In Our Time: 25 Defining Ideas of Christianity

Melvyn Bragg and guests chart the development of Christian thought, looking at 25 fundamental concepts that emerged throughout history 'In Our Time is a digital Library of Alexandria, a rich seam of commute-enhancing, dinner-party-reviving wisdom' The Economist Launched into the Thursday morning 'death slot' in 1988, In Our Time defied expectations to become one of Radio 4's best-loved and most popular programmes. In the 25 years it has been on air, it has built up an audience of over 2 million listeners and covered over 1,000 topics, from the Berlin Conference to bird migration. This specially curated collection sees Melvyn Bragg and his panel of experts considering some of the central tenets of the Christian faith. Its wide-ranging scope incorporates key concepts including Heaven, Hell and Purgatory, angels and devils, prayers and miracles, the Fall of Man, the Apocalypse, the Trinity and the Nicene Creed. Also discussed are the most significant historical developments that shaped and influenced Christianity today, among them Gnosticism, Deism, Calvinism and Fundamentalism, the ontological argument, The Book of Common Prayer, papal infallibility and the Rapture. Full of fascinating ideas and lively, accessible discussions, this comprehensive compendium will delight religious scholars, theologians and autodidacts alike. Production credits Presented by Melvyn Bragg Produced by Thomas Morris, Simon Tillotson, Julia Johnson First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: Part I: Key Concepts The Trinity 13 March 2014 With Janet Soskice, Martin Palmer and Graham Ward Heaven 22 December 2005 With Valery Rees, Martin Palmer and John Carey Angels 24 March 2005 With Martin Palmer, Valery Rees and John Haldane The Devil 11 December 2003 With Martin Palmer, Alison Rowlands and David Wootton Hell 21 December 2006 With Martin Palmer, Margaret Kean and Neil MacGregor The Fall 8 April 2004 With Martin Palmer, Griselda Pollock and John Carey Prayer 23 December 1999 With Russell Stannard and Andrew Samuels Miracles 25 September 2008 With Martin Palmer, Janet Soskice and Justin Champion Redemption 13 March 2003 With Richard Harries, Janet Soskice and Stephen Mulhall Duty 13 November 2003 With Angie Hobbs, Annabel Brett and Anthony Grayling The Apocalypse 17 July 2003 With Martin Palmer, Marina Benjamin and Justin Champion The Nicene Creed 27 December 2007 With Martin Palmer, Caroline Humfress and Andrew Louth Purgatory 25 May 2017 With Laura Ashe, Matthew Treherne and Helen Foxhall Forbes Part II: Historical Developments Gnosticism 2 May 2013 With Martin Palmer, Caroline Humfress and Alastair Logan The Ontological Argument 27 September 2012 With John Haldane, Peter Millican and Clare Carlisle Medieval Pilgrimage 18 February 2021 With Miri Rubin, Kathryn Rudy and Anthony Bale The Book of Common Prayer 17 October 2013 With Diarmaid MacCulloch, Alexandra Walsham and Martin Palmer Deism 8 October 2020 With Richard Serjeantson, Katie East and Thomas Ahnert Calvinism 25 February 2010 With Justin Champion, Susan Hardman Moore and Diarmaid MacCulloch Papal Infallibility 10 January 2019 With Tom O'Loughlin, Rebecca Rist and Miles Pattenden The Rapture 26 September 2019 With Elizabeth Phillips, Crawford Gribben and Nicholas Guyatt The Oxford Movement 13 April 2006 With Sheridan Gilley, Frances Knight and Simon Skinner The Age of Doubt 9 March 2000 With A N Wilson and Victoria Glendinning Science and Religion 25 January 2001 With Stephen Jay Gould, John Haldane and Hilary Rose Fundamentalism 22 April 1999 With Karen Armstrong and Tariq Ali © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.