Things Unseen

Journalist and broadcaster Emma Barnett on how her tactile nature led her to question the Orthodox Jewish laws that govern physical contact between wives and husbands.

Playwright, actress and artistic director Rani Moorthy reflects on the sari, a garment closely bound up with Hindu identity. She rejected it as a teenager, but has now made it the subject of a funny and poignant play – and sometimes wears it combined with doc marten boots.

We are setting our listeners a creative challenge - to write haiku, three line poems, about Good Friday and Easter. Here are full details of how to get involved, along with some taster haiku.

Fr Christopher Jamison, a Benedictine monk and former abbot, reflects on treating sacred texts as a delicacy best savoured slowly – and allowing them to challenge and transform us.

Ruth Scott has been an Anglican priest since 1994, yet a traumatic experience drew her to the silence which is at the heart of Quaker meetings. Here she explains why.

Ayisha Malik, author of the romantic comedy, Sofia Khan is Not Obliged, reflects on patience through the prism of Islam and how it helps answer life’s biggest question.

Christian gospel hip-hop artist Faith Child on how he draws encouragement from the Bible and writing gospel songs to overcome personal struggles.

A Protestant who grew up in Ian Paisley’s Northern Ireland, where any devotion to Mary was scorned; a cradle Catholic and former friar; and a Muslim who loves Christmas, but approaches Mary very much from a Qur’anic perspective: these three go on pilgrimage together to England’s most important shrine to the Mother of Christ, Walsingham. In the course of their journey, some astonishing stories emerge.

What’s in a name? Rabbi Naftali Brawer considers the naming and not-naming of God, and explores the meaning of those names. He explains how the names he has used for God have charted his own spiritual journey, and suggests a surprising interpretation of the very first words of the Bible.

Minna Salami, a blogger popularly known as Ms Afropolitan, explains how an automatic writing experience led her to explore mysticism, and why artists like Fela Kuti and Frida Kahlo have helped her on her mystical journey.

Alison Hilliard, a regular Things Unseen presenter, tells the story of Ethiopia’s astonishing rock-hewn churches, which were created in a mere 23 years in the 12th century and remain one of the most extraordinary pilgrimage sites for Orthodox Christians.

Khalsa Aid is a humanitarian relief agency which has helped destitute people in disaster areas from Haiti to Iraq and Bosnia. Its founder, Ravi Singh, was inspired by the teachings of the Sikh gurus, who taught their followers to strive for the well-being of all humanity, not just Sikhs.

Jim al-Khalili is the son of a Muslim father and a Christian mother. He is also a public atheist - the outgoing President of the British Humanist Association - a science writer and broadcaster and Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Surrey. Here he talks to Abdul-Azim Ahmed about how his mixed-faith background has shaped his outlook on religion and atheism, and why he has no wish to convert everyone to the Humanist world view.

Ruth Gledhill, who used to be the Times’ religious affairs correspondent and now works for the news website, Christian Today, reflects on combining her love of religion and journalism and has some advice for those who want to walk in her footsteps.

In this addition of our A to Z, Mohammed Ali Amla, founder of Christian and Muslim Encounters – an interfaith network that seeks to bring together academics and activists in shaping dialogue and research - discusses his life journey and lessons of interfaith encounters. From first encountering his “white” neighbors as a little boy - the start of interactions and encounters with other faith communities as opportunities to demystifying attitudes and educate one another in shared values. For Ali, the crux of his interfaith foundations lies in the prism of his Islamic faith – he is inspired by Quranic scriptures and prophetic traditions of co-existence and says that “if we all embodied the prophetic nature, we would become interfaith activists naturally”. For Ali the future of interfaith work in Britain lies in the hands of communities and future generations to inspire, have compassion, educate and champion their shared human values. The A-Z of Things Unseen explores an eclectic mix of concepts through t

In this edition of our A to Z, the ‘Mail on Sunday’ columnist Peter Hitchens visits Trafalgar Square to get a perspective on a key time in the UK’s history. But he is not looking at Nelson. Instead he turns his attention to the equestrian statue of King Charles I, which faces down Whitehall towards the scene of his execution in 1649. Charles’ reign was one during which questions of religious doctrine were brought into sharp focus, in particular the place of an individual’s personal relationship with God. This was all against the backdrop of the wider European Protestant Reformation, and was violently manifested in the English Civil War. Peter argues that we need to understand the origins of the UK’s national life. And whilst we need to learn to conduct our disputes in a more civilised way, he also has some sympathies for a society which riots over prayer books rather than football. The A-Z of Things Unseen explores an eclectic mix of concepts through the eyes of 26 believers from a range of different fai

Jason Smyth was born in Northern Ireland into a Mormon family. At the age of 8, he was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, which robbed him of his central vision, leaving him legally blind. Yet he has never let this stop him: in the Paralympic Games in Beijing and London, he won two gold medals each time. He is also a double IPC Athletics world champion and has competed successfully in mainstream athletics events. In this edition of our A-Z, Jason reflects on how the faith he was brought up in enables him to be the best he can be, and inspires him to help others achieve their best too. Before he warms up at this year’s IPC World Championships in Doha this month, he says, he will be spending a few moments in prayer before going for gold once more. The A-Z of Things Unseen brings together 26 speakers from different faiths (and some serious doubters too) who reflect on an eclectic mix of concepts and ideas with a spiritual dimension.

Psychotherapist and priest Chris Scott on why he thinks it’s time to say farewell to God.

Lucy Winkett, rector of St James’s Church Piccadilly in Central London, reflects on how a C S Lewis quote, a story about the mother of Judas, the traitor, and even chocolate Easter bunnies contribute to the understanding of the Easter story.

A regular Things Unseen presenter, Mark Dowd is no stranger to doubt. In this edition of our A-Z, he recalls what happened when, as a young friar, he was overcome by it one Easter day. He also reflects on why the “lust for certainty” is misguided, and argues that even Christ on the cross had a moment of agonizing doubt when he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yet, Mark says, Christians know that that was not the end of the story – and this, he argues, means that we are given permission to have doubt. The A-Z of Things Unseen is an eclectic mix of voices from different faiths, reflecting on ideas and concepts which have a (sometimes hidden) spiritual dimension.