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Episodes and Stories 7
  • 0:53:00

    Around the World in 80 Faiths Africa

    Season 1 , Episode 3
    This episode: Peter Owen Jones continues his year long religious odyssey with a gruelling journey exploring the spiritual traditions of Africa. Peter sets off hoping to get a glimpse of man's first experience of the divine. His journey begins with the ancient practice of Voodoo in Benin, where he is confronted by ritual practices that contradict his own deeply held religious convictions. He is forced to decide whether he should even take part. In the continent where all human life began, Peter travels to Botswana to meet the San Bushmen, inheritors of the earliest religious faith on earth. In South Africa he discovers surprising new developments in religious belief when he meets the members of the 12th Apostolic Church and finds Afrikaners who believe the world is about to come to an end. In Ethiopia he finds a group of one of the world's youngest religions - Rastafarians - who have set up a Utopian community in this harsh and unforgiving land. His journey reaches its emotional conclusion in the highlands of northern Ethiopia where members of Africa's oldest Christian church have gathered. Faith 21: Voodoo – Mamywata: Benin fishermen in Cotonou perform ritual to serpent goddess Mamywata. -- Faith 22: Voodoo – Gris Gris: Visits the fetish market in Cotonou, Benin to see various dead animal parts. Practitioners claim these heal common ailments. -- Faith 24: San Trance Dance: San Bushmen from near Ghanzi, Botswana, perform a trance dance and reflect on modern encroachments on their religious practice. -- Faith 25: Zulu Sangomas: Visits a Zulu Sangoma in Johannesburg, South Africa to contact the spirit of the ancestors. -- Faith 26: Twelfth Apostolic Church: Witnesses an outdoor prayer meeting in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa, where rituals involving healing and protection through the intercession of the Holy Spirit are key. -- Faith 27: Afrikaner Calvinism: Attends a prayer meeting at home in Groot Marico, South Africa where worshippers believe the world will end by 2020. -- Faith 28: Rastafari: Visits a community of Jamaicans, four hours drive from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia who believe Haile Selassie I is their messiah and that they are now in Zion. -- Faith 29: Ethiopian Islam: Visits a tearoom beside a mosque in Negash, Tigray, Ethiopia to chew khat. -- Faith 30: Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity: Witnesses a church service for the feast of St Michael at the Church of Mikael Imba, Tigray, Ethiopia and is moved to tears by the warmth of human love he witnesses. [Info from Wikipedia entry]
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    Around the World in 80 Faiths United States of America

    Season 1 , Episode 5
    This episode: In the fifth episode Pete discovers a dangerous side to the Bible Belt when he gets too close to the serpent handlers in the Appalachian mountains, before taking his seat at a table-tipping séance. He continues to challenge his own faith when he comes face to face with a miracle-working evangelist and a boy preacher. In Utah he visits the heartland of Mormonism and ventures into the wilderness to seek out religious outlaws who practice polygamy. Pete experiences a traditional Navajo sweat lodge and visits a sect where mummification is alive and well. His journey across the most religiously diverse country in the world reaches an explosive climax in Nevada when he joins fifty thousand revellers to witness a ceremonial burning. Faith 40: Snake handling: Witnesses a prayer meeting involving holding venomous snakes at the Edwina Church of God in Jesus Christ's Name, Newport, Tennessee. -- Faith 41: Baptist preacher prodigy: Attends a prayer meeting conducted by 10 year old minister Jared Sawyer at the Greater Travelers' Rest Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia. -- Faith 42: Evangelical revival: Witnesses a prayer meeting and a laying-on of hands at the Ignited Church, Lakeland, Florida. -- Faith 43: Spiritualism: Attends a séance at the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, Cassadaga, Florida. -- Faith 44: Navajo sweat lodge: Joins members of the Navajo in a sweat lodge in the Arizona desert. -- Faith 45: Mormons: Discusses Mormon theology at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Salt Lake City, Utah. -- Faith 46: Religious polygamists: Interviews religious polygamists in St George, Utah who have broken with the LDS church over its attitude to polygamy. -- Faith 47: All Saints Episcopalian Church: Witnesses a same-sex marriage ceremony at the All Saints Episcopalian Church, Pasadena, California. -- Faith 48: Summum: Visits the Summum Pyramid in Salt Lake City, Utah. -- Faith 49: Burning Man festival: Attends the annual event in Black Rock Desert, northern Nevada. [Info from Wikipedia entry]
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    Around the World in 80 Faiths Europe

