It's Ukraine's independence day, a state holiday begun after the break with the old Soviet Union in 1991. Churches across the world have been invited to join a global prayer chain to call for peace. We are joined by Nadiyka Gerbish, a writer and podcaster living in Ternopil in Western Ukraine, and part of the Calvary Chapel Church. The Mezquita, or Great Mosque in the Spanish city of Cordoba is a unique jewel of both Islamic and Christian architecture. Just over two weeks ago we were getting news of a fire there and we immediately wondered if this was, like Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019, going to be another national disaster. Luckily the fire didn't spread, but still there's a major restoration job underway. Guy Hedgecoe reports for us from southern Spain.For two Church of England priests the command to 'take up your cross', became 'take up your paddle'. The Reverend Christina Rees and the Reverend Patrick Forbes decided to kayak down the Great Ouse - an 85 mile journey - to raise money for charity. While Cambodia has been in the news for escalating tensions with Thailand, today we’re bringing you a story of reconciliation. Since 2014, Hindu and Buddhist masterpieces housed in museums and private collections in the West, have been slowly returning Cambodia. Just last summer, 22 were welcomed back. The artefacts were looted from temples during the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s, and its turbulent aftermath. We hear from investigators, and former looters, who are now working together to bring the sacred statues back to Cambodia. Producers: Katy Davis and Linda Walker
Presenter: Emily Buchanan
Editor: Chloe Walker
Studio Managers: George Willis and Georgia-Mae Browne
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The role of AI in faith and spirituality; Haredi draft row in Israel
BBC Director Ellena Wood talks about her documentary and podcast 'Inside the Cult of Jesus Army' which examines the puritanical sect founded by Noel Stanton and tells how former members are coming to terms with the damage it inflicted on their lives. Stand-up David Rose takes his show: 'Our Hebrew Friend' to the Edinburgh Fringe. It tackles the complicated legacy of his great grandfather, a music hall entertainer who found fame by playing up to anti-semitic stereotypes. Our reporter Rosie Dawson is in Lancashire where vicars and imams are building bridges on the cricket pitch.Is there a role for AI chatbots when it comes to faith and spirituality? Emily Buchanan explores whether they could help with prayer and guidance, hears from Paul Powers who developed a GPT Jesus and looks at the ethics behind using artificial intelligence in religion with Dr Scott Midson - Lecturer in Digital Theology, at Manchester University - and Dr Alba Curry - Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Leeds.Correspondent Jon Donnison is in Jerusalem where a date of Oct 7th has been set for residents to leave Gaza City after a controversial Israeli government plan to take control of the area. Emily hears about the row over Haredi conscription in Israel which has caused some Ultra-Orthodox leaders to declare war on the governmentPRODUCERS : CATHERINE MURRAY & LINDA WALKER
STUDIO MANAGERS: MIKE SMITH & ETHAN CONNOLLY-FORSTER
PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR: LIZ POOLE
EDITOR: CHLOE WALKER
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Israel-Gaza, Shaolin Scandals, Axe Murder Priest
The Board of Deputies of British Jews hosted an emergency meeting this week in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A statement followed, which called for, “a rapid, uninhibited, and sustained increase in aid through all available channels”. It goes on to say, “food must not be used as a weapon of war, by any side in this conflict.” We get the latest on the conflict from a correspondent and speak to Phil Rosenberg – President of The Board of Deputies of British Jews.This week, it’s been announced that Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the world-renowned Shaolin Temple, is being investigated by multiple agencies for embezzlement, "improper relationships with multiple women" and "fathering illegitimate children". Emily Buchanan speaks to BBC China correspondent Stephen McDonell about the religious significance of the Shaolin temple in China & the reaction on the ground to news of the latest scandal.The archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, has asked the Vatican to defrock a priest charged with the killing of a 68-year-old homeless man who was beaten with an axe and set on fire. The priest, identified only as Miroslaw M in line with Polish privacy rules, is believed to have had an argument with the victim over housing. The priest admitted the crime after being arrested. Emily Buchanan speaks to Jonathan Luxmoore – a journalist and author who specialises in Catholic Church affairs in Europe and who was based in Poland for more than a decade.Presenter: Emily Buchanan
Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Katy Davis
Production Coordinator: Liz Poole
Studio Managers: Kelly Young & Grant Cassidy
Editor: Tim Pemberton
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Post Office scandal; Gaza crisis; Hildegard of Bingen
When the first part of the report into the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was published earlier this month, it revealed the devastating impact of that scandal on the lives of those wrongly accused of fraud. William Crawley hears from a former sub-postmaster, Tom Hedges, who says his personal faith and the support of his church was a source of strength for him when he was wrongly accused of stealing from the Post Office. While the war in Gaza continues, many independent agencies claim that Israeli settlers have used the cover of war to expand their illegal settlements in other occupied Palestinian territories. And now an historic mosque has become, for some, emblematic of the growing power of settlers over local populations.The 12th century German Benedictine nun Hildegard of Bingen was almost entirely forgotten for about 900 years until being rediscovered in the 1970s. Many contemporary musicians have been inspired by Hildegard. We’ve been learning more about this medieval polymath from Fiona Maddocks, the Observer's music critic and author of Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of Her Age.Presenter: William Crawley
Producers: Katy Davis & James Leesley
Studio Managers: Chris Mather & George Willis
Editor: Dan Tierney
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Syria; Gaza Christians; 'Monkey Trial'
Syria is facing perhaps its gravest crisis since the fall of the Assad regime last December. It began with sectarian clashes between Druze and Bedouins in the southern province of Sweida. Hundreds of people are reported to have been killed since sectarian clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes erupted in the province on Sunday. The Druze religion is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs. In addition to Syria, there are sizeable communities of Druze in Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. Edward Stourton speaks to Dr Omar Imady, Senior Fellow, Centre for Syrian studies.Roman Catholic Cardinal Pizzaballa and the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem have been visiting the Christian communities in Gaza and delivering 500 tons of aid after the Church of the Holy Family was hit by an Israeli Strike. Two women aged 84 and 69 were killed along with the 60-year-old janitor of the church. Nine others were injured including the parish priest Fr Gabriel Romanelli. The office of the Israeli PM issued a statement saying it regrets that stray munition hit the church and that it is committed to protecting civilians and holy sites. Sunday hears from Anton Asfar of the Catholic relief agency Caritas - he's based in Bethlehem but works closely with the Holy Family parish as well as Cardinal Vincent Nichols.One hundred years ago, the trial of John T Scopes began, where a US high school teacher was charged by the state of Tennessee for teaching the theories of evolution. Nick Spencer, is senior fellow at the Christian think tank Theos. He joined the commemorative events, and, speaking from Dayton Tennessee, he told Edward Stourton why the trial attracted so much attention.Presenter: Edward Stourton
Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Catherine Murray
Production Coordinator: Liz Poole
Studio Managers: Jack Morris & Olivia Miceli
Editor: Tim Pemberton
Ireland