17 March 2006
Friday 17 March 2006 21:30-22:15 (Radio 3)
5/5. The Return of Faith: Exploring the resurgence of religion across the globe. Matthew Sweet is joined by Daniel Dennett, Shirley Williams, Karen Armstrong and Malise Ruthven to discuss the driving forces behind religion's return, and how its public role might change.
Playlist
As the culmination of Night Waves' week of programmes exploring The Return of Faith, Matthew Sweet is joined by leading scholars from Britain and America to explore the reasons behind the resurgence of religion and how it operates in public life.
Daniel Dennett is one of the world's leading philosophers. His new book Breaking the Spell lays down an audacious intellectual challenge to his fellow Americans - if you are certain of your religious beliefs, open them up to scientific scrutiny. Alongside Professor Dennett, Matthew is joined by the writers Karen Armstrong and Malise Ruthven and Shirley Williams, former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and a practising Catholic.
So - Is the return of faith is driven by it being an innate part of human nature? A source of solace in a soulless world? Or the last available rallying cry of the oppressed? Join Matthew and his guests for a special edition of Night Waves at 9.30 here on BBC Radio 3.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Daniel C. Dennett's new book is called Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon in which he offers an explanation for religious belief. It is out now published by Allen Lane.
Karen Armstrong's book The Great Transformation chronicles the birth of global religious belief between 800BC and 300BC. It is published on March 22nd by Atlantic Books
