Revolutionary Spirituality

Kevan Gardner has been a practicing pagan for more than 15 years, and his practice has heavily influenced him as an activist and performer. He is part of a community of witches, radical faeries and adherents to Native American spiritual traditions that is based along the west coast from Northern California to British Columbia. In the broadest historical sense, the term pagan has been used to denote a practitioner of any religion or spiritual tradition outside of the Abrahamic religions- Islam, Judaism and Christianity. In modern times it has come to mean someone whose spiritual practices are guided by reverence for the earth and nature, and often includes polytheism, pantheism, shamanism and/or animism.Contact Information - For more information contact the show

Will You Be Saved From The "Shopocalypse" This Christmas Season? Pacifica Radio offered its listners a bit of "salvation" in the form of a recorded live performance by Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. The performance took place in New York City on November 4th, 2007 at the Highline Ballroom. Reverend Billy and his choir proselytized against consumerism, which they claim stifles the uniqueness of our lives, and told their audience that they believe that, "if we 'back away from the product' - even a little bit, then we Put The Odd Back In God!" A sermon by Reverend Billy anchors the performance with a critique of "born again" fundamentalist religion, which he claims inevitably leads to violence. He gives homage to our "first births" and encourages his audience to re-connect with their innate questioning nature. This program was produced for Pacifica Radio (www.pacifica.org) by Jon Almeleh and Ursula Ruedenberg. Mixing and editing was done by Jon Almeleh and Bill Wells. Doug George provided techni

Sarah Conover is an author living in Spokane. Her interests lie with world religion and multicultural storytelling traditions. She holds a BA in religious studies from the University of Colorado and an MFA in poetry from Eastern Washington University. She is a former teacher in Spokane's Valley Alternative High School, and is the founder and general editor of the This Little Light of Mine Children's book series, published by Eastern Washington University Press. The four books in the series- "Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents", "Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs: A Treasury of Islamic Wisdom for Children and Parents", "At Work in Life's Garden: Writers on the Spiritual Adventure of Parenting", and the bilingual book, "Harmony: A Treasury of Chinese Wisdom for Children and Parents" encompass Sarah's effort to help people "develop an appetite for differentness." This program originally aired on 12/15/08. For Information About Sarah's Books- www.ewu.edu/ewupress/childrens.htmSarah's boo

Dr. Raymond Reyes is currently the Associate Mission Vice President for Intercultural Relations at Gonzaga University. Prior to coming to Gonzaga, Dr. Reyes served as the Administrative Director for the Coeur 'D Alene Tribe of Idaho. He has 28 years of experience in Indian Education and professional development training and has delivered workshops and seminars addressing multicultural education; emotional intelligence, diversity, and organizational change; the application of neuroscience research to the classroom; healing and recovery; cultural competency in counseling psychology; working with at-risk youth; and Ignatian spirituality and leadership development. Dr. Reyes' Doctoral Dissertation included a critical analysis of the New Age movement in contrast to “traditional” world religions, both Christian and non-Christian. Dr. Reyes discusses his spiritual journey as well as his perspective on religion and spirituality. This show originally aired on 12/8/08. Contact Information- Gonzaga University, Office of

Mary Diggs-Hobson is the co-founder and Executive Director of AARTH Ministry (African American Reach and Teach Health) which is a faith-based capacity building nonprofit organization established to respond to HIV/AIDS and other major health issues affecting people of African descent. AARTH Ministry, based in Seattle, was established in September 2002 by Reverend Diggs-Hobson, Reginald Diggs, and Dr. DeMaurice Moses. AARTH promotes collaborative partnerships with churches/mosques, faith and community-based organizations, health and social service providers, and government agencies. The conversation focused on the initial response to HIV/AIDS by the religious community and where things stand now.Contact Information- www.aarth.org, aarthministry@yahoo.com, or 206-850-2070. This program originally aired on 12/1/08.

