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Hour 1 - Portraits of Faith

Bible Salesmen
Jim "The Rabbit" Baker, the door to door bible salesmen featured in the classic 1969 Maysles Brothers film "Salesman," explains the secrets of his now extinct occupation.
Producer: Dan Collison
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They Shall Take Up Serpents
For the past eighty years, believers living in the Appalachian hills of the southeastern US have incorporated handling snakes and drinking strychnine (a "salvation cocktail") into their religious beliefs and practice. It is a literal interpretation of an obscure passage in the Bible which reads "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them." A bizarre and touching portrait of unwavering faith, originally produced for the documentary program Soundprint
Producer: Dave Isay, Soundportraits Prodctions
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Does Size Matter When You're Talking About Crosses?
We borrowed this one from our friends at This American Life Writer Josh Noel takes a pilgrimage to the tallest cross in the western hemisphere.
Producers: Josh Noel & Alex Blumberg
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Josh would like you to visit foundmagazine.org

Hour 2 - Deadly Decisions

An "American Radio Works" Special Presentation: Deadly Decisions
Largely off limits to press and public scrutiny, jury proceedings remain the most opaque component of our criminal justice system. Yet jurors in capital cases wield the highest power a government can hold over its citizens: life or death. Independent producer and veteran journalist Alan Berlow explores American court cases where death sentences were handed down, even though the jurors were known to be confused about the proceedings or biased against the defendant.
Correspondent: Alan Berlow
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Hour 3 - Family Feuds over God

"Nobody's Family's Gonna Change"
Another gem from This American Life. Julia Pimsleur travels to Alaska to spend some time with her brother, Marc, whose was recently born again. And he hopes that she'll change a little. Julia made a documentary film about her trip, from which the sound in this story comes, called "Brother Born Again".
Producers: Julia Pimsleur & Alex Blumberg
Listen
Weblinks:
newday.com
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"Violet Flame"
Producer Brenda Hutchinson's sister has been a member of the Church Universal and Triumphant in Corwin Springs, Montana for several years. Brenda became interested in understanding the communities' rituals, which include strange but beautiful dervish-like chanting. The "Violet Flame" is her portrait of this group and an exploration of the issue of faith.
Producer: Brenda Hutchinson
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