NPR has resurrected a radio series from the 1950s: “This I Believe.” The first essay I heard was Penn Jillette’s “There Is No God”:

So, anyone with a love for truth outside of herself has to start with no belief in God and then look for evidence of God. She needs to search for some objective evidence of a supernatural power. All the people I write e-mails to often are still stuck at this searching stage. The Atheism part is easy.

Not only do they have many recently recorded essays, but also guides for educators and essay writing tips. Wow, this would be a great way to teach the essay in 1101: rather than the save-the-world stuff (partially my fault) I normally get, concentrating instead on personal statements of belief and Podcasts would be very slick and a good entré into digital storytelling. Not only that, this section of 1101 could then have a more explicit section on digital literacy. I’d need a Mac lab, though…

Check out some of the essays, even if you believe in God.