Sunday

BBC Radio 4
  • 3.0 (5)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Charlie Kirk & Christian Nationalism; Muslim Generational Divide; Arvo Part

    The assassination of Charlie Kirk is being seen as a dangerous moment between left and right in US politics. Sunday explores the Christian nationalist background to the story with Professor Gordon Lynch of Edinburgh University Edward speaks to Bishop Mariann Budde, the woman who memorably asked President Trump to have mercy on marginalised groups in his inaugural prayer service in Washington. Is there a generation gap in Britain's mosques? The head of the Muslim Council of Britain expresses his fears about the 'painful revolution' that could be on the cards if the divide between old and young isn't addressed. We're asking if there's a generation gap in your place of worship and what you've done to address it. Email sunday@bbc.co.uk Pope Leo turns 70 today. Has he given a birthday present to devotees of the Traditional Latin Mass? He announced that Cardinal Burke will be celebrating such a service in St Peter's Basilica in October for the first time since Pope Francis placed restrictions on the form. Edward speaks to Vatican 2 expert Massimo Faggioli from Trinity College Dublin & Catholic commentator Melanie McDonagh. PRESENTER: Edward Stourton PRODUCERS: Catherine Murray & Katy Booth EDITOR: Catherine Earlam STUDIO MANAGERS: Chris Hardman & Patrick Shaw

    39 min

  2. 7 SEPT

    First Millennial Saint; Mystery of Musa al-Sadr and Archbishop of Canterbury 'Frontrunners'

    Pope Leo will preside over a service of canonisation for the first time today. The ceremony also stands out because of the age of one of those being made a saint; Carlo Acutis, who was British born, was just 15 when he died of leukaemia. We discuss the significance of soon-to-be Saint Carlo Acutis with BBC’s Religion Editor Aleem Maqbool. Musa al-Sadr was a hugely influential Lebanese-Iranian Shia cleric. He disappeared on a visit to Libya in 1978, and although there have been persistent rumours that he was killed by the Gaddafi regime, no one has been able to say for sure what happened to him. A new BBC Eye documentary called ‘The Mystery of Musa al-Sadr’ may have the answer. We speak to the programme’s producer and reporter, Moe Shreif. It has been a long wait - for eight months there has been no archbishop of Canterbury. We are now being told that we will know the name of the next leader of the Church of England and indeed the worldwide Anglican communion by the end of September or early in October. The process of choosing him - or, perhaps, for the first time, her - takes place behind closed doors, but we asked Madeleine Davies of the Church Times to take us through the most-talked about candidates. Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Katy Davis & Linda Walker Production Coordinator: Kim Agostino Studio Managers: Olivia Miceli & Mike Smith Editor: Dan Tierney

    43 min

  3. 31 AUG

    School shooting; Rediscovered monastic music; Bishop of Oxford on migration

    William Crawley examines the place of prayer in the aftermath of the school shooting that left two children dead and many injured. It comes as the Mayor of Minneapolis spoke out about the need for action rather than 'thoughts and prayers'. He hears about the threat to the future of theology courses at undergraduate level and asks if you put a theology degree to good use? Dame Jasvinder Sanghera and Yasmin Javed, whose daughter was murdered by her husband, discuss the importance of the government's new definition of honour-based crime. We hear the long-lost music of Buckland Abbey, discovered in a 500 year old book and brought back to life by a choir in 2025. The Bishop of Oxford has written an open letter to Nigel Farage after the leader of Reform announced his vision to crackdown on small boat crossings. Steven Croft is in discussion with Tim Montgomerie, activist and member of Reform about whether Christian values and migration measures are in tension. Presenter: Williams Crawley Producers: Catherine Murray & Bara'atu Ibrahim Production Coordinator: Paul Holloway Studio Managers: Adam Dolan & Nat Stokes Editor: Tim Pemberton

    44 min

  4. 26 AUG

    Russia-Ukraine; Saving the Shrimps; the pilgrim cellist

    As the meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin fail to produce a ceasefire in Ukraine, we talk to Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski about the response of displaced Ukrainians in the UK. The Daily Telegraph Defence Editor says it is becoming too dangerous to report in certain parts of the world and explains why St Bride’s, the journalist’s church in Fleet Street, has become a sanctuary for her. This week Gary Grant, the founder of the UK’s biggest toy shop, announced he was handing over its ownership to its 1900 members of staff. We ask him why. Former priest Kenneth Wilson talks to Julie Etchingham about his pilgrimage to play at 42 Anglican Cathedrals in England with his cello strapped to his customised bike. And have the Shrimps been saved? As the future of Morecombe FC lies in the balance, a prayer vigil is held to help save the club. Producers: Amanda Hancox and James Leesley Studio Managers: Nathaniel Danter, Georgia-Mae Browne, Sharon Hughes Production Co-Ordinator: Liz Poole Editor: Tim Pemberton

