The Spirit Of Things - Program Podcast

What happened to the Sydney languages when the British arrived in the late 18th century? And what happened to the religious texts that the colonists brought with them? Meredith Lake heads to the Living Language library exhibition to find out. Then we take a look at how an ancient text - the Dead Sea Scrolls - is shaping the development of new technologies.

It's been 200 years since the birth of The Bab — the Herald of the Baha'i faith. Australian Baha'i's are currently celebrating and former journalist and author Michael Day explains why. Then on Spiritual Lifehack, Justine Toh explores how an ancient religion — Buddhism — has some surprising applications for our relationships today.

At Sydney’s Bondi beach at the moment, you'll find some unusual structures — like booths or temporary houses. They invite beachgoers to shake off the sand, come inside, and consider what it means to dwell lightly in the land. It's a question at the heart of the Jewish festival of Sukkot. Then on Spiritual Lifehack, we hear about Mariam Ardati's incredible job as an Islamic death doula.

Award-winning actor Anna McGahan shares her journey of reconciling with her own body, and her path to finding God. We also hear from Dr Matthew Sharpe on what stoicism has to offer to us moderns in Spiritual Lifehack, which is back for a second series.

It's the fastest growing Christian movement in the world, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison is just one of its 650 million adherents. So what is Pentecostalism, who represents it, and what's its story here in Australia?

In this special episode, Rowan Williams, one of the world's most prominent Christians and former head of the Anglican communion, talks about overcoming political tribalism. This public lecture was recorded in Sydney recently at the Australian Catholic University.

You've probably heard of Mary Magdalene and her reputation as a prostitute, or the love interest of Jesus. But who was she actually? And how do the Gospels treat other women involved in Jesus' ministry? We also go digging into the past of Chinese Confucianism. What made him so influential, and why has this ancient figure made a recent return in modern China?

From the sacred sounds of the Silk Road to alternative Christian rock in Seattle — on Soul Search today, we hear from musicians who perform their faith in public ways. Featuring the Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra, and US indie-rock band King's Kaleidoscope.

What kind of education makes for a better world? Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel grappled with this question all his life, as we find out from his former student, Rabbi Ariel Burger. And, we hear from Dr Paul Burgis, a principal of a faith-based school in Sydney, on what he thinks religion can add to education.

Former fast-bowler Henry Olonga was forced to leave behind his career and country after he protested against former Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe. So what gave shape to his convictions and values? And we hear how Kenyan-Australian academic Kathomi Gatwiri reclaimed her African identity after leaving religion.

In this special episode of Soul Search, historian Simon Schama speaks about his new book Belonging: The Story of the Jews. He was in conversation with scholar Paul Holdengraber at the Sydney Writers' Festival earlier this year.

Rumi's poetry is beloved around the world, but has his specifically Sufi Muslim insights been translated away? And we'll also head to the NSW mining town of Broken Hill, where historian Samia Khatun found a mysterious 150-year-old book of Bengali Sufi poetry at the old mosque. So how did it get there, and how did reading it change her?

How do you imagine the face of contemporary Christianity? A hundred years ago, about two-thirds of the world's Christians lived in Europe. Now, only about a quarter do — but in the Asia Pacific, that number has tripled. Meredith Lake explores stories of Christian faith from the Asian diaspora.

What happens when stories of your homeland or cultural roots are shrouded in secrecy and pain? Author Aatish Taseer is the son of an Indian Sikh and a Pakistani Muslim, whose search for his roots led him to Varanasi, the ‘spiritual capital of India’. And the mother and son duo behind Counting and Cracking reveal how the play helped them understand Sri Lanka's past.

Maybe you’ve heard the old saying, ‘whoever sings, prays twice’. That's certainly true for the stars of sacred music we meet on Soul Search this week — iconic composer John Rutter, leading choir-master Barry Rose, and talented French organist, Thomas Ospital.

Imagine this — long flowing hair, beards and sandals. Huge outdoor crowds talk about revolution, along with love and a new way of being. What are some other similarities between hippies and Jesus? Meredith Lake explores the soul of the counterculture —from alternative spiritualities to the Jesus People.

Even if you find religion hard to stomach, you'll love cooking with Jeong Kwan, a Korean Buddhist nun who once starred in the Netflix series, Chef's Table.

On a cold day in the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney, hundreds of women from across the globe gathered together for the International Sakyadhita conference on Women in Buddhism.

We're exploring the connections between land, law and spirituality with three Indigenous women: Dr Christine Black, Theresa Ardler and Meena Singh.

What’s it really like to be married to a rabbi?