Inner Compass SEASON 2 (2001-2002)
Episode Descriptions (long)
#201 VENGEANCE, RETRIBUTION, OR JUSTICE?
After the terrorist attacks in September, people were demanding justice,
retribution, retaliatory strikes, revenge. Are the differences between
these words--tossed around so interchangeably in the news--subtle or important?
And how does Just War Theory shed light on these ideas? James Skillen
of the Center for Public Justice in Washington, D.C. and John Hare of
Calvin's philosophy department consider these questions.
#202 RACIAL PROFILING: ARABS IN AMERICA
What are we supposed to do with the news that radical fundamentalist Islamic
"sleepers" are living among us and have been blending in for
years, waiting for orders to commit another terrorist attack? We know
better than to fear all Arabs and those who look like them . . . and yet
that's exactly what we're doing. Three guests relate their experiences:
professor Adel Abadeer, business owner Basel Shatara, and Kentwood Chief
of Police Richard Mattice.
#203 THE RESEARCH ON HOMOSEXUALITY
When researchers started investigating how much of one's personality is
genetically programmed, many people wanted them to explore homosexuality.
If we are programmed to be gay, how can it be wrong? But is science allowed
to revise our reading of Scripture? Join our discussion with Mark Yarhouse,
co-author with Stanton Jones of Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research
in the Church's Moral Debate.
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#204 ALTERNATIVES TO DIVORCE
When a couple's hope for their marriage is destroyed, how can it be reborn?
Psychologist Linda Dykstra's book Marriage Owner's Manual details what
years of counseling have revealed to her about what builds, destroys,
and repairs a marriage. Sharing these discoveries with many couples has
lead them to try again.
#205 RETIREMENT: VACATION OR VOCATION?
Is retirement the big chance to drop all responsibilities and finally
have some fun? Or is it a time to devote oneself to volunteer work and
other meaningful activities there was no time for before? See what our
guests have to say: Henry Holstege, gerontologist and author; Mike Fabor
of Grand Rapids Community College's Older Learner Center; and Milton Kuyers,
retiring business executive.
#206 WHEN CHRISTIANS WATCH MOVIES
Why are so many Christian movie reviewers preoccupied with counting swears
and nudity scenes? Our theology equips us for so much more in evaluating
films. On the other hand, some Christians are guilty of never even making
it that far. They'll watch any film, and spend no time evaluating what
they have seen. This week two film critics suggest how to develop a discerning
eye: Andrew Jefchak, Aquinas College emeritus/Grand Rapids Press; and
Roy Anker of the Calvin College English dept.
#207 IS GLOBAL WARMING REAL?
We keep hearing that the earth is going to melt. Then others say, "Don't
pay any attention to these 'Chicken Littles.'" Well what's the truth?
And can a tattered ozone layer actually heal up? Biologist Richard Wright
reveals the motivations of lobbyists on both sides and describe where
America stands in the fight against global warming.
#208 HEBREW BIBLE OR OLD TESTAMENT?
If Hebrew and Old Testament biblical scholars share so many of the same
ancient texts, why is there so little collaboration? Especially since
the scriptures that Christians inherited from the Jews were already so
full of interpretation and commentary! James Kugel of Harvard and Bar
Ilan Universities and Frans van Liere of Calvin's history department discuss
little-known collaborations of the past and ponder why they are so rare
today.
#209 RACISM IN SOUTH AFRICA: OUR PROBLEM?
Does the U.S. have any right to challenge South Africa in the race relations
work it has left to do? And what can we learn from South Africa's efforts?
Would a Truth and Reconciliation Commission serve us well? Herma Williams
of Gordon College and Joel Carpenter of Calvin College, both Provosts
and scholars on the topic of South Africa, discuss what these countries
can and should learn from each other.
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#210 IS ART FOR EVERYONE?
It isn't easy for arts reporter Robert Hughes to select which performances
and exhibits from around the world to highlight in his Wall Street Journal
column. What about all those items that stretch the common definitions
of "art"? What if something offers a fresh insight but falters
in quality? He and Grand Rapids Press theater reviewer Sue Merrell discuss
the state of the arts today and what the media can do about it.
#211 WORSHIP STYLES: A MATTER OF TASTE?
When churches are torn about whether to update their worship services
or stick to tradition, too many decide to literally tear into two services.
But does this create more problems than it solves? Theologian and author
Marva Dawn and John Witvliet of the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship
recommend ways around this harmful solution.
