麻豆社

Conor O'Clery on his new book about the philanthropist billionaire Chuck Feeney, who's slogan was 'give while you live'.

Most of you, if asked about Jews in Irish literature, might think immediately of Leopold Bloom in James Joyce's 'Ulysses'. But Jews have been depicted in Irish literature since mediaeval times - and an exhibition, opening next week in the Linenhall Library, Belfast , explores the relationship between Jews and Ireland through poetry, prose and drama. Next Tuesday, Professor Pol O'Dochartaigh, from Galway University, is giving a talk at the Linenhall on Jewish life in Ireland in the last 80 years.

Lead Debate - In the context of history, things don't look so bad. And yet there is a general feeling that the world is in a state of chassis.
To discuss how we measure progress, and if life is really getting better, our guests - Gordon Bridger, who worked in the field of foreign aid for 40 years, Christine McCartney from Oxfam Ireland, and social and human rights advocate, Bianca Jagger.

The film director, Martin Scorcese, happened upon a novel about a Jesuit missionary sent to Japan in the early 17th century, not just to minister to Catholics but to find out what happened to a famous Jesuit teacher and missionary, rumoured to have renounced his faith under torture. The story intrigued Scorcese and he decided to turn the novel - translated from the Japanese by an Irish Jesuit - into a film. Former Presbyterian Moderator Dr John Dunlop, and Jesuit priest, Father Alan McGuckian, have been to see it.

As society in Britain becomes more secular, what will be the future role of the Churches? The Christian Think-Tank, Theos, has reviewed its research over the ten years since it was founded, and has produced a report , and a prediction. I asked the report's author, Nick Spencer, if he expected the decline in Christian religious belief to continue.