Portrait of Lord Melvyn Bragg, host of In Our Time

Writers about religion and science

The relationship between religion and science involves discussions that interconnect the study of the natural world, history, philosophy, and theology. Even though the ancient and medieval worlds did not have conceptions resembling the modern understandings of "science" or of "religion", certain elements of modern ideas on the subject recur throughout history.

12 episodes

Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:

CulturePhilosophyScienceFellows of the Royal SocietyAnglican saintsOntologistsSocial philosophersFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindTheorists on Western civilizationPhilosophers of historyWriters about activism and social changeMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceEnlightenment philosophersMembers of the American Philosophical SocietyEpistemologistsAge of EnlightenmentAphoristsCritics of the Catholic ChurchEnglish essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of educationRecipients of the Copley MedalAtheist philosophersGerman male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of law17th-century English male writers20th-century atheistsMembers of the Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesNobel laureates in LiteraturePhilosophers of social science18th-century philosophers19th-century German male writers19th-century German philosophersExistentialistsForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesGerman LutheransJewish philosophersMetaphilosophersPantheistsPhilosophers of economicsPhilosophers of mathematicsPhilosophers of psychologyUniversity of Paris alumniWriters from Paris20th-century French philosophersAristotelian philosophersBritish male essayistsEnglish people of Scottish descentFrench atheistsGerman male essayistsGerman philosophers of historyGerman political philosophersHall of Fame for Great Americans inducteesHonorary members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of SciencesLogiciansLutheran saintsMembers of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesNatural law ethicistsNatural philosophersPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of sexuality19th-century atheistsAmerican male non-fiction writersCatholic philosophersCritics of work and the work ethicEmpiricistsGerman philosophers of artGerman philosophers of cultureLiteracy and society theoristsMembers of the French Academy of SciencesPhilosophers of artPhilosophers of languagePolitical philosophers17th-century English writers19th-century German essayists20th-century essayistsAmerican people of English descentAnalytic philosophersAnti-consumeristsChristian ethicistsCritics of religionsEnglish agnosticsFrench philosophers of educationFrench philosophers of scienceGerman ethicists, German philosophers of educationJewish agnosticsMarxist theoristsMembers of the Académie FrançaisePhilosophers of technologyRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)Royal Medal winnersSimple living advocatesTheoretical historiansVirtue ethicists18th-century German male writers19th-century German male musiciansAlumni of the University of EdinburghAnti-nationalistsBritish critics of religionsBritish philosophers of educationEnglish Nobel laureatesEnglish socialistsFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of cultureFrench philosophers of historyGerman philosophers of languageGerman philosophers of scienceHeidelberg University alumniHumboldt University of Berlin alumniIrish AnglicansIrony theoristsJewish socialistsKnights BachelorLeipzig University alumniMembers of the Order of MeritMembers of the Prussian Academy of SciencesMetaphysics writersPeople associated with electricityPhenomenologistsPhilosophers of warRationalistsRhetoric theoristsScholastic philosophersWriters about globalization17th-century English philosophers18th-century German philosophers, 18th-century essayists19th-century British physicists19th-century German non-fiction writers20th-century British philosophers20th-century English philosophersAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeAmerican political philosophersAngelic visionariesBritish ethicistsBritish philosophers of mindBritish political philosophersClassical theismCritical theoristsCritics of JudaismCritics of atheismDeist philosophersDiscoverers of chemical elementsEnglish inventorsEnglish people of Welsh descentEnglish physicistsEnglish political philosophersEuropean democratic socialistsFellows of the British AcademyFreethought writersFrench epistemologistsFrench sociologistsGerman Marxist writersGerman