The Sacredness of Hair

Available for over a year

In the first in a new series of Beyond Belief, Ernie Rea and his guests explore the place of faith in our complex world. Ernie is joined by three guests who discuss how their own religious tradition affects their values and outlook on the world, often revealing hidden and contradictory truths. In the first programme of this series, Ernie and his guests discuss the sacredness of hair. Why do some faiths require hair to be covered; some demand it is never cut; and some shave it as a means of suppressing the ego? What does hair and the covering of it, with cloth or wigs tell us about modesty, purity and cleanliness? How do we feel about ourselves and our identity when our hair is removed? Producer: Karen Maurice.