Emily Buchanan presents the final edition of Radio 4's Sunday programme of 2023, and brings together a panel of guests from different faiths to discuss the stand out events of the last year and also look forward to the issues and stories they expect everyone will be talking about in 2024.
New figures from the charity Shelter indicate a sharp rise in homelessness. More than 300,000 people are thought to have spent this festive season without a proper home. We speak to the Anglican Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, who regards this as a moral scandal.
In recent days Russia has intensified its attacks across Ukraine, in a significant escalation of the war. We return to Zhanna Bezpiatchuk, a reporter with the BBC Ukraine Service, who was one of the first people we spoke to after Russia's full scale invasion in February 2022. She reflects on nearly two years of conflict, how it's affected her life and the importance, during wartime, of her personal faith.
A spontaneous memorial garden has sprung up close to the Angel of the North sculpture in Gateshead. People have been leaving notes and trinkets in memory of friends and family who have died. We hear from Professor Anne Whitehead who’s been documenting the development of this new "shrine". She reflects on how the sculpture has taken on a new and spiritual dimension.
Producers: Jonathan Hallewell and Rajeev Gupta Editor: Tim Pemberton
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
Interfaith relations and Israel-Hamas war; The Bard and the Bible; Hindu ante-natal rituals
Use of scripture in war rhetoric & Church of England same-sex blessings
29/10/2023
The Israel-Hamas conflict and its repercussions in the UK
15/10/2023
Violence in the Middle East
Politics and the Lords Spiritual; The Venerable Bede; Spirituality of Sycamore Gap
Pope in Marseille; Khalistan; Definition of Islamophobia
Libya floods, pilgrimage to the city of Uman, racial injustice in the church
British Imams "whitewashing" the actions of the Taliban
Reconciling sex work with faith
The Catholic seal of confession
Hawaii Fires; Jehovah's Witnesses; the Vicar of Moscow
06/08/2023
30/07/2023
Oppenheimer, Manipur, The Sixth Commandment
Soul Survivor; 'Our Problematic Father'; White Privilege
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