Life, the Universe and Everything. Professor Robert Winston examines the roots of religious beliefs in prehistoric societies and how humanity’s sense of the divine developed in different ways in different societies. This BBC documentary will describe particularly the divergence between religions that appear to tolerate a range of deities and those that present strict monotheism. In this light the film looks at the emergence ofthe Hindu concept of Brahman as the supreme being with the many different forms that this can take, and also the ideas of karma and reincarnation central to both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The docu further explores Zoroastrianism, perhaps the first explicitlymonotheistic religion.

The Story of God – Part 2: No God, But God.

This programme looks at religions in the Abrahamic tradition. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are examined in order to understand the ideas about God they share and the issues that divide them. The documentary focuses on the relations between men and God and the numerous issues that arise from these considerations. These may include: how does God want us to live? Does God have a plan for the world and humanity? What about free will? If God created humanity why does God allow humanity to suffer?