of climate change, and how we can still find beauty despite the chaos that surrounds us.
 

]]> Finding Beauty in a Broken World Harvard University 00:14:23 For Earth Day 2021, we speak with author and climate activist Terry Tempest Williams about the spiritual implications of climate change and how we can still find beauty despite the chaos and destruction that surrounds us. For Earth Day 2021, we speak with author and climate activist Terry Tempest Williams about the spiritual implications of climate change and how we can still find beauty despite the chaos and destruction that surrounds us. sustainability, environment, climate care, climate change, earth day, conservation, religion, harvard, harvard divinity school, spirituality no full 7 ed07effd-6e48-40e2-9892-6e91bacd21c6 Religion in the Time of Pandemic Examining religion's role in past pandemics, the responsibility faith leaders have during a health crisis, and how religious practice has been changed by the Coronavirus. 

]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2021 16:17:41 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ Examining religion's role in past pandemics, the responsibility faith leaders have during a health crisis, and how religious practice has been changed by the Coronavirus. 

]]> Religion in the Time of Pandemic Harvard University 00:29:21 Examining religion's role in past pandemics, the responsibility faith leaders have during a health crisis, and how religious practice has been changed by the Coronavirus.  Examining religion's role in past pandemics, the responsibility faith leaders have during a health crisis, and how religious practice has been changed by the Coronavirus.  politics, coronavirus, vaccinations, covid, religion, covid-19, news, harvard, harvard divinity school, vaccine, u.s. history no full 6 d9688342-e92c-44a0-978c-ddd4286eb44f What Black History Month in 2021 Means for a Rising Spiritual and Ethical Movement In February of 1926, Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-education historian, had a very specific goal in mind when he established what was then called Negro History Week. He hoped, as time went along, that Black history would be recognized as so entrenched in American history that calendars wouldn’t indicate when society should celebrate Black history.

Flash forward to 1970, when Black History Month as we know it today was first celebrated at Kent State University, then 16 years later, in 1986, when the U.S. Congress officially recognized Black History Month as the law of the land, some 60 years after Carter Woodson pioneered the celebration.

I’m Jonathan Beasley, and this is another special pop-up episode of the Harvard Religion Beat. Today, I’m speaking with Quardricos Driskell, MTS '08, adjunct professor of religion and politics at George Washington University, as well as a writer, policy influencer, lobbyist, and pastor of the historic Beulah Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

I wanted to speak with Quardricos about whether Black History Month has taken on new significance in 2021. We’ll also chat about avoiding complacency around racial justice issues now that the Trump presidency is over, how the Black Lives Matter movement can continue its momentum by working across generational divides, and why Democrats running for political office should talk more openly about their faith.

]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2021 20:22:26 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ In February of 1926, Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-education historian, had a very specific goal in mind when he established what was then called Negro History Week. He hoped, as time went along, that Black history would be recognized as so entrenched in American history that calendars wouldn’t indicate when society should celebrate Black history.

Flash forward to 1970, when Black History Month as we know it today was first celebrated at Kent State University, then 16 years later, in 1986, when the U.S. Congress officially recognized Black History Month as the law of the land, some 60 years after Carter Woodson pioneered the celebration.

I’m Jonathan Beasley, and this is another special pop-up episode of the Harvard Religion Beat. Today, I’m speaking with Quardricos Driskell, MTS '08, adjunct professor of religion and politics at George Washington University, as well as a writer, policy influencer, lobbyist, and pastor of the historic Beulah Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

I wanted to speak with Quardricos about whether Black History Month has taken on new significance in 2021. We’ll also chat about avoiding complacency around racial justice issues now that the Trump presidency is over, how the Black Lives Matter movement can continue its momentum by working across generational divides, and why Democrats running for political office should talk more openly about their faith.

]]> What Black History Month in 2021 Means for a Rising Spiritual and Ethical Movement Harvard University 00:30:03 A conversation with pastor, professor, and policy influencer Quardricos Driskell about whether Black History Month has taken on new significance in 2021. We also chat about avoiding complacency around racial justice issues now that the Trump presidency is over, how the Black Lives Matter movement can continue its momentum by working across generational divides, and why Democrats running for political office should talk more openly about their faith. A conversation with pastor, professor, and policy influencer Quardricos Driskell about whether Black History Month has taken on new significance in 2021. We also chat about avoiding complacency around racial justice issues now that the Trump presidency is over, how the Black Lives Matter movement can continue its momentum by working across generational divides, and why Democrats running for political office should talk more openly about their faith. racial justice, racism, politics, president biden, religion, black lives matter, black social gospel, black church, black history month, faith, equality, harvard, harvard divinity school, religion and politics no full 5 99477efe-eb47-477a-85c9-b702b3ea9cf7 How Joe Biden’s Faith Will Shape His Presidency In an October 2020 op-ed for the Christian Post, Joe Biden wrote: “My Catholic faith drilled into me a core truth—that every person on earth is equal in rights and dignity, because we are all beloved children of God.” As president, he continued, “These are the principles that will shape all that I do, and my faith will continue to serve as my anchor, as it has my entire life.”

