THE TALK: RITUAL AND MEDIA IN MOROCCO<br> <br> There is a rigorous Muslim discourse on the nature of Islam. While western think tanks parse the elements of "Islamic political philosophy," Muslim scholars engage in their own robust debate over whether or not "Islamic institutions" encourage democracy. Muslim scholars and Muslim civil society have also begun a Weberian discussion of the relation between Muslim culture and economic/political development.<br> <br> At the same time, Muslim governments and ministries of religious affairs shape public discourse of Islam via formal religious rituals such as mosque sermons and feast observances, and also via less ritualistic and more social talk shows and other programs on television and radio. These programs include both traditional talking heads-interview programs similar to the classic nineties Friday afternoon conversations with Sheikh Sha'arawi on Egyptian television and a new tele-evangelical versions of these classics such as the Egyptian virtual rock-type star Khalid Amr. Another genre is social talk shows where youth call in with questions about social and devotional life. A third genre is a m%uFFFDlange of the first two: a kind of theological-social talk show whose topics range from theological exegesis to interfaith dialogue. Guests at the third genre include scholars, theologians, and comparative religion experts.<br> <br> This paper analyzes ritual and media in Morocco to determine how their construction supports an official discourse of religious moderation and tolerance. These were recorded and/or observed over three years (2005-2008) while the author lived in Morocco. Public festival and ritual events include children-centric Quranic recitation competitions, which in Morocco have recently included both girls and boys. An important Ramadan event us the Royal Causeries, the seminars offered for the King before iftar and nationally televised. Moroccan radio and television youth talk shows reach out to vulnerable, disempowered youth. In these programs, professors and theologians discuss how to live a true Muslim life and entertain questions via internet and phone from predominately youthful viewers. Questions range from the "piety" issues such as the meaning of various Quranic verses or the correctness of ritual practice to the "social" questions such as the proper way to select a spouse or to deal with cheating at school. Moroccan inter-faith programs feature dialogues with religious scholars from other faiths as well as interviews with Muslims living aboard in non-Muslim countries about the way they follow their religion there.