Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason

A Public Television Series Exploring Religion, Philosophy, and Human Meaning

Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason is a PBS television interview series hosted by journalist Bill Moyers that explores the relationship between religion, philosophy, morality, storytelling, and contemporary culture. Originally broadcast in 2006, the series featured conversations with writers, philosophers, theologians, scientists, and cultural thinkers discussing how faith and reason intersect in modern life.

The series was developed in connection with the 2006 PEN World Voices Festival, whose theme that year focused on “Faith & Reason.” Many guests appearing in the program participated in that literary and intellectual gathering.

The platform and archived series continue to function as an educational resource for discussions related to:

• Religion and spirituality
• Ethics and morality
• Literature and storytelling
• Philosophy and skepticism
• Science and belief
• Cultural and political conflict surrounding religion.

Core Themes and Intellectual Focus

The series centers on the enduring tension and relationship between:

• Faith
• Rational inquiry
• Human meaning-making
• Moral responsibility
• Cultural identity.

Bill Moyers frames the project around a central societal question:

“In a world where religion is poison to some and salvation to others, how do we live together?”

Rather than presenting formal debates, the program uses long-form conversations to explore:

• Personal belief systems
• Doubt and skepticism
• Religious interpretation
• The role of stories and myth in society
• The search for truth and meaning.

The tone of the series is reflective and intellectual rather than confrontational or partisan.

Bill Moyers and Public Affairs Journalism

The series reflects Bill Moyers’ broader career focus on combining journalism with philosophical and cultural inquiry.

Moyers was known for PBS programs that explored:

• Politics and democracy
• Literature and mythology
• Religion and ethics
• Social justice and public life.

Prior productions associated with Moyers included:

• Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth
• Bill Moyers Journal
• NOW with Bill Moyers
• Moyers & Company. 

The Faith & Reason series fits within this tradition of intellectually driven public television programming that emphasizes:

• Long-form interviews
• Humanistic inquiry
• Cultural reflection
• Civil discourse around difficult questions.

Guests and Featured Thinkers

The series featured a wide range of internationally recognized authors, philosophers, scientists, and cultural commentators.

Guests included:

• Margaret Atwood
• Salman Rushdie
• Mary Gordon
• Richard Rodriguez
• Jeanette Winterson
• David Grossman
• Colin McGinn
• Anne Provoost
• Sir John Houghton.

Discussions explored topics such as:

• Religion and violence
• Science and spirituality
• Biblical interpretation
• Tolerance and coexistence
• Moral imagination and storytelling
• Atheism and secularism.

The series emphasized multiple viewpoints rather than promoting a single ideological or religious framework.

Literary and Storytelling Orientation

A major theme throughout the program is the role of storytelling in shaping human understanding.

Because many guests were novelists, poets, and essayists, discussions often focused on:

• Myth and narrative
• Religious symbolism
• Literature as moral exploration
• The psychological power of stories.

The program repeatedly suggests that literature and storytelling can help individuals:

• Interpret suffering
• Understand moral complexity
• Build empathy across belief systems.

This literary emphasis distinguished the series from traditional religious programming or political debate shows.

Relationship Between Faith and Secular Thought

One recurring element of the series is the examination of how secular and religious perspectives coexist in pluralistic societies.

Episodes explored questions such as:

• Can morality exist without religion?
• How should societies navigate religious differences?
• What role does faith play in identity and politics?
• How do science and spirituality interact?

Guests represented viewpoints ranging from:

• Religious belief
• Agnosticism
• Secular humanism
• Philosophical atheism.

The series emphasized thoughtful dialogue rather than ideological certainty.

Educational and Archival Resources

PBS and BillMoyers.com maintain archived materials related to the series, including:

• Episode clips
• Audio recordings
• Interview transcripts
• Supplemental educational resources.

The archive also connects viewers to related Moyers programming such as:

• World of Ideas
• Genesis
• Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth. 

This archival structure positions the series as both:

• A television production
• A continuing educational resource focused on philosophy, religion, and public dialogue.

Connection to PEN World Voices Festival

The program emerged directly from the 2006 PEN World Voices Festival, which brought together writers from dozens of countries to discuss themes of religion, freedom, culture, and coexistence.

The festival featured more than:

• 130 writers
• 40 countries
• Multiple public discussions related to faith, myth, politics, and storytelling.

Bill Moyers adapted many of these conversations into televised interviews that broadened access to the ideas explored during the festival.

Position Within Public Broadcasting and Intellectual Media

Bill Moyers on Faith & Reason operates within the broader tradition of:

• Public broadcasting
• Intellectual journalism
• Long-form cultural interviews
• Educational television programming.

The series differs from commercial cable debate programming by emphasizing:

• Reflection over confrontation
• Nuance over polarization
• Intellectual curiosity over ideological performance.

Its structure resembles earlier PBS intellectual interview programs that prioritized:

• Depth
• Thoughtful conversation
• Cross-disciplinary exploration of major human questions.

Organizational Philosophy and Messaging

The series consistently emphasizes themes such as:

• Tolerance and coexistence
• The complexity of belief
• The importance of dialogue
• The enduring role of stories and symbols in human life.

Its broader message suggests that:

• Faith and reason are not always oppositional
• Literature and philosophy can deepen public discourse
• Open conversation is necessary in pluralistic societies.

The program frames intellectual inquiry and moral reflection as essential parts of democratic and cultural life.