Podcasts by Soul Search

Victory over death – Easter in art from Caravaggio to Colin McCahon from 2022-04-17T18:05

The crucifixion of Christ is perhaps the most painted subject in world history. From Medieval art, to the Renaissance masters to contemporary works, the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection perva...

Faith amid flood waters from 2022-04-10T18:05

Recent flooding in South-East Queensland and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales has upended the lives of thousands, including the area’s diverse religious communities. Hear how the area’s Sikhs...

Recipes for Ramadan and female solidarity in Afghanistan from 2022-04-03T18:05

Is there a recipe that sums up your story or personal history? As Muslims around the world observe Ramadan, one family is observing the holy month in Australia for the first time. For them, their r...

Gods: from Ancient Greece to the Antipodes from 2022-03-27T18:05

What did religious life look like in Ancient Greece? Find out how the gods played a role in everything from daily life to outcomes on the battlefield. Then, fast forward to just before federation i...

Art after religion? Artmaking as a spiritual practice from 2022-03-20T18:05

Can the practice of artmaking be a religious ritual? A contemporary fresco painter, Sarah Tomasetti, and a philosopher, Dr Lexi Eikelboom, explore the ways in which art has big things in common wit...

Hirini Kaa: Māori and Christian ideas of the sacred, reciprocity, and spiritual flourishing from 2022-03-13T18:05

“We can’t have a secular Māori culture. It just doesn’t work for us, it’s not how we view the world.” Third generation Anglican minister, Rev Dr Hirini Kaa, has written a book, Te Hāhi Mihinare: Th...

International Women's Day: Liberating religion from Australia to West Papua from 2022-03-06T18:05

To mark International Women's Day, we hear from two remarkable women – worlds apart – on their experiences of liberating religion and women from within their religious and cultural contexts.

Reflections on Lent and what ‘living with COVID’ means for the spiritual life from 2022-02-27T18:05

How do we live well in times of crisis? Whether it's a global pandemic or a more personal dilemma, two of Australia's leading spiritual guides share their thoughts on how to make it through difficu...

Prayer, Peacemaking and Reconciliation: Desmond Tutu's life and legacy from 2022-02-20T18:05

He was the moral conscience of South Africa, a hero in the struggle against apartheid, and one of the spiritual giants of our time. The legacy of the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu lives on ...

Remembering Thich Nhat Hanh: Founder of engaged Buddhism and father of mindfulness from 2022-02-13T18:05

Dr Martin Luther King Jr called him an 'Apostle of Peace' when nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967. To many, he's known as the Buddhist monk who introduced the practice of ...

Re-enchanting China: The resurgence of popular religion from 2022-02-06T18:05

How secular, or not, is China today? As many of us celebrate Lunar New Year, Soul Search heads to China. Professor Mayfair Yang discusses the resurgence of popular religion in China – from local cu...

The word and the pen: Writers on faith, fiction and grace in the ordinary from 2022-01-30T18:05

Francis Spufford is a storyteller who sees grace and beauty in the grimiest and grittiest of places. He challenges us to look closely and catch a glimpse of something wildly precious and extraordin...

Kate Bowler on Mennonites, megachurches, and why there's no cure for being human from 2022-01-23T18:05

How Kate Bowler, a self-described incurable optimist and expert on the American prosperity gospel, faced the biggest challenge of her life – which upended everything she knew about health, wealth a...

How's your soul? A look back at 2021 from 2021-12-12T18:05

It has been quite the year for many of us — but what's helped you through? What everyday wisdom and practices have nourished you and been good for your soul? Hear the answers to these questions and...

From Sri Lanka to Australia: how women are remaking Buddhism from 2021-12-05T18:05

Join Dr Meredith Lake and Suvira Bhikkhuni as they trace the revival of the ordination of Theravada women — one of the most important recent reforms within global Buddhism.

Love, Beauty and Solitude: Translating Rilke with Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy from 2021-11-28T18:05

At the turn of the 20th Century, a teenage military cadet and budding poet began a correspondence with Rainer Maria Rilke. The young man expected some guidance and criticism from the great German p...

Much Ado About Religion from 2021-11-21T18:05

Shakespeare's world was marked by social change, spiritual tumult and cosmic disorientation – Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne, Europeans were exploring the Americas, and a heliocentric model of...

Making peace with our unpeacefulness: Claude AnShin Thomas'path from war to Zen Buddhism from 2021-11-14T18:05

Claude AnShin Thomas enlisted in the US Army at 17, served as a helicopter gunner and crew chief in the Vietnam War, and was awarded numerous medals and a Purple Heart – all before becoming ordaine...

Life as we think it: poetry and philosophy for the everyday from 2021-11-07T18:05

How do we navigate the mundane of the everyday, the ordinariness of life, without becoming dull to its depth, beauty and capacity to surprise? A poet presents his award-winning meditation on walkin...

Forgiveness up close: a look at mothers and daughters, Kierkegaard, hope and humility from 2021-10-31T18:05

What does forgiveness look like in the messiness and chaos that is real life? A filmmaker shares the intimate and courageous story of her own tumultuous relationship with her mother, and her journe...

Sacred landscapes: suburbia from 2021-10-24T18:05

Are suburbs spiritual deserts or sacred wellsprings? In the places where most of us live our day to day lives, where do we go to find joy and hope, beauty and grace – and how do we experience the t...

Sacred Landscapes: solastalgia and spirituality in a melting world from 2021-10-17T18:05

Glaciers matter to the people who live near them – but how do these communities respond as more and more ice melts away? A priestess of the Icelandic religion of Ásatrú explains how ancient Norse m...

Sacred landscapes: snow and the high country from 2021-10-10T18:05

Soul Search returns to our Sacred Landscapes series that explores the connections between spirituality and place. We turn to the cool climates with our guides – Dr Jonica Newby and Professor Jakeli...

Elaine Pagels on secret gospels, grief and religion from 2021-10-03T18:05

Professor Elaine Pagels has spent decades seeking to understand religion and, as her latest book reveals, this isn’t a merely academic exercise but...

Elaine Pagels on secret gospels, grief and religion from 2021-10-03T18:05

Professor Elaine Pagels has spent decades seeking to understand religion and, as her latest book reveals, this isn’t a merely academic exercise but a quest bound up with her own experience of life ...

Church and State in Germany: Political Theology from Karl Barth to Angela Merkel from 2021-09-26T18:05

It's the end of the Merkel era in Germany. We take a look at the faith and politics of this remarkable leader who has been at the helm of Europe's largest economy for almost 16 years. Then, we step...

Saints, bullies and believers from 2021-09-19T18:05

What happens when a sceptical writer immerses herself in peak Christian belief at a creationist museum? What happens when a Christian minister confronts the past and present horrific failures of th...

700 years of Dante and The Divine Comedy from 2021-09-12T18:05

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." To mark 700 years since Dante's death on 14 September 1321, we're taking a close look at his life and masterpiece, The Divine Comedy. Join Dr Meredith Lake an...

Short-Distance Relationships: Soulmates from 2021-09-05T18:05

Soulmates. Star-crossed lovers, couple goals, my other half. Or besties, brother-from-another-mother, my person. Whatever form they come in, they're the people we can't live without. So, what role ...

