Sunday

The Mandaean religion predates Christianity. Now two universities are documenting some of its most important rituals online for generations to come. Fiona Clampin reports. The Very Rev Andrew Tremlett, Dean of Durham Cathedral, tells Martin about the Open Treasure exhibition "Tudors: the family and faith" which highlights the impact of the dynasty on the Cathedral.In the aftermath of the events that have put Oxfam in the news this week we ask "should we stop giving money to overseas-aid charities?" Veteran field-worker Paul Hardcastle says yes and Paul Vallely, a religious-affairs journalist and academic expert on aid and development says no.Bishop Bertin Mwale Subi, the bishop of Katanga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, tells Martin why he's calling on President Kabilla to hold elections in December and says there will be indescribable chaos if they don't take place. Zayid Marar is a writer who's about to publish a book called Judgement - the Value of Being Misunderstood. Martin talks to him about how a society can't function without judgement and how that relates to religion.Christopher Lamb explains why the Pope's informal, non-clerical, accessible style of management is fine when things are going well but not so helpful when things go wrong.Austin Eubanks, who survived the Columbine shooting in 1999, and Patrick Carolan, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network, respond to the mass-shooting at a high school in Florida.Producers: Carmel Lonergan and Louise Clarke-Rowbotham. Editor: Amanda HancoxPhoto: courtesy of the University of Exeter.

The new Mayor of Rio, Marcelo Crivella has substantially cut funding to this year's Carnival which started on Friday. The BBC's South America Correspondent Katy Watson profiles the Mayor who is one of the most prominent voices on the religious right in Brazilian politics and a man tipped to be President of his country one day. The Church Investors Group, which represents Church organisations with combined investments of £17 billion, has warned some of Britain's biggest companies it intends to take a hard line over failings on executive pay, gender diversity and climate change in the forthcoming annual meeting season - Canon Edward Carter, the groups Chair, tell Edward what difference he thinks they can make.The Foundation for Jewish Heritage has launched a project to map and preserve the historic synagogues of Europe. Historian Simon Schama and Journalist Natasha Kaplinsky OBE tell us about their connection with the projectA 1,300-year-old gold cross (the Trumpington Cross), found buried with the body of an aristocratic Anglo-Saxon teenager, has gone on display in Cambridge. Dr Sam Lucy an archaeologist at Cambridge University explains its significance.A new app has been released which is designed to help couples stay together. We get a couple to try it out and hear from its developers Christine and Mark Daniel. New research from Dr Miguel Farias of Coventry University says there is no evidence meditation and mindfulness make you a better person. Reporter Bob Walker has been looking into the Hindu history of the practice and whether it can have a positive impact on wellbeing. Producers: Rajeev Gupta and Helen Lee Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales says that we are losing the battle against human trafficking.BBC's Religious Affairs Editor Martin Bashir talks to Franklin Graham, the son of the evangelist Billy Graham.A review of sharia councils, launched by Theresa May in 2016 when she was home secretary, was published this week. It calls for sharia councils to be regulated with a code of conduct and recommends Muslim couples should be legally required to civilly register their marriage before or at the same time as their Islamic ceremony. Edward talks to the review's chair Prof Mona Siddiqui.What did Jesus look like? Everyone can conjure an image of Jesus and often he is seen as a handsome, white man with flowing locks and pristine linen robes. But is our popular image of Jesus overly westernized and untrue to historical reality? Christian Origins scholar Joan E. Taylor tells Edward what he really looked like.The Bishop of Manchester is calling for concerted action to tackle child poverty after it was revealed that more than half of children in some parts of the country are living in poverty. Manchester is highlighted as one of the worst areas. Kevin Bocquet has been looking at the reasons children are living in poverty in a growing and affluent city. Edward discusses child poverty with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker.According to new research you are more likely to support immigration if you are a Christian and go to Church. Those who say they are Christian, but don't go to Church are the least supportive of immigration in any faith group. Producers: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham and Carmel Lonergan Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

