Three of the world's religions look to the same nomadic herdsman -- Abraham -- as their patriarch. Yet Christians, Muslims and Jews have not always seen eye to eye. And, in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, some worry that understanding between followers of the three faiths may again be strained. Judaic studies expert Peter Ochs (UVa) and Islamic studies scholar Abdulaziz Sachedina (UVa) discuss the commonalities and divisions between Islam, Judaism and Christianity. In particular, as the world awaits a military response to the violence in New York, Washington and western Pennsylvania, they explore the concepts of jihad and just war.

Second Week (Oct. 13 – 19) The History of Night

We hear "Early to bed, early to rise," and think our ancestors got the sleep for which we long. But even without the incandescent light bulb, 24-hour diners and late-night comics to distract them, our pre-industrial relatives were slumbering only seven or eight hours a night. Historian Roger Ekirch (VaTech), author of the forthcoming A Day's Close: Night in Times Past, looks at how the farmers, tradesmen and laborers in times past spent their nights. He defines first and morning sleep and explores the fears that darkness brought. Also featured: Many people are all too familiar with the night. Insomnia will affect most of us at some point in our lives. As far back as the ancient Hittites, poets who found themselves wide awake at 3 a.m. recorded their thoughts. English professor and poet Lisa Russ Spaar (UVa), editor of Acquainted with the Night: Insomnia Poems, leads a poetic journey through the night.

Third Week (Oct. 20 – 26) Women and Depression

By some estimates women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. Researchers have posited numerous theories for the gender difference: a variance in brain structure, reproductive function, a greater tendency among women to seek help, and societal pressures. Psychiatrist Susan Kornstein (VCU) says while the difference in prevalence is well-established, the ways in which the illness manifests itself in men and women is not as well understood. And, she says, doctors are only now beginning to realize that females with depression may need to be treated differently from men.

Fourth Week (Oct. 27 – Nov. 2) Take This Job and Love It

Before you take a job, figure out whether you'll be entering a healthy workplace. Management professor Pamela Hopkins (Mary Washington ) and psychologist Paul Stepanovich (ODU) offer a list of vital signs prospective employees should check. Their tips are garnered from studying several businesses they've identified as "healthy workplaces." Also featured: During the 20th century, the governments of the U.S. and many other industrialized nations have enacted laws to improve working conditions for women. Such rules have included working hour restrictions, mandated maternity benefits and equal protection provisions. Despite their good intentions, these measures haven't always proven economically beneficial. Economist Yana van der Meulen Rodgers (W&M) discusses the positive and negative repercussions of workplace protections for women.