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Bill Moyers on ‘Faith & Reason’
Hungry for something meaty this summer?
“Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason” is the answer to your prayers. The seven-week series debuts on PBS tonight at 8 with thoughtful, civilized conversation between Moyers and several writers whose beliefs are as diverse as the world itself.
First up is Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born British author who was driven into hiding by death threats when his novel, “The Satanic Verses,” was published in 1989. Rushdie is an atheist whose views on Islam were perceived as fatally offensive.
“When there is conflict between the liberty of speech and the beliefs of private individuals, the liberty of speech must always take precedence,” says Rushdie. Good point — even if you’re hiding from a fatwa.
Other writers featured on the series include British philosopher Colin McGinn, novelist Mary Gordon and Canadian author Margaret Atwood.
Moyers, himself a target of vicious criticism (some might say he’s been demonized) from extreme conservatives, has a solid background in matters of faith. The 72-year-old journalist set out to become a preacher and is, in fact, an ordained Baptist minister.
But he started out as a cub reporter in Marshall and eventually made a name for himself as President Johnson’s press secretary and Newsday publisher, until joining CBS and PBS in the 1970s.
Almost two years ago, Moyers stepped down from his weekly public affairs program “Now.” But with work nearly completed on his memoir of LBJ, he couldn’t resist the lure of his particular brand of exploration, which has been dubbed “deep-thinking journalism” by critics and colleagues alike.
So, here he is again, pondering faith, the creative process and the impact of our beliefs on everyday life. Always the optimist, Moyers is searching for common ground and believes the country is not as divided as some people think. The extremes on the right and left are just a good deal louder — and thus better at being heard — than the more thoughtful, accepting center.
At a time when shouting and rude behavior are the rule, it’s good to have the calm civility of Bill Moyers back on the air.
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