Bringing Spirit into the World

In this 1997 conversation with Michael and Justine Toms, Alice Walker says, “Something was lost when we took to heart traditional religious stories in which God is separate from nature. And something precious is regained when we honor our intrinsic sense of awe and worship toward nature, and our deep desire for connection with both nature and our human community.” Walker is the author of many books including the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Color Purple (Simon & Schuster 1982) and Anything We Love Can Be Saved (Random House 1997). Topics explored in this dialogue include: • The real nature of human nature • A new look at the stories of Adam and Eve, Sarah and Hagar • Why religious stories can be dangerous, and food should be free • Church life in the deep South • The story of one of Walker's ancestors in slavery • A compassionate perspective on Winnie Mandela • Fidel Castro as champion of the Cuban people • Prison labor in the U.S. and China