Researchers at the University of Birmingham have conducted a wide-ranging survey on perceptions of religion and science, which suggests that half the UK population believes that religion does more harm than good. 50% of respondents said religion 'has more negative societal consequences than positive', 30% said it 'has more positive societal consequences' and 20% didn’t know. We discuss the findings and weigh up the religious ‘balance sheet’ with Professor Alice Roberts, anatomist, broadcaster and Vice President of Humanists UK; and Dr Musharraf Hussain, Imam, scientist and charity worker in Nottingham.
Also in the programme:
This week saw the UK cinema release of ‘One Life’ – a film about the British man Nicholas Winton who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued 669 mostly Jewish Czechoslovakian children from the Nazis. One of those children, Milena Grenfell-Baines, tells her story.
The Church of Scotland is on a five-year mission to close places of worship made unviable by a lack of ministers, falling income and dwindling congregations. Reporter Moira Hickey visits Birnie Kirk, near Elgin in Moray, which recently held its last service after nearly 900 uninterrupted years of Christian worship.
Producers: Dan Tierney and Catherine Murray Production co-ordinator: David Baguley Editor: Helen Grady
Gaza Christians; Trump bible; Easter Island
Integrating refugees; St John Passion; the Value of Religious Education
Pope autobiography; Extremism definition; Sir James MacMillan
Ramadan in Gaza, Leaving Faith Helpline, Alternative Mothering Sunday
Gaza aid; Brit Awards; UK Islamophobia
Vatican secrets; Interfaith row; AI and beyond the grave
Israel Gaza conflict; Rochdale Labour; Rave in the nave
Asylum Conversions, the Power of Prayer, 'Sexualised' Jesus
Asylum conversions, Jaz from Traitors on Sikhism, Siobhan McSweeney on St Brigid
C of E safeguarding concerns, Nicaragua Catholic Church crackdown, Jesus in pop music
Cathedral charging; Last Christians in Gaza; Muslim Comedian Ola Labib
The ethics of surrogacy
Tackling the rise in homelessness
Christmas in Bethlehem, 800th anniversary of the nativity scene, The stories behind our favourite carols
Israel-Gaza latest; C of E same sex blessings; the rights and wrongs of 'Surveillance Santa'
Gaza Christians; American Sikh; Ethics of War
Power of religion at Cop28; Shane McGowan's Catholicism; Near-death experiences
Same sex church blessings; Religion in Dr Who; Antonio Banderas on playing King Herod
Same Sex Blessings in the Church of England
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