Soul of Britain, with Michael Buerk
Review of Soul of Britain - contemporary British attitudes to morality, belief, and Christianity
Soul of Britain, written and presented by Michael Buerk was broadcast in nine episodes in June & July 2000. This BBC TV series explored what people in Britain today really believe. What is their attitude to moral issues? What do they think about Christianity? The BBC commissioned the largest ever survey of beliefs and attitudes for this series.
As well as the survey, this series uses interviews, vox pops, and panel discussions. The survey provides important information. The vox pops and interviews are also valuable contributions. The panel discussions were, I felt, disappointing, because Michael Buerk rarely let anyone either develop an argument or respond effectively to an argument - so what was left was a string of 'sound bites' and incompletely developed points, which gave a rather incoherent feel to this part of the program.
Soul of Britain is especially relevant for users of the Facing the Challenge course, because it identifies many of the key strands in our culture that are described in session 2 of the course, and which we refer back to throughout the course.