I’m Jonathan Beasley, and this is a special pop-up episode of the Harvard Religion Beat. Today, I’m chatting with E. J. Dionne, who many of you likely know as a journalist, author, and political commentator. He also teaches at Georgetown and here at Harvard and HDS. And just before the election he co-authored the report "A Time to Heal, A Time to Build," with Melissa Rogers for the Brookings Institution, where he is a senior fellow in Governance Studies.

I wanted to speak with E. J. to get his insight into how Joe Biden’s Catholicism will shape the way he governs as president, and how his faith will serve as a road map for how his administration will tackle economic injustices, equal rights, religious freedom, and racial justice—all while trying to heal a very divided nation.

Music credit: InSpectr, "After the Border" (Free Music Archive)

]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:02:23 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ In an October 2020 op-ed for the Christian Post, Joe Biden wrote: “My Catholic faith drilled into me a core truth—that every person on earth is equal in rights and dignity, because we are all beloved children of God.” As president, he continued, “These are the principles that will shape all that I do, and my faith will continue to serve as my anchor, as it has my entire life.”

I’m Jonathan Beasley, and this is a special pop-up episode of the Harvard Religion Beat. Today, I’m chatting with E. J. Dionne, who many of you likely know as a journalist, author, and political commentator. He also teaches at Georgetown and here at Harvard and HDS. And just before the election he co-authored the report "A Time to Heal, A Time to Build," with Melissa Rogers for the Brookings Institution, where he is a senior fellow in Governance Studies.

I wanted to speak with E. J. to get his insight into how Joe Biden’s Catholicism will shape the way he governs as president, and how his faith will serve as a road map for how his administration will tackle economic injustices, equal rights, religious freedom, and racial justice—all while trying to heal a very divided nation.

Music credit: InSpectr, "After the Border" (Free Music Archive)

]]> How Joe Biden’s Faith Will Shape His Presidency Harvard University 00:31:42 In this special pop-up episode of Harvard Religion Beat, we speak with journalist, author, and political commentator E. J. Dionne to get his insight into how Joe Biden’s Catholicism will shape the way he governs as president, and how his faith will serve as a road map for how his administration will tackle economic injustices, equal rights, religious freedom, and racial justice—all while trying to heal a very divided nation. In this special pop-up episode of Harvard Religion Beat, we speak with journalist, author, and political commentator E. J. Dionne to get his insight into how Joe Biden’s Catholicism will shape the way he governs as president, and how his faith will serve as a road map for how his administration will tackle economic injustices, equal rights, religious freedom, and racial justice—all while trying to heal a very divided nation. lgbtq, racial justice, politics, joe biden, religion, social justice, faith, civil rights, news, catholicism no full 4 e503c4be-314f-43e6-8a5a-1c562059e907 Mainstream Meditation and the Million-Dollar Mindfulness Boom The Rundown

00:01 - Jon Kabat-Zinn speaking with Bill Moyers
00:36 - Birth and rise of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
02:03 - Mindfulness meditation gains popularity
04:25 – Intro to the episode and to guest Chris Berlin, mediation teacher and instructor at HDS
05:59 - Mindfulness as a secular approach to traditional meditation practice
10:34 – Benefits and how mindfulness meditation has/n't changed over the years
12:21 - Explosion of the digital mindfulness landscape and possible downsides
14:45 - Whatever works for you
17:20 - Anything we do, we can be mindful about it
19:23 - Credits, connect with us, and Veritalk

Full transcript on the Harvard Divinity School website. | If you don’t already, please follow us on social and subscribe to our e-newsletter!

Music credits: Chris Zabriskie; InSpectr (Free Music Archive)

]]> Thu, 8 Aug 2019 17:51:04 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard University) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ The Rundown

00:01 - Jon Kabat-Zinn speaking with Bill Moyers
00:36 - Birth and rise of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
02:03 - Mindfulness meditation gains popularity
04:25 – Intro to the episode and to guest Chris Berlin, mediation teacher and instructor at HDS
05:59 - Mindfulness as a secular approach to traditional meditation practice
10:34 – Benefits and how mindfulness meditation has/n't changed over the years
12:21 - Explosion of the digital mindfulness landscape and possible downsides
14:45 - Whatever works for you
17:20 - Anything we do, we can be mindful about it
19:23 - Credits, connect with us, and Veritalk

Full transcript on the Harvard Divinity School website. | If you don’t already, please follow us on social and subscribe to our e-newsletter!

