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Something Understood

Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

BBC Radio 4 LW

Something Understood: I Am

Walking in Ireland and Spain - Philippines

12/04/2015

I Am

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, I Am

John McCarthy considers the phrase 'I Am' as a means of exploring identity.

John McCarthy is joined by theologian Paula Gooder to consider the phrase 'I Am' as a means of exploring and asserting identity.

John McCarthy is joined by Christian theologian Paula Gooder to consider the phrase 'I Am' as a means of exploring and asserting identity. They begin with God's assertion of His name in Exodus chapter 3, 'I am that I am' and follow this phrase into Jesus' I Am statements in the New Testament - I Am the Bread of Life, I Am the Light of the World, and so on.

The programme then broadens out to consider Descartes use of the phrase 'cogito ergo sum' and then John Clare's poem, I Am. 

John McCarthy also explores the South African phrase Ubuntu which translates as 'I am because we are' or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. And finally, he notes the recent taking up of the I Am phrase in the slogan Je suis Charlie.

The programme includes readings from works by Anne Holm, Mary Oliver and James Weldon Johnson, as well as two poems by Gregory Leadbetter and Sibyl Ruth, specially commissioned for this programme by Writing West Midlands. There's music by Chris Wood, Blind Gary Davis, Gounod and Ben Glover.

Readers: Hayley Doherty and Fraser James

Produced by Rosie Boulton
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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