Short-Distance Relationships: Strangers from 2021-08-29T18:05

Strangers. We pass them in the street. We live next door to them. We have conversations with them online. What brings strangers together, and what keeps us apart? Why do our interactions with stran...

Short-Distance Relationships: Siblings from 2021-08-22T18:05

Siblings. Most of us have them, and they're the closest and longest relationships many of us will have in our lifetimes. So, how do sibling relationships shape us? And what can we learn from brothe...

Jane Goodall on humanity and hope from 2021-08-15T18:05

Acclaimed ethologist and 2021 Templeton Prize winner, Jane Goodall, tells us about the many teachers who have gifted her with lessons on humanity and hope: from her childhood reading tree to her fi...

Planting peace: from Hiroshima to Pine Gap from 2021-08-08T18:05

As the Tokyo Olympics draws to a close, we mark another significant date on the calendar: Hiroshima Day. Hear from two women about their work to spread peace around the world by planting Hiroshima ...

Why atheism is more than mere unbelief from 2021-08-01T18:05

A lapsed Catholic and a professor of theology on why there's a whole lot more to atheism than mere unbelief, and how atheists and theists may have more in common than you think.

The secret paintings and spiritual courage of Hilma af Klint from 2021-07-25T18:05

Join Soul Search host Meredith Lake and curator Sue Cramer as they take you on an audio tour of Hilma af Klint's works of incredible vibrancy and power that demonstrate her spiritual adventurousnes...

The Muslim Cameleers: The lives and legacies of Australia's little-known outback pioneers from 2021-07-18T18:05

Muslim cameleers have a rich history in Australia – that you may not have heard much about. They're the men who transformed the economic, cultural and spiritual life of many outback communities at ...

Indigenous theologian Garry Deverell on grounded spirituality from 2021-07-11T18:05

What are the possibilities for a grounded spirituality, in the aftermath of colonisation? Indigenous theologian Garry Deverell has lived the search for a spirituality that connects land and body. H...

Heal Country: NAIDOC week with Brooke Prentis and Aunty Rev Denise Champion from 2021-07-04T18:05

This NAIDOC week Meredith Lake hands over the mic to guest presenter Brooke Prentis. Brooke is a Wakka Wakka woman who was born on Yidinji country, grew up mainly in Gubbi Gubbi country, but now li...

A jump, a kick and a prayer: Religion at the Olympics from 2021-06-27T18:05

In the lead up to the Olympic Games in Tokyo we look at the relationship between religion and sport. We speak to young Christian athlete Nicola McDermott, Olympian and Shia Muslim Hayder Shkara, an...

Sacred Landscapes: the mountains and spiritual freedom from 2021-06-20T18:05

Mountains have often been the location for spiritual experiences, or breakthroughs. On Soul Search today, we're turning to the mountains in our third — and final — episode on Sacred Landscapes. We...

Sacred landscapes: the forest as mirror and sanctuary from 2021-06-13T18:05

Trees have a special place in the human imagination and they feature in many of the world’s cultural and religious traditions. The ancient Hebrew poets even imagined trees themselves shouting for j...

Sacred landscapes: religion and ecology around the Pacific from 2021-06-06T18:05

How do the places we love shape our sense of the sacred? And how are our spiritual lives nurtured by the bush, the mountains — or even the sea? In the first episode of our 3-part series Sacred Land...

The wisdom of deep listening: Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann and Fleur Magick Dennis from 2021-05-30T18:05

Many Indigenous languages have a word that means something like ‘deep listening’. In Ngan'gikurunggurr, a Northern Territory language, that word is dadirri. We hear from renowned Aboriginal elder a...

Seeking the simple life: from everyday economics to meditation from 2021-05-23T18:05

Do you ever look around and think, there must be a better way to do life, here? On Soul Search, we’re meeting people asking the big question of how to live well in the world as we find it. We hear ...

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on karma, the pandemic, and politics in India from 2021-05-16T18:05

Today, an exclusive interview with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. He’s a Ducati-riding yogi and spiritual teacher, who has caught the attention of millions worldwide, and there's a lot to discuss — from k...

Alexander Hamilton and the religion of the American Revolution from 2021-05-09T18:05

Irrespective of whether or not you are a fan of Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical, Hamilton, it’s a fascinating and provocative take on the early American republic. So what are some of the questions the...

The Pope and the working man’s paradise: Rerum Novarum at 130 from 2021-05-02T18:05

Once upon a time, Australia was described as 'a workingman’s paradise.' But does that ring true – either in the past, or now? On Soul Search we’re looking at work, and at one of the world’s most in...

How the Tibetan Book of the Dead resonates with the living, plus the global ethics of Hans Küng from 2021-04-18T18:05

The Tibetan Book of the Dead is the most famous Buddhist text in the West, selling more than a million copies since the first English version was published in the 1920s. But why does the book of th...

Poetry and worship with Sara Saleh, and Turkish Sufi Cemalnur Sargut from 2021-04-11T18:05

American poet W.H. Auden said that 'poetry, might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings.' On Soul Search today, we meet two religious poets. Sara Saleh is an award-winning Arab-Austr...

Art at the edge of time: Makoto Fujimura, plus the 2021 Blake Prize from 2021-04-04T18:05

On this Easter Sunday as Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are joined by internationally renowned artist Makoto Fujimura as he reflects on suffering, humanity, time, and c...

Remembering for the future: Danielle Celermajer and Michael Twitty for Pesach from 2021-03-28T18:05

What kind of memory do we need to face an uncertain future? Jewish communities are asking that right now, as they recall the ancient exodus out of slavery in Egypt. Professor Danielle Celermajer re...

The invisible beast: slavery today and in history from 2021-03-21T18:05

What does it mean to face up to slavery today? What exactly does slavery look like in the modern world? Were the convicts slaves? And what about Indigenous Australians? Jacob Sarkodee, Chief Impact...

What is our life for? Henry David Thoreau’s search for justice from 2021-03-14T18:05

Today, we’re heading into the woods for a fresh look at nineteenth century philosopher-poet, Henry David Thoreau. What was Thoreau’s vision of the good life, and of the just society? Alda Balthrop-...

Mending the world: Eva Cox and Gemma Dashwood for International Women’s Day from 2021-03-07T18:05

Is it women who need to change, or the society and the institutions we live with? That’s our question as the world marks International Women’s Day this week. We are joined by an icon of the feminis...

I believe? Ben Myers on creeds in the contemporary world, Lent and Bob Dylan from 2021-02-28T18:05

What does it mean to believe? To say 'this is what I believe the truth to be'? Today on the show, theologian Ben Myers joins Meredith Lake in discussing the ancient Christian statement of belief, k...

From Crikey! to Karma: Religion in Aussie English from 2021-02-21T18:05

Today on Soul Search we saunter through the world of words. Two Australian lexicographers Sue Butler and Amanda Laugesen explore how words come about in a dictionary – and how religious words like ...

Tradition and change: From Lunar New Year to Basant Panchami, plus religion&sex from 2021-02-14T18:05

Is it possible to be traditional and unconventional at the same time? To be steeped in a culture — but also open to change? Today on Soul Search we have a variety of stories that explore just that ...

