Tapestry from CBC Radio

This week on Tapestry, why dialing down self-righteousness is so important – and so hard. Mary Hynes talks to psychologist Jonathan Haidt and to writer Philip Yancey.

Happiness. Philosophers from the time of Aristotle have called it the ultimate purpose of life. And why not? Scientific studies proclaim that happy people enjoy greater intimacy, better health and even more creativity. So bring it on! Everyone wants happiness! Everyone except documentary maker, Frank Faulk.

Mary talks to Kevin Cox, a journalist who was frustrated by his inability to comfort people in times of great sorrow. After a stellar career in journalism, Cox has decided to become a minister. Then, Alan Lightman, author of Einstein’s Dreams, brings us his vision of God as imagined in his new novel, Mr g. So how does an agnostic theoretical physicist picture God? Probably not as you’d expect!

To what extent can we control destiny? We meet five people who are struggling to take control of the fates they face. From life and death medical decisions to cheesemaking, they’re trying to figure out when it’s time to fight and when it’s time to surrender.

A look at how doubt and skepticism can be essential ingredients to faith. First, we hear from Rabbi Rami Shapiro - a rabbi who says he isn't religious. Instead, he describes himself as a curious, holy rascal in search of sacred cows to slaughter. And a conversation with Michael Shermer, the founder of Skeptic Magazine.

Mary Hynes explores the ideas of forgiveness, confession, regret and apologies. She's in conversation with Dave Bry, who has been writing public apologies for years to those whom he has somehow wronged. The atonement starts from seemingly insignificant events like throwing beer cans on Jon Bon Jovi’s lawn in high school! We also hear the moving story of how one father struggled for eight years over whether he should forgive the drunk driver who killed his daughter.

Tapestry brings you something unusual. The show plays excerpts from a live performance by Canadian actor Kenneth Welsh. He read the full Book of Mark from start to finish without taking a break at Beaches Presbyterian Church in Toronto.

This week Tapestry asks how important is it for worship to be 'fun'. We meet Reverend Dorian Baxter, who also goes by the stage name "Elvis Priestly". We also hear from ordained minister, Jeffrey MacDonald. And we travel to Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, where the cowboy church is in full swing.

Tapestry, host Mary Hynes explores a strange subject for broadcasting.... Silence. It may seem a bad idea to base a radio show on absolute quiet, but not everyone defines silence as the complete absence of sound. Guests: Gordon Hempton, James Kugel, and Omar Faruk Tekbilek

Susan Cain is a lawyer, a writer and an introvert. On this episode of Tapestry, she and Mary explore what happens when entire societies decree that being loud, confident, and outgoing is the only recipe for success. And, the story of a man who is bringing the world of devotion to a bar near you. Landon Coleman is another Canadian singer-songwriter in a jean jacket who is toting his guitar from club-to-club across the country. What his audience doesn’t know is that he’s also trying to include the philosophy of his day job in this music. Coleman is a recruiter for a small Christian college. But when it comes to singing about Jesus, he says he has to be subtle. How does he mix his music with the Good News?

What happens when you want to believe but no longer can? Where do you find comfort in an impersonal universe? This episode of Tapestry features the stories of two different men who at one time had faith in God, but lost it. Even so, they continue to search for a sense of wonder and meaning in life.

You're relaxing on a cruise ship, maybe eating a fine meal, when the ship suddenly hits a reef, and begins to sink. It's the moment of truth: are you the one who steps up and does something to help? Or are you the one who runs away? Mary Hynes talks to John Izzo, the author of Stepping Up: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything. Also an interview with Rudy Berghuys, president of the Royal Canadian Humane Association, the organization which bestows Canada's bravery awards. And we'll examine the recent Costa Concordia disaster, and find out how it transformed one naval captain into a villain and another into a hero. Italian journalist Anna Momigliano explores how the event shines a light on her country's psyche.

Sound and Spirit - Podcast Not Available

Is there a way to quantify wisdom? Can the exacting methods of science be applied to the changing world of philosophy and morals? Mary Hynes talks to science writer Stephen Hall. Also a documentary about Jon Turk, a research chemist who decided he couldn't stand the lab, quit his job, and became an adventure traveller.

What is the experience of the Divine for the autistic mind? Mary Hynes talks to Temple Grandin, Anthony Easton, and Reverend John Gillibrand. And a visit to Beth Tzedec Synagogue where there is a special program for children on the spectrum as they reach the age of bar and bat mitzvah.