Faith Matters Conversations

Faith Matters Conversations are unique discussions that feature spiritual leaders and diverse people of faith discussing common issues of humanity and the foundations of belief. The program was originally broadcast on community radio in California. Faith Matters transitioned to Intersections in 2022.

Good & Evil

Most faith traditions address the concept that some actions are right or “good,” while others are wrong or “evil.” In this episode, a Jewish rabbi, evangelical pastor, and a Buddhist teacher discuss how their spiritual tradition approaches the existence of good and evil:
From left: Pastor Matt Valencia (Christian), Elaine Jackson (Buddhist) and Rabbi Rick Litvak (Jewish Reform).

Solutions

Every great spiritual tradition tells a grand cosmic story–where each of us humans face challenges, fears, and difficulties, and they claim to offer the guidance and solutions that can help us resolve the stuck areas of our lives. On this episode, a yoga teacher, Scientology minister and an Anglican priest have a conversation about the spiritual solutions offered by their faith traditions.
From left: Rick Melrose (Scientology), Father Kyle Logan (Anglican), and Lori Lipton-Ritland (Yoga).

Truth

Behind many spiritual traditions is a quest for truth–-to know and understand what is actually the way reality truly is. While Jesus in the Bible claimed that the “truth will make you free,” other Eastern traditions claim to access a higher divine truth in their spiritual practices. A neo-Pagan, evangelical pastor, and a teacher of a Hindu Vedic tradition discusses how each of their traditions speak to the concept of “truth.”
From left: Pastor Jesse West (Christian), Sandy Stone (neo-Pagan) and Jairam Sharma (Hindu Vedic tradition).

Story

Each faith tradition holds to a world view that involves each of us in a grand cosmic story, including the setting of our existence, the presence of human problems and challenges, and a final resolution of life’s brokenness. An astrologer, Greek Orthodox priest, and a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have a conversation that explores the grand stories that each of their spiritual traditions tells.
From left: Henry Seltzer (Astrology), Jesse Turner (Church of Jesus Chriust of Latter-Day Saints) and Father Milutin Ganjic (Greek Orthodox).

Death & the Afterlife

All of us have to face our own mortality–that our time on earth is limited and will come to an end. What happens afterwards? There is an answer given within each of the world’s great spiritual traditions. A Jewish rabbi, Christian pastor, and a Buddhist nun dives into a thought-provoking conversation discussing the big question of death and the hope of the afterlife.



From left: Venerable Tenzin Chogyki (Buddhist), Rabbi Paula Marcus (Jewish Reform) and Pastor Matt Valencia (Christian).

War & Peace

For some reason, war seems to be part of the human condition. Yet all of us, no matter where we live, or whether or not we have a faith, yearn for a peaceful world. On this episode, a Catholic deacon, Baha’i leader, and a Muslim community leader discuss how their traditions view the existence of war and the hope for peace in our world.
From left: Brian Miller (Baha'i) and Deacon Patrick Conway (Catholic). Not pictured: Amneena Jandali (Islam).

Origin & Purpose

In all cultures and time periods, all human beings long for a meaningful and purposeful life. But how we find meaning and purpose in our lives depends on how we see ourselves and answer some fundamental questions about life and existence. A yoga teacher, Anglican priest, and a Scientology minister share their different perspectives about the origin and purpose of our lives.
From left: Rick Melrose (Scientology), Amey Mathews (Yoga tradition) and Father Rob Patterson (Anglican).

Choices

Each of us makes decisions everyday that impact our lives and those around us. Our ability to make conscious decisions is often seen as a distinctive of our humanity; various world views and spiritual traditions each see human choices differently. Do we have the ability to make free choices, or are our choices pre-determined? What is the relationship between our choices and spirituality? Can there be forgiveness for the bad choices we make? A Jewish rabbi, a Buddhist nun, and an Evangelical pastor explore their perspectives about the power of our daily choices.
From left: Venerable Tenzin Chogyki (Buddhist), Rabbi Rick Litvak (Jewish Reform), and Pastor Jesse West (Christian).

Caring for Refugees

Every day, children and families cross our southern border and request asylum as they flee countries with violence, political instability and poverty. How are people of faith responding to this crisis? In this program, a Catholic deacon and a religious volunteer discuss how they live out their faith supporting families seeking asylum.
Cindy Schapiro (Christian) and Deacon Randy Pozos(Catholic).

Comfort

In our broken world, many feel a deep need for comfort and hope. Our guests have a stimulating conversation about how their faith traditions bring genuine comfort to people. Why do human beings need comfort in life? Can the comfort or hope that religion claims to provide be reduced to merely psychological help? What are some specific ways that people receive comfort in their faith? A Jewish rabbi, Christian pastor, and Buddhist nun discuss how they receive comfort and hope in dealing with life’s challenges within their spiritual traditions.
From left: Venerable Tenzin Chogyki (Buddhist), Pastor Fred Wilson (Christian), and Rabbi Eli Cohen (Jewish Renewal).