New Norcia’s nuns and the riddle of reconciliation from 2021-02-07T18:05

Today on Soul Search we head to New Norcia in WA — the only monastic town in Australia. Founded by Spanish Benedictine monks over 170 years ago, New Norcia is a place with no smooth or easy stories...

Yiddish mavens from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s the language of insults, food and humour you didn't even know you speak. This week, Yiddish and its connection to place, culture and religion in Austr...

Religion needs tough love from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Meet two young "truth-tellers" challenging the status quo. Aboriginal-Celtic woman Jacinta Price is not afraid of calling out patriarchal violence toward w...

Religion: the oldest survival kit from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Professor Stephen Asma was a fairly confident atheist, until he saw the emotional and social value of religion while living in Cambodia. Now, his new book ...

Mother Nature and the Holy Father from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This NAIDOC week, we hear from Dr Rose Elu, an elder from Saibai Island who shares her concerns about the impact of climate change on the Torres Strait Isl...

Queer and devout from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This week the Spirit explores sexuality and interfaith dialogue on Mardi Gras’ 40th anniversary. We hear how those with strong faith negotiate both their r...

The Pope vs The Pill from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

50 years on, how do we understand Humane Vitae, the papal document that banned artificial contraception? Senator Kristina Keneally, ethicist Dr Bernadette ...

Unexpected ANZAC connections from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Did you know that every Australian soldier on parade wears a turban? This week, the ANZAC connections that are seldom known. We speak to author John Luttre...

Easter special: Jesus and Mary Magdalene from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We often see a White Jesus with blond hair and blue eyes. But how accurate is that? What did he really look like? We hear from author Joan E. Taylor, who r...

The Third Wave from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We meet feminist and writer Rebecca Walker, author of Black, White and Jewish, whose struggle with her mixed-race identity led her on a spiritual path towa...

20/20 Series Part 2: 9/11 and the Future of Religion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

9/11 prompts questions about Islam, religion and violence, and the future of religion. Trend setters include the Dalai Lama and Allain de Botton, and Nobel...

20/20 Series Part 1 - Heading to the Millennium from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Celebrating 20 years on the religious front line with a new monthly series called 20/20. We begin with the search for an authentic Australian spirituality,...

Are You Spiritually Connected? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Marriage of Love and Justice from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Anne Benjamin traded the comforts of Australia to wed a man who was dedicated to uplifting the poor castes of South India. ...

Robot Religion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Huston Smith's World Religions from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The son of Christian missionaries, Huston Smith was called 'Religion's Rock Star' when he pioneered the comparative study of the world's religions, but in ...

You will meet a tall, dark stranger from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Thousands of people consult psychics in Australia every week looking for help in their relationships. Does it mean they're losing control of their lives? ...

Yoga Ethics from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Grief Monger from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Australian Religious Thought from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Poets, parsons and politicians shaped this country's culture including the prevalence of 'sacral secularity' a deeply Christian yet outwardly secular Austr...

Together for Humanity from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Atheist Minister from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Gretta Vosper is the United Church of Canada minister who announced she was atheist but continued to lead her congregation, West Hill Church in Toronto. ...

Be Kind To Yourself from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Sufis: Islam's musical mystics from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Orthodoxy: Marriage, Monks, Martyrs and Mary from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Orthodox Christians are in the news, but what do they believe that makes them distinct among Christians? Father John Behr is the Dean of St Vladimir's Ort...

Aspire to Interfaith from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Young Single and Hindu from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Young Single and Hindu: the colours of love from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Holi Festival is also known as the Festival of Love in Hinduism, when people throw colour on each other in playful fun. Its a time for young people t...

Padraig O'Tuama: pain is a poem from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Esalen and the quest for higher consciousness from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Higher Consciousness from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Hindu marriage from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Ash Gholkar and his wife Nim, author of the bestselling novel Diary of an Immigrant Bride, reckon arranged marriage is all about compatibility and is not m...

Casper ter Kuile: How everyday practices build joyful belonging from 2021-01-31T18:05

On Soul Search today, Meredith Lake chats to podcaster and author Casper ter Kulie whose been thinking about a big question: How do we make meaning as communities, and deepen our sense of connectio...

Remarkable women — from Indigenous health to the Navy from 2021-01-03T18:05

Join Meredith Lake as she meets two remarkable women who beat the odds. Lisa Jackson Pulver was once a runaway teen. Today, she is a leading figure in the field of Indigenous health and education; ...

Professor Mona Siddiqui on living gratefully from 2020-12-27T18:05

The medieval mystic Meister Eckhart once said, “If the only prayer you said in life was ‘thank you’, that would be enough.” It sounds simple, doesn’t it? But there’s more to gratitude than it seems...

Soul Search special on Christmas Day from 2020-12-25T17:05

What monks knew about the emotions of isolation.

An unexpected Christmas from 2020-12-20T18:05

Today on the show we’ll take a look back on the year that was with writer and storyteller, Julie Perrin, whose journey of faith and doubt infuses the way she writes about the world around her. And,...

Stories that change us: Hanukkah, Vida Goldstein and beyond from 2020-12-13T18:05

Have you got a holiday reading list already on the make? Or perhaps, in light of Hanukkah or Christmas, it’s a time to dwell with profound stories of faith? Literary critic Tali Lavi and award-winn...

'The world's largest minority'— International Day of People with Disability from 2020-12-06T18:05

On Soul Search today, we're marking the International Day of People with Disability. According to the UN, about one billion people around the world live with a disability — that includes 1 in 5 peo...

Zen&the calligraphy of the universe with Lindy Lee, plus activist Rima Vesely-Flad from 2020-11-29T18:05

Today on Soul Search, we encounter meditation and stillness in unexpected places. From the streets in the U.S. at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, to the third floor of Sydney's Museu...

Pentecostalism goes mainstream from 2020-11-22T18:05

One of the biggest religious trends of the century thus far has been the rise of Pentecostalism around the globe — and our Prime Minister Scott Mor...

Pentecostalism goes mainstream from 2020-11-22T18:05

One of the biggest religious trends of the century thus far has been the rise of Pentecostalism around the globe — and our Prime Minister Scott Morrison is just one of its 650 million adherents. So...

Your planet: from Europe’s first eco-mosque to the Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea from 2020-11-15T18:05

Ursula Rakova's home in the Carteret Islands of Papua New Guinea is in danger of being washed away. The Catholic community organizer reflects on the challenges of relocating the Islanders, and the ...

Always Was, Always Will Be: NAIDOC Week in the Torres Strait and NSW Hawkesbury region from 2020-11-08T18:05

Dr Rose Elu, an elder from Saibai Island, reflects on the impact of climate change on the Torres Strait, and the role faith plays in fostering her connection to the land. And, what does the recover...

Dami Im’s pop and the Celtic roots of Halloween from 2020-11-01T18:05

She’s graced pop’s biggest stage, but for Dami Im it all began with singing gospel songs in South Korean churches. She joins Meredith Lake to talk about the role faith plays in her life and music, ...

