Religion: Multimedia on Religion

This program considers the relationship between religion and cognition, discussing the work of Freud, Jung, James, Maslow, Allport, Ellis, Adler, and Erikson.

This informative three-part series discusses what religion means in today's society and looks at some of the new religious movements that have evolved. We discuss if contemporary society is moving away from the traditional and historical view of religion or if religion and spirituality is merely changing and taking on new forms. This video resource is produced to prompt discussion and debate and comes with worksheets containing questions and activities for the students.

This video follows a cross-section of Americans who consider themselves Neo-Pagans. In a country where there is a Judeo-Christian paradigm firmly in place, the cost of deviation can be social alienation, and a need for secrecy. At odds with the mainstream, four modern Pagan families reinterpret spirituality outside the conventional American context and reveal why they've been hesitant to 'come out of the broom closet'. In the movie, a solitary practicing Wiccan, or 'witch' talks about her childhood growing up as a Christian and what led her to Wicca. A Pagan family addresses issues and fears they have raising children under their faith. And a Nevada war widow fights to get her husband's religious emblem recognized by the Veteran's Administration.

This program covers such topics as secularism, atheism, and agnosticism; highlights the dialectical relationship between religion and society; and looks at Eastern and Western religions.

An excellent sociological case study, this ABC News program examines the plight of Michael Shackelford, a 17-year-old homosexual struggling for acceptance in small-town Oklahoma. The video outlines the development of Shackelford's situation: his early awareness of his sexual orientation, his inability to conform and placate his mother, the attention he receives in a Washington Post article, and the subsequent media abuse he and his church endure as a result. Complex and surprising in its observations, especially those concerning Shackelford's Bible Belt community the program sheds light on America's increasingly troublesome cultural divisions. (23 minutes)

The study of beliefs and practices of Islam.

If you were God, would you do away with religion? With that question, Bill Moyers launches into a discussion with Karen Armstrong, one of the world's foremost commentators on religious affairs and author of Islam: A Short History. In this program, they seek to understand the psychosocial impact of religious fundamentalism, which frequently elevates God at the expense of personal freedom. Over the course of their dialogue, they also cover the concept of sacredness, the relationship between religion and psychology, and the profound connections among the three religions of the Book -- all within the context of Ms. Armstrong's own spiritual journey from disenchantment to peace. (41 minutes, color)

In India, religious observances weave countless golden threads into the homespun fabric of daily life. This program provides an overview of four of India's prominent religions: Jainism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Stunning footage from all around the subcontinent displays these jewels of India's religious heritage, along with their monuments, shrines, temples, festivals, and sacred rituals against the backdrop of the nation's intricate history, diverse geography, and rich variety of cultures and languages. (50 minutes, color)