On behalf of everyone at the Interfaith Alliance and State of Belief, we wish you a happy Hanukkah!

This weekend, tune in to Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast State of Belief for an action-packed apocalyptic hour, as we expose the ugly backlash to a historic Christian-Muslim collaboration in California; explore how and why the dire rhetoric around the fiscal cliff is affecting all of us – and it’s not just economics – and find out once and for all: what did those Maya really know, and when did they know it?

All Saints Church and MPAC
Long at the forefront of interfaith cooperation, All Saints Church in Pasadena, California, invited the Muslim Public Affairs Council to hold its annual convention at the church on December 15. The event is historic; the anti-Islamic backlash is all too predictable. But MPAC president Salam Al-Marayati says we’ve reached a point where the well-funded, well-organized opposition is actually serving to help promote the event and galvanize support! A truly inspiring conversation. Click here for extended interview video and transcript.

The Apocalyptic Language and Ethics of the Fiscal Cliff
Sorry, no long-winded economists here to regurgitate political talking points about the 100% manmade so-called “fiscal cliff.” Yes, the debate/stalemate has made it feel like the election never even happened, since both sides are still arguing the same points they were before Nov. 6. But who falls by the wayside when there’s a protracted crisis mindset in Washington? The Rev. Peter Laarman, executive director of Progressive Christians Uniting sounded a warning about this last month in Religion Dispatches Magazine, and he’s with us this week. Click here for extended interview video and transcript. And renowned cognitive linguist and the “father of framing,” George Lakoff joins us to talk about the power of the metaphors behind the term “fiscal cliff,” how that impacts our brains, and why it’s difficult to replace. Prof. Lakoff laid out some of these thoughts in the Huffington Post.

It’s (Almost) the End of the World as We Know It.
The end is near! Or at least it might be. December 21, 2012, the day some believe the ancient Maya predicted a world-ending event, is rapidly approaching. Why are we so receptive to this kind of thing? Religion Dispatches associate editor Jay Michaelson wrote “Apocalypse Now and Then: Our Global Death Wish” and shares some of his conclusions. Click here for extended interview video and transcript. And just to be on the safe side, we’ll hear from a leading expert on Mayan culture and art — Dr. Mark Van Stone, who literally wrote the book on the subject. Dr. Stone will tell us if we even need to bother with Christmas shopping this year. Click here for extended interview video and transcript.

We Need Your Questions!
We’re putting together a show for the end of the year highlighting your questions – and Welton’s answers to those questions! It’s time to get more engaged in the conversation that happens every week on the show. What questions do you have at the intersection of Religion, Government and Politics? The toll-free listener line is 1-800-856-0277. Or contact us on Facebook or Twitter!

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