critics of ChristianityGerman philosophers of mind, German philosophers of religionIndependent scientistsMedieval Latin-language poetsUtilitarians13th-century philosophers13th-century writers in Latin17th-century Anglo-Irish people18th-century American writers, Founding Fathers of the United States, People of the American Enlightenment18th-century British essayists18th-century British philosophers18th-century German educators, 18th-century historians, 19th-century German educators, 19th-century historians18th-century German writers18th-century pseudonymous writers19th-century English essayists19th-century English philosophers19th-century German historians19th-century German novelists19th-century mystics20th-century British essayists20th-century English mathematiciansAcademic staff of the Collège de FranceAcademic staff of the Humboldt University of BerlinAction theoristsActivists for African-American civil rightsAmerican autobiographersAmerican deistsAmerican male journalistsAmerican philosophers of cultureAmerican philosophers of educationAmerican philosophers of religionAmerican slave ownersBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsBritish free speech activistsBritish historians of philosophyBritish philosophers of languageBurials at Highgate CemeteryCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubConsequentialistsConservatismCriticism of rationalismDeterministsDoctors of the ChurchEnglish logiciansEnglish political writersExperimental physicistsFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeGeorgistsGerman agnosticsGerman epistemologistsGerman idealistsGerman nationalistsGerman revolutionariesGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourHumor researchersIdealistsIntellectual historyJerusalem Prize recipientsJewish atheistsLecturersLinguistic turnLycée Condorcet alumniOptical physicistsPamphleteersPeople associated with the University of BaselPeople from the Province of SaxonyPeople of the Age of EnlightenmentPhilosophers of linguisticsPhilosophers of timePresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtSocialist feministsStateless people18th-century American politicians, American Freemasons, Signers of the United States Constitution19th-century British chemists19th-century English mathematicians19th-century English scientists19th-century German journalists19th-century Prussian people20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian agnostics, Austrian essayists, Austrian logicians, British agnostics, British logicians, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Writers from Vienna20th-century French male writers20th-century French memoiristsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceAnti-imperialistsBritish atheism activistsBritish critics of ChristianityBritish male non-fiction writersBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsBritish philosophers of logicBritish philosophers of religionBritish social liberalsBurials at the Dorotheenstadt CemeteryChristian apologistsCorresponding fellows of the British AcademyCreators of writing systemsCritics of MarxismCritics of political economyDeaths from choleraDeaths from pneumonia in GermanyDominican mysticsEconomic historians, German sociologistsEnglish ProtestantsEnglish alchemistsEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish humanistsEnglish prisoners and detaineesEnglish scepticsFellows of the Royal Society of ArtsFluid dynamicistsFree love advocatesFrench essayistsGerman anti-capitalists, German socialist feminists, Jewish communistsGerman logicians, Kantian philosophersGerman military personnel of the Franco-Prussian WarGerman music criticsGerman writers on atheismIndependent scholarsIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyJewish ethicistsJewish historiansKantianismLinguists from FranceMagic (supernatural)MagneticiansMasonic grand mastersMaterialistsMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationMembers of the Order of the Companions of HonourPeople educated at Eton CollegePeople from MonmouthshirePeople of the Scottish EnlightenmentPhilosophers from MassachusettsPhilosophers of identityPhilosophers of nihilismPhilosophical anthropologyPolitical activists from PennsylvaniaRecreational cryptographers, Writers from Boston, Writers from PhiladelphiaSecular humanistsSet theoristsSkeptic philosophersSystematic theologiansThe New School facultyThomas AquinasUniversal basic income writersUniversity of Bonn alumniUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyUniversity of Jena alumniUniversity of Tübingen alumniWriters about communism
  1. Benjamin Franklin

