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God Bless our Contradictions

Poet Stewart Henderson reflects on our inner contradictions. Feeling or thinking two opposing things can be unsettling, but can it ever be helpful?

Stewart Henderson reflects on our inner contradictions. Can they ever be helpful to us?

We often think of contradiction as a bad thing - it means being hypocritical, or struggling with two opposite emotions at the same time. But can that actually have its benefits?

Stewart Henderson explores whether our inner contradictions can enrich our lives. He speaks to Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church, who challenged his Church on its attitude to gay and lesbian people and women, yet remained an active member of the institution. Stewart asks him about his persistent refusal to stop questioning Christianity, and if he's come to terms with his uncertainty about the existence of God. Richard thinks faith itself is based on a contradiction: if we could prove our beliefs, we wouldn't need faith - or doubt.

Readings from St. Paul and F. Scott Fitzgerald explore the challenges of living with contradictions, and music from Robert Schumann, Steve Reich and Leonard Cohen show us how they can even be beautiful.

William Blake wrote "without contraries, no progression". Do we need to contradict ourselves to move forward?

Producer: Frances Beere
A Loftus production for 麻豆社 Radio 4

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Dec 2020 23:30
麻豆社 Radio 4

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Into the Dark

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Rising from the Ashes

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Music Played

  • Steve Reich

    Electric Counterpoint: Fast

    Performer: Pat Metheny

    • Reich: Different Trains / Electric Counterpoint.
    • Nonesuch.
    • B000005IYU.
    • 6.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie Fantastique, 1st Movement

    Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Andre Previn

    • French Passion.
    • 11.

  • Edward Elgar

    Cello Concerto In E Minor: 3rd Movement: Adagio

    Performer: Jacqueline Du Pre (Cello), London Symphony Orchestra: Sir John Barbirolli

    • Unforgettable Classics: Cello.
    • 12.

  • Robert Schumann

    Kreisleriana op 16, Sehr Aufgeregt

    Performer: Mitsuko Uchida

    • Robert Schumann: Kreisleriana/Carnaval.
    • Philips.
    • 4427772.
    • 3.

  • Leonard Cohen

    Come Healing

    Performer: Leonard Cohen and the Webb Sisters

    • Old Ideas.
    • Columbia.
    • CAC221100034.
    • 7.

  • John Cleese and Graham Chapman

    The Man Who Contradicts People (sketch)

    • Another Monty Python Record.
    • EMI Records Ltd.
    • GBAAA7100105.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 24 Mar 2013 06:05
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Sun 24 Mar 2013 23:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4 FM
  • Sun 13 Dec 2020 06:05
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Sun 13 Dec 2020 23:30
    麻豆社 Radio 4