Sunday

Poonam Taneja reports on the Empire of the Sikhs exhibition, a rare collection of stunning objects and works of art that reveal the remarkable story of the Sikh Empire and the European and American adventurers who served it. BBC Religious Affairs Editor Martin Bashir looks ahead to this week's review by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) of the case of Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Gloucester, who was imprisoned in 2015 for abusing young men. Following the publication of new Vatican guidelines on what it means to be a consecrated virgin, Edward Stourton speaks to Elizabeth Rees who explains what life is like as a consecrated woman.Secunder Kermani reports on the influence of Sufi mystics on the outcome of the upcoming Pakistan elections. Jasvinder Sanghera tells Edward Stourton why her forced marriage campaign group Karma Nirvana is handing out spoons at a school to help tackle the summer holiday spike in forced marriage cases. Following a debate in the House of Lords of a bill calling for civil partnerships to be extended to siblings living together, we hear from one person living in a 'platonic partnership' about why they believe this is a matter of correcting a serious injustice. Do Christians and atheists have more in common than is commonly thought? Krish Kandiah thinks so and says why in his new book Fatheism. He's joined by Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK. to discuss the current climate of conversation between believers and non-believers. ProducerCatherine Earlam Louise Clarke-RowbothamSeries ProducerAmanda Hancox.

We are familiar with yoga and mindfulness but now there's growing interest in an old Chinese practice called Qigong. 5000 years old, it was used by Kung Fu masters to increase their strength. One of the best known Malaysian Chinese Grandmasters is Wong Kiew Kit. Emily Buchanan met him to learn more about this ancient practice. The Church of England has announced plans for 100 new churches in England. The Bishop of Burnley, Philip North and Rector of Holy Trinity Guildford Robert Cotton discuss the future shape of church and whether the church has it's priorities right. This week the Labour Party will formally adopt its new 'anti-Semitism code' - a definition of what does and does not amount to anti-Semitism when it comes to disciplinary proceedings against its members. But the wording of the code has been heavily criticised. Kevin Bocquet reports.Professor Eamon Duffy talks to Emily about his new book, Royal Books and Holy Bones.Cardinal Vincent Nichols visited the Jesuit Refugee Service this week, who are calling for the government to change they way they deal with asylum seekers. Trevor Barnes reports.Amanda Speilman, Chief Inspector of OFSTED gave a speech this week warning of an "expanding sense of religious entitlement" by parents putting pressure on head teachers to change school policy to suit their needs. Emily Buchanan speaks to her about the role she see's for religion in schools.Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon has been appointed the PM's first Special Envoy on Religious Freedom. He tells Emily why his new role is needed and what he hopes to achieve. Producers: Rajeev Gupta Carmel Lonergan Series Producer: Amanda HancoxPhoto credit :Fully Alive Ltd.

The government announced plans to end conversion therapy this week after a survey showed most instances of attempted conversion therapy occur in a religious context. Harry Farley reports on the impact of this controversial practice and what it might mean for religious organisations that carry it out. Trevor Barnes is at the Church of England's General Synod in York reporting on the key issues and debates. Members of the General Synod are being urged to "strengthen the hand" of the Church's National Investing Bodies in discussions with fossil-fuel companies, by voting to increase the threat of disinvestment. Dr Darrell Hannah and the Bishop of Salisbury Nicholas Holtam discuss the amendment. From disgraced politician, to prison inmate, to prison chaplain, the Reverend Jonathan Aitken talks to Edward Stourton about his spiritual journey. Antony Gormley and Rowan Williams, two of the world's leading contemporary thinkers, in-conversation about the interface between art and theology following at the Royal Academy this week. The GITA is a seven hundred verse Hindu scripture in Sanskrit - not, you might think, the kind of thing that would naturally appeal to children, but it has been reworked into an illustrated children's book called the Battle of the Worlds. Sonal Sachdev Patel one of the authors talks to Ed Stourton. Producers:Catherine Earlam Lissa Cook Series Producer:Amanda Hancox.

