Jürgen Moltmann; Cricket’s drinking culture; Woke as a religion

With less than two weeks to go until the UK heads to the polls in the general election, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has once again affirmed how his Hindu faith helps him stay strong, while Keir Starmer has pledged to work with faith communities if he is elected, despite not being a person of faith himself. So does it matter where a Prime Minister stands on faith? Joining us to discuss the issue are Alastair Campbell, who famously advised former PM Tony Blair when he stated "We don't do God" and Dominic Grieve, a former Conservative Attorney General who is an Anglican.The Archbishop of Canterbury has declared his concern about the civil war in Sudan. Justin Welby appealed to outside countries to stop supplying arms to the two sides. And at the UN in New York the Sudanese government has accused the United Arab Emirates of providing weapons to the so-called Rapid Support Forces who have been fighting the army, we’ll be looking at the latest situation in Sudan. The Church of Scotland have confirmed they’re selling off an unprecedented number of churches and manses, we’ll be looking at why. An agreement which ended violence around an Orange Order parade dispute in north Belfast has collapsed.Talks to maintain the 2016 deal broke down last week, with a march past Ardoyne shops now being sought on the evening of 12 July. A protest by a nationalist residents’ group is planned in response. We’ll be looking at the history of the event and consider the impact on the faith communities in the area

As politicians promise to make us richer, our panellists – Rt Rev David Walker, Quassim Cassam, Seeta Suchak and David Landrum - take a moral approach to the party manifestos. The campaigner against forced marriage, Jasvinder Sanghera, who has just been made a dame, tells her own astonishing story. And a medieval historian, Hannah Skoda, explains why women with beards were considered holy.Presenter - Emily Buchanan Producers - Peter Everett & Rob Cave Production Coordinator - David Baguley Editor - Tim Pemberton

The world’s first Sikh court opened recently in the UK. Campaigner Pragna Patel of Project Resist has called it ‘a threat to women’s rights’. The barristers behind the court argue that it’s a way of plugging a gap in the legal system that’s desperately needed. Pragna and Sharan Bachu, Lead Family Judge at the Sikh Court, debate the issues.The leading Protestant theologian, Jürgen Moltmann, died this week. We talk to Miroslav Volf, Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, about the man who found God in a prisoner-of-war camp and his theology of hope.Is cricket based on drinking culture and does this unfairly affect the opportunities available to Muslim players? We’re joined by ex-England cricket player Azeem Rafiq and commentator Vic Marks who discuss the culture of the game. Is woke a religion? Professor Eric Kaufmann from the University of Buckingham and Professor Will Davies of Goldsmiths, University of London explore whether the movement is religious. Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Alexa Good, Rosie Dawson and Peter Everett Editor: Rajeev Gupta

As the Pope apologises for using a homophobic slur, we hear from an openly gay priest, Fr James Alison, who claims that in the Catholic Church a majority of the clergy is homosexual. We also hear the views of the Pope’s biographer, Austen Ivereigh.Ahead of commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, the historian Sarah Meyrick tells us about the men who went ashore unarmed – the D-Day chaplains. Over 60% of Muslim women in the UK have not had their marriages legalised under UK law, leaving them vulnerable and unprotected in the event of a divorce. Solicitor and family law specialist, Aina Khan joins us to discuss a petition to reform the 1949 Marriage Act, that she says is not ‘Fit For Purpose’. Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra voices his thoughts on how much responsibility should lie with Imams like himself.‘Birthmarked’, a play currently on tour in the UK, tells of the complexities of "disfellowship" from the Jehovah's Witnesses. Playwright and actor Brook Tate explains how going against biblical teaching – by being actively gay - forced him out. He tells us how the play has helped him to reconcile his feelings towards the family, friends and religion he left behind.Presenter: Rima Ahmed Producers: Alexa Good and Bara’atu Ibrahim Editor: Jonathan Hallewell

The way many Muslims have voted in the local elections this week has raised some difficult questions for Labour. We hear from Shaista Aziz one of ten Labour councillors in Oxford who resigned in the autumn over the party's position on the Gaza conflict, and Stephen Fisher, Professor of Political Sociology at Oxford University, on what it could mean for a general election. Lama Rod Owens is one of a new generation of Buddhist teachers centred on living in a just way, with a focus on social change, identity and spiritual wellness - with many of his practises taking place online. He’s currently on tour in the UK and joins us to discuss how his Methodist upbringing in America’s South has helped form his unique practise of Tibetan Buddhism.The government announced this week that it was consulting on whether to lift current rules that mean faith schools can only offer up to 50 percent of their places to pupils on the basis of religious belief. The Catholic Education Service has been lobbying for over a decade and claims it’s previously held back from opening schools because of the restrictions. Sir Edward Leigh MP, Conservative MP and former President of the Catholic Union, and Dr Ruth Wareham, Lecturer in Philosophy of Education at the University of Birmingham, discuss whether we’re likely to soon see more Catholic free schools being established, whether lifting the rules will increase divisions in society, and if high performing faith schools are the result of them being more socially selective.Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Alexa Good & Rosie Dawson Production Coordinator: David Baguley Editor: Tim Pemberton

