When Voltaire wrote Treatise on Tolerance in 1763, it was an important and relevant work. The work’s message of religious tolerance is experiencing a resurgence over 250 years later in modern day France. After attacks by religious extremists on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket, people in France who are looking for answers and a denunciation of violence in the name of religion are finding it in Voltaire. Listen to learn what inspired this 18th century book and why people are turning to it today.
Story Length: 3:27
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AIR DATE: 02/15/2015
February 4, 2015
3:55
The militant group ISIS has displaced Christians from Northwestern Iraq in their quest to create an Islamic state. This displacement has threatened the community and its ancient heritage. A group of monks in Iraq have saved a library of ancient Christian manuscripts from destruction. Listen to learn more about this community and their rescue mission.
Read MoreJanuary 28, 2015
3:34
The attacks in Paris, on a satirical magazine and a kosher supermarket initially appeared coordinated but were far from it. Al-Qaida on the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the magazine attack, a response for offensive cartoons of the prophet Mohammed, while the supermarket terrorist suspect was affiliated with ISIS. Listen to learn more about the deep-seated division between these two Islamic militant groups.
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2015
3:09
France and the world community were stunned when Islamic radicals carried out two attacks in Paris last week. One attack was on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo for its anti-Islamic cartoons, the other on a Jewish grocery store. The terrorists killed 17 people. The attack on journalists was a first, but targeting Jews isn’t new in France. Listen to learn more about the attacks and the response of the French and Jewish communities.
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