Sex--Religious aspects

Richard Gilman, who died Saturday at age 83, was a writer and professor at the Yale School of Drama. Ben Brantley of The New York Times writes, "Mr. Gilman was one of a breed of philosopher-critics... who came to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s. They located in modern drama the elements of abstraction, alienation and absurdity that had long been at the core of discussions of other forms of art and literature." In this archive interview from 1987, Gilman recounts his conversion from Judaism to Catholicism and then to atheism.

Earlier in life, Ram Dass, who birth name is Richard Alpert, earned a Ph.D. at Harvard. In the 60s and 70s, he, along with Timothy Leary, became interested in the religious potential of LSD. Dass is a practitioner of Eastern-inspired philosophy, and is careful to distance himself from corruption and cult-leader-like behavior of other gurus.

Richard Gilman, writer, drama critic and professor at the Yale School of Drama. His memoir, Faith, Sex and Mystery recounts his conversion from Judaism to Catholicism and then his gradual loss of faith. (Rebroadcast. Original broadcast 6.9.87.)

Theater critic Richard Gilman was born into a Jewish family, later joined the Catholic Church, and now identifies as an atheist. In his new memoir, he describes how restrictive teachings on sexuality drove him away form organized religion.

Barbara Walker's interest in women's roles in religious and spiritual traditions led her to write a book on the subject. Her research suggests that Christianity has suppressed various matriarchal and women-focused faith practices in order to strengthen patriarchal power structures.