Everyday Ethics

BBC Radio Ulster

3.9 (22)
RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Provocative weekly debate on moral, religious and ethical issues. From BBC Radio Ulster

12/21/2025

PCI Safeguarding Scandal, Narnia at 75

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland held a special meeting of its general assembly on Thursday- five weeks after its moderator and clerk, the Reverend Dr Trevor Gribben, resigned over what he called serious and significant failings in its safeguarding process. Alan Meban reports from the Assembly and then Audrey talks to former PCI Moderator Norman Hamilton and Belfast Telegraph journalist Angela Davison about what it achieved. Its 75 years since The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was published. We step into Narnia with writers Tony Macaulay and Shirley Ann McMillan and Theologian Elaine Storkey. And we also hear about the enduring popularity of the book with some kids from a local school putting on a stage version of the book this Christmas.

57 min
12/14/2025

Light in the Darkness, Christmas in Gaza, Quantum Physics

We are approaching the shortest day of the year- it's next Sunday when the Winter Solstice will happen at three minutes past three on December 21st. So that, plus the fact that today is the start of the Festival of Hannukah- the Jewish festival of Lights, got us thinking about the part light plays in all our lives, and especially for those of faith. Audrey is joined by Professor Laurence Kirkpatrick, Dr Tina Beattie and Dr Leon Litvak. We also talk to Father Carlos Ferrero from the Holy Family Church in Gaza City about how they are planning to celebrate Christmas this year and also whether things have improved since the Ceasefire. And finally we talk to Paul Davies, a renowned physicist and professor at Arizona State University. His new book Quantum 2.0 finishes with the words 'to be aware of the quantum world is to glimpse something of the majesty and elegance of the physical universe and our place within it.'

55 min
12/07/2025

Presbyterian Safeguarding, Pope’s Beirut Visit, Homelessness

As more cases emerge, safeguarding expert Ian Elliot calls for a public enquiry into PCI. Audrey talks to journalist Angela Davison about the latest developments and also to retired Presbyterian minister Rev Tony Davidson about what needs to happen at the special general assembly. Pope Leo’s first overseas trip takes him to Lebanon where he met some of the victims of the Beirut port explosion and celebrated a mass for 150,000 Christians. Audrey speaks to Najat Aoun Saliba, a Maronite Christian and an MP in Lebanon. Homelessness figures in Northern Ireland have increased exponentially over the last decade. Mark Baillie from Homelessness Connect tells Audrey why. And could a row over military service for Ultra-Orthodox Jews bring down Benjamin Netanyahu’s government?

57 min
11/30/2025

Ethical Budgets, RE in Schools, The Pope’s Astronomer

As we digest this week’s budget, we discuss the ethics of what and who governments choose to spend our money on. Audrey talks to journalist Anne McElvoy, Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick from Ulster University and Agnes Lunny the CEO of Positive Futures. The uncertainty around what the Supreme Court decision on Religious Education will mean continues. Audrey talks to Naomi Green and Edwin Graham about their perspectives as Muslim and Bahai parents of children in the NI education system. And we talk to Brother Guy Consalmagno about his ten years as Director of the Vatican Observatory.

57 min
11/23/2025

Supreme Court and Religion, PCI Safeguarding, Sustainability

Christian religious education (RE) taught in schools in Northern Ireland is unlawful, the UK Supreme Court has ruled. Audrey is joined by Dr James Nelson from Queens University, Bishop Donal McKeown and Boyd Sleator from the Northern Ireland Humanists to discuss the implications for schools. As the Presbyterian Church safeguarding scandal continues, we talk to church members about their reaction to the news and what they want to see happen. And as the COP 30 meeting in Brazil ends, we look at steps we can all take locally towards sustainability.

57 min
11/16/2025

Presbyterian Moderator Resigns, COP30 Update, German Remembrance Day

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has stepped down after "serious and significant failings" in safeguarding. The Rev Trevor Gribben said "people have been placed at risk" due to the failings in its processes between 2009 and 2022. We look at the wider implications of the story and ask whether an outside body needs to lead the denominations safeguarding process. The COP 30 meetings in Brazil are at the end of the first week. Sinead Loughran from Trocaire updates us on how things are going. Closer to home what can we do to encourage sustainability in our food system. Audrey talks to Beth Bell from Belfast Sustainability Partnership and Louise Ferguson from The Larder Community Foodbank about small changes we can all make. And this Sunday is German Remembrance Day but commemoration of the war dead is much more complex because of its 20th Century history. Audrey talks to Hamburg based journalist Jenny Witt.

57 min
11/09/2025

Muslim Mayor, Silence as a Religious Act, The Book of Kells

Zohran Mamadani made history this week when he was elected Mayor of New York City. The 34 year old is the first mayor born outside the US and the first Muslim. So how central was faith in the campaign and how important is it to him personally? Audrey talks to Professor Najam Haider from Columbia University. On Remembrance Sunday we look at the religious practice of silence with Jim Deeds, Rabbi Nicole Auerbach and Buddhist Prajnaketu. At a Mass in Rome last week Pope Leo XIV proclaimed Saint John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church. Andrew Meszaros from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome tells us about his life and legacy. And the Book of Kells has traditionally been thought to have been written on the Island of Iona but new research suggests it was on the East Coast of Scotland or as it was known then Pictland. Author Victoria Whitworth is challenging the accepted wisdom.

53 min
11/02/2025

Oliver Plunkett, Relics, Sudan, Digital Resurrection

Archbishop Eamon Martin reflects on the life and death of his predecessor Oliver Plunkett. Born 400 years ago this weekend, the saint's head is preserved in St Peter’s Church in Drogheda. Mark Devenport is joined by Dr Niamh Wycherley and John Thavis to discuss the role of relics in the 21st century. The Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times Africa correspondent Declan Walsh explains the background to violence and killings in south west Sudan. And on All Souls Day, grief bots and avatars promise to preserve our loved ones from beyond the grave. Dr Elaine Storkey, Dr Nathan Mladin and Professor Victoria Haneman discuss the ethical concerns to what some see as compassionate technology and others dismiss as a sinister intrusion into the painful process of bereavement.

55 min

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3.9

out of 5

22 Ratings

Balance without Prejudice

09/27/2009

Ambiverbal

This is among my favorite ethics podcasts. Even though it focuses primarily on events in Northern Ireland, its approach allows the listeners to generalize the discussions to their own local situations. In particular I appreciate the non-deferential treatment given to both religion and secular philosophies. Neither deserves special treatment, but rather need to exist (and change) within the scrutiny of the public. Bravo!
Excellent!

08/26/2009

8theist

Thoughtful and insightful discussions of science and religion. Critical thought and reason are the real guidelines here, not dogma.