Orthodoxy now from 2020-10-25T18:05

We're all familiar with the idea of a film festival — but what about a festival devoted to a particular faith? On Soul Search today, Meredith Lake chats with Chris Vlahonasios, curator of the world...

Ten years on: Mary MacKillop, the'patron saint of trouble makers' from 2020-10-18T18:05

This week marks ten years since Mary MacKillop — Australia’s first and so far only Catholic saint — was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI. But how much do you know about Mary? And why is she informall...

100 years of the Baha'i Faith in Australia and Buddhist mindfulness for couples from 2020-10-11T18:05

2020 marks 100 years since the introduction of the Baha'i Faith to Australia. As they mark their centenary, we take a look at the beginnings of the faith and find out more about the local community...

What monks knew about the emotions of isolation from 2020-10-04T18:05

Have you ever considered that emotions have a history — even an emotion like loneliness, which so many of us have been feeling lately? On Soul Search today, Meredith Lake dives into the history of ...

The Bigger Picture: Elaine Pagels on secret gospels, grief and why religion from 2020-09-27T18:05

In the final episode of our series The Bigger Picture, we're joined by renowned scholar of Princeton University, Professor Elaine Pagels. Professor Pagels has spent decades seeking to understand re...

The Bigger Picture: Indigenous theologian Garry Deverell on grounded spirituality from 2020-09-20T18:05

What are the possibilities for a grounded spirituality, in the aftermath of colonisation? Indigenous theologian Garry Deverell has lived the search for a spirituality that connects land and body. H...

The Bigger Picture: Hugh Mackay and Nyadol Nyuon on the inner self from 2020-09-13T18:05

What is the inner self? What is there deep down, that makes us who we are and enables us to keep going? In part two of our series The Bigger Picture, we meet Melbourne-based lawyer and writer Nyado...

The Bigger Picture: Tom Holland on Christianity and the making of the western mind from 2020-09-06T18:05

What do the #metoo movement, political secularism and the widespread sympathy for Black Lives Matter have in common? According to historian Tom Holland, they all point to the residual influence of ...

#religion: social media influencers of faith from 2020-08-30T18:05:32

#religion. Videos with that tag have over 600 million views on Tik Tok, the video sharing app popular with teenagers. It’s clear that social media is changing how we express and explore faith. On S...

Sasha Sagan on meaning, wonder and her father, Carl Sagan from 2020-08-23T18:05

Sasha Sagan joins Meredith Lake to discuss her new book, For Small Creatures Such As We, and the long-term task of processing the life - and loss - of her famous father, the astronomer Carl Sagan.

Oxford mathematician John Lennox on AI, science and religion from 2020-08-16T18:05

For National Science Week, Soul Search is joined by two scholars who have thought deeply about AI and its implications for what it means to be human. Professor John Lennox is an internationally ren...

Max Weber at 100: On modernity and a disenchanted world from 2020-08-09T18:05

It's been 100 years since the death of the great German intellectual, Max Weber. He was only fifty-six at the time, but left behind several landmark works and a whole new discipline — sociology — t...

Mona Siddiqui on gratitude and the way of Islam from 2020-08-02T18:05

The medieval mystic Meister Eckhart once said, “If the only prayer you said in life was ‘thank you’, that would be enough.” It sounds simple, doesn’t it? But there’s more to gratitude than it seems...

Living tradition: Ivan Moody on composing Orthodox music, and Latvia’s folk revival from 2020-07-26T18:05

How do musicians give new expression to ancient beliefs and practices? Ivan Moody is an Orthodox priest and one of the world’s leading composers of contemporary Orthodox music, taking ancient tradi...

Faith in a changing world: Archbishop Glenn Davies and Archbishop Anthony Fisher from 2020-07-19T18:05

A special broadcast from New College at the University of New South Wales, where, for the first time in Australian history, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, and Catholic Archbishop o...

Stories from the sea: from ancient myths to merchant ships from 2020-07-12T18:05

As some churches mark Sea Sunday this week, we turn to the ocean as place of work and ministry. And, a deep dive into stories of sea monsters, unruly oceans, and massive floods that are widespread ...

Contemplating hope: Sarah Bachelard and David Newheiser from 2020-07-05T18:05

How can we have hope when so much is unknown and uncertain? Reverend Dr Sarah Bachelard and Philosopher Dr David Newheiser join Meredith as part of ABC's Your Mental Health Week, to discuss hope an...

YA author Claire Zorn on writing, mental illness and moral imagination from 2020-06-21T18:05

How can stories help us – and help young people – navigate a sometimes lonely world? As part of RN's Big Weekend of Books, award-winning YA author Claire Zorn joins Meredith Lake to discuss writing...

Green Buddhism with Professor Stephanie Kaza from 2020-06-14T18:05

How can we live in proper relationships with other species? We often consider environmental questions in terms of science, or perhaps economics or even politics. But what can religious perspectives...

L-FRESH The LION and Manika Kaur: Sacred Sounds from 2020-06-07T18:05

Today on Soul Search, two Australian musicians taking their Sikh inheritance in new sonic directions. 

Reconciliation as a pilgrimage to justice from 2020-05-31T18:05

Its reconciliation week – another point on the long pilgrimage towards justice. Today we will introduce you to Dr Anne Pattel Gray – a globally recognized expert on Black theology, and the first In...

Beyond belief: theosophy in Australia from 2020-05-24T18:05

An in-depth discussion about the radical, spiritual movement - theosophy. What made theosophy so compelling to an influential minority of Australian society?

Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, and James Hillman in search of The Wild Soul from 2020-05-17T18:05

In search of the soul, and a new way of thinking about our environment.

Spiritual impulses: Charity from 2020-05-10T18:05

We have all heard the phrase ‘charity begins at home.’ But what kind of charity begins at the ashram? Or the church? Or the mosque?

Joy and stillness under stress from 2020-05-03T18:05

What brings you joy, even under stress? Is there a peace that transcends even the most difficult circumstances? What can we draw on, when the world goes dark? And how can we emerge again, to live m...

What can religious communities teach us about prejudice? from 2020-04-26T18:05

Can you imagine a world free of prejudice? Where, as Martin Luther King said, people are judged by the content of their character – not by the colour of their skin. A tough ask, even at the best of...

Pandemics reshaping religion from 2020-04-19T18:05

Whole empires have risen and fallen on the backs of plagues and pandemics. But what about religions? How are the worlds faith traditions shaped and reshaped by pandemics?

Easter at Botany Bay from 2020-04-12T18:05

We look back to 1770, and the likely first Easter observed in Australia.

Psalms and the Holy Week from 2020-04-05T18:05

What are the Psalms, and why do they they still resonate today? We meet a choir conductor breathing new life into these sacred texts.

Ancient mantras for difficult times from 2020-03-29T18:05

How do you find stillness when the world seems out of joint? Today, we meet seekers of a peaceful inner life — mega stars of chant, Deva Premal and Miten; and proud Aboriginal man Levi-McKenzie-Kir...

Art and activism after Christchurch from 2020-03-22T18:05

How can communities change for the better? And does art have a role in countering discrimination? We speak with Muslim chaplain Ahmed Kilani, a year on from the Christchurch massacre, and James Ben...

