Here is my Christmas present to Anxious Bench readers.
Do you ever listen to podcasts? Arguably the very best source of first class podcasts, all free, is
They offer perhaps hundreds of programs on a near-infinite variety of themes, with multiple updates daily. Specifically religious series include Heart and Soul, and Beyond Belief.
Here, though, let me concentrate on one item, namely the superb In Our Time, introduced by veteran broadcaster Melvyn Bragg. Every week, Melvyn chooses a topic, and brings together three first-class specialists in the area – scholars and academics – to discuss and expound it. The topics range enormously in terms of theme and discipline, but many are historical or literary, and a great many have a strong religious focus. Hundreds of past programs are archived at the site. Some examples that leap out, more or less at random, include:
Matteo Ricci and the Ming Dynasty
By the time you have finished listening to each episode, you have something close to a college-level familiarity with the topic. The pages for each individual topic even include substantial reading lists.
You’re welcome!
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