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Brighton's Advent calendar, Donald Trump, The pope's Year of Mercy

Brighton's Advent calendar, Iceland's new religion, the pope's Year of Mercy. Sunday morning religious news and current affairs programme presented by Edward Stourton.

In the last two weeks over three thousand people in Iceland have joined a spiritual organization that follows Zuism, the religion of the ancient Sumerian people. It's become so popular there are now more Zuists than Muslims in the country. So is a crisis of faith pushing people towards this ancient form or worship or are there other motives?
Holger Páll Sæmundsson, a recent convert and one of the leading 'elders' talks to Edward.

The number of Muslims attacked each week in London has more than tripled since the terrorist attacks on Paris attacks last month. Trevor Barnes has been talking to the Metropolitan police about the rise in incidents, and to Muslims who have experienced them.

Pope Francis has launched the Year of Mercy by opening the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica in Rome, the first time it has been opened since the turn of the century.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols tells Sunday what the Year of Mercy might mean - for individual Catholics, the wider Church and the World.

There's a new trend in Advent calendars this year - no chocolate and cardboard, but large art installations in public places. Sunday reports from Brighton and Hove where it has been doing this for years with the ritual opening every night of one of its beach huts.

Producers: Rosie Dawson
Zaffar Iqbal

Series Producer: Amanda Hancox.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Paris Climate agreement

    Duration: 07:02

  • Sunday schools

    Duration: 04:40

  • Islamaphobia

    Trevor Barnes reports on the rise of Islamaphobic attacks in London

    Duration: 06:00

  • Vincent Nichols

    The Archbishop of Westminster talks about the Catholic Church’s Year of Mercy

    Duration: 05:28

  • Donald Trump

    Duration: 04:23

  • Beach huts in Brighton

    Duration: 04:56

  • Julie McFarlane

    A CoE abuse victim talks about her concerns about the church’s litigation strategy

    Duration: 06:03

  • Joshua Rozenberg

    Legal affairs commentator Joshua Rozenberg on Julie McFarlane’s case

    Duration: 02:48

Broadcast

  • Sun 13 Dec 2015 07:10

All the colours of the rainbow

All the colours of the rainbow

The Covid-19 rainbows painted by children today are part of a rich and ancient symbolism.

Podcast