Selected
Audio
Liya Rechtman is Managing Producer of Illuminations, a Ministry of Ideas limited series about intersections of science and religion. She is also a Producer for Ministry of Ideas. Included here is select work for the show.
Secular Cure of Souls (Illuminations ep. 12) - FORTHCOMING
Sigmund Freud’s theories of psychoanalysis offered a powerful new way of understanding the human mind, but his theories would develop those ideas into a new modern religion.
Climate Reality (Illuminations ep. 9) - FORTHCOMING
Accepting the reality of climate change means accepting the burden of climate grief. Many find solace and strength in religious rituals, especially from the Jewish faith, which has faced extinction events before.
A sense of divine destiny drove Americans to expand West. A similar spirit is behind the modern quest to conquer space.
Accepting the reality of climate change means accepting the burden of climate grief. Many find solace and strength in religious rituals, especially from the Jewish faith, which has faced extinction events before.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable communities have been hit especially hard by disruptive online attacks. But calling these attacks "violent" could jeopardize the future of disruptive protests designed to protest those same communities.
Human-caused climate change is real and growing in impact. Yet many Americans see climate change as a belief that they can opt out of. Two belief structures are to blame: American Protestantism and postmodernism.
Evangelical voters made up a significant portion of Donald Trump’s base in the 2016 presidential election. Their political agenda may not be peace or prosperity, but instead bringing us closer to the end of time.
Selected Writing
Evangelical voters made up a significant portion of Donald Trump’s base in the 2016 presidential election. Their political agenda may not be peace or prosperity, but instead bringing us closer to the end of time.
"The Third Day and our Oceans" (book chapter) explores the difference between “holding sway over” and “tending” the or owning land. The chapter considers how this biblical distinction could impact our relationships to plant and animal life.
This Passover, Jewish women and the men who care about us have to stop drinking kosher wine. This is the year to take kosher wine off our Seder tables and think critically about what it means to consume with an eye towards gender equity and liberation.
Speaking and Public Discussions
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Liya has lectured and facilitated discussions on podcast production, podcasting and pedagogy, Judaism and climate, and religion and science at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), University of Chicago, Central Synagogue in New York, Temple Emanu-El of the City of New York, and many others.
Interested in bringing discussions on these topics to your university, house of worship, or local community organization?