How did religion ever get started in the first place? We talked to renowned sociologist Robert Bellah shortly before he died. He said religion isn't about belief in God. Its origins go back to the rituals of our ancient ancestors, and ultimately to play.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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The French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, was presented with a Freedom on Expression award from the PEN American Center this week. Six high-profile writers boycotted the awards ceremony at PEN's big annual gala. Hundreds more protested, while others gave the magazine's editors a standing ovation. The chariman of the PEN World Voices Festival is Colm Toibin, the celebrated Irish novelist. Toibin shares his thoughs on the controversy.
John Berendt tells Anne Strainchamps that Venice still feels like a stage set, and that Venetians still carry on in dramatic, even operatic ways.
Jane Walmsley is an American who’s lived in England for twenty five years. Her book is “Brit-Think, Ameri-Think.” She talks with Anne Strainchamps about how American attitudes differ from British ones.
MP3 formatting compresses audio so that the file becomes 75 to 95 percent smaller. But what are we missing?
Sales of George Orwell’s 1984 went through the roof after the latest news about the NSA’s surveillance of Americans’ communications. What would defying state control look like these days? Writer and digital activist Cory Doctorow considered the question in his novel, “Little Brother.”
Margaret MacMillan explains the historical context of the Nixon trip to China and how it changed the course of history.
.Historian Jeffrey Kripal makes the case for taking paranormal phenomena more seriously.
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