Podcasts

Biblical scholar Luke Timothy Johnson argues that historical scholarship alone cannot find the living Jesus. Though the study of history can help Christians to becomes responsible readers of the Gospels, engaging Jesus as a literary figure is ultimately a more fruitful exercise for the person of faith. Prof. Johnson also discusses why 14 years after […]

In a discussion of his new collection of spiritual writings, the Rev. Virgilio Elizondo describes the importance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Latino Catholic tradition, and how the story of Mary’s appearance can help to bridge the polarizing divide opened by the immigration debate. Father Elizondo, a professor of theology at the University […]

Applications to religious volunteer programs have risen dramatically this year as a result of the shrinking job market. In “Will Work for Free,” assistant editor Kerry Weber looks at how the influx of volunteers and the poor economic conditions are affecting programs like the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. On our podcast Kerry discusses why she chose […]

The small island of Malta may seem like a surprising choice for a papal visit, but that country’s rich Catholic culture drew Pope John Paul II to travel there twice. Pope Benedict XVI made the trip in April, and U.S. ambassador Douglas W. Kmiec says that the pontiff seemed rejuvenated after his tour of some […]

“Robin Hood” may be inexplicably dreary, and “Iron Man 2” may not match the lively wit of the original, but do not despair: the films of summer 2010 aren’t a complete bust. Film critic John Anderson highlights some smaller films worth looking out for, including “Restrepo,” a documentary about a platoon in Afghanistan, and “Coco […]

Novelist Mary Gordon’s new book, Reading Jesus: a Writer’s Encounter with the Gospels, began as an effort to understand Christian fundamentalism by looking at the primary sources of the Christian tradition. As she examined Jesus’ life and work, she discovered that she did not always agree with Jesus’s teachings, refusing, for example, to heed his […]

Drawing from the new report, Behind Bars II: Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Policy, Joseph A. Califano Jr. argues that drug treatment is essential to reducing crime outside prison and improving the environment within. This is not a liberal or conservative issue, he argues, but should be embraced by all politicians interested in fighting crime. […]

We feature two online conversations this week: the first is with Clayton Sinyai, right, a member of the Catholic Labor Network and the director of strategic campaigns for the Amalgamated Transit Union. Speaking at a conference on Caritas in Veritate held at Princeton University, Clayton explored what the pope’s latest encyclical has to say about […]

Named by Time magazine in 2001 as the “best theologian in America,” Stanley Hauerwas is a towering figure in theology today, a pacifist and author whose work has sought to integrate a variety of Christian and ethical sources. His new book, Hannah’s Child, is an account of his life in theology that deals frankly with […]

Matt Malone, S.J., a former associate editor at America, reports from London on what may be the closest–and most exciting–race to lead Parliament in decades. What happens if there is a “hung Parliament,” and what role does the Queen play in this scenario? How does the British election compare with its American counterpart? Malone provides […]