Sunday - 31/10/2010

Edward Stourton with the religious and ethical news of the week. Moral arguments and perspectives on stories, familiar and unfamiliar. We take a look at the growth of gaming shops and bookies in poorer areas. Critics say that bookmakers are closing shops in more affluent areas, and then exploiting legal loopholes to open more store in the poorest areas. Bookmakers say that they are providing a service and that the amount of shops in the country has been more or less static over the last 5 years. Trevor Barnes reports on the cost of gambling to the poorest areas of the country. Is Britain an anti-Christian country? Have our diversity regulations undermined our Christianity or do we still respect organised religion too much? Matthew Parris & Peter Hitchens debate. Americans go to the polls on Tuesday for Mid-Term Elections that are expected to propel dozens of new conservative Christian "tea party" candidates into office. A survey published earlier this month revealed that half of those who identify with the tea party movement, also see themselves as members of the Religious Right, a force in American politics that many believed was in sharp decline. So how have religious conservatives returned in such numbers to the culture war battlefield? Matt Wells reports from Kentucky. As Halloween becomes more commercial The Dean of Hereford is urging all parishioners to throw a party on the last Sunday of this month and have a good time its time for churches to reclaim Halloween (All Hallows Eve) which is the evening before All Saints' day and make it part of the Christian Festival. A Legal challenge for the rights of gay couples to marry and straight couples to be able to have civil partnerships takes place on Tuesday. Reverend Sharon Ferguson of Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement will go along and apply for a marriage licence as the first of four couples to challenge the law. Edward asks Reverend Ferguson what they hope to achieve. The first steps towards the renovation of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity began this week and it is expected to take several years and millions of dollars. This is the first comprehensive restoration project of the church since it was completed in the fourth century. Edward speaks to Samir Qumsieh from Bethlehem. Charles Carrol reports from Wembley on Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. What does it mean and how is it celebrated? Bishop of Dudley David Walker talks to Edward about the effects of the new Housing Benefit system and the Church will have to play a big role in helping people who have been displaced. E-mail: [email protected] Series producer: Amanda Hancox.