As Turkey expands its bombardment of Kurdish controlled areas in Syria, there are reports that young men from the UK are travelling to join Kurdish forces. The Kurds have been largely supported and armed by NATO, of which Turkey are a member. As the situation becomes ever more complex historian Peter Frankopan talks to William about what's going on. Canon David Wyatt, the second longest serving incumbent in the C of E, celebrated 50 years as Vicar of St Paul's Paddington, Salford this week. Kevin Bouquet went along to meet him. January 27, 1945 is the day the Auschwitz concentration camp in modern-day Poland was liberated by the Soviets. Noemie Lopian talks about her father's memoir, 'The Long Night', which details his experiences in several concentration camps. Originally written in German, Noemie tells William why she has only recently summoned the emotional resilience to translate the book. The Church of England has announced £24.4 million in funding for projects "aimed at opening new churches in deprived urban estates" Bishop Philip North explains how the Diocese of Blackburn intends to use its share of the money especially following the BBC's Panorama programme highlighting issues of ethnic and religious segregation in Blackburn.This week the first Turban wearing Sikh MP Tan Singh Dhesi said he has been surprised by the amount of racist abuse he has received since becoming an MP last year. Are we becoming more intolerant as a society? Dr Mark Ledwidge and Journalist Mona Chalabi debate the question.Good Morning is the new trend on texts in India. These greetings are so popular they are blocking the internet. Rahul Tandon explains what's behind this new phenomenon.Producer: Rajeev Gupta Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

A new exhibition by The Singh Twins has just opened at the Walker Gallery in Liverpool exploring the history of Indian textiles and challenges the history of empire and its relevance on lifestyles in the West today. Matthew Kalman, Middle East Correspondent for Bloomberg, explains why the Knesset in Israel has voted to close shops over Shabbat.Footballer Cyrille Regis passed away this week. He was a trustee of Christians in Sport and a campaigner against racism in football. Graham Daniels from Christians in Sport tells Edward about Cyrille Regis' faith and passion for the beautiful game. Research by Tearfund says half of adults in the UK pray. But if you are not praying to God can it really be called a prayer? Graham Nicholls, Director of Affinity and Mark Vernon a psychotherapist debate the meaning of prayer.Harry Farley with an update on what will be coming up in General Synod this February. One of the motions to be put forward for debate at Synod is on Down's Syndrome. Kevin Bocquet reports on the Church's concern that the new Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)to be rolled out this year across the NHS in England and Wales could lead to a decline in the number of live Down's syndrome births..HM Inspectorate of Prisons has published a report on Liverpool prison highlighting safety concerns. Earlier in the week an Urgent Notification was issued for Nottingham prison which gives the Secretary of State for Justice 28 days to respond. Edward asks former prison chaplain Reverend Sharon Grenham-Thompson and the Bishop to Prisons James Langstaff for their reactions. Producers Carmel Lonergan Louise Clarke-RowbothamEditor Amanda HancoxPhoto Credit: Pete Carr for the Walker Gallery.

The UN has called on Israel to scrap a new programme to force thousands of African migrants out of the country. Middle East Correspondent Yolande Knell has been speaking with some people effected and gives us the latest.A Bar Mitzvah would normally be associated with a boy who is 13 and a Bat Mitzvah would be for a girl at the age of 12 or 13. The ceremony traditionally marks a child's coming of age. However, as we hear its becoming more common for older people to have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah; second time around or maybe for the first time. Hackney Council have released a report into unregistered educational settings. They say gaps in current laws mean hundreds of children are not having a proper education and growing up without being able to read or write. Instead they are subjected to hours of religious doctrine. Hear more on the programme.And the Sikh Federation UK have called for restrictions to be placed on any Indian government officials entering Sikh temples unless for private worship... we find out why.Hundreds of churches across Germany are defying the state, opening their doors to offer refuge to more than six hundred asylum seekers facing deportation. And the numbers are growing. Dale Gavlak reports from Germany on growing tensions between churches offering refuge and public opinion towards refugees. And what should mosques look like in the 21st Century and what role should they play in the lives of young Muslims? Dr Khadijah Elshayyal from the Alwaleed centre and Hassan Joudi, from the Muslim Council of Britain tell Edward why it's an issue now and what may be uncovered.Producers: Rajeev Gupta and Amanda Hancox.Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

