Religion and Warfare: Does God Choose Sides?
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The Fort Hood shootings have raised disturbing questions about Islamic radicalism in the US military. What about Evangelical Christianity? Does it pose its own kind of dangers, especially with US troops on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan? Also, the first EU president, and Oprah Winfrey will be leaving daytime television, but she's not going away. We hear about the impact on broadcast TV now and cable TV in the future.
Making News
The First EU President: Van Rompuy Who-ee? ()
The European Union has selected its first full-time president, and it's not Tony Blair or anyone else who might give the EU a higher profile on the world stage. David Rennie is EU Correspondent for Economist magazine.
Guests:
- David Rennie: European Union Correspondent, Economist magazine, @EconBritain
Main Topic
Religion and Warfare: Does God Choose Sides? ()
A Senate committee is conducting a high profile investigation into the Fort Hood shootings, and the Pentagon is investigating the extent of Islamic radicalism in the military. Meantime, others warn about the growing presence of another kind of widespread religious fundamentalism that's not just condoned, but encouraged by some senior officers: evangelical Christians who proselytize soldiers, Marines and sailors--promoting the idea of "holy war." Critics concede that Evangelicals don't advocate killing, but contend that they undermine military morale and send the wrong message in Muslim countries. We talk about the separation of Church and State, freedom of speech and the impact of religious fundamentalism on national security.
Guests:
- Jeffrey Sharlet: Research Scholar, New York University Center for Religion and Media, @JeffSharlet
- James Hutchens: former Deputy Chief of Chaplains, US Army
- Mikey Weinstein: President, Military Religious Freedom Foundation
- Jacqueline Whitt: Assistant Professor of Military History, West Point
- Jean Reith Schroedel: Chair of the Department of Politics and Policy, Claremont Graduate University’s School of Politics
Links:
- The Third Jihad: Radical Islam's Vision for America (DVD)
- Sharlet's article, 'Jesus Killed Mohammed: The Crusade for a Christian Military'
- Sharlet's 'The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power'
- Weinstein's 'With God on Our Side: One Man's War Against an Evangelical Coup in America's Military'
- Schroedel's 'Evangelicals and Democracy in America, Vol 1: Religion and Society'
- Schroedel's 'Evangelicals and Democracy in America, Vol 2: Religion and Politics'
Reporter's Notebook
Oprah Announces She Will End Her Longtime Talk Show ()
Nobody was surprised today when Oprah Winfrey announced that her daytime-television talk-show will come to an end about two years from now. What will that mean for the broadcast landscape and for cable TV? Kim Masters is columnist for the Daily Beast.com and host of The Business, produced by KCRW.
Guests:
- Kim Masters: host, 'The Business', @kimmasters
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