WBGU-PBS events focus on ‘The Question of God: Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis’

What is happiness? How do we find meaning and purpose in our lives? How do we cope with the problem of suffering and the inevitability of death? And most importantly, does God really exist? These are questions that, at some point, touch each of our lives.

Airing at 9 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 15) and Sept. 22 on WBGU-PBS, a new, four-hour PBS series, “The Question of God: Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis,” frames these issues through the eventful lives and challenging ideas of two of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis.

The series is based on a popular Harvard course taught by Armand Nicholi, author of the book The Question of God.

WBGU-PBS is one of 10 stations across the country awarded an outreach grant by WGBH, Boston, the series producer. Area churches, libraries and groups are invited to hold discussions of Nicholi's book and the four-hour series. Free discussion guides and a substantial book discount are available for participating individuals or groups.

Discussions of the series and book are being held in a variety of venues in WBGU's 19-county coverage area. Locally, several brown-bag lunch discussions will be held on "The Question of God." Open to the community, these discussions will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at:
Way Public Library, Perrysburg, on Thursday (Sept.16)
WBGU-PBS, Bowling Green, on Sept. 23
Wood County Public Library, on Sept. 29

WBGU-PBS will also host a community panel discussion on the series in the station's studio at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 30. Efforts will be made to bring a multi-faith perspective to the table.

In the series, the ideas of Freud, an atheist and lifelong critic of religious belief, and Lewis, a Christian and arguably the most popular and widely read proponent of faith based on reason, are dramatized and presented in an accessible, thought-provoking four hours. Each episode combines historical re-creation with lively discussions led by Nicholi and a diverse group of experts. The discussions revolve around specific themes related to actual incidents and emotional turning points in the lives of Freud and Lewis.

The PBS series does not presuppose which man—Freud the devout atheist or Lewis the atheist-turned-believer—is correct in his views. Rather, readers and viewers are urged to join Nicholi and his students and decide for themselves which path to follow.

If you'd like to hold a book or program discussion, or would like more information on these community events, contact Deborah Boyce, director of promotions and public relations at WBGU-PBS, 2-2700, or email pbsprogramclub@wbgu.bgsu.edu.