Religion And Ethics Report - Full Program Podcast

What happens when foreigners join a fight and a region is flooded with arms that cannot be traced?; What does the Russia-Ukraine war reveal about the breakdown of human rights law over the past 20 years?; and why Putin believes he's fighting a holy war.

The West is divided along political lines, but are Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping poised to take advantage of these fractures?; India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, is in the middle of local elections. Who's the fiery Hindu priest that's caught the attention of the Indian — and international — press?; plus, what's the distinction between character and personality?

Much of the world is on edge this week over the prospect of an actual war in Europe, if Russia moves against its neighbour Ukraine. But for almost two decades, Russia under Vladimir Putin has been engaged in a culture war with what he sees as an 'increasingly decadent west.' Professor Marlene Laruelle explains.

Myanmar's junta is presenting itself as the defender of Buddhist culture; why a paradox lies at the heart of the religious discrimination bill; and Queen Elizabeth's 70 years as a monarch

A special episode looking at who's really responsible for war crimes — the soldiers on the battlefield or the commanders and politicians who sent them?

Russian president Vladimir Putin has been amassing troops along the border with Ukraine, escalating fears of an invasion, but how could Orthodox Christian leaders help ease tensions?; The Pope delivered a major speech, warning against what he called "ideological colonisation"; and we find out more about Tammy Faye Bakker, the televangelist who became an unlikely heroine for gay Christians.

Think back to when the pandemic began. Governments around the world spent trillions of dollars – sometimes reluctantly – to businesses that had to shut down. There was lots of talk about a new communitarian age. But is that how it turned out? With Professor Adrian Pabst of the University of Kent.

In an in-depth interview, ABC’s International Affairs analyst, Stan Grant explores what is driving the world to crisis and how it might be averted.

Around 80 per cent of white American evangelicals voted for Donald Trump between 2016 and 2020. For African-American historian Anthea Butler, this says a lot about Christianity in America today.

How did Catholics become a small minority in Ireland?

Is it time to declare Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a leader of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, a saint?

Why Facebook is facing a US$150 billion lawsuit from Rohingya refugees; and a discussion on how Catholic social teaching could actually improve politics.

The Pope's dramatic visit to the Greek island of Lesbos; why police in Israel have reopened two "cold case" murders from over three decades ago; and a new book delves deeply into Menzies' Christian faith.

A recent law in France imposes heavy conditions on places of worship, religious funding, and even food. And the federal government’s proposed religious discrimination law has ignited a huge debate over how much freedom faith-based institutions should have to promote their beliefs and doctrine.

MP Rebekha Sharkie has introduced a bill to ban the importation of goods made overseas by forced labour; why Muslim leaders are joining the push for the religious discrimination bill; and China's new law makes it a crime to criticise the country's communist heroes.

At the 700-year-old Dongguan mosque in Xining, China, the dome and minarets have come down. But could this remodelling be part of a broader campaign to suppress minority cultures? Plus, a new book by Adrian Pabst looks at whether the COVID-19 pandemic has killed liberalism.

Across the Middle East, millions of Christians have fled their ancient homelands — and will probably never return. Renowned journalist Janine di Giovanni documents their plight in a new book. And almost 6,000 people fleeing violence in Indonesia’s West Papua region have taken shelter in local churches. Now, Catholic priests in the region are calling for an urgent ceasefire.

For the past two decades, from Beirut to Kabul and onto Hong Kong, the people have built vibrant, liberal societies. But they've also lived with the threat of powerful forces overwhelming them. And later, we find out about a new app designed to allow for the speedy reporting of slavery and forced labour in Africa.

Images posted on Facebook are alleged to have incited a rampage in Bangladesh targeting the Hindu minority; why the definition of anti-Semitism has divided even the Jewish community; and moving beyond climate change as a culture war issue.