In God's Name

This Sunday, December 23rd, at 9pm eastern and 8pm central, CBS is airing a 2-hour documentary titled "In God's Name."

The show will explore the complex questions and issues of our time (including the rise of terrorism, fanaticism, intolerance and war) through the intimate thoughts and beliefs of 12 of the world's most influential spiritual leaders, including Bishop Mark Hanson, the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. I'm planning to watch it.

The 12 leaders featured in this special, in alphabetical order, are:

• Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow and head of the Russian Orthodox Church


• Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi), a Hindu spiritual leader


• Pope Benedict XVI, head of the Roman Catholic Church


• The Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists


• Ayatollah Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, a prominent Shi'ite Muslim leader


• Bishop Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and President of the Lutheran World Federation


• Michihisa Kitashirakawa, Jingu Daiguji (High Priest) of the Shinto Grand Shrine of Ise


• Yona Metzger, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel


• Dr. Frank Page, President of the Southern Baptist Convention


• Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, Sheikh of Al-Azhar and a prominent Sunni Muslim leader


• Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the Sikhs' highest authority


• Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Church of England