

Sunday
BBC Radio 4
A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 7, 2018 • 44min
Bishop Michael Curry and Intersex Day
Bishop Michael Curry became a household name when he preached at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He talks about his new book ‘The Power of Love’. In anticipation of the worldwide Intersex Day of Remembrance on the 8th November, Edward chats to Sara who was born intersex. She describes how she has been treated by church congregations. Vishvapani talks about the life of Sangharakshita (founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order) who died this week. And the Rev Fergus Butler-Gaille describes the slightly eccentric and off-beat behaviour displayed by certain members of the English clergy over the years. Producers: Helen Lee, Harry Farley
Editor: Amanda Hancox

Oct 28, 2018 • 44min
Karva Chauth Festival and Fake Dead Sea Scrolls
Hindu women have been fasting for the festival of Karva Chauth. Traditionally women keep the fast to bless their husbands with good health. But now more Hindu men are deciding to keep the fast along side their wives. AJ and Reena tell us why they have broken from tradition and have been fasting together.The Museum of the Bible said this week that five of its 16 famous Dead Sea Scrolls fragments are fake. Dr Roberta Mazza, Papyrologist at the University of Manchester, talks about her concerns on this increasing market for forgeries/illegal artifacts.Evangelical parishes in the Church of England have bought up millions of pounds worth of property. Harry Farley explores whether they are stockpiling assets ahead of a split. Academics at the University of Cambridge are exploring the link between epilepsy and religious experience. Catherine Carr reports.PRODUCERS:
RAJEEV GUPTA
TARA HOLMESSERIES PRODUCER:
AMANDA HANCOX

Oct 21, 2018 • 44min
Sacred Mountain; Safeguarding Aid
For many years concerns have been raised over the eroded pilgrim path of Croagh Patrick; from where the fifth century Saint Patrick allegedly banished the snakes from all Ireland. Tracey Logan visits a new kind of path built near the summit using only materials found on the mountain, will the path still feel sacred? Labour MP Diana Johnson debates the benefits of her ten-minute rule bill to decriminalise abortion the bill with Conservative MP Fiona Bruce. To mark the centenary of the end of World War One, BBC Radio 2’s Faith in the World Week asks who are the peace makers today? The Mobo award winning rap artist Guvna B has been finding out by visiting a Christian charity in a busy London A&E who help victims of knife crime and gang violence. As the global safeguarding conference in London on tackling exploitation and harassment in the aid sector finishes, Edward talks to Debbie Ariyo from Africa United against Child abuse (Afruca) about what can be done to ensure the safeguarding of people in need.Producers:
Carmel Lonergan
Lissa CookEditor:
Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: Tracey Logan

Oct 14, 2018 • 44min
Andrew Brunson, Oscar Romero and Tommie Smith
Former Olympic champion Tommie Smith speaks to Rajeev Gupta about how his Christian faith inspired his iconic fist raised protest on the podium at the Mexico City Games 50 years ago this week.A court in Turkey has freed US pastor Andrew Brunson in a case that badly strained ties between the US and Turkey. We bring you the latest on his release.As the canonisation of the assassinated archbishop Oscar Romero takes place, Edward talks to CAFOD's South America regional manager Claire Dixon live from Rome.Reporter Trevor Barnes has been to a hand to hand food packaging event at the St Laurence's Church, Catford as they prepare food parcels to be sent out to Africa in time for World Food Day.PRODUCERS:
RAJEEV GUPTA
HARRY FARLEY SERIES PRODUCER:
AMANDA HANCOX

Oct 7, 2018 • 44min
Archbishop of York, Drones, Green Health Awards
As Archbishop John Sentamu announces his retirement, we look at the significance of the role of Archbishop of York in the Church of England. Trevor Barnes visits the winners of the first Green Health Awards, a collaboration of health care professionals and churches. The morality of killing with Drones - Dr Peter Lee, author of "Reaper Force: Inside Britain's Drone Wars" talks to William Crawley about the ethical and moral issues facing drone pilots. And why is Manchester celebrating Syria?Producers: Amanda Hancox and Dan Tierney

Sep 30, 2018 • 44min
Alabama Window, Galileo Letter Revealed, Miracles
When four girls were killed by a racist bomb in an Alabama Baptist Church 1963,the late Welsh artist John Petts raised funds for the Church and created a stain glass window depicting Jesus as black. Now the window is in need of protection. Theodore Ted Debro Trustee, a Church Trustee, tells Edward why.
A letter by the Italian astronomer Galileo challenging the official view of cosmology has been discovered 405 years after it was written. Dr Anna-Marie Roos sheds light on the significance of the letter.
A ComRes survey for BBC Local Radio on miracles reveals three in five (62%) British adults believe that some form of miracle is possible today.
Chris French,Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths College, and Yujin Nagasawa, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham discuss the findings.
The Indian courts have made a number of ground breaking rulings over the past few weeks including a landmark decision lifting a Hindu temple's ban on women entering. The BBC's James Clayton tells us more.
Voters in the Republic of Ireland are being asked to decide whether the criminal offence of blasphemy should be abolished or not. Professor David Nash, Historian of blasphemy and adviser to the Irish government, speaks to Edward Stourton.Producers:
RAJEEV GUPTA
HARRY FARLEYSeries Producer:
AMANDA HANCOXPhoto Credit: Sophia Smith Galer

