Holy Smoke

By: The Spectator
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  • Summary

  • The most important and controversial topics in world religion, thoroughly dissected by a range of high profile guests. Presented by Damian Thompson.
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Episodes
  • How pistols in St Paul’s Cathedral shaped the science of sound

    How pistols in St Paul’s Cathedral shaped the science of sound
    Sep 20 2024
    In the winter of 1951 shots from a Colt revolver rang out in St Paul’s Cathedral in an experiment designed to solve the mystery of how architecture shapes sound. In this episode of Holy Smoke, Damian Thompson talks to Dr Fiona Smyth, author of a new book on the subject, and choral musician Philip Fryer, about the perfect acoustic – an increasingly important topic for churches, since many of them rely on the income from hiring themselves out as concert and recording venues. And it raises the question: should we think of a church as a musical instrument?
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    17 mins
  • Losing faith: will Labour’s VAT policy hit religious schools hardest?

    Losing faith: will Labour’s VAT policy hit religious schools hardest?
    Sep 6 2024
    In this week’s copy of The Spectator, Dan Hitchens argues that a lesser reported aspect of Labour’s decision to impose VAT on private schools is who it could hit hardest: faith schools. Hundreds of independent religious schools charge modest, means-tested fees. Could a hike in costs make these schools unviable? And, with uncertainty about how ideological a decision this is, does the government even care? Dan joins Damian on the podcast to discuss.
    Raisel Freedman from the Partnerships for Jewish Schools also joins later, to discuss how the measure could threaten Jewish independent schools, when they provide a haven for students from a climate of rising antisemitism.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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    25 mins
  • From the archives: An atheist goes on a Christian pilgrimage. Why?

    From the archives: An atheist goes on a Christian pilgrimage. Why?
    Aug 29 2024
    Writer Guy Stagg threw in his job to undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem via Rome - choosing a hazardous medieval route across the Alps. It nearly killed him: at one stage, trying to cross a broken bridge in Switzerland, he ended up partially submerged in the water, held up only by his rucksack.

    On this episode of Holy Smoke, from the archives, Guy explains why his journey was a pilgrimage, not just travels. And Damian Thompson talks to Harry Mount, editor of The Oldie, about why he’s irresistibly drawn to church buildings while remaining an unbeliever - albeit an agnostic rather than an atheist.
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    23 mins
Philosophy Social Sciences Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
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