A 19 year old has just taken up her post as a chaplain with the Railway Mission, which aims to support rail staff and passengers who are caught up in accidents on the tracks. Edward Stourton talks to Hannah Tuck about the appeal and challenges of the job.The Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) publishes research into spiritual abuse tomorrow. What is meant by the term? Where is it most prevalent and how can such abuse be prevented?Gavin Drake was expecting to spend Thursday quietly at home remembering his wife, Jill Saward, on the first anniversary of her death. Jill Saward had spent many years campaigning for the rights of rape victims after her own experience of rape in the Ealing vicarage in the 1980s. But the day was given added piquancy with the news that a parole board had decided that convicted rapist John Worboys should be released from jail. Kevin Boquet reports on a training programme for head teachers, devised and run by the Church of England which has received government accreditation. A Kent vicar has found a novel way of getting brides to the church on time; he fines them if they are more than ten minutes late.And - all he wants for Christmas is .......Vladimir Putin celebrates Orthodox Christmas confident of another Presidential term.Producers: Rosie Dawson and Helen Lee.Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

90 years ago listeners to the BBC were for the first time able to tune in to a live daily act of worship. Rosie Dawson has been looking back over the years and catching up with the current team as they celebrate this milestone.Baroness Onora O'Neill, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, talks to William about our ethics and values in the twenty first century.On New Year's eve most of us look forward to the new year according to the Gregorian Calendar but some people also follow a Lunar year. Trevor Barnes asks what's it like living life according to two calendars? He made his way one Saturday evening to the home of Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner as she prepared to see out the Sabbath with her family and her friend, the Muslim journalist Remona Aly and talked to them about living with both calendars.American religious journalist Sarah Posner looks back on President Trump's first year on office and his impact on religion in the USA.Journalists Harry Farley & Sughra Ahmed look forward to 2018 and give their thoughts on what they think the big religious stories will be.The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu talks about the stories that captured his attention in 2017 and his hopes for the New Year.Producers Carmel Lonergan Rajeev GuptaEditor Amanda Hancox.

Yolande Knell soaks up the atmosphere in Bethlehem's Manger Square as Christians worldwide prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.Reporter Vishva Samani talks to women sleeping rough in Manchester and asks why their numbers are increasing.A Muslim, a Jewish and a Hindu family each describe what they get up to on the 25th December.Two years ago, the Butrus family fled persecution Iraq and Syria because of their Christian faith. As they prepare to celebrate their second Christmas in this country, they tell Edward Stourton about their flight and their hopes for the future.In recent years, Islamic extremist such as ISIS and Boko Haram have attacked Christians in the Middle East and Africa but there is growing concern for Christian communities in India, Pakistan and China too. John Pontifex from Aid to the Church in Need tells Edward why persecution against Christians is on the rise.Since 1983, the choir of King's College Cambridge has performed a new carol at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This year's is by Welsh composer Huw Watkins, Professor of Composition at the Royal Academy of Music, we get a sneak preview.In the early years of the 20th century, 'the wizardry of Mr Marconi' enabled the BBC to celebrate a very British sort of Christmas with the rest of the world. To take a look at those first festive offerings from Auntie Beeb, Edward is joined by Paul Kerensa, author of a new book called 'Hark! The Biography of Christmas'.Sarah Mullally has just been appointed to the one of the top jobs in the Church of England - she is going to be the next Bishop of London. She talks about the challenges ahead and how her background in nursing will impact on her new role.Producers: Helen Lee Lissa CookSeries Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Sunday morning religious news and current affairs programme presented by Edward Stourton.