Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 4,23 Jun 2013,45 mins

Chester Mystery plays; Sunni-Shia tension; God in hip-hop

Sunday

Available for over a year

Archbishop of Canterbury will visit Egypt , Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Oliver McTernan highlights the issues he will face. Judy Merry reports on the Chester Mystery Plays, the once every 5 years dramatization of Bible stories with 'a Chester twist', and one of the biggest pieces of community theatre in the country. The American Hip-Hop artist Kanye West released his much anticipated fourth album this week titled 'Yeezus'. As religious language is used in so many songs, we analyse the relationship and influence religion has on hip-hop music. Are Muslim Sunni and Shia tensions ignited by the Syrian conflict fermenting sectarian divisions within the UK? Sheykh Mohammed Al-Hilli and Mohammed Ansar debate this. The mother of modern witchcraft - Doreen Valiente - is being honoured this week by having a blue plaque unveiled in her name. We speak to Ashley Mortimer, a trustee of the Doreen Valiente Foundation, about her life. A conference next week will examine extreme spiritual experiences. But how much are they healthy spiritual awakenings or distressing mental illnesses? Trevor Barnes reports. As protests continue in Brazil, Vincent Deely, who works in the favelas in Sao Paolo, talks to William Crawley about how the churches are responding to the unrest. Exodus the world's oldest and largest ex-gay Christian organisation has had a change of heart. We hear from Jeremy Marks who was expelled from Exodus some years ago. Credits: Amanda Hancox Series Producer Carmel Lonergan Producer Zaffar Iqbal Producer Interviewees: Oliver McTernan Sheykh Mohammed Al-Hilli Mohammed Ansar Ashley Mortimer Vincent Deely Jeremy Marks.

Programme Website
More episodes