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of the scientist, writer, printer, diplomat and American founding father Benjamin Franklin.

    1 March 2012

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Simon Middleton, Simon Newman, Patricia Fara

     
  2. Bertrand Russell

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the influential 20th-century British thinker Bertrand Russell, widely regarded as one of the founders of Analytical philosophy.

    6 December 2012

    listen ↗

    Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Mike Beaney, Hilary Greaves

     
    PhilosophyNobel laureates in LiteratureBritish philosophers of languageGeorgistsEnglish political writersFree love advocatesSet theoristsAristotelian philosophersWriters about religion and scienceJerusalem Prize recipientsFellows of Trinity College, CambridgeEnglish logiciansPhilosophers of mathematicsBritish historians of philosophyEmpiricistsOntologistsMetaphysics writersBritish political philosophersFellows of the Royal SocietyMetaphilosophersTheorists on Western civilizationBritish ethicistsPhilosophers of literatureBritish free speech activists20th-century English philosophersAnalytic philosophersEnglish humanistsRhetoric theoristsAtheist philosophersEnglish political philosophersEnglish anti-fascistsEnglish people of Scottish descentPhilosophers of historyEnglish agnostics20th-century atheistsConsequentialistsEnglish socialistsPhilosophers of social scienceBritish philosophers of religionPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyLogiciansPhilosophers of lawPhilosophers of sexuality19th-century English mathematiciansCritics of work and the work ethicSecular humanistsPhilosophers of technologyPhilosophers of economicsWriters about globalizationBritish philosophers of educationBritish philosophers of culture, English pacifistsBritish philosophers of logicCritics of the Catholic ChurchPeople from MonmouthshireAlumni of Trinity College, CambridgeLinguistic turnPhilosophers of loveEuropean democratic socialistsBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsWriters about activism and social changeEnglish Nobel laureatesMembers of the Order of MeritEnglish prisoners and detaineesUtilitariansIntellectual historians, University of Chicago facultyEnglish scepticsBritish critics of ChristianityEnglish people of Welsh descentUniversal basic income writersBritish philosophers of mind19th-century English philosophersBritish critics of religionsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of science19th-century atheistsUniversity of California, Los Angeles facultyAnti-nationalists20th-century English mathematiciansEnglish essayistsFreethought writersBritish atheism activistsWriters about communism19th-century English essayistsEnglish male non-fiction writers
  3. David Hume

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the work of David Hume, the philosopher and leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment.

    6 October 2011

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Peter Millican, Helen Beebee, James Harris

     
  4. Hegel's Philosophy of History

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Hegel's ideas on history as the progress of the consciousness of freedom, and whether we enjoy more freedom now than those in past centuries.

    26 May 2022

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Sally Sedgwick, Robert Stern, Stephen Houlgate

     
  5. Kant's Copernican Revolution

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Kant's ideas on how the world depends on us, on the limits of human knowledge and why we are bound to ask questions we cannot answer.

    3 June 2021

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Fiona Hughes, Anil Gomes, John Callanan

     
  6. Lévi-Strauss

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the work of French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss.

    23 May 2013

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Adam Kuper, Christina Howells, Vincent Debaene

     
  7. Marx

    Melvyn Bragg discusses Karl Marx who once said that while other philosophers wanted to interpret the world, he wanted to change it. And he changed the world with his Communist Manifesto.

    14 July 2005

    listen ↗

    Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Francis Wheen, Gareth Stedman Jones

     
  8. Michael Faraday

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Michael Faraday, the most famous British scientist of the 19th century.

    25 December 2015

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Geoffrey Cantor, Laura Herz, Frank James

     
  9. Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morality

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Nietzsche's influential ideas about what it means to be moral.

    12 January 2017

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Stephen Mulhall, Fiona Hughes, Keith Ansell-Pearson

     
  10. Popper

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosopher Karl Popper, author of The Open Society and a seminal thinker about science.

    8 February 2007

    listen ↗

    Featuring: John Worrall, Anthony O'Hear, Nancy Cartwright

     
    PhilosophyBritish political philosophersEpistemologistsCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubForeign associates of the National Academy of SciencesTheorists on Western civilizationBritish ethicistsPhilosophers of logicKnights BachelorLogiciansPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietySocial philosophersPhilosophers of technologyRationalistsAristotelian philosophersPhilosophers of economicsWriters about religion and scienceWriters about globalizationBritish philosophers of educationBritish social liberalsRecipients of the Austrian Decoration for Science and ArtBritish male non-fiction writersPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of mathematicsBritish historians of philosophyJewish agnosticsAcademics of the London School of Economics, British philosophers of scienceCritics of religions20th-century British philosophers20th-century Austrian philosophers, Austrian agnostics, Austrian essayists, Austrian logicians, British agnostics, British logicians, British people of Austrian-Jewish descent, Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom, Writers from ViennaOntologistsPhilosophers of mindRecipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class)MetaphysiciansJewish philosophersPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of religionBritish consciousness researchers and theoristsJewish ethicistsMembers of the Order of the Companions of HonourWriters about activism and social change20th-century British essayistsCritics of MarxismPhilosophers of historyFellows of the British AcademyMetaphysics writersBritish male essayists
  11. Robert Boyle

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Robert Boyle, a pioneering scientist and one of the first Fellows of the Royal Society.

    12 June 2014

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Simon Schaffer, Michael Hunter, Anna Marie Roos

     
  12. St Thomas Aquinas

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss St Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic Church's foremost western philosopher and theologian.

    17 September 2009

    listen ↗

    Featuring: Martin Palmer, John Haldane, Annabel Brett