    Season 1 , Episode 8
    This episode: He finds a series of unexpected and surprising rituals and sects - huge underground New Age temples in Italy, shamans in Norway, and Europe's only Buddhist republic. Pete also discovers a darker side to faith in the tumultuous history of religion in Europe and finds that his own church was responsible for intolerance, persecution and death. This turns out to be a troubling and deeply personal journey for Pete. Faith 71: Norwegian Lutheran Church: Attends a Lutheran baptism at Sussjavri, Lapland, northern Norway -- Faith 72: Sami shamanism: Witnesses a spiritual invocation of ancestors (Yoik) at Vesterama Sami Camp, Lapland, northern Norway -- Faith 73: Judaism in Lithuania: Attends Shabbat prayers and meal in Vilnius, Lithuania -- Faith 74: Christianity: Visits the Hill of Crosses, 12 km north of Šiauliai, northern Lithuania -- Faith 75: Russian Orthodox Church: Attends the Feast of the Epiphany and Baptism of Christ at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Kropotkinskaya Square, Moscow, Russia, and an ice hole on Zhivopisnaya Street where worshippers swim in the freezing water. -- Faith 76: Atheism in Russia: Attends an Atheist discussion meeting in Moscow. -- Faith 77: Hare Krishna: Witnesses Hare Krishna procession in Moscow. -- Faith 78: Buddhism in Kalmykia: Witnesses Kalmyk Buddhist meditation at the Syakyusn-Syume Temple in Elista, Republic of Kalmykia, Russian Federation. Also visits an apartment built above the temple intended for a visit by the Dalai Lama. -- Faith 79: Benedictine monks: Attends Vespers at San Benedetto's Monastery, Subiaco, Italy. -- Faith 80: Damanhur: Visit to the Damanhur Community, Baldissero Canavese, near Torino, Italy. [Info from Wikipedia entry]
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    Around the World in 80 Faiths Latin America

    Season 1 , Episode 7
    This episode: Pete's exploration of world faiths takes a bizarre turn in Latin America. He smokes cigars with Saint Death in Mexico, ventures deep into a Bolivian mine to meet a terrifying god of the underworld and takes a mind-expanding natural hallucinogen with a New Age community in the forests of Brazil. In this episode Pete discovers how the centuries-old dominance of the Catholic Church has been challenged by a huge explosion of new religions and the re-emergence of dormant practices from the past. His search to understand the diverse spiritualities of the New World proves to be a testing experience. Pete encounters the radical methods of an influential Pentecostal preacher in one of Rio de Janeiro's most notorious prisons, and has to hold his nerve when the minister tries to exorcise Pete's demons. He travels to the shores of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and dances to the top of a sacred hill with local Shaman as part of an annual llama sacrifice. In Brasilia he witnesses the strange pageantry of a UFO worshipping cult, where a mediumistic reading gets out of control and dark forces seem to be brought down from the spirit world. Faith 61: Roman Catholicism in Mexico: Attends Midnight Mass at the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City, Mexico -- Faith 62: Roman Catholic Church: Witnesses prayers to Santa Muerte, Barrio de Tepito, Mexico City. Also sees devotee of Santa Muerte being tattooed. -- Faith 63: El Tio: Witnesses offerings to a mine god at Cerro Rico mine, Potosi, Bolivia -- Faith 64: Pachamama: Witnesses llama sacrifice on hill above Sampaya, Bolivia -- Faith 65: Roman Catholic Church: Automobile blessing outside the basilica of the Virgen de la Candelaria, Copacabana, Bolivia -- Faith 66: Pentecostalism: Cleansing and exorcism of prisoners at Benfica detention centre, Leopoldina, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by Assemblies of God minister. Minister later exorcises Owen-Jones in attempt to stop him smoking. -- Faith 67: Candomblé: Witnesses Samba Day celebrations and orixa possession -- Faith 68: Temple of Goodwill. Meditation at a pyramid shaped temple in Brasilia -- Faith 69: Valley of Dawn: Takes part in the Vale do Amanhecer ritual, a spirit reading, at location near Planaltina, Brazil which proves to be a nerve-wrecking experience. -- Faith 70: Santo Daime: Takes part in Ayahuasca service where participants drink powerful substance that is said to induce a higher state of consciousness and reveal aspects of an individual's inner divine self. Location: Ceu do Mapia, State of Acre, Brazil [Info from Wikipedia entry]
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    Around the World in 80 Faiths The Indian Subcontinent

