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Last broadcast on Tue, 26 May 2009, 21:15 on BBC Radio 3.
Synopsis
Philip Dodd talks to John Micklethwait, editor of The Economist magazine, about how a revival of religion is changing the world. In his new book God is Back, Micklethwait argues that a spread of religious fervour is having a profound effect on politics and society.
From Russia to Turkey to India, nations that swore off faith in the 20th century are now run by avowedly religious leaders. In particular, he claims the destabilising effects of religion can be seen in such places as Iraq.
Pointing out that by 2050 China could well be the world's biggest Muslim nation as well as the biggest Christian one, Micklethwait believes that to understand the politics of this century, we cannot afford to ignore God, whether we believe in Him or not.
John Micklethwait
Philip Dodd talks to John Micklethwait, editor of The Economist, whose new book ‘God is Back’ examines the success of the American style of Christianity which embraces modernity.
God is Back: How the Global Rise of Faith is Changing the World by John Micklethwait is published by Allen Lane
Ursula le Guin
Best-selling fantasy writer Ursula le Guin talks about her latest book Lavinia, inspired by a character from Virgil’s Aeneid.
Lavinia by Ursula le Guin is published by Gollancz
Colour Chart
As a new exhibition at Tate Liverpool opens devoted to colour in art, the artist Michael Craig-Martin talks about the changing role of colour in 20th century art from Matisse to Damien Hirst.
Colour Chart runs at Tate Liverpool from 29 May to 13 September
The Lure of Oxyrhynchus
Four years ago Oxford classicists began using infra-red technology to reveal previously unseen writings by Sophocles and Euripides, as well as lost Christian gospels which promised, they said, to revolutionise our understanding of the founding texts of the western world. Philip Dodd and guests discuss the latest revelations from this ancient treasure trove.
City of the Sharp-Nosed Rish: Greek Lives in Roman Egypt by Peter Parsons is published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson
Broadcast
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Tue 26 May 200921:15
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