Soul Search

Australia’s newest mosque has been hailed as an ‘architectural masterpiece’ – and it’s not even finished yet. Made of poured concrete and featuring more than 100 mini-domes, the mosque in Sydney's south-west is said to be the first of its kind in the country. We hear from the Greek-Orthodox architect behind the building, Angelo Candalepas, and the man overseeing the project, Zachariah Matthews.

50 years on, how do we understand Humane Vitae, the papal document that banned artificial contraception? Senator Kristina Keneally, ethicist Dr Bernadette Tobin and author Dr Paul Collins reflect on the impact of this historic document.

This week, we talk to internationally acclaimed Japanese conductor and Calvinist Christian, Masaaki Suzuki. And, we hear from the director of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, who sing ancient German hymns in traditional language.

Faith or footy? Money or mission? This week, we speak to NRL star and devout Mormon, Will Hopoate. And, as The Book of Mormon musical plays in Australia, we spend time ‘street-contacting’ with two real missionaries in the streets of Sydney.

Did you know that every Australian soldier on parade wears a turban? This week, the ANZAC connections that are seldom known. We speak to author John Luttrell about our first native-born Australian Cardinal, Sir Norman Gilroy, who supported troops at Gallipoli. And, we hear about the Sikhs who fought alongside and with our ANZACS - and who also influenced the Australian army uniform.

This week we’re talking the triumphs, trials and tribulations of women in religion. We speak to Professor Sophia Pandya from California State University, a specialist in religion, women and globalisation. And, we hear from Eugenia Flynn, an Aboriginal and Chinese-Malaysian Muslim woman, who shares and reclaims her identity through her writing.

How have politicians battered and hijacked the Gospel story of the 'Good Samaritan'? We speak to British author Nick Spencer who has written a book on the topic. And, we take a trip to the National Gallery of Victoria, where a 16-metre long sculpture of the reclining Buddha lies, created by emerging Chinese artist Xu Zhen.

We often see a White Jesus with blond hair and blue eyes. But how accurate is that? What did he really look like? We hear from author Joan E. Taylor, who reconstructs Christ's image in her new book. And, as a new film about Mary Magdalene is released, we look at the identity of this key Christian figure.

Heather Morris, author of ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’, tells the remarkable story of Lale Sokolov who was forced to work as chief tattooist at Auschwitz concentration camp during WWII. We pay a tribute to the late religion journalist Alan Gill, and hear a first-hand account of survival from Jewish Holocaust survivor Ruth Rack.

We explore the monastic life across the faith spectrum with Stephen J. Davis, author of ‘Monasticism: A Very Short Introduction’. And producer Mariam Chehab spends a day with Catholic nuns at the Poor Clares of Bethlehem Monastery in Sydney.