| This week's | Next week's |
| Saturday 4th September | ||
| 6.55pm |  |
4thought.tv Atheist and mother-of-two Fay Mercer brands faith schools unfair and reveals why she thinks children should not be denied the best education on religious grounds. |
| Sunday 5th September | ||
| 6.05am |  |
Something Understood Who to Trust? Mark Tully and Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College, explore the loss of trust in public and private life and discuss the effects this may have on individuals and society as a whole. They also question whether older generations were really more trusting, and ask how a sense of trust can be restored. [Repeated at 11.30pm] |
| 7.10am | |
Sunday Edward Stourton presents a round-up of the week's religious and ethical headlines, featuring moral arguments and alternative perspectives on the key stories. |
| 10.00am |  |
Sunday Morning Live Topical debate covering religious, moral and ethical issues, presented by Susanna Reid. |
| 11.30am |  |
Heart and Soul Christianity in China Part 2. Christopher Landau tells the story of the rapid growth of state-sanctioned Christianity in China, and its impact on society. |
| 6.15pm | |
4thought.tv Rabbi Alexandra Wright of London's Liberal Jewish Synagogue argues that religious integration in education is in society's best interests, even though faith schools may offer short-term benefits. |
| Monday 6th September | ||
| 11.00am | |
God's Ambassador Conclusion. Ruth McDonald continues to observe Francis Campbell, the Ambassador to the Holy See, as he prepares for the Pope's four-day UK visit, focusing on events in Whitehall, London, and the Vatican, Rome. |
| 11.30am |  |
Scotland at Prayer 2010 marks the 450th anniversary of the Reformation, an event which left an indelible legacy in Scottish society. In a major seven part series, Billy Kay tells the story of the great ecclesiastical traditions which have shaped the history of Christianity in this country - Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Presbyterian. |
| 4.30pm | |
Beyond Belief The Roots of English Catholicism. Ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's state visit to England and Scotland, Ernie Rea and guests ask what is distinctive about British Catholicism. They explore the factors that created a particular form of the religion in Britain - including the 1829 lifting of the ban on Catholics taking public office - and examine how this uniqueness affects relationships with the Pope and the Vatican. |
| 7.55pm | |
4thought.tv Following the Church of England's announcement that it intends to permit female bishops, this documentary asks whether women can really be spiritual leaders. Christian minister Rev James Gracie discusses his belief that the Bible is unambiguous - females must not preach in church, and their primary role is in the home. |
| 8.30pm | |
Crossing Continents The Church in China. Christopher Landau explores the growth of Christianity in China, as millions flock to the official Protestant and Catholic churches. The Communist state is formally atheist, but some believe that a religious work ethic will aid its economy, while certain branches of government hope the church's social services will help care for an ageing population. |
| 11.05pm | |
The Case for God? A debate on religion with Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Howard Jacobson, Alain de Botton, Professor Colin Blakemore and Professor Lisa Jardine, who discuss topics that include whether any one faith has the truth and why God allows evil and suffering to take place in this world. |
| Tuesday 7th September | ||
| 7.55pm | |
4thought.tv The increasingly controversial issue of faith schools is explored as people are asked whether they should be banned. Writer and atheist Francis Beckett has personal experience of education at a strict Catholic faith school, and explains why she believes they ultimately breed bigotry. |
| Wednesday 8th September | ||
| 12.30pm | |
Heart and Soul The Rise and Rise of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Tom Esslemont explores the astonishing renaissance of Georgia's Orthodox Church following the end of Communism. |
| 7.55pm | |
4thought.tv As the Church of England's controversial plan to permit female bishops continues, the documentary series offers opinions on whether women can be spiritual leaders. Lucy Buchanan, a woman who is married to a minister, explains why she believes women should take a submissive role, both in church and in marriage. |
| 8.30pm |  |
Churches: How to Read Them Medieval Life 2/6. Richard Taylor examines the crucial role parish churches played in everyday life during the Middle Ages, from providing sacramental rites and protection, to teaching moral lessons through the paintings and carvings that decorated the buildings. |
| Thursday 9th September | ||
| 9.00am | |
The Pope's British Divisions As British Catholics prepare to welcome Pope Benedict XVI, Mark Dowd investigates the changes in the religion's community since 1982 and examines the influence of the Church on the nation's public life, as well as considering whether its once strong liberal wing is becoming a minority. |
| 2.15pm | |
What the Bishops Knew Hugh Costello's play explores an accusation of child abuse by a Catholic Priest in Ireland and how over several decades this was allegedly covered up within the hierarchy of the Church in an attempt to protect its reputation. |
| 7.55pm | |
4thought.tv The series of short films asking whether women can be spiritual leaders continues with priest and mother Miranda Threlfall-Holmes discussing her belief that Jesus was a feminist and that the Church of England should treat men and women equally. |
| Friday 10th September | ||
| 2.15pm | |
What the Nun Discovered Drama by Harriet O'Carroll. After 25 years as a missionary in Uganda, Sister MaryJo returns home to Ireland, where she believes the Church has lost much of its moral authority. Seeing it as a test, she sets about reasserting her core values and rehabilitating a priest who was once her superior. |
| 7.25pm | |
4thought.tv Barrister Jasvir Singh, a practising Sikh, discusses the role of women as spiritual leaders, following the shock in the Christian community caused by the Church of England's plans to permit female bishops. She also talks about her belief that women who feel discriminated against by their religion should take legal action. |
| If you can't catch the 'live' broadcast, most Radio 4 programmes can be heard by visiting the station's web site at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/ and clicking the 'Listen Again' button. Sunday can be heard by clicking on the programme's own homepage, at www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/sunday/ |
| This week's |
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