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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

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Exploring music, history, science, philosophy, film, visual arts and literature.

In-depth documentaries which explore music, history, science, philosophy, film, visual arts and literature.

Sunday Feature: Faith Without God

Sunday Feature: Faith Without God: Episode 1

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Episode 1

Faith Without God

BBC Radio 3 - Sunday Feature, Faith Without God, Episode 1

Michael Goldfarb learns about the real lives of Buddha, Confucius, Thales and Pythagoras.

Michael Goldfarb learns about the real lives of Buddha, Confucius, Thales and Pythagoras and the societies they came from. He asks if they could have been sharing ideas.

In this two-part feature, Michael Goldfarb investigates one of history's most remarkable coincidences: the first Greek philosophers, the Buddha and Confucius all lived at precisely the same time, the 6th century BCE. What they had in common was they were the first to create thought systems in which Man, not the Gods, was the measure of all things. It was arguably civilization's greatest leap forward. Yet, despite their teachings these thought systems became faiths anyway.

Why this coincidence? Were these thinkers in touch with one another? How did these teachings become religions?

In part one, Michael Goldfarb travels from the Aegean, to India and China interviewing archaeologists and scholars about the real lives, not the legends, of Buddha, Confucius, Thales and Pythagoras and the societies these epoch-shattering thinkers emerged from. He asks whether they might have been sharing ideas across the Asian landmass.

First broadcast in February 2014.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Michael Goldfarb on the first thought systems in which Man was the measure of all things

Michael Goldfarb investigates the first thought systems in which Man, not the Gods, was the measure of all things

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