Sep 25, 2018 • 44min
Exclusive bereavement survey, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Franklin Graham
Sunday reveals the results of the biggest ever UK survey into how people of different faiths cope with death, dying and bereavement. Co-op funeral care Managing Director David Collingwood and theologian Douglas Davies discuss the results.The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of 'hypocrisy' this week for his criticism of Amazon, a company the Church of England has shares in. Edward Stourton asks Catherine Howarth of Share Action, how far investors can influence the behaviour of companies.Bob Walker speaks to Nobel Peace prize winner and former Liberian Prime Minster Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who delivered a keynote address at Rising, a global peace forum held at Coventry Cathedral this week. Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, arrives in the UK next week for a three day event in Blackpool, prompting protests from LGBT activists and churches. Edward Stourton looks at what Franklin Graham believes and why he's such a controversial figure. Ahead of the first national Cathedral's conference in Manchester we speak to the Dean of Lichfield Adrian Dorber about how he hopes it will address the dire financial challenges many Cathedrals face. Crispin Blunt is the head of Humanist APPG in Parliament. Harry Farley speaks to him in the last of our series on Faith in Westminster.For the first time in years the number of people seeking to be ordained in the Church of England is on the up including among young people and women. Trevor Barnes finds out why.Producers: Catherine Earlam and Tara Holmes
Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Sep 25, 2018 • 44min
Niqab Wearing Superhero, Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Sara Alfageeh, an American illustrator and comic fan, annoyed by the tight costume worn by Marvel's Muslim superhero Dust she redesigned the niqab hero's attire and her designs have gone viral online.Rabbi Jonathan Sacks gives his first broadcast interview after his comments on Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism and he talks to Edward about his new Radio 4 series "Morality in the 21st Century".The Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox Churches are in a tug of war over the status of the Ukrainian Church. Writer and journalist Jonathan Luxmoore discuses who the likely winner will be. Three years after David Cameron pledged 20,000 Syrians could seek refuge in the UK Bob Walker reports on the faith organisations helping many refugees to start again.Vatican commentators Austen Ivereigh and Edward Pentin discuss the letter sent by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano calling for Pope Francis to resign.Yasmin Qureshi MP talks to Harry Farley has he continues his series with politicians of faith.Cardinal Vincent Nichols tells Edward about his efforts to tackle human trafficking and modern day slavery. Producers
Rajeev Gupta
Peter Everett Series Producer:
Amanda Hancox.

Sep 23, 2018 • 44min
Franklin Graham, French Pilgrimage
As hundreds of people take part in the annual pilgrimage in the French city of Valenciennes, John Laurenson joins the pilgrims to find out why pilgrimages are becoming so popular in secular France.
Usama Hasan, Head of Islamic Studies at Quilliam, gives his reaction to the release of Amjem Choudary.And where politics and morality clash - Edward discusses the cut in funding for Palestinian projects by the US Administration with Nigel Varnell of Embrace the Middle East and Sarah Elliott from Republicans Overseas.
Franklin Graham talks to Sunday about his controversial visit to Blackpool.
And the heart-felt appeal from a mother who wants more people of Asian heritage to register as stem cell donors. Producers: Carmel Lonergan and Lissa Cook
Series Producer: Amanda Hancox

Sep 9, 2018 • 49min
Religious education, Recovery walks, Moral economy
As Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing comes to an end, the BBC's White House reporter Tara McKelvey talks to William about his religious background and how it might appeal to the religious conservatives.Should Religious Education be renamed Religion and Worldviews and include non-religious perspectives such as Humanism and atheism? A major commission on RE has urged the Department for Education to do just this. William discusses it's findings with Rev John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey and chair of the commission.The Visible Recovery Movement is an alternative to 12 step fellowship programmes for those with addiction. Rosie Dawson went on a recovery walk in Shrewsbury to find out more.Professor Alison Scott-Baumann from SOAS tells William about the biggest research study ever of Muslim students in British universities.As the Archbishop of Canterbury warns of the need for the wealthy to be taxed more, theologian Dr Ian Paul and Andy Walton from the Centre for Theology and Community discuss whether the Archbishop is right.The Chief Rabbi has issued guidance for Orthodox Jewish schools on how to protect and improve the lives of LGBT pupils. Journalist Angela Epstein explains what the guidance entails and reaction to it.Harry Farley continues his series of interviews with politicians about their faith and politics by talking to the Conservative MP Gary Streeter.Producers: Catherine Earlam
Peter Everett
Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.