Living with the Gods

BBC Radio 4

4.8 (187)
HISTORY

Neil MacGregor explores the role and expression of shared beliefs in communities around the world. Produced in partnership with the British Museum.

12/01/2017

Living with Each Other

Neil MacGregor concludes his series about shared beliefs. He began with the Lion Man, an object created 40,000 years ago, and now reflects on the present, on the future and on hope Producer Paul Kobrak The series is produced in partnership with the British Museum, with the assistance of Dr Christopher Harding, University of Edinburgh. Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

14 min
11/30/2017

The Search for a State

Neil MacGregor continues his series on shared beliefs with a look at the attempts of some faiths to establish a state of their own. An over-printed coin from 2nd century Jerusalem tells of the failed attempt of Shimon bar Kokhba to lay claim to a state for the Jews, free from Roman rule - while a white cotton flag, framed in pale blue, flew over Sudan after it had been taken by Mahdist forces and before the Islamic state collapsed in the mid 1890s. Producer Paul Kobrak Produced in partnership with the British Museum Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

14 min
11/29/2017

Turning the Screw

Neil MacGregor continues his series on shared beliefs with a focus on those faiths seen as a threat to the state. A plain board, to be found on a 17th-century Japanese roadside, offers generous rewards to anyone who informs on Christians. At almost exactly the same time a print from France depicts the officially sanctioned destruction of a Huguenot Church just a few miles east of Paris. Producer Paul Kobrak Produced in partnership with the British Museum Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

15 min
11/28/2017

Living with No Gods

Neil MacGregor focuses on societies which aimed to live without religious beliefs. Neil examines a revolutionary clock, from around 1795, created in the wake of the French Revolution, and designed to mark a new way of living: in an age of reason, there would no longer be royalism or religion in France. A poster from the Soviet Union celebrates the apparent triumph of scientific progress: the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin floats in space, looks out and proclaims 'There is no God!'. It seems that the heavens are empty of divine beings, but full, instead, of starry promise. Producer Paul Kobrak Produced in partnership with the British Museum Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

14 min
11/27/2017

Ruling with the Gods

Neil MacGregor continues his series on shared beliefs with a focus on earthly rulers and the gods. Queens and kings may be priests of the gods, or their representatives. They may be incarnations - or even gods themselves. Or the relationship may be so close that to divide spiritual from temporal power at all would simply make no sense. Neil examines these ideas, with the help of objects including a bronze staff belonging to the Oba of Benin, and a bronze vessel from China, whose inscription suggests that its dynastic leaders enjoyed a mandate from heaven. Producer Paul Kobrak The series is produced in partnership with the British Museum, with the assistance of Dr Christopher Harding, University of Edinburgh. Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

14 min
11/24/2017

Gods Living Together

Neil MacGregor continues his series about the expression of shared beliefs with a focus on how faiths co-exist in India. Producer Paul Kobrak Produced in partnership with the British Museum Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

15 min
11/23/2017

Global Gods, Local Needs

Neil MacGregor continues his series about the expression of shared beliefs with a focus on gods can reach new communities, and how those communities can then adapt and change the faiths. Producer Paul Kobrak Produced in partnership with the British Museum Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

14 min
11/22/2017

The Other Side of the Leaf

Neil MacGregor continues his series about the expression of shared beliefs with a focus on societies who believe that they share the landscape with co-inhabitants who are not visible but are present. Such belief systems can be found in places such as the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. It is difficult, Neil MacGregor suggests, to express this relationship with the landscape in the English language. Words such as spirits, gods or beings do not adequately convey the nature of the co-inhabitants - and although these co-inhabitants cannot always be seen, they are always there, on the other side of the leaf. Producer Paul Kobrak Produced in partnership with the British Museum Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

14 min

See All (30)

4.8

out of 5

187 Ratings

Tour de Force

07/21/2022

GraemeWR

What an engaging intellectual journey covering philosophy, religion and beliefs over mankind’s existence. Only the BBC can do this so well.
Should be included in school curricula

10/23/2020

ShammiKG

I probably must have listened to a 1000 hours of podcasts and this is undoubtedly the best one yet.
Great content and production

11/05/2019

free milk from the cow

McGregor and BBC make great podcasts.
Brilliant

08/07/2019

Randomnamenickname

i loved the inclusion of religion in general. a great listen.
Living With the Gods

03/14/2019

lorenalight

I found the Living With the Gods Podcast thoroughly moving. I really enjoyed learning about collective beliefs through history. In our vastly individual society, this podcast has been a welcome perspective in the power of shared beliefs and of community. I recommend to anyone with a heart.
Nicely done,,,

05/11/2019

brainzmatter

But this material is covered the first week of a mid level Anthropology course. Still, if you’re not an anthropologist, it’s a good synopsis of the development and function of belief systems. Some segments could have been longer. I would just be getting really interested and the episode would abruptly end.
Great show from same guy as history of the world in 100 objects

07/02/2018

bbbbnnnnnn

Excellent show, learned a lot.
Loved it. Wish there were more episodes

05/02/2018

Nljfs

Very interesting show. I highly recommend it.
Best since 100 Objects

03/31/2018

Liberal Austin Hawk

This has been, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite podcast since History of the World in 100 objects. Let your Congressfolk know the CPB could fund things like this.
Fascinating series

03/13/2018

Brit Artgirl

Wonderfully produced series about how communities expressed their religious beliefs through objects in the British Museum collections.