    Season 1 , Episode 6
    After examining 49 faiths, Pete Owen Jones journeys from the Nepalese Himalayas to the south of India to make sense of the mystery of Indian religions, including the transmigration of the soul, karma, the pantheon of gods and the high regard for gurus. Pete visits a Tibetan Buddhist monastery high in the mountains. In Calcutta, he takes part in the colourful Durga Puja festival and meets the Agori who live amongst the dead. He then travels to the deserts of Rajastan, where he finds Hindu sects ready to walk on fire or even pay the ultimate price for their gurus. In Mumbai, Pete attends a Zoroastrian marriage and explores why one of the world's oldest religions is in danger of disappearing. He discovers how Sikhism had a violent birth when he attends the 300th anniversary of its greatest guru's death, and then journeys south to learn about the remarkable faith of Jainism, which renounces violence against every living creature. Finally Pete spends Diwali in a tiny village at a dung-slinging festival - with inevitable results. Faith 50: Tibetan Buddhism Witnesses a tara ritual at Kutsab Ternga monastery, near Jomsom, Mustang district, Nepal. -- Faith 51: Hinduism: Muktinath Walks through 108 waterspouts at the Stupa of Muktinath, near Jomsom, Mustang district, Nepal. -- Faith 52: Hindu/Buddhist: Child blessing. Attends a child blessing in a house in Kathmandu, Nepal. -- Faith 53: Hinduism: The Durga Puja festival. Witnesses the Durga Puja festival in Calcutta, India. -- Faith 54: Hinduism: Aghoris Meets an aghori in Tarapith, West Bengal, India. -- Faith 55: The Bishnoi Visits The Bishnoi and discusses their belief system in Rajasthan, India -- Faith 56: The Nath Firewalkers Witnesses Fire walking at Purnima in Rajasthan, India. -- Faith 57: Zoroastrianism Attends a Parsi wedding at the Parsi Fire Temple, Mumbai, India. -- Faith 58: Sikhism Attends the 300th anniversary of the consecration of the Guru Granth Sahib at Nanded, Maharashtra, India. -- Faith 59: Jainism Witnesses celebrations at the monolithic statue of Lord Gomateshwara, Shravanabelagola, Hassan district, India and here meets a Jain wandering nun, which proves to be a moving experience. -- Faith 60: Hinduism: Gorehabba ritual. Takes part in the Gorehabba ritual during Diwali at Gummatapura, a village on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, southern India.
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    Around the World in 80 Faiths Australia and the Pacific rim of fire