    43 min

  5. 24 AUG

    Ukrainian Independence day, Córdoba Cathedral, Kayaking Priests

    It's Ukraine's independence day, a state holiday begun after the break with the old Soviet Union in 1991. Churches across the world have been invited to join a global prayer chain to call for peace. We are joined by Nadiyka Gerbish, a writer and podcaster living in Ternopil in Western Ukraine, and part of the Calvary Chapel Church. The Mezquita, or Great Mosque in the Spanish city of Cordoba is a unique jewel of both Islamic and Christian architecture. Just over two weeks ago we were getting news of a fire there and we immediately wondered if this was, like Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019, going to be another national disaster. Luckily the fire didn't spread, but still there's a major restoration job underway. Guy Hedgecoe reports for us from southern Spain. For two Church of England priests the command to 'take up your cross', became 'take up your paddle'. The Reverend Christina Rees and the Reverend Patrick Forbes decided to kayak down the Great Ouse - an 85 mile journey - to raise money for charity. While Cambodia has been in the news for escalating tensions with Thailand, today we’re bringing you a story of reconciliation. Since 2014, Hindu and Buddhist masterpieces housed in museums and private collections in the West, have been slowly returning Cambodia. Just last summer, 22 were welcomed back. The artefacts were looted from temples during the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s, and its turbulent aftermath. We hear from investigators, and former looters, who are now working together to bring the sacred statues back to Cambodia. Producers: Katy Davis and Linda Walker Presenter: Emily Buchanan Editor: Chloe Walker Studio Managers: George Willis and Georgia-Mae Browne

    44 min

  6. 10 AUG

    The role of AI in faith and spirituality; Haredi draft row in Israel

    BBC Director Ellena Wood talks about her documentary and podcast 'Inside the Cult of Jesus Army' which examines the puritanical sect founded by Noel Stanton and tells how former members are coming to terms with the damage it inflicted on their lives. Stand-up David Rose takes his show: 'Our Hebrew Friend' to the Edinburgh Fringe. It tackles the complicated legacy of his great grandfather, a music hall entertainer who found fame by playing up to anti-semitic stereotypes. Our reporter Rosie Dawson is in Lancashire where vicars and imams are building bridges on the cricket pitch. Is there a role for AI chatbots when it comes to faith and spirituality? Emily Buchanan explores whether they could help with prayer and guidance, hears from Paul Powers who developed a GPT Jesus and looks at the ethics behind using artificial intelligence in religion with Dr Scott Midson - Lecturer in Digital Theology, at Manchester University - and Dr Alba Curry - Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Leeds. Correspondent Jon Donnison is in Jerusalem where a date of Oct 7th has been set for residents to leave Gaza City after a controversial Israeli government plan to take control of the area. Emily hears about the row over Haredi conscription in Israel which has caused some Ultra-Orthodox leaders to declare war on the government PRODUCERS : CATHERINE MURRAY & LINDA WALKER STUDIO MANAGERS: MIKE SMITH & ETHAN CONNOLLY-FORSTER PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR: LIZ POOLE EDITOR: CHLOE WALKER

    44 min

  7. 3 AUG

    Israel-Gaza, Shaolin Scandals, Axe Murder Priest

    The Board of Deputies of British Jews hosted an emergency meeting this week in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A statement followed, which called for, “a rapid, uninhibited, and sustained increase in aid through all available channels”. It goes on to say, “food must not be used as a weapon of war, by any side in this conflict.” We get the latest on the conflict from a correspondent and speak to Phil Rosenberg – President of The Board of Deputies of British Jews. This week, it’s been announced that Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the world-renowned Shaolin Temple, is being investigated by multiple agencies for embezzlement, "improper relationships with multiple women" and "fathering illegitimate children". Emily Buchanan speaks to BBC China correspondent Stephen McDonell about the religious significance of the Shaolin temple in China & the reaction on the ground to news of the latest scandal. The archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, has asked the Vatican to defrock a priest charged with the killing of a 68-year-old homeless man who was beaten with an axe and set on fire. The priest, identified only as Miroslaw M in line with Polish privacy rules, is believed to have had an argument with the victim over housing. The priest admitted the crime after being arrested. Emily Buchanan speaks to Jonathan Luxmoore – a journalist and author who specialises in Catholic Church affairs in Europe and who was based in Poland for more than a decade. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Katy Davis Production Coordinator: Liz Poole Studio Managers: Kelly Young & Grant Cassidy Editor: Tim Pemberton

    44 min

  8. 27 JUL

    Post Office scandal; Gaza crisis; Hildegard of Bingen

    When the first part of the report into the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was published earlier this month, it revealed the devastating impact of that scandal on the lives of those wrongly accused of fraud. William Crawley hears from a former sub-postmaster, Tom Hedges, who says his personal faith and the support of his church was a source of strength for him when he was wrongly accused of stealing from the Post Office. While the war in Gaza continues, many independent agencies claim that Israeli settlers have used the cover of war to expand their illegal settlements in other occupied Palestinian territories. And now an historic mosque has become, for some, emblematic of the growing power of settlers over local populations. The 12th century German Benedictine nun Hildegard of Bingen was almost entirely forgotten for about 900 years until being rediscovered in the 1970s. Many contemporary musicians have been inspired by Hildegard. We’ve been learning more about this medieval polymath from Fiona Maddocks, the Observer's music critic and author of Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Katy Davis & James Leesley Studio Managers: Chris Mather & George Willis Editor: Dan Tierney

    36 min
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5 Ratings

About

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2025
  • Episodes
    490
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2025
  • Show Website
    Sunday
  • Provider

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