Sunday

BBC Radio 4

4.0 (21)
RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
UPDATED WEEKLY

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

6 DAYS AGO

‘Coolcation’ pilgrimages; The Catholic author who inspired Wicked; Faith in Space

In this last ‘Sunday’ of the year, Emily Buchanan looks back at 2024 and forward to 2025. 2024 has been a record breaking year for one of the world's busiest pilgrimage routes - the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The rising numbers of pilgrims, as well as the soaring summer temperatures, mean more people are considering ‘coolcation’ pilgrim trails in countries like Norway. Will they catch on? ‘Wicked’ has been one of the biggest movies of the year. Emily speaks to Gregory Maguire, the Catholic writer whose novel inspired the hit stage musical and new start-studded film. What was it like writing the backstory of the notoriously evil Wicked Witch of the West? And astronaut Barry 'Butch' Wilmore will be seeing in the New Year in space, having been stranded on the International Space Station since June. He won’t return until well into 2025, and worshippers at his Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas have been keeping a close watch on the situation. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Dan Tierney and Saba Zaman Editor: Tim Pemberton.

39 min
12/22/2024

A Plot Against the Pope, Christmas at Great Ormond Street, and the Spirituality of Gold

As Christmas draws near, this week’s Sunday brings the latest religious stories shaping the news agenda. Pope Francis is about to release his autobiography – the first by any pontiff. Among its revelations is a startling account of how UK intelligence foiled an assassination plot during his 2021 visit to Iraq. Colm Flynn, who accompanied the Pope on that trip, shares his insights into the dramatic events. At Great Ormond Street Hospital, the fallout from disgraced surgeon Yaser Jabbar has cast a shadow over its vital work. Yet, amid the challenges, lead chaplain Dorothy Moore Brookes is bringing comfort and joy to families spending Christmas far from home. We join her on the wards to witness the impact of her work. Gold has always been more than a precious metal – it carries deep spiritual significance and a cosmic story. Alan Ereira, author of A History of Gold: How It Shaped Humanity, traces its journey from interstellar collisions to its role in empires and its environmental legacy today. In Gaza City, where the conflict rages on, aid worker George Antone describes life in the compound of the Holy Family Church. With homes destroyed and hope tested, 500 parishioners prepare for their second Christmas in exile. And after a tumultuous few weeks for the Church of England – with Archbishop Justin Welby stepping down and safeguarding allegations swirling around his successor – we ask Bishop Michael Ipgrave of Lichfield what lies ahead for the embattled institution. Presented by Emily Buchanan Producers: Rajeev Gupta & Katy Davis Editor: Chloe Walker

46 min
12/15/2024

Syria; Oasis Restore; Lourdes Liverpool Miracle

The people of Syria have been celebrating again this weekend, with many protestors outside the largest mosque in Damascus deriding the former president, Bashar al-Assad, as a "Zombie". With a sense of relief that Assad is now gone, there is anxiety too about what might follow. William Crawley explores how the new regime will affect the religious make up of the country with Makram Rabah, Assistant Professor of History at the American University in Beirut. This week, the justice secretary has said that even under the government's plans to open 14,000 more prison places, they could still run out of space over the next few years. Oasis Restore school opened in the summer and aims to transform the justice system for young people by focusing on education and therapy, rather than punishment and retribution. The Founder, Baptist Minister Steve Chalke, says ‘The philosophy behind everything we do here is not, ‘What have you done wrong?’ but, ‘What’s happened to you?’ For generations, a story has been told in Liverpool's Catholic community about a local man, wounded in the first world war, who went to Lourdes and returned with a miracle. Now, a hundred years after that previously paralyzed man, Jack Traynor, shocked everyone by carrying his own bags off the train at Lime Street Station, the Archbishop of Liverpool has officially recognised his healing as a miracle. Sunday hears from Alex Taylor Jack's great-great grandson, as well as Dr Kieran Moriarty, a British physician who reviewed the original case files and gave evidence to a canonical commission. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Catherine Murray Studio Managers: Nat Stokes & Sam Mills Editor: Tim Pemberton