As the malaria vaccine is rolled out across sub Saharan Africa, medical experts are concerned about the impact of anti vaccine sermons from influential religious figures. An example is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, a multi-millionaire televangelist in Nigeria whose promotion of anti-vax conspiracy theories risks undercutting the country's efforts to deal with malaria. William Crawley speaks to Julius Ogunro, a media and political consultant in Abuja who's been writing about the pastor's anti-vax views.Lady Bushra has been gracing stages across the UK and America with a drag and comedy act representing South Asian communities, wearing traditional Desi makeup and rocking a Saree. Behind the make-up is the Bradford-born artist and performer Amir Dean, who spoke to William Crawley just before one of his shows in Manchester.As Humanists UK release a book of interviews called ‘What I Believe’, we ask what they do believe, apart from the assertion that there is no God. We hear from Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK and Nichola Raihani, Professor of Evolution and Behaviour at University College London.Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Peter Everett Production Coordinator: David Baguley Editor: Jonathan Hallewell

Parishioner's in Gaza’s only Roman Catholic church are marking Easter Sunday with some extra pomp and pageantry but basically as they do everyday, with prayers for food and a ceasefire. More than 500 people have been sheltering in the Holy Family Church since the outbreak of war. They’re part of the dwindling Christian community in Gaza who’ve stuck together for protection and ignored warnings to leave the northern part of the strip. Producer Catherine Murray has kept in touch with one of their members, George Antone, and tells us how they have communicated over the past six months.Former United States president Donald Trump is selling Bibles during the Easter holiday, encouraging his supporters to "Make America Pray Again". In a three-minute video posted on his Truth Social network on Tuesday, Mr Trump told supporters that "Christians are under siege" as he endorsed a large-print King James Version of the Bible complete with what he called America's "founding father documents." We’ll hear from Theologian Brad Onishi, a professor of religion at The University of San Francisco and co-host of the 'Straight White American Jesus' podcast to get his view on how the move has been received.Polynesia’s Rapa Nui was given the nickname ‘Easter Island,’ after its first-recorded European contact, on Easter Sunday, 1722. Home of the Moai and giant, stone platforms (‘ahus’), masterful feats of construction, still part of ancestral beliefs and practises today, the island is also one earth’s most remote places, with a history long shrouded in false narratives. We speak to philologist Silvia Ferrara about how new research into a wooden tablet, featuring an independent writing system, that pre-dates European influence by at least two centuries, can widen our understanding of historical religious beliefs and practises on the island.Presenter: William Crawley Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Linda Walker Production Coordinator: David Baguley Editor: Tim Pemberton

Faith leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinal Vincent Nichols have welcomed a new report which calls for better support for asylum seekers. It comes from a commission set up to consider how refugees might be helped to integrate into society more easily. It makes a series of recommendations and suggests that the current system creates barriers to asylum seekers who want to quickly make good use of their existing skills and qualifications. The government says it's committed to ensuring refugees can take positive steps towards integration as they rebuild their lives in the UK.It's 300 years since J S Bach's setting of the Passion narrative from St John's gospel was first performed on Good Friday at the St Nicholas Church in Leipzig. This week many of the UK's cathedrals and churches will be marking the anniversary by performing it. The composer, conductor and singer, Bob Chilcott celebrates the work and reflects on what is one of the most revered of all musical settings of the Passion. Does religious education at school help young people when they get a job? Lord Karan Bilimoria, a former president of the CBI, thinks it can. He believes RE helps young people to navigate the complexity of modern belief and the diversity of worldviews in the UK today. The businessman, who is from the Zoroastrian tradition, has launched a campaign urging employers to support higher standards in religious education. We hear from Lord Bilimoria, and also from the National Secular Society who feel there are better ways to equip young people for the workforce.Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Jonathan Hallewell and Alexa Good Editor: Dan Tierney

Pope Francis says he won't resign, in his new autobiography released this week. We hear from the host of the "Inside the Vatican" podcast Colleen Dulle, who's read it.Should young children fast during Ramadan? We visit a school making arrangements for its Muslim pupils and hear from an Imam and GP.What role does religion play in the mass kidnappings in Nigeria? More than 250 children were abducted from their school in Kaduna State last week and dozens of women were abducted in Borno state soon afterwards. It's thought that Islamist fighters from Boko Haram are behind many of the incidents.The Catholic composer Sir James MacMillan was honoured with a fellowship of the prestigious Ivors Academy this weekend. He tells us about his stirring music and his personal faith.The new extremism definition released this week by the government has generated plenty of headlines and concern. We consider how it could influence the government's counterterror efforts and why the new definition is needed.Presenter: William Crawley Producer: Catherine Murray Editor: Dan Tierney

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is normally a time of fasting, family and prayer for Muslims around the world. How can the people of Gaza observe Ramadan in the middle of conflict, displacement and desperate food shortages? Ghada Ouda, a journalist in Rafah in the south of Gaza, tells us about her preparations.The first ever helpline in the UK dedicated to people leaving controlling groups or experiencing religious trauma has just been set up. Terri O'Sullivan, Apostate Services Development Officer, at Humanists UK explains who is using the service.As Christians mark the fourth Sunday in Lent, Mothering Sunday, we ask is it ok to avoid church? Lizzie Lowrie discusses the alternative liturgy she helped create for those who find the day difficult.Editor: Dan Tierney Presenter: Emily Buchanan Producers: Alexa Good and James Leesley Studio Managers: Simon Highfield and Kelly YoungProduction Coordinator: Pete Liggins