ARC discusses globalisation and faith on the BBC today

ARC Secretary-General Martin Palmer discusses how globalisation affects religion in BBC Radio 4’s Beyond Belief programme to be broadcast this afternoon.

It used to be said that globalisation would kill off religion. In fact, the vast majority of the world's population continues to maintain religious beliefs and practice. So how does globalisation affect religion?

Does the spread of religion across national boundaries mean that its universal elements will develop at the expense of the national and particular? Is there a danger that faith and culture might become separated from one another? And can faith communities help to mitigate the worst effects of globalisation?

Discussing these issues alongside Martin Palmer will be Dr Sara Silvestri of City University, London, and Adrian Wooldridge, management editor and columnist with The Economist and the co-author of the book "God is Back: How the Global Rise of Faith is Changing the World".

Also interviewed for the programme is Dr Vandana Shiva – who cites ARC’s Faith in Food workshop in Delhi in January this year, which she attended, as an example of how powerful religions can be when they join together in an issue.

The programme is broadcast at 4.30pm this afternoon and will also be available to listen to on BBC iPlayer for the next seven days.