Thomas Orjala is the outreach chair for The Urantia Book Fellowship. In October, 1955, The Urantia Book was published by a non-profit foundation in Chicago. It is purported to be a revelation by celestial personalities to the peoples of the earth. In the intervening years its story has inspired tens of thousands with what they say are answers to the questions of who we are, why we are here, and where we are going.The Urantia Book is described as a revelation of facts and truths which have long been sought after by scientists, historians, philosophers, and religionists of this planet. The subject matter of the entire book, according to Ruth Burton of Urantiabook.org, centers in the general purpose of making clear "man’s divine and eternal destiny", "the age-long progress from animal to angel, from angel to spirit, from spirit to God". Contact Information - www.truthbook.com, www.urantiabook.org or you can reach Thomas Orjala by e-mail at tomo@imbris.net or by phone at 208-704-1985. This program originally aire

Pastor Paul Rodkey, the pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Spokane Washington for twenty-three year, says of his church, "we are a congregation looking for the 'image of God' in each of God's children. Our motivation in faith is love. We are passionate about holy Scripture, in a healthy way. We believe it is important to be more open as opposed to closed to God's glorious and diverse world. We are ever hopeful that God's Kingdom of healing will triumph over human brokenness. All of God's children are welcome in this sanctuary of holy space. We are called to love, not judge." Pastor Rodkey discusses the "image of God" as he sees it. Contact Information: http://bethany-spokane.presbychurch.org, bethanyp@qwestoffice.net or call the church at (509) 534-0066. This show originally aired on 11/17/08.

In response to the election day results of November 4, I am offering a recording of the keynote address that President Elect Barack Obama delivered at the Call To Renewal Conference on 6/28/06. His topic was the role of religion in politics. The conference was sponsored by Sojourners, a progressive Christian commentary on faith, politics and culture, that seeks to build a movement of spirituality and social change. The podcast concludes with the gospel song "Let Me Tell You How to Move a Mountain," sung by Rev. Clay Evans and the Fellowship Choir. The show originally aired on 11/10/08. For a transcript or audio copy of this keynote address go to- http://obama.senate.gov/podcast/060628-call_to_renewal_1/

Rev. Jim Wallis, a self-described progressive evangelical, and author of the book "God's Politics - Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get it." delivered a lecture as a part of a symposium at the Colorado College called - Religion and Public Life - Why be Afraid? This is an excerpt of that lecture. Rev. Wallis is President and Executive Director of an organization called Sojourners, whose print and electronic publication reaches 250,000 people. Originally aired on 11/3/08. Contact Information- www.sojo.net or www.GodsPolitics.com

Shelli Pitner is the Outreach Coordinator for the Faith and Environment Network whose mission is to instill a love for nature and encourage a commitment to environmental stewardship among people of faith. They bring together congregations and conservation organizations throughout the region in order to help heal and protect the Earth and its creatures, and encourage congregations to help care for Creation. Originally aired on 10/20/08. Contact Information- www.faithandenvironmentnetwork.org or call 509-294-3944.

This lecture from the Pacifica Radio Archives features historian Howard Zinn, author of "The People's History of the United States", discussing Christopher Columbus. When Columbus encountered the American continent by accident in 1492 there were tens of millions of indigenous Indians already there practicing various forms of tribal spirituality. In order to legalize the plundering of the lands of these indigenous people, the Pope proclaimed the Doctrine of Discovery, a law that said that only Christians could hold title to lands, and that lands inhabited by non-Christians were available for the taking. In his lecture, Zinn shares excerpts from Columbus' journals and examines popular misconceptions and realities about him that are rarely talked about as Columbus Day and the "discovery of America" are celebrated year after year. Contact Information- www.howardzinn.org.Originally aired on October 11, 2008.

Rabbi Yisroel Hahn was born in Israel and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He moved to Spokane, Washington a year and a half ago to open the Chabad Center of Spokane, which is the only Chabad Center in Eastern Washington. He discusses his spiritual journey and offers a basic understanding of Judaism, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and the work that he does at the Chabad center. Contact Information- www.jewishspokane.com or call 509-443-0770. Originally aired on October 6, 2008.

