Following the deadly attack on a mosque in northern Sinai, the Egyptian government have launched air strikes against those responsible. We look into what motivated the attack with Scott Lucas from the University of Birmingham.

St Francis is the first purpose built Anglican church to open in 40 years. Bob Walker asks if a new church on a North London housing estate can really make a difference to inner city communities.

As Pope Francis prepares to fly to Myanmar and Bangladesh we hear from Catholic commentator Tom Reese who believes he shouldn't be going. Chris Bain, Director of the Catholic Aid agency, CAFOD will tell William Crawley what the Pope's likely to see on the ground.

Do you prefer gin or champagne in your advent calendar? And then there's the question of what your cat should have in theirs. Alternatively you could do a Reverse Advent Calendar and make donations to a foodbank.

Churches have an abundance of land that could be turned over to environmental projects to help local communities increase biodiversity in their neighbourhood. Sarah Swadling reports from two schemes that are making the most of the land around churches in the south west of England.

Hindu nationalists in India have threatened actors and the director of a Bollywood film which they claim distorts the past and hurts Hindu sentiments. Rahul Tandon tells William threats have been extended to cinemas in the UK to prevent the film being screened here.

As Zimbabwe's new President takes office, we explore what role the Churches will have as the country moves forward. We hear from two religious leaders there and from Christopher Chessun, the Bishop of Southwark whose diocese has links with country.

Producers: David Cook Peter Everett

Series Prodcuer: Amanda Hancox.

Shermer Says: Why Secularists Are Turning to Religion, The Substitution Hypothesis, Sleep Paralysis

The Michael Shermer Show

Personal Conversion Stories and Literal Belief

The AI-powered Podcast Player