Iowa Public Television

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

Episode #205

News: Recently the government of Iran disassociated itself from the "fatwa," or death decree, ordered by the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989 against author Salman Rushdie for blasphemous statements in his book "The Satanic Verses." Muslim hard-liners in Pakistan, however, have attacked Iran for "going soft on Rushdie." RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY reports on Pakistan's strict and controversial blasphemy law that some say is being used to persecute minority religions, especially Christianity. Contributing correspondent Jennifer Griffen reports from Islamabad on the increasing numbers of blasphemy cases in the past five years and why these cases are now being brought to trial. Cover Story: One of the country's most vocal polygamists, Alex Joseph, passed away last Sunday at the age of 62. Polygamy has long been associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) even though the LDS Church outlawed the practice in 1890. RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY takes a closer look at this illegal practice with a report on a small town whose entire inhabitants are polygamists. Correspondent Lucky Severson talks in-depth with a husband and his wives as well an opponent who believes polygamy is a form of spousal abuse. Feature: RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY takes you back to the simple life. With photographs and text, noted theologian Martin Marty and his son Michah have compiled "When True Simplicity is Gained," a book detailing the simplicity and spirituality of a Shaker village in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. [26 minutes]

This episode has not aired in the past few months on Iowa Public Television.