Sunday

BBC Radio 4
  • 4.1 (22)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

  1. 3D AGO

    DRC Ebola; Jain Manuscripts; Heritage funding

    As the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues, the World Health Organisation has classified the regional risk as “very high”, while maintaining that the global risk remains low. Aid agencies say faith leaders are playing an important role in helping communities respond to the virus and challenge misinformation. William Crawley speaks to Poppy Anguandia, Country Director in the DRC for Tearfund, about the work being carried out with churches and mosques in affected areas. Two thousand ancient Jain manuscripts have been transferred to new custodians in the UK, in a move welcomed by members of the Jain community and scholars alike. The collection is expected to support preservation efforts and improve public and academic access to important religious texts. And a £48 million funding boost for heritage projects across the UK prompts fresh debate about how the nation preserves its religious and cultural history for future generations. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & James Leesley Editor: Rajeev Gupta

    43 min
  2. Faith and politics; Holocaust memorial lecture; street preachers

    MAY 17

    Faith and politics; Holocaust memorial lecture; street preachers

    The build up to the by-election in Makerfield is likely to be the only political story in town in the coming weeks. Reform UK is pledging to throw everything at the race to stop Andy Burnham's ambitions to be Prime Minister. Another potential contender in any contest, Wes Streeting, has spoken openly about his Anglican Christian faith. Angela Rayner has described herself as not being religious. We explore how faith can play a role in politics. An evangelical church in Essex has launched an appeal against an order preventing “intimidating behaviour” by its members preaching on the street. The Bread of Life Community Church in Colchester, allegedly told passers-by they were going to hell. Colchester City Council has applied to police to issue a community protection notice. The Church maintains it's preaching a message of God's love. The case raises a lot of questions - not least about the lines preachers may or may not cross legally. What is public opinion on street preachers and has that changed? Who helped and who didn’t echoes still as one of history's most searing questions in the wake of the Holocaust. As well as the countries who fought against Nazis in the war - the light has often been shone on heroic individuals who risked their own lives to save persecuted Jewish people. Are there lessons to be learned in understanding which local communities, and specifically religious groups, refused to look the other way and which ones did? This is the subject of the annual Alfred Wiener Holocaust Memorial Lecture tomorrow by Professor Mary Fulbrook, who was brought up as a Quaker. Presenter: Julie Etchingham Producers: Katy Booth and Alexa Good Studio managers: Becky Marcus and Catherine Everatt Editor: Tim Pemberton

    44 min

  3. MAY 12

    Sir David Attenborough; Music is Black; UK Antisemitism

    As Sir David Attenborough turns 100, we ask what his lifelong work revealing the natural world has meant not just scientifically, but spiritually. Emily Buchanan speaks to the Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham Usher, an ecologist and Church of England lead bishop on the environment. Also on the programme, we explore religious and spiritual connections in 125 years of Black music-making in Britain. The first paid exhibition at the new V&A East museum is on until the 3rd of January 2027. The Sunday programme hears from lead curator, Jacqueline Springer. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said "every part of society" has a responsibility to tackle antisemitism in the UK, and announced an extra £1.5 million of funding to strengthen community cohesion, as a new YouGov survey claims 63% of Britons see antisemitism as a major problem. The survey also claims that 57% of the public say there is a problem with Islamophobia in British society. Emily Buchanan hears from two members of the Jewish and Muslim community working on interfaith dialogue and initiatives. Laura Janner-Klausner, Rabbi of Bromley Reform Synagogue, and Julie Siddiqi- Co-chair of the British Muslim Network. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Rebecca Kelly Studio Managers: Kelly Young & Ethan Connolly-Forster Editor: Chloe Walker

    43 min

  4. MAY 3

    Sunday special:One year of Pope Leo XIV

    A special edition of Sunday marking a year since the election of Pope Leo XIV

    44 min

  5. APR 26

    Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome, Christianity and the founding of the US, Hairdressing priest

