The Soul of America with Jacob Needleman

Program Description

If you, like many Americans, have found U.S. history boring in the past, this program is a must! Jacob Needleman, internationally acclaimed author and philosopher, takes us on a journey back to the beginning of America and re-tells the story of America in a way that inspires and invites us to explore the lives of our forefathers and the sacred dimension of their founding principles. His portraits of Washington, Jefferson and other famous historical figures ignites our imagination, and instills in us a deep reverence and appreciation for the unwavering vision that was necessary to establish our government. In his re-telling of the American story, Needleman brings to light the nation’s deep hunger for meaning. “The human psyche needs the nourishment of great philosophical ideas. These ideas have been part of great cultures, and were once a part of America. America needs to bring these ideas back to the culture.”

Jacob Needleman, Ph.D. is a professor of philosophy at San Francisco State University and the author of many books including, The American Soul (Tarcher 2003), The Wisdom of Love (Morning Light Press 2005), Time and the Soul (Berrett-Koehler 2003), The Heart of Philosophy (Tarcher 2003), Lost Christianity (Tarcher 2003), Money and the Meaning of Life (Currency 1994), Time and the Soul: Where Has All the Meaningful Time Gone … and How to Get it Back (Doubleday 1997), Why We Can’t Be Good (Tarcher 2007), What Is God (Tarcher 2009), The New Religions (Tarcher Cornerstone Editions 2009). In addition to his teaching and writing, he serves as a consultant in the fields of psychology, education, medical ethics, philanthropy, and business, and has been featured on Bill Moyers’s acclaimed PBS series A World of Ideas. To learn more about the work of Jacob Needleman go to www.jacobneedleman.com

Topics Explored in this Dialogue:

• How and why someone would want to find an antidote to materialism
• How the Iroquois Confederacy influenced the formation of the Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights
• Why it’s important to retell the story of America and include the deep spiritual principles upon which it is based
• What is the sacred dimension of America’s founding principles

Program Number: 2895             Host: Michael Toms            Interview Date: 10/17/2001