Reading Our Times

What does England owe to Christianity? In conversation with Bijan Omrani

The idea that our country is Christian - in the historical sense of having been comprehensively formed by the faith - is sometimes taken as a kind of Christian nationalis

What is the truth behind immigration? In conversation with Alan Manning

Immigration is a major issue in the contemporary world, a - if not the - driver of nationalist movements the world over. It is impossible to think about nationalism today

Is this the end of woke? In conversation with Andrew Doyle

"Woke" has become one of the most contested words in contemporary culture, deployed as a badge of honour by some, a term of abuse by others. But what does it actually mea

How does the Far Right weaponise the Bible? In conversation with Hannah Strømmen

Unpalatable truth as it may be, there are some, especially today, who draw on the Bible to exclude and vilify others, as a way of protecting and the "pure" Christian cult

How is Buddhist nationalism transforming Asia? In conversation with Sonia Faleiro

Buddhism is often seen in the West as a religion of peace and serenity - rarely, if ever, associated with violence. But that comforting image has obscured a darker and mo

How do politicians weaponise Christianity? In conversation with Tobias Cremer

European Christian politics is not new. Indeed, the religion has been an integral politcal factor for 1700 years. But something has changed over the last 20 years. Incre

What is (American) Christian nationalism? In conversation with Andrew Whitehead

Christian Nationalism seems to be on the rise - particularly in the US, but increasingly in Europe. The phrase, however, is often used vaguely and carelessly. Indeed "Ch

What can the history of nationalism tell us about its future? In conversation with Eric Storm

We live in an increasingly nationalistic age, with globalisation stumbling and international institutions disregarded. But we have been here before. Nations have existed

Does the universe have a purpose? In conversation with Philip Goff

Human beings need a sense of purpose but differ strongly on whether that purpose is discovered or created, on whether the universe itself has a purpose or whether purpose

What is the ultimate nature of reality? In conversation with Graham Harman

What is the ultimate nature of reality? And how best to describe it? Is it fundamentally smooth and continuous, flowing seamlessly from one state to another? Or is it dis

What is consciousness? In conversation with Baroness Susan Greenfield

Consciousness is famously called the “hard problem” and it elicits a very wide range of (sometimes very strongly held) opinions. These range from the idea that it is li

What does Quantum Theory mean? In conversation with Paul Davies

Everyone has heard of quantum physics. Many of us can parrot its key ideas – uncertainty, entanglement, collapsing the wave function, something to do with a cat… But whe

Can music redeem time? In conversation with Michael Symmons Roberts

The performance of Olivier Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time in a freezing WW2 prison camp is one of the most famous moments of 20th century music. The piece and pe

What can a life tell us about transcendence? In conversation with Clare Carlisle

The idea of transcendence is common, perhaps even universal, among human beings. But what it means (if anything) is much more debatable. There are different ways of und

Is God nothing? In conversation with Gilbert Markus

Many of the New Atheist arrows fired in the religion wars of 2000s and 2010s hit their target well and hard. The question is, was it the right target? Believers often cl

How does life work? In conversation with Philip Ball

Recent decades have seen the gene as supreme in all discussions of what life is and how it works. Whether selfish, co-operative or eternal, it's genes that matter. But t

Trailer: Series 11 of Reading Our Times

Reading our Times is back – and this series we’re getting metaphysical.   We're going to be talking about the building blocks of life, the universe and reality, with sci

What are children for? In conversation with Anastasia Berg

Western societies have fallen out of love with (having) children, and all too often this is treated as a policy problem. But in reality, it's a much deeper personal and p

How have we come to deify choice? In conversation with Sophia Rosenfeld

Choice is so important to who we are in the West is no longer feels like something we do, so much as something we are. Deny someone choice, and it feels like you are chal

Would it matter if Christianity were eclipsed? In conversation with Rupert Shortt

Strange things are happening to Christianity in the West. Some people are talking about revival whereas others are talking about extinction. Whoever is right, the ramific