NYT/AP: CNN Explores Religious Fundamentalism
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 19, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -- Christiane Amanpour's work on the documentary series ''God's Warriors'' took her directly to intersections of extreme religious and secular thinking. She watched, fascinated, as demonstrators in San Francisco accused teenagers in the fundamentalist Christian group BattleCry of intolerance in a clash of two cultures that will probably never understand each other.
Understanding is what Amanpour is trying to promote in ''God's Warriors,'' which takes up six prime-time hours on CNN this week. The series on religious fundamentalism among Christians, Muslims and Jews airs in three parts, 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday through Thursday.
Many people know only stereotypes of these true believers, even the ones in their own country, she said. Yet it's vital to be familiar with their thinking given the growing importance of these movements in the war on terrorism, the never-ending conflicts surrounding Israel and conservative politics in the United States.
''I'm not interested in drumming up false fears, or falsely allaying fears,'' CNN's chief international correspondent told The Associated Press by phone from France, where she added last-minute touches to the series. ''I just want people to know what's going on.''
Amanpour traveled extensively over eight months to work on the series. The trips to Amanpour's native Iran are most fascinating. She explored the ancient roots of the conflict between Shiites and Sunnis, and talked with one of the country's most accomplished female politicians about how Muslim women are treated....
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-AP-on-TV-Christiane-Amanpour.html