Racism & Reconciliation in the Christian Faith

The Christian faith in America, while making many positive contributions throughout history, has also mirrored the racism and social injustice present throughout the development of our country. White and Black Christians gathered separately in distinct communities that promoted discrimination and mistrust, and reflected the racial tensions present in the larger society. Two African-American pastors and one White pastor discuss the challenges of addressing racial issues, the legacy of racism within their religious tradition, and how each of them are applying their faith to help their congregations promote racial justice and reconciliation.
From left: Pastor Steve Lattimore (Progresive Missionary Baptist), Pastor Rene Schlaepfer (Conservative Baptist) and Arlis Smith (Baptist).

Founders

Most of the world’s great spiritual traditions have individual founders–people who had a distinct vision of the world, who taught about how they felt life worked, and gathered around them a group of followers. Now, many years later, these leaders still have millions of people following the traditions they started. On this program, our panel discusses the founders of three rich spiritual traditions: Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i faith.
Deacon Patrick Conway (Catholic) and Ymasumac Maranon-Davis (Baha'i). Not pictured: Maha Elgenaidi (Islam).

Connection

All of us wonder at some point if there is a larger purpose in life beyond what we can see with our human eyes. We wonder if there is a spiritual reality beyond the physical world. In all different cultures, people have a longing to try to connect with a Higher Power or larger spiritual forces. And this desire to connect with a Divine Power shapes the way we see our world and how we live our lives. A neo-Pagan, Evangelical pastor, and a teacher of a Hindu Vedic faith discuss what their traditions say about connecting with the Divine.
From left: Sandy Stone (neo-Pagan), Janardan Maharaj (Hindu Vedic tradition) and Pastor Jesse West (Christian).

Destiny & Fate

Are each of our lives pre-determined or do our choices affect our future and destiny? How do our decisions affect our destiny? And can prayer to a Divine Being really change the future? An astrologer, a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a follower of Greek Orthodox Christianity, discuss what their traditions teach about human fate and destiny.
From left: Henry Seltzer (Astrology), Jesse Turner (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), and Maz Walker (Greek Orthodox).

Sacred Texts

Every world religion holds that certain texts are special, sacred, or divinely inspired. Each spiritual tradition bases its understanding of the world on core texts that followers look to for guidance, understanding, and answers to the core questions of life. A Catholic deacon, Baha’i leader, and a Muslim community leader discuss their sacred texts and what make these documents meaningful in their spiritual tradition.
From left: Brian Miller (Baha'i) and Deacon Patrick Conway (Catholic). Not pictured: Amneena Jandali (Islam).

Rituals & Practices

Our personal rituals form and shape the contours of our lives. From daily habits, to family traditions, to rites of passages, we all have rituals that express what we value, as well as give our lives meaning and purpose. Similarly, every spiritual tradition has rituals and practices that express a particular view of the world, what our place is in the universe, and what ultimately gives our life meaning and purpose. A neo-Pagan, Christian pastor, and a teacher of a Hindu Vedic tradition discuss their unique rituals and how these practices help them connect to the Divine.
From left: Sandy Stone (neo-Pagan), Richard Gotthardt (Christian) and Jairam Sharma (Hindu Vedic tradition).

The Spiritual Life

The world’s spiritual traditions recognize that life is composed of more than just the physical, material world and that a truly meaningful life is essentially a “spiritual life.” What does it mean to live a “spiritual life?” An astrologer, a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a member of a local Greek Orthodox church discuss what it means for them to live a spiritual life.
From left: Henry Seltzer (Astrology), Jesse Turner (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), and Maz Walker (Greek Orthodox).

Love

Falling in love, being in love, loving something, feeling love, giving love, experiencing love. The word love is an elusive concept that expresses what all human beings long for yet it can be hard to articulate exactly what LOVE is. The importance of LOVE is taught and identified by every great spiritual tradition. An Anglican priest, Yoga teacher and Scientology minister discuss what "love " is in their spiritual traditions.
From left: Rick Melrose (Scientology), Lori Lipton-Ritland (Yoga tradition), and Father Rob Patterson (Anglican).

Police Chaplains

Our nation has a strong tradition of providing religious chaplains in a variety of public and private institutions and agencies. As part of the special Faith Matters series titled Faith in the Time of Corona, two police chaplains discuss the work they regularly do in our community and how they are helping address the Covid-19 crisis.

Fred Wilson and Kathi Howard--Police Chaplains in California

Faith Story: Loss, Grief and Forgiveness

Lyn and Dan Wagner faced a challenge that few parents ever imagine–the sudden loss of both of their children in a tragic car accident caused by a woman under the influence of drugs. Through this tremendous loss, the Wagner’s faith was deeply challenged. Yet, their spiritual life and practice helped sustain them, and gave them the ability to develop a forgiving relationship with the person whose actions led to the loss of their daughters.
Lyn and Dan Wagner