The nave of Chester Cathedral has been transformed into a huge theatre set for the performance of medieval mystery plays which take place in the city every five years and are running now. Rosie Dawson has been to a rehearsal.Nigel Lawson once likened the NHS to a religion; Trevor Barnes explores whether people think the NHS is a religion. After several years of mental illness, Guy Stagg set off one morning, from London, to walk to Canterbury. This led him to follow the paths of the medieval pilgrims to Jerusalem and he explains how this walk of over 5000 miles has helped his recovery.The chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accompanied the Duke of Cambridge on his historic tour of Israel and the Palestinian territories. The Chief Rabbi talks to Edward about the trip and the wider significance of it. Does the church attract narcissistic personality types in leadership roles? Some new books on the topic suggest this is certainly the case. Edward discusses with Mark Vernon, former priest and psychotherapist and Andre Spicer from Cass Business School.The Court of Appeal in Belfast has ruled that humanist celebrants must be registered by the state as able to perform legal marriages for couples. We look at what this means for humanists as they take on more services such as funerals, naming ceremonies and marriage. Professor Linda Woodhead from Lancaster University talks about the role of such non-religious ceremonies. Producers Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-RowbothamSeries Producer: Amanda HancoxPhoto credit: Neil Kendall.

Police are treating the vandalism of a Jewish cemetery in Manchester this week as a hate crime. It follows a spate of other attacks on religious sites across the UK. Dr Chris Allen, Associate Professor in Hate Studies at Leicester University, explains why these attacks are happening now.Armed police officers have arrested at least 20 Jehovah's Witnesses in raids across Russia this week. Anastasia Golubeva explains why Jehovah's Witnesses are seen as an extreme organisation in Russia. Choristers from Hereford cathedral will make a historic trip to the Vatican to become the first Anglican cathedral choir to sing at a Papal Mass for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Harry Farley has been to meet them.A UK judge has ordered the declassification of documents expected to shed light on Britain's involvement in the storming of Sikhism's holiest site in 1984. The Sikh Federation's Davinder Singh and the BBC's Mark Tully talk to William about those events. In the week that President Trump did a U-Turn on the administration's policy to separate children from their parents at the US border, we hear from Catholic Extension, a charity that works on the border. Plus Tara McKelvey, BBC's White House Correspondent, on the influence of religion inside the White House following Attorney General Jeff Sessions' use of the Bible to justify this policy. An independent report into the Church of England's handling of its 2007-9 Past Cases Review into sexual abuse has identified a range shortcomings in the way the PCR was conducted. David Greenwood, a lawyer representing survivors and Bishop Peter Hancock respond to the findings, respond to the report. Producers: Rajeev Gupta Lissa CookSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Is this what God Looks Like? Psychologists at the University of North Carolina have put together a photo-fit image of what American Christians think God looks like - it's younger and more feminine than the Sistine Chapel's version.Bishop Joe Aldred and Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin join Edward to discuss how the churches responded to the Windrush generation and how it shaped worship in the UK today. Austria's government has begun the process of closing down several mosques and expelling imams. Austrian Muslims say the process is illegal and victimising the community. Reporter Bethany Bell in Austria explains.Dina Brawer will become the first Orthodox British woman to be ordained a rabbi, known as a Rabba, at an ordination ceremony on Monday. Trevor Barnes asks what influence could she have on Orthodox Judaism.Vicky Beeching began writing songs for the church in her teens. But this poster girl for evangelical Christianity lived with a debilitating inner battle: how to reconcile her faith with her sexuality. She talks to Edward about her journey.June 17th has been designated 'Tax Justice Sunday.' Edward discusses what this is likely to achieve with the Chair of Church Action for Tax Justice, Methodist minister Rev David Haslam and Dr Jamie Whyte, from the Institute of Economic Affairs Days after the U.S.-North Korea Summit in Singapore, John Choi who fled North Korea, and is now a Christian and human rights advocate living in the UK, tells Edward about his life, hopes and concerns for North Korea.Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto taken from "The faces of God in America: Revealing religious diversity across people and politics". Used by permission.

Thirty years since the start of construction began on the largest regeneration project Britain has seen in modern times - Canary wharf - the area's former vicar and now Bishop of Salisbury, Nicolas Holtham, returns to find out what's changed and meet some old friends still working in the community. The Government have announced funding to increase security at places of worship at risk of hate attacks. It comes in the same week a mosque and Gurdwara were fire bombed in Leeds. Home Office Minister Baroness Williams talks to Edward Stourton about how the new funding will help and we also hear from Director of Just Yorkshire Nadeem Murtuja. The man known as the Vicar of Baghdad has been cleared by the Metropolitan Police of paying Isis to free Yazidis slaves. Canon Andrew White joins Edward Stourton to reflect on the investigation and its impact on him. The Chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum, Mohammed Amin, discusses what he sees as his parties failure to take action on Islamophobia. Journalist Konstantin Von Eggert talks to Edward Stourton about the ultra-conservative, orthodox, Cossack "morality police" due to patrol World Cup games which kick off in Russia this week. Charles Clarke, the former Home and Education secretary, discusses a new report on Religious Education.Jayne Ozanne talks about her new book 'Just Love: A Journey of Self-acceptance' and tells of her 40 year journey to reconcile her faith with her sexuality before becoming one of the leading figures ushering in a new era of LGBTI acceptance in the Church.Producers:Catherine Earlam Lissa Cook Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

