Podcasts

John W. Martens, an associate professor of theology at St. Thomas University and the principal blogger for “The Good Word,” introduces America‘s Scripture blog by asking, what is the Bible? The answer depends on whether you are Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. Even among English speaking Catholics there is disagreement about which Biblical translation is […]

Regina Nigro, the assistant literary editor at America, looks at the publishing hits of summer 2010. On top of that list is Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, which has found a home in almost every subway car in New York City, but is not the only mystery worth picking up this summer. Tana French’s Faithful Place […]

W. Malcolm Byrnes reports on scientific research into induced pluripotent stem cells, a promising prolife alternative to embryonic stem cell research. Because IPS cell research does not result in the destruction of embryos–and because IPS cells are more easily obtained than embryonic stem cells–their discovery in 2006 was hailed by scientists and prolife leaders alike. […]

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. […]