Rabbi David Aaron is the founder and dean of Isralight, an international organization with centers and programs in Israel and throughout North America, offering retreats, seminars, spiritual week-end getaways, intensive growth workshops, leadership training, trips and missions to Israel. Rabbi Aaron is the son of a Holocaust survivor, who has struggled since a very early age to understand the world’s potential for hatred and paradoxical yearning for meaning, love and creativity. His own spiritual journey led him to Israel, where he studied Torah and Jewish mysticism under the tutelage of the great masters, including HaGoan Rav Shlomo Fischer Shlita. He received his Rabbinical ordination in 1979 from the Israel Torah Research Institute (ITRI) and for the past 18 years, he has dedicated himself to sharing the ancient wisdom of Torah and Jewish mysticism, and inspiring others to embrace a joyous life-long process of personal transformation, empowerment and love. This program is a live recording of one of Rabbi A

Beverly Spears, an ordained American Baptist Minister, earned her Master's Degree in Pastoral Studies from Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry. She was ordained in the American Baptist tradition after 30-years as a Roman Catholic, and a 20-year career in public service which included several years as a senior policy analyst for the City of Seattle. She currently  serves as Congregational Ministries Coordinator for University Baptist Church in Seattle and is also a ministry consultant, specializing in the design and implementation of education and outreach programs for churches and faith-based organizations. She discusses her spiritual journey and her views regarding faith and religion. Originally aired on 9/8/08.

Deborah Besinius and Joseph Urlacher discuss the Bahai Faith which is the youngest of the world's independent monotheistic religions. Founded in Iran in 1844, it now has more than 5 million adherents in 236 countries and territories. Bahai's come from nearly every national, religious and ethnic background, making the Baha'i Faith the second-most-widespread religion in the world.Deborah and Joseph will discuss what it means to be Bahai. Contact Information- http://bahai.us/. This show originally aired on 9/1/08.

On Wednesday, June 11, the Prime Minister of Canada, Steven Harper, issued an "apology" to the entire Native population of Canada for the sexual and physical abuses they suffered in "residential schools" across Canada. But the Prime Minister's action is being called a criminal cover-up by some. There is irrefutable evidence of systematic mass-murder of more than 50,000 native children imprisoned in the schools. More than half of the children imprisoned in the schools never made it home alive. The schools were run by Catholic and Protestant ministers, priests and nuns, and funded by the taxpayers of Canada. The Churches and Government refuse to admit the genocide.Former United Church Minister Kevin Annett is interviewed by Amanda Bellerby for the program Flashpoints on KPFA Radio (6/18/08), regarding his documentary film titled "Unrepentant" which exposes the Christian Church-led genocide in Canada from the 1870s to the 1990s. For information contact: www.hiddenfromhistory.org or www.flashpoints.net. This prog

Paul Susac, an "out" atheist, discusses atheism, what he believes, what he doesn't believe, the spiritual journey that led him to atheism, and his feelings regarding organized religion. The show originally aired on 8/18/08.

Arnold Pomerantz turned 75 years old in July of 2008. In celebration of his birthday, Arnold married his partner of 27 years, becoming one of the first to take advantage of the state of California legalizing gay marriage in May of this year. Arnold discusses his coming out process, his marriage, his spiritual journey that has led him to go out into the streets of Los Angeles every week to feed the homeless, and his ongoing work with GLIDE (Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality) which takes him into schools and community centers to talk about prejudice and discrimination. Contact - www.socal-glide.org. The show originally aired on 8/4/08.

The Guest for this week's show is Hossein Nikdel who offers an introduction to Islam. The religion, which is second largest in the world after Christianity, has over 1 billion followers. Hossein shares his perspective on Islam's basic tenets, some of the history, and discusses misunderstandings that people have about Muslims. The show originally aired on 7/28/08.