This American Life Season 1 Episode 3 God's Close-Up

This American Life season 1 episode 3 is titled "God's Close-Up" and explores different people's perspectives on religion and spirituality. The episode starts with a story of a girl who claims to have seen the face of God on her doorstep one day. The host, Ira Glass, talks to the girl, her family, and friends about the event and how it changed their lives.

The episode then moves on to different stories that take on a more serious and contemplative tone. One story follows a man who, after a spiritual experience, joins a monastery to become a monk. He talks about the challenges he faced, such as living a strict and lonely life and dealing with doubt and disbelief from those outside the monastery.

Another story follows a man who has a deep faith in God but questions organized religion. He explains how he reconciles his relationship with God and his doubts about religious institutions.

The final story is about a woman who was raised by strict Evangelical parents and is now an atheist. She explains how her parents' beliefs affected her upbringing and how she eventually came to see things differently.

Throughout the episode, there are also commentary and interviews with religious scholars and theologians who offer their perspectives on the stories and themes of the episode. They provide insight into the different ways people experience and interpret spirituality and religion.

Overall, "God's Close-Up" is a thought-provoking episode that looks at religion and spirituality from different angles. It doesn't aim to provide answers but rather encourages listeners to consider the complexities and nuances of these topics.