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Britain is one of the most prosperous countries in the world, yet many people live in fear. They worry about losing their homes, about relationships breaking down, about crime, terrorism, ill health. And it's a rare news bulletin which doesn't offer us something else to be afraid of.

But is life really more dangerous, more worrying than it ever has been? Or is it simply that we've become more fearful? On All Things Considered this week (Sunday April 20th at 08.31, repeated on Wednesday April 23rd at 18.32) Roy Jenkins and a panel of guests explore this whole question of fear. Why does it sometimes seem to dominate our lives? Can we avoid it?

And what difference does a religious faith make to how we handle our fears?

Joining Roy to discuss these issues are: the Anglican priest Evelyn Davies, who's spent many years counselling people with terminal illnesss; Mona Bayoumi, a barrister who's concerned to eliminate stereotypes about her fellow Muslims. Mark John chaplain at Cardiff prison and Stephen Powell, who reported from 25 countries as a correspondent for the Reuters news agency and now works as a life coach from his farm near Abergavenny.