This week, as part of the ABC’s look at the persistence of antisemitism in Australia and the world, the Religion and Ethics team partnered with ABC TV and Big Ideas here on Radio National. 

In a special episode of Big Ideas, we explored the religious roots of anti-Jewish prejudice because certain Christian and Muslim texts have been manipulated to fit political ideologies. 

A key turning point came in the 1800s, when a racial form of antisemitism began to supplant religious bigotry, with the most lethal consequence by the 1930s and 1940s. 

Geoff Levey of the University of New South Wales explained this change to me and my colleague Scott Stephens.  

GUEST:

• Associate Professor Geoff Levey of the University of New South Wales

The bookshelves of the Dalai Lama are groaning with awards for peace and justice work, including the Nobel Peace Prize. But he recently added a more unusual accolade – a Grammy award for the best spoken-word book recording. 

It’s another example of how religion and popular culture are deeply enmeshed. 

Research by the US-based Faith and Media Initiative suggests audiences, including those with no religious belief, love religious themes on the big and small screens. 

GUEST:

• Dr Anna Halafoff is Professor of Sociology at Deakin University who specialises in faith and popular culture 

As Israel and the United States continue their war with Iran, even promising to assassinate the new and hardline ayatollah, Pope Leo has emerged as a champion of international law. He’s called for an immediate ceasefire. 

Tens of millions of people maybe hearing him, but does the leadership in Jerusalem, Washington and Tehran care? 

Leo understands the brutal history of Iran’s regime, but he’s worried about the strongest nations behaving as they choose, without restraint. 

What balance is he trying to strike? 

GUEST:

Dr Miles Pattenden of Oxford University is a papal historian.

As Israel and the United States continue their war with Iran, even promising to assassinate the new and hardline ayatollah, Pope Leo has emerged as a champion of international law. He’s called for an immediate ceasefire. Tens of millions of people maybe hearing him, but does the leadership in Jerusalem, Washington and Tehran care? Leo understands the brutal history of Iran’s regime, but he’s worried about the strongest nations behaving as they choose, without restraint. What balance is he trying to strike? 

This week, as part of the ABC’s look at the persistence of antisemitism in Australia and the world, the Religion and Ethics team partnered with ABC TV and Big Ideas here on Radio National. In a special episode of Big Ideas, we explored the religious roots of anti-Jewish prejudice because certain Christian and Muslim texts have been manipulated to fit political ideologies. A key turning point came in the 1800s, when a racial form of antisemitism began to supplant religious bigotry, with the most lethal consequence by the 1930s and 1940s. Geoff Levey of the University of New South Wales explained this change to me and my colleague Scott Stephens. 

The bookshelves of the Dalai Lama are groaning with awards for peace and justice work, including the Nobel Peace Prize. But he recently added a more unusual accolade – a Grammy award for the best spoken-word book recording. It’s another example of how religion and popular culture are deeply enmeshed. Research by the US-based Faith and Media Initiative suggests audiences, including those with no religious belief, love religious themes on the big and small screens. 

GUESTS:

• Dr Miles Pattenden of Oxford University is a papal historian
• Associate Professor Geoff Levey of the University of New South Wales
• Dr Anna Halafoff is Professor of Sociology at Deakin University who specialises in faith and popular culture 

Acclaimed journalist Robin Wright of The New Yorker covered Iran from the start of the 1979 revolution, which brought the first ayatollah, Ruhollah Khomeini, to power. 

She’s sceptical that the United States and Israel can bring change through aerial bombardment.

GUEST 

Robin Wright of The New Yorker

Donald Trump says he’s liberated the people of Iran to forge their own future, after killing their autocratic leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But as the bombing continues and any organised resistance struggles to emerge, is this ethnically diverse land, with thousands of years of history, at risk of breaking up or descending into sectarian division? 

Nahid Siamdoust of the University of Texas specialises in the politics and culture of the Middle East. She’s also part of the Iranian diaspora.

Guest:

• Professor Nahid Siamdoust of the University of Texas specialises in the politics and culture of the Middle East. She’s also part of the Iranian diaspora.

Donald Trump says he’s liberated the people of Iran to forge their own future, after killing their autocratic leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But as the bombing continues and any organised resistance struggles to emerge, is this ethnically diverse land, with thousands of years of history, at risk of breaking up or descending into sectarian division? Nahid Siamdoust of the University of Texas specialises in the politics and culture of the Middle East. She’s also part of the Iranian diaspora.

Acclaimed journalist Robin Wright of The New Yorker covered Iran from the start of the 1979 revolution, which brought the first ayatollah, Ruhollah Khomeini, to power.  She’s sceptical that the United States and Israel can bring change through aerial bombardment.

As the regime in Iran fell, a handful of Shia Muslim communities in Australia went into mourning for the Ayatollah, drawing criticism from New South Wales premier Chris Minns. Khamenei was a brutal autocrat, but he was also a spiritual leader to many Shi’ites. Is it the role of the state to decide who a religious community can mourn?  Dr Renae Barker specialises in law and religion at the University of Western Australia law.

As the regime in Iran fell, a handful of Shia Muslim communities in Australia went into mourning for the Ayatollah, drawing criticism from New South Wales premier Chris Minns. Khamenei was a brutal autocrat, but he was also a spiritual leader to many Shi’ites. Is it the role of the state to decide who a religious community can mourn?  

Guest

Dr Renae Barker Senior Lecturer, UWA Law School 

As Australia begins its royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, new research by the Pew Centre shows we’re one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world. 

There’s no longer a majority religion, meaning many faiths have found a place. 

It’s a finding that might surprise those who expected that much bigger countries, such as the United States or India, might claim the title. 

Yunping Tong was a senior researcher on the Pew team.

GUEST: 

• Yunping Tong is a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center in Washington DC

When, and why, does criticism of Israel often descend into antisemitic tropes? 

How do you build a free Palestine and a secure, truly democratic Israel? 

Guardian columnist Jonathon Freedland has spent a quarter of century making the case for Jewish and Palestinian partnership. He’s also the author of a new book about resisters in Nazi Germany, titled The Traitors’ Circle. 

Jonathon's in Australia with The Jewish Independent and the New Israel Fund.

GUEST:

• Jonathon Freedland is a Guardian columnist and former foreign correspondent