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Religion Podcast

Discussion of religious movements and the theories and individuals behind them.

Updated: occasionally
Episodes available: indefinitely

Episodes to download

  •

    Hell

    Thu 21 Dec 2006

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the history of Hell and its representation in the arts.

  • The Diet of Worms

    Thu 12 Oct 2006

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the events that helped trigger the European Reformation.

  • The Spanish Inquisition

    Thu 22 Jun 2006

    Melvyn Bragg examines the Spanish Inquisition, defenders of medieval orthodoxy.

  • Fairies

    Thu 11 May 2006

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the 5000 year cultural history of fairies.

  • The Oxford Movement

    Thu 13 Apr 2006

    Melvyn Bragg examines the 19th century Catholic movement within the Church of England.

  • Heaven

    Thu 22 Dec 2005

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss ideas of heaven and the afterlife.

  • Greyfriars and Blackfriars

    Thu 10 Nov 2005

    Melvyn Bragg looks at the religious orders of the Dominicans and the Franciscans.

  • Paganism in the Renaissance

    Thu 16 Jun 2005

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the return of classical pagan thought in the Renaissance.

  • Abelard and Heloise

    Thu 5 May 2005

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the medieval tale of Abelard and Heloise.

  • Angels

    Thu 24 Mar 2005

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the heavenly host of Angels.

  • The Venerable Bede

    Thu 25 Nov 2004

    The life and work of the Venerable Bede who revolutionised Christian scholarship.

  • Zoroastrianism

    Thu 11 Nov 2004

    The history of Zoroastrianism, claimed to be the first monotheistic religion.

  • Witchcraft

    Thu 21 Oct 2004

    The history of witchcraft in Reformation Europe.

  • Toleration

    Thu 20 May 2004

    Melvyn Bragg looks at the politics behind the rise of religious freedom in England.

  • The Fall

    Thu 8 Apr 2004

    Melvyn Bragg examines the concept of original sin and its influence in Christian Europe.

  • The Norse Gods

    Thu 11 Mar 2004

    Melvyn Bragg examines the myths and theology that inspired the Vikings.

  • The Devil

    Thu 11 Dec 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines how the Devil became an established figure in Christianity.

  • St Bartholomew's Day Massacre

    Thu 27 Nov 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the infamous St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572.

  • The Schism

    Thu 16 Oct 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines events surrounding the medieval division of the Christian Church.

  • The Apocalypse

    Thu 17 Jul 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines how a powerful narrative of judgement and retribution evolved.

  • Blood

    Thu 22 May 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss blood, from medical progress to the link to the divine.

  • The Holy Grail

    Thu 15 May 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines why the Holy Grail legend has fascinated writers for centuries.

  • Redemption

    Thu 13 Mar 2003

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss redemption, crucial for Judeo-Christian thought.

  • The Lindisfarne Gospels

    Thu 20 Feb 2003

    Melvyn Bragg examines the manuscripts that united Celtic and Roman cultures in England.

  • Muslim Spain

    Thu 21 Nov 2002

    Melvyn Bragg examines Muslim Spain, from Cordoba’s golden age to the fall of Granada.

  • The Soul

    Thu 6 Jun 2002

    The history of thought on immortality, the self and the afterlife.

  • Marriage

    Thu 21 Mar 2002

    The history of marriage from ancient Greek and Babylonian times to today.

  • The Buddha

    Thu 14 Mar 2002

    The life of Siddhartha Gautama and the legacy of his teachings.

  • Yeats and Mysticism

    Thu 31 Jan 2002

    Melvyn Bragg explores the strange and mystical world of the Irish poet W B Yeats.

  • Catharism

    Thu 17 Jan 2002

    Melvyn Bragg examines the Cathars, a medieval European Christian sect accused of heresy.

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