God and Government India Edition The Atheist Church and More

Here’s what you can expect from this week’s installment of Interfaith Voices:

A New Face of Hindu Nationalism

This week we journey to India, where a man named Narendra Modi is a leading candidate for the next prime minister. He’s been a boon for the failing economy in his home state of Gujarat. But many minorties are worried about his Hindu nationalism, and say he turned a blind eye to Gujarat’s anti-Muslim riots in 2002. Miranda Kennedy traveled to Gujarat’s biggest city – and a Muslim neighborhood called Juhapura – to learn more.

In the Studio With ‘The Mystify Sound’

India is soaked in religion. It’s the proud birthplace of many religious traditions: Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Hinduism. And it continues to be a spiritual mixing bowl. About 80 percent Hindu, it’s also home to the world’s second largest Muslim population – who make up just over ten percent of the country. The Mystify Sound band join us in the studio to bring the spiritual richness of India to life, through Indian classical melodies, Hindu devotionals, and other tunes.

The Sunday Assembly: Church Without God

Two British comedians are the “pastors” of new a kind of atheist church: the Sunday Assembly. They started it a year ago in London for non-believers who still want to experience the wonder, friendship and community of church. Now they’re bringing the God-free congregation to America, for their “40 Dates and 40 Nights” tour.

Featured speakers/guests:

Gauri Viswanathan, professor of humanities at Columbia University
Laura Jenkins, professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati

Debu Nayak, tabla
Craig Phillips, sitar
Adnan Masood, keyboard
Nistha Raj, violin
Nauman Ahmed, vocals and harmonium

Sanderson Jones, co-founder with Pippa Evans, of The Sunday Assembly

Reported by Miranda Kennedy and produced by Jocelyn Frank.

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