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 letter writersEnglish 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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    CultureFounders of religionsAtenismDamnatio memoriaeHistorical negationism in ancient Egypt, Pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt14th-century BC pharaohs, TutankhamunCity founders14th century BCEgypt

  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 religions5th-century BC Chinese writers, 6th-century BC Chinese writers, Chinese political philosophers, Deified Chinese men, Zhou dynasty philosophers, Zhou dynasty writersPhilosophers of lawClassical humanists5th-century BC historiansPhilosophers of cultureSocial philosophersAphorists5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersPhilosophers of education5th century BC6th century BCChina

  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 Christian theologiansFounders of religionsEnglish DissentersAnglican saintsEnglish evangelicals17th-century English male writers17th-century English writersProtestant mysticsChristian radicalsEnglish Quakers17th-century Christian mysticsEnglish religious writers17th centuryTheology

  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 ↗
     
    ReligionChristian humanistsEnglish letter writersEnglish Anglican theologiansEnglish pamphleteersAlumni of Christ Church, Oxford18th-century evangelicalsChristian radicalsLutheran saintsChristianity in OxfordAnglican saints18th-century Anglican theologiansPeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarEnglish abolitionistsEnglish sermon writersFounders of English schools and collegesFounders of religionsGerman–English translatorsEnglish evangelicals18th-century English diaristsPeople educated at Charterhouse SchoolTranslators of the Bible into EnglishChristian vegetarians18th centuryTheology

  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 philosophers of mindAncient Greek geometersAncient occultists5th-century BC Greek philosophers6th-century BC Greek philosophersAncient Greek political refugeesAncient Greek metaphysiciansAncient Greek music theorists5th-century BC religious leaders, 6th-century BC religious leadersAncient Samians5th century BC6th century BCGreeceMedicine

  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 religionsClassical humanistsJourney to the West charactersSupernatural beings identified with Christian saintsPhilosophers of mindSocial philosophersAsceticsPhilosophers of loveMiracle workers