In Our Time Archive: Religion
The history of ideas discussed by Melvyn Bragg and guests including Philosophy, science, literature, religion and the influence these ideas have on us today.
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All episodes (39)
Wyclif and the Lollards
Thu, 16 Jun 11
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the medieval philosopher, John Wyclif, and his later followers, the Lollards. Wyclif disputed the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church and his ideas were condemned as heretical and his supporters persecuted. Dubbed the ‘morning star of the Reformation’ Wyclif was also the first person to translate the Bible fully into English. Melvyn is joined by Sir Anthony Kenny, philosopher and former Master of Balliol College, Oxford; Anne Hudson, Emeritus Professor of Medieval English at the University of Oxford; and Rob Lutton, Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Nottingham.
Islamic Law
Thu, 5 May 11
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the origins and early development of Islamic law. With Professor Hugh Kennedy, Professor Robert Gleave and Professor Mona Siddiqui.
The Pelagian Controversy
Thu, 21 Apr 11
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg discusses The Pelagian Controversy. With Caroline Humfress, Martin Palmer and John Milbank.
The Bhagavad Gita
Thu, 31 Mar 11
Duration:
42 minsThe Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse section of the Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata, is one of the most revered texts of Hinduism. Written in around 200 BC, it narrates a conversation between Krishna, an incarnation of the deity, and the Pandava prince Arjuna. It has been described as a concise summary of Hindu theology, a short work which offers advice on how to live one's life. The Gita is also a philosophical work of great richness and influence. First translated into English in the 18th century, it was quickly taken up in the West. With: Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad Professor of Comparative Religion and Philosophy at Lancaster University, Julius Lipner, Professor of Hinduism and the Comparative Study of Religion and Fellow of Clare Hall at the University of Cambridge, and Jessica Frazier, Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Lecturer in Religious Studies at Regent's College, London Producer: Thomas Morris.
Maimonides
Tue, 15 Feb 11
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life, times and legacy of the great Jewish medieval philsopher, Maimonides. Also known as Rambam, Maimonides was a philosopher, theologian, lawyer and physician whose works are still influential today. Melvyn is joined by John Haldane, Professor of Philosophy at the University of St Andrews; Sarah Stroumsa, Alice and Jack Ormut Professor of Arabic Studies and currently Rector at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and Peter Adamson, Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at King’s College London.
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
Thu, 18 Nov 10
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg discusses one of the most important books of the Reformation, Foxe's 'Book of Martyrs' that recounts the horrific deaths of hundreds of martyrs put to death in the reign of Mary I. Melvyn is joined by Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University; Justin Champion, Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London; and Elizabeth Evenden, Lecturer in Book History at Brunel University.
William James's 'The Varieties of Religious Experience'
Thu, 13 May 10
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James. With Jonathan Rée, John Haldane and Gwen Griffith-Dickson.
Calvinism
Thu, 25 Feb 10
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of John Calvin and their impact. With Diarmaid MacCulloch, Susan Hardman Moore and Justin Champion.
St Thomas Aquinas
Thu, 17 Sep 09
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss St Thomas Aquinas. With Martin Palmer, John Haldane and Annabel Brett.
Sunni and Shia Islam
Thu, 25 Jun 09
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the origins of the split between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims, with Hugh Kennedy, Amira Bennison and Robert Gleave.
St Paul
Thu, 28 May 09
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the influence of St Paul on the early Christian church. With John Haldane, Helen Bond and John Barclay.
Miracles
Thu, 25 Sep 08
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests explore the history of miracles. Guests include Martin Palmer, Justin Champion and Janet Soskice.
The Nicene Creed
Thu, 27 Dec 07
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg discusses the Nicene Creed which established the Divinity of Christ. With Martin Palmer, Andrew Louth and Caroline Humfress.
Ockham’s Razor
Thu, 31 May 07
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg discusses the ideas of William Ockham including Ockham's Razor. With Anthony Kenny, Marilyn Adams and Richard Cross.
St Hilda
Thu, 5 Apr 07
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg discusses the 7th century abbess, St Hilda. With guests Sarah Foot, Rosemary Cramp and John Blair.
The Jesuits
Thu, 18 Jan 07
Duration:
42 minsMelvyn Bragg discusses the Jesuits, “the school masters of Europe”. With guests Simon Ditchfield, Nigel Aston and Olwen Hufton.
Hell
Thu, 21 Dec 06
Duration:
28 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of Hell and its representation in the arts. Guests include Martin Palmer, Neil Macgregor and Margaret Kean.
The Spanish Inquisition
Thu, 22 Jun 06
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg examines the Spanish Inquisition, defenders of medieval orthodoxy. With guests Alexander Murray, John Edwards and Michael Alpert.
The Oxford Movement
Thu, 13 Apr 06
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg examines the 19th century Catholic movement within the Church of England. With guests Simon Skinner, Frances Knight and Sheridan Gilley.