#212 PEACE IN PALESTINE
Why haven't the Palestinians and Israelis been able to work out a liveable
agreement after all these years of unrest? And what ever happened to the
U.N.-backed agreements that have already been made? Did they change anything?
These are not mysteries to the people living there. Palestinian Legislative
Council member Hanan Ashrawi explains the fatal flaws in the negotiation
attempts.
#213 SHOULD WE CHANGE OUR GENES?
Would you want to know if you were a carrier of a deadly disease? What
if a simple genetic test could warn you to enlist an equally simple cure,
such as eating a banana a day? On the other hand, if your insurance company
found out, they might declare you uninsurable. Learn about this seemingly
endless chain of complications from James Peterson, ethics professor at
Wingate University in North Carolina, and David Koetje of the Calvin College
biology dept.
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#214 THE COLD WAR TODAY
In 1972 the U.S. and the Soviet Union signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile
Treaty, assuring nuclear peace through a balance of power. Now the Soviet
Union no longer exists, and the U.S. is pulling out of the treaty. Why
now? What does this mean for our relationship with Russia? General John
Reppert (Army, ret.) describes our current situation and what it means
for our fight against terrorism.
#215 WHEN THEOLOGIANS STUDY JESUS
It may come as a surprise to many Christians that theologians have vastly
different ideas of who Christ was, what His mission was, and whether there
was even a resurrection! They also assign varying degrees of reliability
to Scripture. Theologian and historian N.T. Wright of Westminster Abbey
explains the complications and what he does about them.
#216 TERRORISM IN COLOMBIA
Can you believe that 70% of all the kidnappings in the world happen in
Colombia? And that country also has the world's worst homicide rate. What
has gone wrong? The U.S. isn't responsible for any of it, right? Michael
Shifter of Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, D.C. shares his years
of expertise studying and lobbying for this ignored spot in our hemisphere.
#217 IS AMERICA HATED?
In September 2002, many Americans were surprised to hear that people in
other parts of the world hate America. Why did this come as such a shock?
Should our media have spent more time looking at the international picture
and how we fit in? Do we have too little interest in the world outside
our borders? Rami Khouri of the Jordan Times newspaper describes
how America is perceived around the globe.
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#218 CHRISTIAN COUNSELING: TWO VIEWS
Do Christian counselors always begin and end their sessions in prayer?
It depends on the type of Christian counselor! Most would not want you
to feel pressured to perform spiritually, so would not initiate such practices.
A Biblical or nouthetic counselor could not imagine getting started without
first seeking God's help together. The same goes for opening a Bible during
the sessions. Dr. Greg Sherman of the Christian Counseling Center in Grand
Rapids and Rev. Ken Smith of the Biblical Counseling Center in Jenison
further explain their differences.
#219 WHAT TEENS LEARN ABOUT SEX
One thing parents dread most about raising teenagers is having to discuss
SEX. By the time they get around to it, they fear the kids will just laugh
and say they already know more than their parents do! Well what ARE kids
learning about sex today? From where? Do religious parents communicate
differently to their children about this topic? Helen Sterk of the Calvin
Communication Arts & Sciences department and Mark Regnerus of the
Center for Social Research share their research with us.
#220 IS IT STEALING?
If you visit your friend the waitress at work and she gives you a free
dessert, is she stealing? Or is that between her and her employer? What
about buying a fancy outfit, wearing it once, and returning it to the
store immaculate? Is a babysitter stealing if he or she spends most of
the day watching TV? Who is s/he stealing from? Tackle these and more
tricky questions with our four guests: a judge (Patricia Gardner), a pastor
(James Jones), a police officer (Gerry Steele), and a philosopher (Kevin
Corcoran).
#221 EATING DISORDERS: HOW TO HELP
Have you ever known someone with an eating disorder? It's such a mysterious
and personal problem, you may not have known what to do. But if you're
close to the person, leaving her alone may not seem like an option. Maybe
you wonder if it's truly an eating disorder? Guests Barbara Palombi of
the Grand Valley State University Counseling & Career Center and Randy
Wolthuis of the Calvin College Broene Counseling Center describe signs
to look for, ways to help, and what NOT to try.
#222 INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY
How bad is it if you catch your son looking at a pornographic web site?
How much damage has been done? Or what if a married person finds him-
or herself visiting sex chatrooms? What does this mean? Clinical psychologist
Robert Baird of Human Resource Associates describes internet pornography,
signs of addiction to it, and the damage it does to families.
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