    Season 1 , Episode 1
    This episode: he travels to throughout Australasia to find out how tribal faiths have survived into the 21st Century. He goes into the Australian outback in search of the meaning of Aboriginal Dreaming; to Indonesia for the elaborate funeral of a woman who died 20 years ago; to Sydney to witness the survival of ancient persecuted faiths like the Iraqi Mandeans and Witchcraft, and to the remote volcanic islands of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ring of Fire to unravel the mystery of the Cargo Cult. He also witnesses the culmination of the nine-day Pulilan Carabao festival and a fertility festival that's thriving in the Philippines in spite of attempts to ban it. Faith 1: Islam and Spirit Worship: Attends a sword-stabbing ritual performed by the Bugis people of Sulawesi, Indonesia. -- Faith 2: Christianity and Ancestor worship – Attends a funeral rite performed by the Tana Toraja people of Sulawesi, Indonesia and reflects on their relationship with the dead. -- Faith 3: Catholic Carabao festival: Visits the Carabao festival of Pulilan, Bulacan, Philippines in honour of the town's patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. -- Faith 4: Catholic fertility ritual: Attends the Obando Fertility Rites in Obando, Bulacan, Philippines, a pagan fertility festival now held in reverence to three Catholic saints. Locals dance during the festival for fertility, out of tradition for past successful dances, and just to be a part of the festival. A priest delivers prayers before directing a large dance in the Church. Peter reflects on the cross-fertilization between Catholicism and animism and suggests that instead of the Catholics simply incorporating the dance into a prayer to the saints the festival may instead be a mutual coupling of fertility and creation. -- Faith 5: Aboriginal Dreaming: Visits Alice Springs to meet with the Indigenous Australian people, the Aborigines, to witness a baby smoking ritual. Peter accompanies a group of locals on a trip to find the bush used in the ritual. A baby is then held in a small sand pit containing smoldering leaves for a few seconds at a time. A local tells him that the ritual is done so that the baby will be healthy and strong. Peter hoped to witness some of the Aboriginal Dreaming rituals, however, a local tells him that baby smoking is not related to Dreamtime. Peter reflects that the ritual seems to have lost its meaning as the locals are sparse in their explanation of the spiritual aspects of the event. The women of the group then removes their shirts and paints their chest and arms. With feathers in their hair, they dance around a fire. The women tell Peter they are Christian and do not know of the old Aboriginal religion. -- Faith 6: The Iraqi Mandaeans: Attends a regular baptism service inspired by John the Baptist and performed by the persecuted Mandaeans of Iraq in a park in Sydney, Australia. -- Faith 7: Urban witchcraft: Visits a group of witches who have established their coven, led by Tim Hartridge, within Sydney, Australia. -- Faith 8: Indigenous Kastom: Meets practitioners of the tribal faith of Kastomism on the South Pacific island of Tanna, Vanuatu. -- Faith 9: John Frum cult – Meets practitioners of the new religion of John Frum of Tanna, inspired by the American presence on the island after the World War II. -- Faith 10: Prophet Fred and Unity: Witnesses the religion of Unity and interviews their prophet, Fred from Tanna and Killian. [Info from Wikipedia entry]
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    Around the World in 80 Faiths The Far East

    Season 1 , Episode 2
    This episode: Peter encounters the exotic and inscrutable religions of the Far East, from anarchic Buddhist Naked Man and Shinto Fire festivals in Japan to enlightening Taoist monks in the mountains of China. He visits an obscure Shamanic sect in South Korea, and finds out how war helped to create the biggest church in the world. In Buddhist Thailand he explores the meaning of non-attachment, and in Vietnam he comes under the spell of a divine eye, before giving money away to a mother goddess. Faith 11: Japanese Shinto: Witnesses the cleansing, Shinto fire festival of Shingū, Wakayama, Japan. -- Faith 12: Buddhism, The Naked Man festival – Visits the Buddhist fertility festival at Okayama, Japan. -- Faith 13: Hindu street shrine – Visits a busy, popular Hindu shrine in downtown Bangkok used by Buddhist worshippers. -- Faith 14: Theravada Buddhism – Interviews a monk of Theravada Buddhism, describing its importance in Thailand. -- Faith 15: Confucianism – Looking at the Confucian religion within communist China. -- Faith 16: Chinese Taoism – Interviews a solitary Taoist monk on Mount Hua, China about Taoism. -- Faith 17: Korean Pentecostalism: Reflects on the rise of Pentecostalism in South Korea and visits the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as having the world's largest congregation. -- Faith 18: Korean Shamanism – Visits a shaman in rural South Korea and reflects on the possible revival of Korean shamanism. -- Faith 19: Cao Dai – Visits the headquarters of the recently created religion of Cao Dai at Tay Ninh, Vietnam. -- Faith 20: Mother Goddess – Attends a ceremony celebrating the Vietnamese spirit religion of the Mother Goddess. [Info from Wikipedia entry]