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Prof. James Hudnut-Beumler returns to our show to discuss his new book “Strangers and Friends at the Welcome Table,” an academic and “road trip” look at Christianity in the contemporary South. We look at Southern religion as it was in the past and what trends are reshaping the landscape today, including the rise of megachurches, homeschooling, and acceptance of alternative lifestyles.

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We will be taking a short sabbatical to tend to some home care issues. In the meantime, we will feature some of Tony’s favorite episodes from the past. Enjoy.

Why would anyone ever become a prison chaplain? And what do prison chaplains do? Jeff Henig, who recently became employed as a prison chaplain in Arkansas, discusses his life story and how he entered the world of prison ministry. Along the way we learn a lot about a cappella music and the difference between jail and prison. Jeff also shares some of the spiritual, psychological, and legal challenges prison chaplains face, as well as telling us some important life lessons he’s picked up through this whole process.

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We examine the life and influence of Chuck Colson — marine, White House “fixer,” and founder of Prison Fellowship — with Owen Strachan, associate professor of Christian Theology at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Owen discusses how this “swamp yankee” with a chip on his shoulder ends up in prison and then becomes a dynamic force in evangelizing culture in a rather non-traditional manner. This is a fascinating look into the personality and faith of an individual who looms large in contemporary Christian circles.

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In light of the horrific church shooting in South Carolina recently, we present a previously released episode related to one aspect of this news story: church security. While not the only angle to examine recent events from, the issue of church security has been one point of discussion.

Our prayers and condolences go out to all those affected by the events in Charleston.

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Why would anyone ever become a prison chaplain? And what do prison chaplains do? Jeff Henig, who recently became employed as a prison chaplain in Arkansas, discusses his life story and how he entered the world of prison ministry. Along the way we learn a lot about a cappella music and the difference between jail and prison,. Jeff also shares some of the spiritual, psychological, and legal challenges prison chaplains face, as well as telling us some important life lessons he’s picked up through this whole process.

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In the wake of several highly publicized shootings, we look at how safe churches are, and what they can do to improve their safety, with Jim McGuffey, and independent security consultant who specializes in church security. We not only look at how exposed houses of worship are exposed to violence, but also examine other more common forms of crime including arson, vandalism, and embezzlement. Mr. McGuffey leads us through a quick security assessment and provides a couple tips for enhancing church security. The reasons for why churches often ignore such measures is examined.

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Prof. Byron Johnson, director of Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion, joins us to talk about his new book “More God, Less Crime.” We focus our attention on prison ministries noting how difficult it is to overcome the “prison code” and how faith-based programs work. Specifically, we explore the InnerChange Freedom Initiative in Houston, TX and review Prof. Johnson’s six-year study of that program. Byron makes a strong case that although these prison ministries show positive results, more attention needs to be placed on helping prisoners after they leave the confines of jail.

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Merisa Parson Davis joins Research on Religion to talk about her new book on Bill Cosby’s much publicized “Pound Cake Speech” that he gave to an audience on the 50th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education. She points out that much of the discussion of this speech in the popular media overlooked the religious dimensions of Dr. Cosby’s remarks. We discuss how African American churches and other religious organizations have responded (and can respond) to various social problems facing the Black community, including school dropout rates, incarceration of young Black men, and the challenge of entrepreneurship in the inner city. Your host also reveals his three favorite shows growing up.

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