91Èȱ¬

This Sunday sees the start of Advent, and after last year’s winter lockdown many of us will be looking forward to what politicians are saying is going to be a more normal festive season. But what does this mean against the backdrop of the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow, which highlighted the changes we need to make in our lives? Author, Eve Poole, and philosopher, Julian Baggini, discuss how we might approach a ‘normal’ Christmas with a different mindset.

Many will be celebrating St Andrew’s Day on Tuesday in traditional Scottish style but what do tartan, haggis and whisky have to do with St Andrew, an apostle of Jesus, who lived in the Middle East 2,000 years ago? Catholic historian, Dr Sara Parvis, takes a look at some of the unusual lives of saints and explores what patron saints are for.

A new Netflix documentary, Procession, examines the impact on six men who were abused by Catholic clergymen in the United States as young boys. By revisiting their past, the survivors hope to find the healing they say was not given to them by the church. Theologian and lecturer in medical ethics, Gina Menzies, and clinical anthropologist and psychotherapist, Salma Siddique, give their thoughts.

If you discovered you were at risk of developing a potentially life-limiting disorder, would you make the decision to be tested for it? Palliative care nurse, Gillian McNab, who tested positive for the Huntington’s gene in her 40s, shares her personal experience and Gina Menzies and Salma Siddique explore the issues and dilemmas of genetic testing.

In giving evidence this month to a select committee about his time at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Azeem Rafiq spoke about racist slurs directed at him which were passed off as banter. Psychotherapist, Salma Siddique, and Livingston Football Club’s captain, Marvin Bartley, who is also the Equality and Diversity Advisor to the Scottish FA, look at the place banter in the workplace and sports field.

Pentecostalism is the fastest growing religion in the world. The faith has collected some 600 million followers and counting, with some high profile celebrities like Justin Bieber and Denzel Washington amongst its adherents. Connie talks to author, Elle Hardy, whose new book ‘Beyond Belief’ explores the religion's growing popularity.