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
The bible in BSL, the Rabbi and Kim Kardashian, and Rev Dr John Sentamu
Rumi: The Musical, Asylum seeker conversions, Mother-and-baby homes in Northern Ireland
Europe's Best Cathedrals, FW. De Klerk's faith, and could Joe Biden be banned from Communion?
Leonard Cohen's Spirituality; Is Faith Being Left Out Of COP 26?; St Cuthbert
Black Muslims, COP26, Divali
Last rites as an 'emergency service', Lebanon crisis, 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'
Church crawls, Religious toys, Jewish Fringe Festival
Ben Fogle; Halal Student Finance; Day of the Scientist
03/10/2021
"Brown" Bouquets; Faith After The Pandemic; Deborah Feldman
Psalm 23 Garden, Sanctuary, Muslim Sibling Rivalry
Turban confusion, Jewish heritage, Hong Kong Christian activists
British Muslims views on Afghanistan, Vaccine inequity, The traditions of the Jewish New Year.
Religious minorities in Afghanistan, The rise and fall of Christian Ireland, George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord’ 50 years on
Afghan refugee crisis; Women's rights under the Taliban; Cardinal Nichols on our moral responsibility for Afghanistan
Aretha Franklin influence, 'Conversion therapy' ban, Vaccine refusal among US evangelicals
08/08/2021
01/08/2021
25/07/2021
Women at Hajj; Football and Racism and Universal Credit
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Global News Podcast
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
The Infinite Monkey Cage
You’re Dead to Me
Elis James and John Robins