Pádraig Ó Tuama: The pain and poetry of reconciliation from 2020-03-15T18:05

As Brexit reshapes the Irish border, poet and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama reflects on the role of storytelling in fractured societies.

Resilient women of faith from 2020-03-08T18:05

Join Meredith Lake as she celebrates International Women's Day with two women who beat the odds. Lisa Jackson Pulver was once a runaway teen. Today, she is a leading figure in the field of Indigen...

Japan supernatural&priests on screen from 2020-03-01T18:05

What can visual culture tell us about the unseen? Today, we reach back into the supernatural history of Japanese art and take a look at how recent depictions of priests in popular culture have refl...

Compassion according to Bill Crews from 2020-02-23T18:05

With Easter looming on the horizon, Meredith Lake takes a look at the gifts and costs of compassion with the Reverend Bill Crews, who is the subject of a new documentary.

Being Sikh in Australia from 2020-02-16T18:05

How much do you know about Sikhism? The religion has experienced exponential growth in the past decade, and is currently Australia's fifth largest faith group. Meet Sikh volunteer Sukhwinder Kaur, ...

What lies beyond the grave? On Heaven, Hell and Nirvana from 2020-02-09T18:05

It's an ancient question that still fascinates us today — where do we go after we die? From Heaven and Hell, to Nirvana and Rebirth, join Meredith Lake as she explores the ways in which people have...

Reconnecting to country from 2020-02-02T18:05

In Gumbayngirr country – on the mid north coast of NSW – Michael Jarrett and his community are revitalising their language. Then join Meredith Lake for a bushwalk at West Head, north of Sydney, to ...

Making Australia home from 2020-01-26T18:05

So much of the religious diversity in this land is created by immigration. But what does migration – leaving, or even losing one's homeland – mean for a person's faith? What happens to their belief...

Christos Tsiolkas: Doubt on the road to Damascus from 2019-12-15T18:05

How did the 2000-year-old conversion story of St Paul in the Bible inspire bestselling Australian author Christos Tsiolkas? We also meet popular children's author Susannah McFarlane, who had her ow...

The practice of peacemaking from 2019-12-08T18:05

During this time of year, we hear a lot about "peace and goodwill to all." But how exactly do you put peace into practice? How is peacemaking a part of living out one's faith? And what does peace o...

Silence and the inner life from 2019-12-01T18:05

How are you feeling about the impending end of the year? Maybe you’re waiting for Christmas, or maybe for some rest; a chance to recharge and pay more attention to your inner life. In this episod...

Jung's ghosts from 2019-11-24T18:05

When was the last time you heard a ghost story? Over 130 years ago, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche penned his famous statement — “God is dead”. But perhaps the ghost still lingers. Could this be ...

God in the golden years from 2019-11-17T18:05

What if you found out that you only had a short time left to live? — What would you do? Rush through your bucket list? Get your affairs in order? Devote all your time to family and friends? Or woul...

Digitising the Dead Sea Scrolls from 2019-11-10T18:05

What happened to the Sydney languages when the British arrived in the late 18th century? And what happened to the religious texts that the colonists brought with them? Meredith Lake heads to the Li...

The Bab and the Buddha from 2019-11-03T18:05

It's been 200 years since the birth of The Bab — the Herald of the Baha'i faith. Australian Baha'i's are currently celebrating and former journalist and author Michael Day explains why. Then on Spi...

Diving in the Deep End from 2019-10-27T18:05

At Sydney’s Bondi beach at the moment, you'll find some unusual structures — like booths or temporary houses. They invite beachgoers to shake off the sand, come inside, and consider what it means t...

Stoicism and the turbulent soul from 2019-10-20T18:05

Award-winning actor Anna McGahan shares her journey of reconciling with her own body, and her path to finding God. We also hear from Dr Matthew Sharpe on what stoicism has to offer to us moderns in...

Pentecostalism in Australia from 2019-10-13T18:05

It's the fastest growing Christian movement in the world, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison is just one of its 650 million adherents. So what is Pentecostalism, who represents it, and what's its st...

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams from 2019-10-06T18:05

In this special episode, Rowan Williams, one of the world's most prominent Christians and former head of the Anglican communion, talks about overcoming political tribalism. This public lecture was ...

Revisiting origins: Jesus'female disciples and Confucius in China from 2019-09-29T18:05

You've probably heard of Mary Magdalene and her reputation as a prostitute, or the love interest of Jesus. But who was she actually? And how do the Gospels treat other women involved in Jesus' mini...

Zeal: Performing faith as a musician from 2019-09-22T18:05

From the sacred sounds of the Silk Road to alternative Christian rock in Seattle — on Soul Search today, we hear from musicians who perform their faith in public ways. Featuring the Sydney World Mu...

A lesson from Elie Wiesel: how education can make us better people from 2019-09-15T18:05

What kind of education makes for a better world? Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel grappled with this question all his life, as we find out from his former student, Rabbi Ariel Burger. And,...

Uprooting faith: Henry Olonga and Kathomi Gatwiri from 2019-09-08T18:05

Former fast-bowler Henry Olonga was forced to leave behind his career and country after he protested against former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe. So what gave shape to his convictions and va...

Simon Schama's story of the Jews from 2019-09-01T18:05

In this special episode of Soul Search, historian Simon Schama speaks about his new book Belonging: The Story of the Jews. He was in conversation with scholar Paul Holdengraber at the Sydney Writer...

Rumi, Hafez and Sufi poetry in surprising places from 2019-08-25T18:05

Rumi's poetry is beloved around the world, but has his specifically Sufi Muslim insights been translated away? And we'll also head to the NSW mining town of Broken Hill, where historian Samia Khatu...

Asian Christianities beyond Asia from 2019-08-18T18:05

How do you imagine the face of contemporary Christianity? A hundred years ago, about two-thirds of the world's Christians lived in Europe. Now, only about a quarter do — but in the Asia Pacific, th...

Self discovery — with a Hindu twist from 2019-08-11T18:05

What happens when stories of your homeland or cultural roots are shrouded in secrecy and pain? Author Aatish Taseer is the son of an Indian Sikh and a Pakistani Muslim, whose search for his roots l...

Stars of Sacred Music from 2019-08-04T18:05

Maybe you’ve heard the old saying, ‘whoever sings, prays twice’. That's certainly true for the stars of sacred music we meet on Soul Search this week — iconic composer John Rutter, leading choir-ma...

The soul of the counterculture from 2019-07-28T18:05

Imagine this — long flowing hair, beards and sandals. Huge outdoor crowds talk about revolution, along with love and a new way of being. What are some other similarities between hippies and Jesus? ...

Peaceful Eating from 2019-07-21T18:05

Even if you find religion hard to stomach, you'll love cooking with Jeong Kwan, a Korean Buddhist nun who once starred in the Netflix series, Chef's Table.

Being a Buddhist nun today from 2019-07-14T18:05

On a cold day in the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney, hundreds of women from across the globe gathered together for the International Sakyadhita conference on Women in Buddhism.

Sovereignty is a spiritual notion: NAIDOC special from 2019-07-07T18:05

We're exploring the connections between land, law and spirituality with three Indigenous women: Dr Christine Black, Theresa Ardler and Meena Singh.