    Dame Sarah Mullally has chosen Rome as the destination for her first overseas visit as Archbishop of Canterbury. The 4-day visit to the Vatican includes prayers at the tomb of St Peter in St Peter's Basilica, and a private audience with Pope Leo. It is a trip that is being seen as significant for relations between the two churches. William Crawley speaks to Dr. Robert Innes, the Church of England's Bishop in Europe and the Catholic journalist and author Catherine Pepinster. This week, Donald Trump took part in a marathon Bible reading event organised by Christian conservatives in Washington. It was part of a week-long effort to read aloud the entire Bible, to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. And though many in the US assert the country's history of separating church and state, leading figures from the Trump White House have been emphasising America's historic Christian roots. But was America founded as a "Christian Nation"? Richard Carwardine, Emeritus Rhodes Professor of American History at Oxford, explores that question. The Reverend Anthea Mitchell was cutting hair for 30 years before her calling to the priesthood. But she didn’t give up her work in the salon. She is one of around 2,000 self-supporting ministers in the Church of England who combine church life with everyday jobs. The church has launched a new series of films exploring the parallel worlds, where ministry meets the workplace. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Dan Tierney and Rebecca Kelly Studio Managers: Isabelle Whitehead and George Willis Editor: Tim Pemberton

    44 min
  6. Pope Leo and President Trump; Buddhist extremism; Gulf Christians

    APR 19

    Pope Leo and President Trump; Buddhist extremism; Gulf Christians

    After a week of headlines that portrayed Pope Leo and President Trump pitted against each other, the pontiff says he regrets his remarks being interpreted as a debate. We hear from a journalist on the papal visit to Africa and Anna Rowlands, Professor at Durham University and a member of the Vatican department concerned with social teaching. Buddhism with its tradition of meditation and compassion, is not a religion you might associate with violence. However, from Rohingya expulsions by Buddhist mobs in Myanmar, to Sri Lankan riots fuelled by Buddhist militants, religious nationalism can turn monks into political players. Sonia Faleiro has investigated this phenomenon for a book called The Robe and the Sword - how Buddhist Extremism is shaping modern Asia. The peace deal between the US, Israel and Iran is holding for now but it is not clear when there will be a new round of face to face talks. With up to five million Christians living in the Gulf, we wanted to find out how they were coping with the war. We hear from Bishop Sean Semple, the Anglican Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf and Davide Axtell who chairs the council of Bahrain Cathedral. Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Katy Booth and Rosie Dawson Studio Managers: Helen Williams, Chris Mather and Ben Cuthbertson Editor: Catherine Murray

    43 min

  7. APR 16

    Archers at 75, Lebanese Icon, Religious language of war

    As talks between the United States and Iran get underway, Edward Stourton discusses the vivid use of religious language in the rhetoric surrounding the war in the Middle East with Dr Toby Matthiesen, Kamin Mohammadi and Dr Brian Klug. Uzbekistan has decided to include Sharia banking in the country's financial system. It's said it will unlock a trillion dollars in foreign investment. Atty Arsalan Tariq, a lawyer who specialises in Islamic and conventional finance explains how this will work. For many Lebanese the trauma of the current conflict with Israel stands out against the backdrop of Lebanon's long recent history of violence. For Toufic Diab, from Lebanon who lives in the UK, the icon of a Lebanese saint helps his faith and brings solace during this worrying time for his family back home. For 75 years the Archers has graced the airwaves with the story of everyday country folk in the fictional village of Ambridge. Like the village pub, the church has been at the centre of village life. John Telfer, who plays the Rev Alan Franks and Nick Warbuton, a writer on the show, look back at the role religion has played in this long running drama. Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Amanda Hancox and Jay Behrouzi Studio Managers: Tom Clarke and Nat Stokes Editor: Tim Pemberton

    44 min
  8. 05/04/2026

    APR 5

    05/04/2026

    Less than two weeks since her installation as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally is to give her first Easter sermon in the role. There is also controversy with the news that the King is not publishing an Easter message this year. Some point out that the King published a video message with greetings to Muslims during Ramadan, and wonder why the Supreme Governor of the Church of England is seemingly silent on the most important day in the Christian calendar. At a White House Easter event on Wednesday, evangelical pastors compared Donald Trump’s political troubles and a failed assassination attempt to the experience of Jesus on the cross, calling him God’s chosen champion in a “spiritual" battle that included the Iran war. Pope Leo and others believe peace-making is not only necessary, but possible. The crew of Artemis II are on their way to the moon, one of the personal items is a copy of the bible. Many astronauts have spoken of their experience of seeing the earth from deep space in spiritual terms, describing what has been described as an 'overview effect' - a sense of awe upon looking at Earth suspended in space. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Katy Booth and James Leesley Studio managers: Lynsey Akehurst and Catherine Everatt Editor: Tim Pemberton

    42 min
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4.1
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

A look at the ethical and religious issues of the week

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodes
    526
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Sunday

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