Beyond Belief

Hay Festival Special: Religion and Humour


Listen Later

When it comes to religion, what is an acceptable target? God surely must enjoy a joke. Why else would he have created mankind? But are those who worship him fair game for comedians? Undoubtedly certain religions have been the source of much humour. Jewish comics such as Joan Rivers, Woody Allen and Groucho Marx have always been willing to make fun of their culture but should they also poke fun at their religion and how do you disentangle culture from religion? If you enjoy laughing at the culture and beliefs of your own community, is it acceptable to make jokes about a culture and religion to which you do not belong? Where should we draw the line between freedom of speech and the need to respect the beliefs of others? Taking a look at religion and humour a multi-faith panel of comedian discuss the question: How far can you go?

The panel:

Tez Ilyas

Pippa Evans
Bennett Arron
Paul Kerensa

Producer: Helen Lee.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Beyond BeliefBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4
  • 4.4

4.4

97 ratings


More shows like Beyond Belief

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,683 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

377 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,065 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,476 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,880 Listeners

In Our Time: Culture by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Culture

607 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

735 Listeners

Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

Arts & Ideas

302 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,764 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,057 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,110 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

477 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

107 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

298 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

69 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

851 Listeners

Front Row by BBC Radio 4

Front Row

127 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

161 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

76 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,208 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,606 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

91 Listeners