Married to a Rabbi from 2019-06-30T18:05

What’s it really like to be married to a rabbi?

Modern Witchcraft from 2019-06-23T18:05

What is Modern Witchcraft? And how might we understand magic in a so-called secular age?

Changing tune from 2019-06-16T18:05

A music special with Father Rob Galea, a Maltese-Australian Catholic priest and musician whose incredible story may soon be heading to Hollywood. And, the Ballarat-based gospel and world music grou...

Richard Rohr's contemplation and Jean Vanier's action from 2019-06-09T18:05

Franciscan priest Fr. Richard Rohr reflects upon his spiritual life and new book 'The Universal Christ,' and we remember Jean Vanier, the founder of L'Arche communities for people with intellectual...

The Wild Soul from 2019-06-02T18:05

In search of the soul, and a new way of thinking about our environment.

Spiritual communities: Celtic Iona and Buddhist Gandhara from 2019-05-26T18:05

Pastor and hymnwriter John Bell paints us a picture of Iona, one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe. And, historian Mark Allon reveals what the ancient Gandhari manuscripts...

Ramadan: Feeding the soul from 2019-05-19T18:05

Meredith Lake heads to an iftar dinner at the home of a Turkish Australian family in western Sydney, and Mariam Chehab catches up with award-winning author Michael Mohamed Ahmed for his Ramadan ref...

Writing faith from 2019-05-12T18:05

How do you put faith on a page? Can a writer disconnect their spiritual self from their writing? On Soul Search today, we remember late poet Les Murray, and head to the Sydney Writers' Festival whe...

Digital religion from 2019-05-05T18:05

A rare interview with the Hillsong church reveals the increasing importance of digital technology in growing the church and spreading the word. We'll also hear about an app created for the Jewish c...

Faith vs Fear from 2019-04-28T18:05

How does faith work as a solvent to despondency and fear? This week, Tim Costello and Evert-Jan Ouweneel from World Vision on the power of hope 'in a broken world'. And musician William Crighton on...

Easter special: suffering, meaning and remembrance from 2019-04-21T18:05

Historian Colin Bale on how bereaved families processed the catastrophe of World War I through the act of choosing an epitaph for their lost ones. And, theologian and quadriplegic Shane Clifton ref...

Katelyn Beaty, former editor of Christianity Today from 2019-04-19T17:05

Katelyn Beaty — the youngest and first female managing editor of Christianity Today — insists it’s time to reconsider women’s work. (This is a special Good Friday episode in place of PM.)

Chocolate and bitter herbs: faith on a plate from 2019-04-14T18:05

Did you know there's a religious backstory to the British chocolate trade? Today on the program, we'll take a sweet trip through Quaker history, and taste the bitter herbs associated with the Jewis...

Heaven, earth and spiritual lifehacks from 2019-04-07T18:05

We hear from musician Jessie Lloyd about her project to recover the songs sung on Indigenous missions, explore ancient Chinese artworks that reflect Daoist teachings, and mine the riches of religio...

Growing Up Muslim in Australia from 2019-03-31T18:05

Pro-boxer Bianca Elmir, and cross-cultural consultant Tasneem Chopra, share stories of their childhood as contributors to a book called Growing Up Muslim in Australia.

Light in dark places from 2019-03-24T18:05

In the darkness of terror, suffering and marginalisation, there are people working hard to shine a light. This week, the link between Islamophobia and the Christchurch terror attack, and we hear fr...

The spirituality of the sea from 2019-03-17T18:05

Three women share how the ocean shapes their faith, and brings them closer to God.

Disaster Spiritual Care from 2019-03-10T18:05

What’s left when you lose everything? Providing spiritual care to people dealing with disaster.

International Women's Day: Women's beliefs, women's bodies from 2019-03-03T18:05

From consecrated virginity to nude life modelling, three women from different ends of the religious spectrum reflect on how belief is expressed in the body.

Sacred spaces from 2019-02-24T18:05

Can sacredness be found in the suburbs? And does it inevitably exist in religious buildings, or not?

Mindfulness goes mainstream from 2019-02-17T18:05

Since the 1970s, mindfulness has become a widespread practice, used in business, hospitals, schools and the gym, going well beyond its original Hindu and Buddhist settings. So what’s happened to th...

The spiritual side of work from 2019-02-10T18:05

This week on Soul Search we're thinking about work, burnout and gender - and what religion might have to say about it.

The power of words from 2019-02-03T18:05

It's notoriously difficult to find words for God, but some musicians and poets come close. This week, the stories of two people who stir the spirit with their gifts - the author behind The Prophet,...

Changing the heart from 2019-01-27T18:05

In the first ever episode of Soul Search, we navigate the tricky terrain between colonialism and Christianity. We hear about Boorong, probably the first Indigenous Australian to encounter Christian...

Keep the Spirit: Rachael Kohn says goodbye from 2018-12-23T18:05

In this last ever episode of The Spirit of Things, Rachael Kohn reflects on a career spanning more than two decades at the ABC. And this time she's...

The circle of life from 2018-12-09T18:05

We meet the incredible people trying to make life better for people at both sides of life. Dr Cath Crock is on a mission to transform the culture o...

Muslim Achievers and Islamophobia from 2018-12-02T18:05

Women were the outstanding winners in the Mission of Hope 12th Annual Muslim Achievement Awards, and visiting scholar of Islam, Dr Daniel Peterson,...

Buddhism: a religion or science of mind? from 2018-11-25T18:05

Does it really matter if your spiritual experience is confirmed by science? Are they really measuring the same thing? Dr Alan Wallace would say yes...

Magic Medicine and the Meaning of Life from 2018-11-18T18:05

Two intrepid minds explore the meaning of life. Professor John Rasko, a gene and stem-cell scientist, does not believe in a God who ‘chose’ to crea...

Courage and compassion in war from 2018-11-11T18:05

The extraordinary story of poet and soldier John McCrae who wrote In Flanders Fields, the inspiration behind An Australian War Requiem and Aborigin...

In Harmony from 2018-11-04T18:05

Can music create harmony between people? Australian composer Gerard Brophy believes it has the power to bridge different cultures and faiths, and t...

Faith heals from 2018-10-28T18:05

Three women facing dire physical and emotional challenges tell us how their spiritual traditions came to the rescue. Carolyn Martin clung to her fa...

Death Anxiety from 2018-10-14T18:05

Is death the actual source of religious belief? Psychologist Jamin Halberstadt tested the claim, and shares the findings in his new book Death Anxi...

A Shared Society from 2018-10-07T18:05

Managing inter-religious relations is more important than ever, especially in a climate of hostility and tension. Two religious leaders explain how...

Australian Muslims commemorate Ashura from 2018-09-30T18:05

For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a holy day of poetry, prayer and public mourning that commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammed's beloved grandson...

Christ and Culture from 2018-09-23T18:05

We hear from two popular Christian personalities in New Zealand, Rev'd Wayne Te Kaawa, the first Maori ecumenical chaplain on campus at the Univers...

