Rté - The God Slot

C of I Archbishop Michael Jackson, RC Bishop John McAreavey, Ali Selim of the Islamic Centre and Rabbi Zalman Lent look at the spiritual state of Ireland, discussing women in the various faiths, abortion and same sex marriage.

Eileen Dunne’s special guest is former columnist and counsellor, Angela McNamara.

A special Christmas programme recorded at the beautiful and world famous Glenstal Abbey, where Eileen Dunne and Gerry McArdle meet Sean Nós singer and Gaelic and Theological Scholar Nóirín Ni Riain, the prophetic figure of Abbot Mark Patrick Hederman, the Benedictine Monks and the boys choir from the Abbey’s school.

With Christmas just around the corner, we concentrate on children; a Nativity Play written, directed and acted by the children from the Presentation Primary School in Listowel, how the older children at St Declan's secondary school in Cabra show the true spirit of the season by helping senior citizens in their area.

This week, Rev. Enda Donnellan talks about the Winter Solstice, Celtic spirituality and the Mayan Calendar. Emer Horgan reports on women in the Churches. Rhona Tarrant reports on the Bishop Casey/Annie Murphy affair, 20 years after the event.

This week, the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt. Rev. Harold Miller, comments on renewed violence in Northern Ireland. 800 years of The Poor Clares; Nuala Macklin visits the Sisters at St. Damien's Convent, Dublin. Rabbi Anna Gerrard tells us about the feast of Hanukkah

In the wake of the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar, two people of the Hindu faith, monk Swami Purnananda and Asha Chawla, explain the teachings of Hinduism on abortion. Fr. Dermod McCarthy celebrates the 50th anniversary of the ground-breaking television programme, Radharc. Gerry McArdle is hugged by Amma.

This week Ben Conroy reviews ‘Faith in the Public Square’ by Rowan Williams, and previews the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Rhona Tarrant meets Ireland’s youngest priest, Fr. Ryan McAleer. Barry McMillan gives his usual unusual slant on the film ‘What Richard Did’.

November, traditionally the month of the dead in Ireland, and mid month Rev Chris Russell talks about letters written by him to be delivered after his death, a look at unmarked graves (cillíní) featuring the voice of Micheál O’Muircheartaigh, and poetry reflective of the season.

Witchcraft and human trafficking in Ireland; Sr. De Salles, the last nun in Dingle; Sanjeev Kumar, Classical dancer, on Hindu faith, Diwali and dancing.

Kerry Weber from US magazine America on the US presidential elections, Mine Bean Ui Cribin remembered on All Souls Day and the Cork organisation Cois Tine.

Singer, composer author and Catholic priest Liam Lawton talks to Eileen about his life, music and new book.

Debate: This house believes that it's time for the Irish government to legislate for the X Case. Principal speakers: Fintan O'Toole and Breda O'Brien. Audience: Mount Temple Comprehensive School. An extended edition of the programme broadcast on Fri 19 October

Rhona Tarrant and Max Macken report on two Dublin Theatre Festival productions: The Picture of Dorian Gray at the Abbey and Conversations on a Homecoming at the Gaiety.Claire McCormack tells us about The Jesse Box, plus a quiz with a prize for two lucky listeners. Lecturer in Religious Studies and Ethics at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and God Slot film critic, Barry McMillan, on the summer’s Super-Hero Blockbusters.

First of the new season: a special programme to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican 2 with Enda McDonough, David Rosen, Margaret McCurtain, John Horgan, Jim Corkery.

The final episode in the current series of the God Slot, looking at the International Eucharistic Congress held all this week in Dublin

Archbishop Michael Jackson, C of I, Petra Conroy, Catholic Comment, Fr. Tom Rosica, Salt and Light, Sr. Oliver Wrafter, Fr. Brendan Leahy, Michael Kelly of the Irish Catholic join Eileen for a look back at the 50th Eucharistic Congress in the final programme of this season.

Presented by Eileen Dunne

In the 2nd last edition for this series, with ages ranging from 19 to 23, Ben Conroy, a Catholic, Vedanti Shaw, a Hari Krishna, Daniel O'Carroll, a Jew and agnostic Aodhán Gregory discuss God, good and evil, sexual morality and the afterlife with Eileen Dunne.

Does religion have a place in the psychologist’s consulting rooms? Paul O’Donoghue, clinical psychologist and founder member of the Irish Skeptics Society discusses this question.