Portrait of Lord Melvyn Bragg, host of In Our Time

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Founders of religions

These are historical figures credited with founding religions or religious philosophies, or who codified older known religious traditions. The list includes those who have founded a specific major denomination within a larger religion.

6 episodes

Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:

CulturePhilosophyReligionAnglican saintsSocial philosophersPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of cultureAphoristsPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of law17th-century English male writersChristian humanistsLutheran saintsPhilosophers of loveChristian radicalsPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendar17th-century English writersAncient Greek philosophers of mindCity foundersClassical humanistsEnglish abolitionistsEnglish religious writers17th-century Christian mystics5th-century BC Greek philosophers5th-century BC historians6th-century BC Greek philosophersAlumni of Christ Church, OxfordAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient occultistsAtenismDamnatio memoriaeEnglish evangelicalsEnglish pamphleteersFounders of English schools and collegesGerman–English translatorsHistorical negationism in ancient Egypt, Pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty of EgyptMiracle workers14th-century BC pharaohs, Tutankhamun18th-century Anglican theologians18th-century English diarists18th-century evangelicals5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writers5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersAncient Greek geometersAncient Greek music theoristsAncient Greek political refugeesAncient SamiansAsceticsChristian vegetariansChristianity in OxfordEnglish Anglican theologiansEnglish Christian theologiansEnglish DissentersEnglish QuakersEnglish sermon writersJourney to the West charactersPeople educated at Charterhouse SchoolProtestant mysticsSupernatural beings identified with Christian saintsTranslators of the Bible into English

  1. Akhenaten

    Melvyn Bragg and guests Elizabeth Frood, Richard Parkinson and Kate Spence discuss Akhenaten, the ruler who brought revolutionary change to ancient Egypt.

    1 October 2009

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    Featuring: Richard Parkinson, Elizabeth Frood, Kate Spence

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    Culture14th-century BC pharaohs, TutankhamunDamnatio memoriaeFounders of religionsHistorical negationism in ancient Egypt, Pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty of EgyptAtenismCity founders

  2. Confucius

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosophy of Confucius, a body of ideas which, more than any other philosophy, has defined what it is to be Chinese.

    1 November 2001

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    Featuring: Frances Wood, Tim Barrett, Tao Tao Liu

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    PhilosophyFounders of religionsPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of law5th-century BC historiansPhilosophers of educationSocial philosophers5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writers5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersAphoristsClassical humanists

  3. George Fox and the Quakers

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the foundation of the Religious Society of Friends, otherwise known as the Quakers, in the 17th century.

    5 April 2012

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    Featuring: Justin Champion, John Coffey, Kate Peters

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    ReligionEnglish evangelicalsFounders of religionsEnglish Christian theologiansAnglican saints17th-century English writersEnglish religious writersProtestant mystics17th-century Christian mysticsChristian radicals17th-century English male writersEnglish DissentersEnglish Quakers

  4. John Wesley and Methodism

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the difference John Wesley made during the Christian Revival of the 18th Century, developing Methodism into a major movement around the world

    10 December 2020

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    Featuring: Stephen Plant, Eryn White, William Gibson

    wikipedia article ↗
     
    ReligionEnglish sermon writersChristian humanists18th-century English diaristsLutheran saints18th-century evangelicalsEnglish abolitionistsChristian vegetariansFounders of religionsPeople educated at Charterhouse SchoolEnglish evangelicalsPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarEnglish pamphleteersChristianity in OxfordGerman–English translatorsChristian radicalsEnglish Anglican theologians18th-century Anglican theologiansFounders of English schools and collegesAlumni of Christ Church, OxfordAnglican saintsTranslators of the Bible into English

  5. Pythagoras

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas and influence of the Greek mathematician Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans.

    10 December 2009

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    Featuring: Ian Stewart, Serafina Cuomo, John O'Connor

    wikipedia article ↗
     
    PhilosophyFounders of religionsAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient Greek political refugeesAncient Greek geometersAncient SamiansAncient Greek music theoristsAncient Greek philosophers of mind5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leaders6th-century BC Greek philosophersAncient occultists5th-century BC Greek philosophers

  6. The Buddha

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the originator of Buddhism, and examines why his teachings have now become one of the fastest growing religions of the Western world.

    14 March 2002

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    Featuring: Peter Harvey, Kate Crosby, Mahinda Deegalle

    wikipedia article ↗
     
    ReligionFounders of religionsPhilosophers of loveSocial philosophersSupernatural beings identified with Christian saintsJourney to the West charactersAsceticsPhilosophers of mindClassical humanistsMiracle workers