Music of the Jewish Days of Awe from 2018-09-16T18:05

The Ten Days of Awe is the holiest period in the Jewish calendar. In praise and prayer, voices soar in synagogues around the country. In one of the...

The Shape of Faith from 2018-09-09T18:05

How does religion shape you? For Shuv Homsi, it was a life on the rails that made him turn back to his Islamic faith. Now, he's set up a charity to...

A Divided House from 2018-09-02T18:05

The house of Islam contains nearly 2 billion believers, but keeping it together is a challenge, as Sunnis, Shias, Salafists and Sufis battle for th...

Gold to God: The Chinese experience in Australia from 2018-08-26T18:05

This week, The Spirit of Things marks 200 years since Chinese settlement in Australia. We retrace the route taken by thousands of Chinese in the 18...

Choose to radiate love in your relationships from 2018-08-19T18:05

Feeling stressed or being too busy is a state of mind that you can change by connecting to the Divine and radiating peace in your daily life. Siste...

A Listening Church from 2018-08-12T18:05

This week, we hear from those calling for change in the church, and those who've overseen it. Theologian Richard Gaillardetz pulls no punches on th...

Should Christians and Atheists Get Along? from 2018-07-29T18:05

You may think Atheism and Christianity are polar opposites of each other, but according to academic David Newheiser, they actually have a lot in co...

A changing church from 2018-07-22T18:05

The Catholic Church may not look like it's changing, but significant developments are taking place. We hear from Melbourne's new Archbishop elect, ...

Women of Courage from 2018-07-15T18:05

Jewish Holocaust survivor Aneta Weinreich shares her story of fleeing Nazi persecution across four countries, and the sacrifice three women played ...

The first Cardinal of Myanmar from 2018-06-24T18:05

The Pope surprised everyone in 2015 by appointing a Cardinal in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Cardinal Charles Bo tells us about the state of Catholic...

The big issues for NT Anglicans from 2018-06-17T18:05

This week, The Spirit is back in Darwin for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Anglican diocese in the Northern Territory. We hear how the Ch...

Mela langgus en det stori ba Jisas (our language and the Jesus story) from 2018-06-10T18:05

How does a diocese come together when there are geographical, cultural and language differences to account for? This week, The Spirit goes to Darwi...

Marrying 'out' from 2018-06-03T18:05

How do you navigate romantic relationships and religious expectations when your partner is not of the same faith? This week, we hear the Muslim and...

From Bishop Michael Curry to Fr James Martin: Priests in the public eye from 2018-05-27T18:05

This week, the Spirit hears from the priests who capture public attention. We speak to the best dressed person at the Met Gala, Fr James Martin, an...

The Aussie mosque that broke the mould from 2018-05-20T18:05

Australia’s newest mosque has been hailed as an ‘architectural masterpiece’ – and it’s not even finished yet. Made of poured concrete and featuring...

Sacred Songs from 2018-05-06T18:05

This week, we talk to internationally acclaimed Japanese conductor and Calvinist Christian, Masaaki Suzuki. And, we hear from the director of the C...

The Real Mormon Mission from 2018-04-29T18:05

Faith or footy? Money or mission? This week, we speak to NRL star and devout Mormon, Will Hopoate. And, as The Book of Mormon musical plays in Aust...

Women and faith from 2018-04-15T18:05

This week we’re talking the triumphs, trials and tribulations of women in religion. We speak to Professor Sophia Pandya from California State Unive...

Politics & the Good Samaritan from 2018-04-08T18:05

How have politicians battered and hijacked the Gospel story of the 'Good Samaritan'? We speak to British author Nick Spencer who has written a book...

Jewish Journeys from 2018-03-25T18:05

Heather Morris, author of ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’, tells the remarkable story of Lale Sokolov who was forced to work as chief tattooist at Aus...

The Lives of Monks and Nuns from 2018-03-18T18:05

We explore the monastic life across the faith spectrum with Stephen J. Davis, author of ‘Monasticism: A Very Short Introduction’. And producer Mari...

Western Buddhism from 2018-03-11T18:05

This week, two perspectives on the rise of Buddhism in the West. We meet Bhante Sujato, a former rock musician who became an ordained monk, teacher...

On A Mission from 2018-03-04T18:05

We hear about the life, work and legacy of the late Billy Graham from a man who met him - Professor Gary Bouma. And we meet Fr Warren Kinne, who sp...

The Jains from 2018-02-18T18:05

One of the oldest religions in India, Jainism extols the virtue of non-violence (ahimsa), a concept popularised in the 20th century by Gandhi as a ...

Modest Fashion from 2018-02-11T18:00

The modest fashion market is reportedly worth tens of billions globally, but what exactly is ‘modest fashion’ and what role does religion play?
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Music for the Soul from 2018-02-04T18:05

We explore the deep connection between music, spirituality and identity with Australian sacred composer and singer Brooke Shelley, and the late sou...

Same-Sex Marriage from 2018-01-28T18:05

We meet aspiring marriage celebrant Alex Pittaway, a young Christian minister in training, and hear about Australia’s first Jewish religious same-s...

The story of Civil Celebrants from 2018-01-21T18:05

The loveless Registry Office was a gloomy beginning for a couple on their happiest day, until the Civil Celebrant movement was initiated by the Att...

Priest, detective, lover from 2018-01-14T18:05

Canon Sidney Chambers is a young, committed priest, who is also a detective. But his love life is in turmoil. James Runcie's Grantchester Mysteries...

Indigenous Christians celebrate the Bible from 2017-12-31T18:05

Indigenous Christian artists from across Australia celebrate the bicentenary of Bible Society Australia in a new publication, Our Mob, God's Story....

Christmas: Making fun, making history from 2017-12-24T18:05

A married Christian woman with health issues, Hannah Boland became a stand up comic when she realised laughter is the best medicine. Bishop Kay Gol...

20/20 Series Part 5: Remember, Regret and Rejoice from 2017-12-17T18:05

Remembering anniversaries such as the Armenian Genocide, Bahai's origins and the Balfour Declaration, reflecting on living with profound regrets, a...

Hugely Successful Religious Movements from 2017-12-10T18:05

From West to East, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim religious movements have grown into financial powerhouses, with massive followings and eff...

The Story of Mr Eternity from 2017-12-03T18:05

Known by all and seen by none, Arthur Stace inscribed "Eternity" on the streets of Sydney and elsewhere for 30 years before he was unmasked. Inspir...

Is the Sea of Faith Rising? from 2017-11-26T18:05

The Sea of Faith takes its name from the famous poem Dover Beach about the ebbing of faith, but today's SOF members entertain new developments incl...

Reporting Religion in Asia from 2017-11-19T18:05

At the International Association of Religion Journalists conference in Indonesia, Uday Basu, the Co-ordinating Editor of India's The Statesmen, Her...

Luther's Jews and Poland's Jewish Festival from 2017-11-12T18:05

On the anniversary of Kristalnacht, Luther's call for for their synagogues to be burnt down in his day is one of the aspects of his relationship to...

20/20 Series Part 4: Music, Diaries, Couples and Sex from 2017-11-05T18:05

Artists, Martin Sharp and Bill Viola, musicians, Jeremy Begbie and Jane Rutter, and outstanding couples like Bess and Dave Price, join some brave s...