Music credits: Chris Zabriskie; InSpectr (Free Music Archive)

]]> Mainstream Meditation and the Million-Dollar Mindfulness Boom Harvard University 00:20:36 Today, mindfulness meditation courses can be found everywhere from schools to prisons to sports teams. So why has mindfulness meditation suddenly become so popular? For starters, recent studies show benefits against an array of conditions both physical and mental, including helping to counter stress, chronic pain, and other ailments such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. But are there possible downsides to mindfulness being embraced by the mainstream? Today, mindfulness meditation courses can be found everywhere from schools to prisons to sports teams. So why has mindfulness meditation suddenly become so popular? For starters, recent studies show benefits against an array of conditions both physical and mental, including helping to counter stress, chronic pain, and other ailments such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. But are there possible downsides to mindfulness being embraced by the mainstream? yoga, interview, mbsr, wellbeing, culture, meditation, mindfulness meditation, health and wellness, news, podcast, harvard, harvard divinity school, mindfulness, buddhism no full 3 2ed3667f-3ee1-4eef-8186-21a3932e7853 Why Hate Crimes Are on the Rise The Rundown

00:01 - Phone call and defacing of synagogue library
01:19 - Violence against religious minorities is on the rise
02:56 - Responsibility of politics leaders and President Trump
04:41 - Rabbi Gerson on what it's like to lead worshipers in unsettling times
06:13 - The FBI's misleading hate crime statistics
10:21 - Emboldening of white supremacists
13:41 - White nationalism's global rise
14:47 - Hope for the future
15:54 - International response needed
16:36 - Golf clap + other ways to connect

Full transcript available on the Harvard Divinity School website. | Subscribe to HDS social and subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Music credit: InSpectr (Free Music Archive)

]]> Thu, 18 Apr 2019 19:45:00 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard Divinity School) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ The Rundown

00:01 - Phone call and defacing of synagogue library
01:19 - Violence against religious minorities is on the rise
02:56 - Responsibility of politics leaders and President Trump
04:41 - Rabbi Gerson on what it's like to lead worshipers in unsettling times
06:13 - The FBI's misleading hate crime statistics
10:21 - Emboldening of white supremacists
13:41 - White nationalism's global rise
14:47 - Hope for the future
15:54 - International response needed
16:36 - Golf clap + other ways to connect

Full transcript available on the Harvard Divinity School website. | Subscribe to HDS social and subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Music credit: InSpectr (Free Music Archive)

]]> Why Hate Crimes Are on the Rise Harvard Divinity School 00:17:28 Hate crimes committed on the basis of religious identity have surged 23 percent, the biggest annual increase since 9/11. In this episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, we examine the rise of hate crimes in the U.S., taking a closer look at white nationalism, the rhetoric of President Trump, and the role of the FBI. Hate crimes committed on the basis of religious identity have surged 23 percent, the biggest annual increase since 9/11. In this episode of the Harvard Religion Beat, we examine the rise of hate crimes in the U.S., taking a closer look at white nationalism, the rhetoric of President Trump, and the role of the FBI. white nationalism, christianity, politics, president trump, religion, u.s. politics, u.s. news, world news, islam, current affairs, muslims, donald trump, white supremecy, judaism, fbi, harvard, trump, spirituality, hate crimes, sikhism no full 2 3d800151-c5eb-4a4e-98e9-6d79ed0ef3a3 For Trump’s Evangelicals, the Inconvenient Teachings of Christ The Rundown

00:26 - White evangelical support for Trump
01:53 - Intro to the pod and to my guest, Prof. Dudley Rose
02:25 - Evangelical oppression?
05:01 - Abortion as a redline
08:46 - Evangelicals "dream president"
10:47 - Jesus chatting w/ Trump
11:51 - Lesser of two evils?
14:56 - Democrats win over white evangelicals?
17:14 - "Evangelicals are people of hope, not fear"
18:06 - Golf clap + other ways to connect

Full transcript available on the Harvard Divinity School website. | Follow us on social and subscribe to our e-newsletter! And listen to our other pod “Ministry of Ideas!”

Music credit: InSpectr (Free Music Archive)

]]> Thu, 1 Nov 2018 16:00:00 +0000 jbeasley@hds.harvard.edu (Harvard Divinity School) https://theharvardreligionbeat.simplecast.fm/ The Rundown

00:26 - White evangelical support for Trump
01:53 - Intro to the pod and to my guest, Prof. Dudley Rose
02:25 - Evangelical oppression?
05:01 - Abortion as a redline
08:46 - Evangelicals "dream president"
10:47 - Jesus chatting w/ Trump
11:51 - Lesser of two evils?
14:56 - Democrats win over white evangelicals?
17:14 - "Evangelicals are people of hope, not fear"
18:06 - Golf clap + other ways to connect

Full transcript available on the Harvard Divinity School website. | Follow us on social and subscribe to our e-newsletter! And listen to our other pod “Ministry of Ideas!”

Music credit: InSpectr (Free Music Archive)

]]> For Trump’s Evangelicals, the Inconvenient Teachings of Christ Harvard Divinity School 00:18:58 Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election thanks in large part to overwhelming support from one particular group of folks: white evangelicals. But given what we know about evangelicals and their social positions centered on family values, and given what we know about Trump, a thrice-married casino mogul facing numerous allegations of adultery, sexual assault, and bigotry, where does this evangelical support for Trump come from? Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election thanks in large part to overwhelming support from one particular group of folks: white evangelicals. But given what we know about evangelicals and their social positions centered on family values, and given what we know about Trump, a thrice-married casino mogul facing numerous allegations of adultery, sexual assault, and bigotry, where does this evangelical support for Trump come from? christianity, politics, president trump, religion, u.s. politics, u.s. news, current affairs, donald trump, harvard, trump, spirituality, evangelicals no full 1