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The Divinity of Monkeys

Mark Tully returns to the theme of animals, discussing the symbolism of the monkey and the phenomenon of idol worship.

Mark Tully returns to the theme of animals, following recent programmes devoted to dogs, cats, horses and elephants and their close bonds with humans.

This week, Mark considers the monkey - and animal that has been widely worshipped in Africa, the Americas, China and India - either as a companion of God or indeed as a god itself. He examines the belief in the divinity of monkeys and the varying attitudes towards idol worship in the major faiths.

There is music from Ella Andall, Dr. John and Amitab Bachchan, along with poetry from Susan Wicks and Oz Hardwick. The readers are Adjoa Andoh and Arsher Ali.

Producer: Frank Stirling
A Unique production for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 1 Mar 2015 23:30

Readings

Title: Snow Monkeys
Author: Susan Wicks
Published by Bloodaxe Books Ltd in β€˜Night Toad: New and Selected Poems’

Title: The Praises of Baboon, the Totem Animal
Author: Shona, Zimbabwe – translated by George Fortune
Published by Mambo Press in β€˜The Oxford Book of Animal Poems

Title: In The Shadow of Man
Author: Jane Goodall
Published by Collins

Title: Hanuman’s Tale: The Messages of a Divine Monkey
Author: Philip Lutgendorf
Published by Oxford University Press

Title: In Praise of Monkeys
Author: Oz Hardwich
Published by Bluechrome in The Kind Ghosts

Broadcasts

  • Sun 1 Mar 2015 06:05
  • Sun 1 Mar 2015 06:15
  • Sun 1 Mar 2015 23:30