World Religions: Sikhs, Seventh-day Adventists, And Mennonites

An Interfaith Special, To Be Broadcast Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 On The CBS Television Network

WORLD RELIGIONS: SIKHS, SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, & MENNONITES, a CBS Interfaith Special, looks at three faiths and asks them to share with us their beliefs, traditions, histories and modern voice. This special broadcast will be on the CBS Television Network Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 (check local listings).

The program features Simran Jeet Singh, is a Sikh and a PhD candidate at Columbia University’s Department of Religion, about the tenets of the Sikh tradition. This faith originated more than 500 years ago in South Asia, in a region called Punjab. Singh also talks about common misconceptions and how this sometimes leads to discriminatory practices in the U.S. The show features services at the Sikh Cultural Society in Queens, N.Y.

Also featured on the broadcast is John L. Ruth, a Mennonite who is a descendent of the first early Mennonite settlers in the U.S., who came to Pennsylvania in the 1600s. The Mennonite tradition dates back to 16th century Europe. Joel Alderfer and Forrest Moyer of the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, Pa. are also interviewed in the program.

Finally, Ella Smith Simmons, Vice President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a Protestant denomination that began in America in the mid-1800s, talks about what it means to live as an Adventist today. Dr. Bill Knott, editor of the Adventist Review and Adventist World, looks at how the religion was first founded, and Richard Duerksen, Assistant to the President for Maranatha Volunteers International, on the mission work Adventists are doing all over the world.

John P. Blessington is the executive producer of the program and Liz Kineke is the producer. In creating the topics and content of this Cultural & Religious Documentary CBS seeks input from the National Council of Churches, the Interfaith Broadcast Commission, and from clergy, scholars and other representatives of each of the religions presented within a program.

Following the Dec. 14air date, this program may be viewed again at www.cbsnews.com/religion-and-culture. “Like” us on Facebook.com/CBSReligionand follow us on Twitter@CBSReligion.

Press Contact: Jeremy Murphy 212-975-4577