The X Factor in the Reformation from 2017-10-29T18:05

What was the X Factor in the Protestant Reformation that caused a schism in the Roman Catholic Church which would have lasting effects up to the pr...

Martin Luther, Catholic dissident from 2017-10-22T18:05

The Pope called him 'a wild boar in the Lord's vineyard' but Martin Luther's challenge to the Roman Catholic Church would have sweeping effects acr...

Comparing Catholic and Hindu Faith from 2017-10-15T18:05

A Catholic scholar of Hinduism explains 'comparative theology' which he developed after spending time in Nepal as a young priest and as a scholar a...

Identity: Who are you? from 2017-10-08T18:05

When the Rev'd Brian Rosner questioned his identity, he reassessed his relationship to God. Muslim Eritrean spoken-word poet, Manal, uses her art ...

Religious Tattoos Not Just Skin Deep from 2017-10-01T18:05

A Muslim boxer, a Hindu student, a gay Christian and a Samoan Uniting Church minister tell the stories of struggle and pain behind their religious ...

20/20 Series Part 3: Turning Points, Epiphanies and Mysteries from 2017-09-24T18:05

Michael Palin meets the Dalai Lama, Diane Cilento turns her back on stardom, an aspiring nun gets thrown out of the Missionaries of Charity, and th...

Media with Heart from 2017-09-17T18:05

Judy Rodgers, a member of the Brahma Kumaris movement, developed IVOH Images and Voices of Hope to change the way the media covers the news.
...

Babi Yar: a survivor, a poem, a symphony from 2017-09-10T18:05

Yelena Gorodetsky tells her story of being a survivor of Babi Yar in Kiev where 33,771 Jews were massacred on Sept 29-30 1941.

Yevgeny Y...

On Being Krista Tippett from 2017-08-20T18:05

Krista Tippett created a hugely popular radio program and podcast called On Being which explores the mysteries of living a meaningful and good life...

Christian Minority Communities from 2017-08-13T18:05

Christians from China, Pakistan, Malaysia and Israel, share their experiences living as minority communities with unique challenges that call upon ...

Judaism welcomes LGBTI Jews from 2017-08-06T18:05

Two rabbis from the opposite sides of Judaism, Orthodox and Progressive, say Jews are no less loved in the eyes of God.
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Fiona Horne Flying High from 2017-07-23T18:05

Def FX rock star, witch, author and TV personality, Fiona Horne promoted paganism as the vehicle of self empowerment, but it wasn't until she gave ...

Tom E Lewis: Bridging the Divide from 2017-07-09T18:05

Born to a Welsh father and Aboriginal mother, Tom E Lewis builds bridges between cultures and peoples through theatre and music.

He's on ...

Greg Sheridan's Australia from 2017-07-02T18:05

Greg Sheridan, AO, has some advice for Christians -- still the majority faith in Australia -- start thinking and acting like a minority and you'll ...

What's Behind the Buddha's Smile? from 2017-06-25T18:05

The Buddha's Smile exhibition at the NGV of artworks from all over Asia points to the central beliefs of Buddhism, including No Self.

Cura...

Who cares for sex offenders? from 2017-06-18T18:05

Peter Powell, a Uniting Church minister and psychologist, has worked with sex offenders for more than 20 years. He's seen sex offenders change, and...

Robe to Riches: a Chinese pilgrim route from 2017-06-11T18:05

Descendants of the Chinese who came to Australia in the 1850s, retrace their route from Robe, SA to the Victorian gold fields, and tell stories of ...

The Shared Table Project from 2017-06-04T18:05

Newly arrived Christian refugees from Syria and Iraq make friends with Jewish women over plates of food they've prepared together.
...

Ginn Fourie's Forgiveness from 2017-05-28T18:05

Ginn Fourie's daughter was killed by the Azanian People's Liberation Army, under the command of Letlapa Mphahlele.

She decided to forgive ...

In sickness and in death... from 2017-05-21T18:05

How do people care for the aged, the sick and the dying? What makes them do it? A personal and professional exploration of medical, spiritual and ...

Fighting sexism in Islam from 2017-05-14T18:05

Fighting sexism is not new in Islam, but today the Muslim women who are at the forefront of change are determined to have a lasting impact, includi...

Dances of Universal Peace from 2017-05-07T18:05

The Dances of Universal Peace is a worldwide movement under the spiritual direction of Shabda Kahn, where people from all traditions come together ...

Gay Christians from 2017-04-30T18:05

Gay Christians speak about their faith, their relationships and their hopes for the future as Tasmania's Upper House debates the churches' exemptio...

Jewish Anzacs from 2017-04-23T18:05

Mark Dapin's Jewish Anzacs shows that, contrary to popular perception, Jews served in the Australian military far out of proportion to their number...

Reinventing Church in Tasmania from 2017-04-16T18:05

When economic decline threatened to close the doors of Tasmania's churches including its oldest church, a bold new experiment to 'call out' people ...

Jewish Choral Music & Passover from 2017-04-09T18:05

Elena Kats-Chernin premiers a piece she wrote specially for the Jewish Choral Festival, and the world's leading choir directors talk about the uniq...

Jewish choral music and Passover from 2017-04-09T18:05

Do science and faith comfortably coexist? from 2017-04-02T18:05

Science and Religion ask how and why the world began, and it is widely assumed that their answers conflict with each other. AC Grayling agrees, but...

The problem of pain from 2017-02-26T18:05

Monsieur Mayonnaise, a secret family history from 2017-02-05T18:05

Film noir meets comic book art, in a documentary about Melbourne's celebrated bohemian couple, Mirka and Georges Mora, who escaped the Nazis in clo...

Monsieur Mayonnaise from 2017-02-05T18:05

How fragile we are from 2017-01-29T18:05

Psychiatrist, Tanveer Ahmed, thinks the decline of religion may be to blame for the epidemic of depression, dysfunction and drug abuse, while the l...

Listening to the Land from 2017-01-22T18:05

In Alice Springs over a hundred people met at the Edge of the Sacred conference to foster reconciliation and deepen our connection to the land as p...

Elena Kats-Chernin: Dreams, energies and spirits from 2017-01-15T18:05

One of Australia's most well known composers, Elena Kats-Chernin, writes music that is often joyful, reflecting her positive spirit and her belief ...

Christmas Under Fire from 2016-12-25T18:05

From the beginning, the right to be merry at Christmas came under fire from bishops and dictators. Gerry Bowler is the world's expert on Christmas...

Seasons of Birth from 2016-12-18T18:05

We are committed from 2016-12-11T18:05

Aleppo at the crossroads from 2016-11-20T19:05

One of the world's oldest cities, Aleppo in North West Syria, was a cross-roads of Paganism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Will Alepp...

The Faces of Mercy from 2016-11-13T19:05

Composed by George Palmer, The Faces of Mercy brings together poetry and art, choir and quartet, as well as the sublime voice of Amelia Farrugia, i...

The Venetian Ghetto from 2016-11-06T19:05

The world's first ghetto, imposed on the Jews of Venice in 1516, was very different from its current meaning. Forced to live behind a locked gate ...