On Monday religious think tank 'Theos' will publish a report, on how faith based organisations responded to the fire in Grenfell Tower. Report author Amy Plender, Muslim Aid's Jehangir Malick, and the Rev Mike Long from Notting Hill Methodist Church talk to Edward about what lessons can be learned.There's scant reference to Phoebe in the New Testament. A former slave who became a wealthy deacon in the 1st Century Christian church she was entrusted by Paul to take an epistle to Rome. She is the subject of a new story by the scholar and theologian Paula Gooder.To mark National Volunteers week David Cook explores a scheme run by Manchester Cathedral that has helped over 900 long term unemployed people improve their chances of finding work.Later today church goers across the country will be given access to an app specially designed to help them notice tell-tale signs of exploitation of workers with the increasing number of hand car washes. The data they gather will then be shared with the National Crime Agency who can investigate further. Trevor Barnes reports.A long-running conflict between cattle herders and farmers in central Nigeria is increasingly assuming a religious dimension, and as numbers of Christians and Muslims are killed our reporter from Nigeria, Stephanie Hegarty explains the history and current situation.Friends and relatives of people killed in the London Bridge terror attack are being invited to come together and remember their loved ones during a service at Southwark Cathedral this Sunday, Bishop Christopher Chessun will talk about the importance of marking the anniversary.Producers Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-RowbothamEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto: Grenfell Prayer Wall courtesy of Latymer Community Church.

It's a year since the bomb attack on the Manchester Arena. In the aftermath, the actions of one young Muslim man captured the imagination of artist Ghislaine Howard. Her paintings of Baktash Noori offering hugs to strangers near St Anne's Church have just gone on display there. David Cook has been hearing their story.Dan Hett's brother Martyn was one of the 22 people killed in the Arena. He tells Edward why he is the lead signatory of a letter that urges the public to play an active role in the fight against terror. The Bishop of Manchester David Walker and Gorton MP, Afzal Khan join Edward to discuss what has happened since to strengthen community cohesion in the city. All of Chile's 34 Roman Catholic bishops have offered Pope Francis their resignations in the wake of a child abuse scandal and cover-up. Roman Catholic journalist Austen Ivereigh tells us what's prompted the decision and it's impact on the hierarchy of the Church.Bishop Michael Curry, who gave the address at the royal wedding, is the presiding bishop of the United States Episcopal Church. He's made an impression with his preaching. Bishop Joe Aldred of the Church of God of Prophecy speaks to Edward about his style.Christian Aid week finished on Saturday. Over 13,000 churches took part in the annual fund raiser. There's evidence that income from this area is in decline. Edward speaks to the charity's new Chief Executive Amanda Khozi Mukwashi.When the people of Ireland go to the polls next week, it will be the sixth time the nation has voted on abortion. The Catholic church appears to have taken a much less public facing role in the debate. Journalist Dearbhail McDonald tells us why she thinks that is.Producers: Rajeev Gupta David CookSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

As Israel turns 70 this programme examines how those years have impacted on the three great Abrahamic faiths. Edward Stourton meets Dr Micah Goodman, of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, to discuss the complex religious history of this land and the current mix of challenges and opportunities. Edward visits Bethlehem to hear how the anniversary is viewed by Christians and Muslims living in the city. Trevor Barnes reports on what the creation of the state of Israel has meant for British Jews. Yolande Knell visits the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem to hear how Armenian Christians are trying to retain a presence in the city. Orthodox Jewish comedian Yisrael Campbell talks religion, comedy and the ultra-Orthodox with Edward Stourton. Robi Damelin and Ikhlas Shtayeh, members of the Parents Circle Families Forum, which is a grassroots organization of Palestinian and Israeli families who have lost family members due to the conflict, share their stories. Ahmad Budeiri is a Palestinian Analyst and Nathan Jeffay is Associate Israel Correspondent for the Jewish Chronicle. They join Edward to discuss the changing religious landscape and what that means for wider social and political change. Producers Jerusalem - Carmel Lonergan Salford - Catherine Earlam / David Cook Series Producer Amanda Hancox.