People who have taken vows of obedience, poverty and celibacy explain why they have made these choices and how their lives have been affected. Katherine Rickards is a 24-year-old convert to Catholicism and wants to be a nun to enjoy a deeper relationship with God. Although she still sometimes has doubts about her calling, Katherine believes God will not ask her to do anything he won’t give her the grace to do and she sees her virginity as a beautiful thing she wants to give to Christ.
What’s On
We trawl through all the listings to bring you a complete collection of everything on the TV and Radio that might be useful for RE. Get ready to set those timers!
Mon 20th
Tues 21st
Wed 22nd
Thur 23rd
Fri 24th
Sat 25th
Sun 26th
19.55
4thought.tv
09.00
Branded a Witch
Documentary by Congolese reporter Kevani Kanda on the reasons behind an increase in attacks on children accused by their relatives of practising witchcraft in Britain. The presenter also travels to her native Democratic Republic of Congo, where she discovers that some families are putting toddlers – believed to be possessed by demons – through excruciating rituals that have roots in ancient traditions. Kanda alleges some African churches have been pushing the idea of witchcraft for the past 20 years and confronts pastors over their beliefs and methods.
16.30
Beyond Belief
Ernie Rea is joined by professors Alan Williams, Ronald Hutton and Canon Loveday Alexander for a discussion on fire as a religious symbol of transformation and destruction.
22.00
Night Waves
Samira Ahmed talks to theoretical physicist Lee Smolin about the crisis of physics and the way its laws change over time – something he says everyone is in denial about.
19.55
4thought.tv
4thought.tv asks ‘Why give it all up for God?’ Franciscan friar Father Sebastian decided to become a priest and give up the chance of marriage with a woman he loved because he couldn’t ignore the third party in their relationship: God. Sebastian says he gives himself to the monastic life freely and with love and wishes more people realised what God can offer.
23.20
The General Assembly
Sheena McDonald presents highlights of the debate on ordination and sexuality at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland..
19.55
4thought.tv
People who have taken vows of obedience, poverty and celibacy explain why they have made these choices and how their lives have been affected. Ghanasyam Priya Das is a 21-year-old Londoner who was a Hare Krishna monk for three years until his health forced him to rethink the commitment. Ghanasyam believes he will carry the lessons he learned as a monk into the rest of his life and thinks the spiritual enlightenment he experienced was worth the sacrifices.
21.00
Bruce Almighty
Comedy fantasy in which Jim Carrey plays wacky TV news reporter Bruce Nolan, who is passed over for promotion, vents his anger live on air, is sacked and curses God for doing a lousy job. Rising to the bait, the Almighty – a coolly majestic Morgan Freeman – gives the sceptical Bruce the chance to see if he can do any better. Bruce does what you might expect a Carrey character to do when given divine powers – enlarge girlfriend Jennifer Aniston’s boobs etc… It’s not exactly Karl Barth, but might just stir an interest in matters theological among some reluctant students.
19.55
4thought.tv
People who have taken vows of obedience, poverty and celibacy explain why they have made these choices and how their lives have been affected. Dominican friar Nicholas Crowe is 28 and says he’s giving himself up to God to be true to himself. Nicholas is saddened when people regard celibacy as unnatural and says it’s a misunderstanding to see religious life as one of sacrifice. He says he’s leading the life he wants and sees it as a beautiful and profound gift.
01.45
Hotel Rwanda
Emotional drama based on events in Rwanda in the mid-1990s and the actions of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, who saved the lives of more than 1,200 refugees by sheltering them at his workplace. The film focuses on the emotional interaction between its characters as they struggle to survive despite the inaction of the outside world.
20.00
The True Story
Documentary exploring whether there is any truth at all in claims made in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code, later adapted for the screen in a film starring Tom Hanks. The programme examines if there is a smidgen evidence of an intimate relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, looks into the possibility of Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian being the final resting place of the Holy Grail, and tries to find out the secrets behind Leonardo da Vinci’s mirror writing…
19.55
4thought.tv
4thought.tv asks ‘Why give it all up for God?’ Triona Adams spent a year in an enclosed order of nuns because she thought she was prepared to dedicate her life to living closely with God, but the experience wasn’t what she’d hoped for and she later left the convent. She has no regrets about this ‘gap year’ and feels that it was a formative experience in her life.
19.30GMT
Heart and Soul
A Jew’s Search For Silence. Clive Lawton immerses himself in the silence of different religions to find out whether it can bring people closer to God.
12.05
The Big Questions
Nicky Campbell presents moral and religious discussions on topical issues from Ashton Park School in Bristol, with contributions by members of the studio audience.
19.00
The Dark Ages: An Age of Light
1/4. Waldemar Januszczak embarks on a trip around the world to discover if the Dark Ages were actually a time of great artistic achievement, inspired by novel ideas and religion. In the first edition, he discovers how Christianity emerged into the Roman Empire in the third and fourth centuries, and how the absence of a description of Jesus led them to draw on images of ancient Gods for inspiration.
06.05
Something Understood
Endings & beginnings. Arts journalist and broadcaster Marie-Louise Muir reflects on the creative process, and asks whether a time comes in everyone’s life when the best thoughts and ideas are exhausted. With a selection of music from David Bowie, Tracey Thorn and Leos Janacek, and extracts from the works of Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel and Margaret Atwood.
07.00
Good Morning Sunday
The Government’s Faith and Communities minister Sayeeda Warsi chats to Clare Balding and there is music by Sheffield singer-songwriter Philippa Hanna. The faith guest is Canon Ann Easter.
07.10
Sunday
William Crawley presents a round-up of the week’s religious and ethical headlines, featuring moral arguments and alternative perspectives on the key stories.
23.20
The General Assembly
Sheena McDonald presents highlights of the week’s debates at the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly.
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