44 min
12/10/2024

Notre-Dame reopens, Justin Welby's Lords farewell speech, and faith in Moana 2

Notre-Dame is reopening to the public after 5 years of renovation, following a devastating fire in 2019. But the cathedral is much more than a building - and many secular minded people in France would say that it's much more than a cathedral too. We hear from our Paris Correspondent, Hugh Schofield and commentator Agnes Poirier, author of "Notre Dame - the Soul of France". The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised for causing distress after Church of England abuse survivors criticised his House of Lords farewell speech. Jane Chevous, the co-founder of Survivors Voices joins the programme. The position of women in Afghanistan took another turn for the worse this week as women and girls have told the BBC they've been banned from nursing and midwifery courses. PRESENTER: Edward Stourton PRODUCERS: Katy Davis and Bara’atu Ibrahim STUDIO MANAGERS: Carwyn Griffith and Simon Highfield EDITOR: Chloe Walker

44 min
12/01/2024

Religion & assisted dying debate; Helen-Ann Hartley on being 'frozen out' by other bishops

The Bishop of Newcastle who called for the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury talks to us about the price she's paid for rocking the boat. Friday's vote by MPs in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill was certainly historic. But did it also feel like a rejection of traditional religious values? We'll explore that claim on today's Sunday with broadcaster Mark Mardell and Director of Theos Chine McDonald We'll celebrate the start of Advent with Radio 3 as they fill their schedule with Christmas choirs, live from across the UK. PRESENTER: WILLIAM CRAWLEY PRODUCERS: CATHERINE MURRAY & PETER EVERETT STUDIO MANAGERS: SIMON HIGHFIELD & HELEN WILLIAMS EDITOR: TIM PEMBERTON

40 min
11/17/2024

Justin Welby, safeguarding and the future of the Church of England

After a tumultuous week in the Church of England, Emily Buchanan looks at the legacy that Justin Welby will leave behind, how the church can stamp out abuse in future, and what's needed from the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Plus, an interview with Robert Harris, author of Conclave, on the Oscar-tipped movie of the same name.

44 min
11/10/2024

Trump victory, Church of England abuse cover up, Guildford’s new Rabbi

In this week’s US election, Donald Trump secured the backing of 80% of white evangelical Christian voters. We hear insights from Rev. Robert M. Franklin, Jr., a senior fellow at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, and Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals. John Smyth ran Christian summer camps in Dorset during the 1970s and 1980s. His “horrific” and violent abuse of over 100 boys and young men was concealed by the Church of England for decades, according to a new report. Edward Stourton speaks with Andrew Graystone, author of Bleedings For Jesus: John Smyth and the Cult of the Iwerne Camps, and Dr Joanne Grenfell, Area Bishop of Stepney and safeguarding lead bishop for the Church of England. Guildford, Surrey, has had a Jewish community for centuries, though it has lacked a rabbi since the expulsion of Jews from England 750 years ago. Now, change is afoot as Alex Goldberg has recently been appointed the town’s new rabbi. Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Katy Davis & Amanda Hancox Studio Managers: Amy Brennan & Helen Williams Editor: Rajeev Gupta

43 min
11/03/2024

Religion and the US Election

Edward Stourton presents a special US edition of 'Sunday' from Atlanta, in which he reports on the religious vote from the Bible Belt battleground state of Georgia. With unique access to a broad spectrum of faith communities, he gets analysis on the role of religion in the election. Producers: Dan Tierney (in Atlanta) Catherine Murray Peter Everett Saba Zaman Studio managers: Amy Brennon John Cole Jack Morris Editor: Tim Pemberton

43 min

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out of 5

21 Ratings

A needed coverage on religious news

05/13/2019

Mo Sena

Love listening to the different main religious stories of different faiths. But, the interviewees are often cut short in midsentence and rushed to finish their sentences. Why not cut down a little on the number of stories but allow for more in depth reportage?
Yes!

07/08/2018

Organa57

I love having a place to go for religion news!
Wonderful program

12/22/2009

Lord Watson

What a simply wonderful program. I listen to it weekly without err. The guests are respected but held to account and the entire feel is controlled yet open. Good job
No.

10/04/2010

accordian theif

No.