Heaven
Thu, 22 Dec 05
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss ideas of heaven and the afterlife. With Martin Palmer, John Carey and Valery Rees.
Paganism in the Renaissance
Thu, 16 Jun 05
Duration:
42 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the return of classical pagan thought in the Renaissance. Guests include Tom Healy, Evelyn Welch and Charles Hope.
Angels
Thu, 24 Mar 05
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss the heavenly host of Angels. With Valery Rees, Martin Palmer and John Haldane.
The Venerable Bede
Thu, 25 Nov 04
Duration:
29 minsThe life and work of the Venerable Bede who revolutionised Christian scholarship. With Michelle Brown, Sarah Foot and Richard Gameson.
Zoroastrianism
Thu, 11 Nov 04
Duration:
43 minsThe history of Zoroastrianism, claimed to be the first monotheistic religion. With guests Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, Farrokh Vajifdar and Alan Williams.
Witchcraft
Thu, 21 Oct 04
Duration:
43 minsThe history of witchcraft in Reformation Europe. With guests Alison Rowlands, Lyndal Roper and Malcolm Gaskill.
Toleration
Thu, 20 May 04
Duration:
28 minsMelvyn Bragg looks at the politics behind the rise of religious freedom in England. With guests Sarah Barber, Justin Champion and David Wooton.
The Fall
Thu, 8 Apr 04
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg examines the concept of original sin and its influence in Christian Europe. With guests Martin Palmer, John Carey and Griselda Pollock.
The Devil
Thu, 11 Dec 03
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg examines how the Devil became an established figure in Christianity. With guests Martin Palmer, Alison Rowlands and David Wootton.
The Apocalypse
Thu, 17 Jul 03
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg examines how a powerful narrative of judgement and retribution evolved. With Martin Palmer, Marina Benjamin and Justin Champion.
The Holy Grail
Thu, 15 May 03
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg examines why the Holy Grail legend has fascinated writers for centuries. Guests include Juliette Wood, Carolyne Larrington and Jonathan Riley Smith.
Redemption
Thu, 13 Mar 03
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests discuss redemption, crucial for Judeo-Christian thought. Guests include Janet Soskice, Richard Harries and Stephen Mulhall.
The Lindisfarne Gospels
Thu, 20 Feb 03
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg examines the manuscripts that united Celtic and Roman cultures in England. With guests Michelle Brown, Clare Lees and Richard Gameson.
Muslim Spain
Thu, 21 Nov 02
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg examines Muslim Spain, from Cordoba’s golden age to the fall of Granada. With Tim Winter, Martin Palmer and Mehri Niknam.
The Soul
Thu, 6 Jun 02
Duration:
29 minsThe history of thought on immortality, the self and the afterlife. With guests Richard Sorabji, Martin Palmer and Ruth Padel.
The Buddha
Thu, 14 Mar 02
Duration:
29 minsThe life of Siddhartha Gautama and the legacy of his teachings. With Peter Harvey, Kate Crosby and Mahinda Deegalle.
Catharism
Thu, 17 Jan 02
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg examines the Cathars, a medieval European Christian sect accused of heresy. With guests Euan Cameron, Miri Rubin and Malcolm Barber.
Science and Religion
Thu, 25 Jan 01
Duration:
43 minsMelvyn Bragg explores the areas of conflict and agreement between science and religion. With Stephen Jay Gould, John Haldane and Hilary Rose.
Age of Doubt
Thu, 9 Mar 00
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg examines the spread of religious doubt over the last three centuries. With guests A.N. Wilson and Victoria Glendinning.
Prayer
Thu, 23 Dec 99
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests explore the purpose and effects of prayer. With Russell Stannard and Andrew Samuels.
Fundamentalism
Thu, 22 Apr 99
Duration:
29 minsMelvyn Bragg and guests examine the roots and the consequences of religious fundamentalism. With Karen Armstrong and Tariq Ali.
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Play episodes
- Wyclif and the Lollards
- Islamic Law
- The Pelagian Controversy
- The Bhagavad Gita
- Maimonides
- Foxe's Book of Martyrs
- William James's 'The Varieties of Religious Experience'
- Calvinism
- St Thomas Aquinas
- Sunni and Shia Islam
- St Paul
- Miracles
- The Nicene Creed
- Ockham’s Razor
- St Hilda
- The Jesuits
- Hell
- The Spanish Inquisition
- The Oxford Movement
- Heaven
- Paganism in the Renaissance
- Angels
- The Venerable Bede
- Zoroastrianism
- Witchcraft
- Toleration
- The Fall
- The Devil
- The Apocalypse
- The Holy Grail
- Redemption
- The Lindisfarne Gospels
- Muslim Spain
- The Soul
- The Buddha
- Catharism
- Science and Religion
- Age of Doubt
- Prayer
- Fundamentalism
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