Michael Parenti vs God and his Demons

Part One: New World Notes #560, 28:18 (November 25)
Broadcast quality mp3 (39 MB)
Decent quality mp3 (13 MB)

Part Two: New World Notes #561, 28:42 (December 4):
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Decent quality mp3 (13 MB)

In a telephone interview with me on April 6, 2010, Left-leaning political scientist Michael Parenti discusses his book, God and His Demons (Prometheus Books)--a survey of the woes caused in the name of, and by, Organized Religion.

In Part One, Parenti talks about rampant child sexual abuse by the Christian (and other) clergy and the coverup thereof--and now, at the Vatican, the coverup of the coverup. He talks about the venality of the Protestant televangelists and the oppressive Buddhist theocracy in Tibet before the Chinese Communists took over. He talks about our society's ignoring some sins frequently denounced in the Bible--e.g., charging high interest rates ("usury")--while we piously condemn "sins" the Bible never mentions (gay marriage, abortion). And he rebuts creationism, "Intelligent Design," . . . and some of the conclusions of Charles Darwin.

Micharl Parenti

In Part Two, Parenti discusses the unholy alliance of the Church, the nation-state, and economic power; ... FEMA's enlistment of the clergy to preach obedience to authority; ... and the Christian Right's takeover of the Air Force Academy. He ends with praise for 2 unorthodox 16th-century Christians--Montaigne and Giordano Bruno--and explaining why, despite everything, he's not an atheist.

Music added: satiric songs by Roy Zimmerman (one in each part).

http://www.michaelparenti.org/
http://www.prometheusbooks.com

These installments were originally broadcast in April-May 2010. Files downloaded from the links, above, are identifiedas NWN #280 & 281.

Chris Hedges: Stop Fascism

Part 1: New World Notes #558, 27:44 (November 13)
Broadcast quality MP3 (38 MB)
Decent quality MP3 (13 MB)

Part 2: New World Notes #559, 28:58 (November 20)
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A fine and fiery speech by journalist/activist Chris Hedges. He vividly tells the story of the "slow-motion coup" that replaced American democracy with oligarchy and the Corporate State.

Part 1 explains the takeover. Part 2 continues the story and then shows how--in the recent past--nonviolent popular resistance has overthrown oligarchies and established democracy.

Hedges spoke at an event titled Stop Fascism in the U.S., in Portland, Oregon, May 26, 2017. The event was sponsored by KBOO Community Radio. His speech was adapted to radio by Robin Upton and broadcast in installment #749 of Unwelcome Guests. Videos of the talk are available on YouTube. Thanks also to David Schonfeld, of WWUH-FM in Connecticut,  for his suggestions and advice.