Something Understood

BBC Radio 4 has a series called "Something Understood". Each week the programme examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry.

This week in "Religion Good? Religion Bad?", it explored the argument of Richard Dawkins that Religion has been a malign force in world history. It demolished his thesis.

Amongst the readings and music included:

1. Piece by Eamon Duffy taken from ‘Saints and Sinners: A History of the Popes’ published by Yale University Press

2. ‘Pax in Nomini Domini!’ composed by Marcabru. Taken from the album ‘The Cross of Red’ Music of Love and War from the time of the Crusades. Performed by the New Orleans Musica da Camera.

3. Christine de Luca ‘Plain Song’ from Poems in English and Shetland Dialect’ published by the Shetland Library. Excerpts from the Book of Life’. Duomo Milano

4. ’Exultate Deo’ by Francis Poulenc. Taken from the album ‘Lux Aeterna’. Performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir.

This week`s programme can be listened on:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/religion/somethingunderstood.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/religion/somethingunderstood_20070325.shtml