Bryan Callen interviews Religious Scholar Reza Aslan. They discuss the misinterpretation of non-Western countries, the Middle East conflict, American identity, and the fascinating story of Howard Baskerville's sacrifice for Iran's freedom.
Religion is the external expression and organization of the faith impulse, while faith itself is a universal and innate part of our human condition.
The connection between religion and statehood is complex, and the belief that separating church and state is the key to success is fundamentally flawed.
Using faith to take action against injustice is a powerful and transformative force, exemplified by individuals like Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Deep dives
The Universal Faith Impulse
Recent studies on the faith impulse suggest that it is a universal phenomenon present in all human beings, even predating our species. This impulse, which can be referred to as faith, is an inherent part of our human evolution and exists in every culture and time. Scholars have found that this impulse is not learned behavior but is something we are born with, leading to the expression and organization of this impulse through religion.
Religion as an Expression of Faith
Religion, as we understand it, is the external expression and organization of the faith impulse. While faith is the individual and mysterious element, religion serves as the collective language and system through which we express and control this innate impulse. Religion is constantly evolving and changing, and while it will always exist in some form, it will look very different in the future compared to what it is today.
The Misconceptions about Religion and State
The belief that separating church and state is the key to success, while the Muslim world has not learned to do so yet, is fundamentally flawed. In many Muslim majority countries, church and state are not combined, and expressing religious beliefs in politics can lead to severe consequences. Similarly, even in countries like the United States, religion plays a significant role in politics, and identifying as a Christian is often a requirement for running for office. The connection between religion and statehood is complex, and success or failure cannot be solely attributed to it.
The Implications of the Faith Impulse
The faith impulse, which is a universal and innate part of our human condition, is a mysterious element that exists in all of us. While our understanding of why this impulse exists is still evolving, it is clear that this impulse has been a driving force for transformative individuals throughout history, inspiring them to fight against injustice and create change. These individuals, from various religious backgrounds, activate their faith to make a positive impact in the world.
The inspiring story of Howard Baskerville
The podcast explores the extraordinary life of Howard Baskerville, a 22-year-old missionary who became deeply involved in the first democratic revolution in Persia. Baskerville initially resisted being sent to Persia as a missionary, but eventually became passionate about the revolution and joined the fight against the oppressive Shah's army. He led a militia of high school students known as the Army of Salvation and played a vital role in breaking the siege on the city of Tabriz. Despite losing his American citizenship and ultimately sacrificing his life, Baskerville's legacy lives on as a hero and martyr in Iran.
The importance of activating faith to fight injustice
The podcast highlights the significance of individuals who use their faith to take action against injustice. The host mentions figures like Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi, who exemplify this inspiring quality. The guest emphasizes that faith should not be limited to private beliefs, but should motivate individuals to address the problems they witness in the world. The discussion encourages people to challenge their assumptions and biases, to question their algorithms that often reinforce pre-existing beliefs, and to foster a deeper understanding of lived religion rather than relying solely on scripture.
Bryan sits down with Religious Scholar Reza Aslan to talk about our misinterpretations of countries outside of the west, the current conflict in the Middle East, what it means to be American, the incredible story of Howard Baskerville and more.
Get Reza's new book here - https://www.amazon.com/American-Martyr-Persia-Tragic-Baskerville/dp/1324004479
Want more Bryan Callen? You can buy tickets to one of his stand-up shows near you by visiting www.bryancallen.com/live
You can listen to the full episode here: APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/3eXvC9w SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/3Lpqlnp
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