Tapestry from CBC Radio

Some believe it's a roadmap to the end of days. Others say it's one big hallucination. It's The Book of Revelation and, for a very long time, it has fuelled Christian fears of a judgement day literally full of fire and brimstone. The story from Elaine P

Some believe it's a roadmap to the end of days - others say it's one big hallucination. It's The Book of Revelation and, for a very long time, it has fuelled Christian fears of a judgement day literally full of fire and brimstone. This week, Elaine Pagels, the woman who wrote the book on The Book tells the story.

How is it that we find ourselves here once again with Doomsday close at hand? This time around it's the Maya calendar and the fact that some interpretations say it predicts the end will come on December 21, 2012. This week on Tapestry, Mary investigates

Some things you just can’t measure. Where is the scale that can measure the inner life? Where is the lab that can calibrate wisdom? Well, actually, there are quite a few of them. Neurologists the world over are studying wisdom. Their results, on this

Ever met a priest whose CV includes a number one hit song? You're about to. The Reverend Richard Coles is a prolific and hillarious Twitterer, and a sardonic radio host on the BBC. But, the Anglican vicar is also openly gay, living with his partner. Fait

Mary Hynes explores what happens when entire societies decree that being loud, confident, and outgoing is the only recipe for success. Introverts have given us everything from brilliant literature to the laptop computer.

Artificial intelligence is developing at an incredible pace. However, some people say we are neglecting to ask some crucial questions about its impact. Why are we creating it in the first place and what does that tell us about ourselves? Could it be that

The late British philosopher Bertrand Russell observed, "Most of the greatest evil that man has inflicted upon man comes through people feeling quite certain about something which, in fact, was false." Producer Frank Faulk explores the dangers of moral ce

We all experience misfortune, cracks in our lives, our relationships, our psyches. But perhaps it's how we respond that reveals who we are. There's a Zen saying that "Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." On this episode of Tapestry, we examine the

We live in a time of widespread obsession with everything from money to celebrity. Is our culture’s fascination with ‘the best and the latest’ a new form of idol worship?

Joan of Arc talked to heavenly voices, helped crown a king and saved France, all before she turned 21. Actually, she didn’t turn 21 because she was burned at the stake for being a heretic before she could. That was 600 years ago but Joan continues to inspire the religious and non-religious to this day.

Tapestry is not podcasting our summer repeats, as they've already come down the pipe to you. If you missed something, all audio is available at our site: cbc.ca/tapestry . Back September 9th. Happy summer.

Losing faith in God is common, but what happens when your paycheque depends on your belief? A study from Tufts University tells the story of several pastors who no longer believe. Some are still working in churches, preaching sermons, and counseling the faithful. They say they do not have the skills for a new job and, in some cases, are unable to confide even in their families for fear of what their newfound disbelief may do.

Anthony Lawlor is an architect who has made it his job to find the sacred in the ordinary. He and Mary talk about how the divine is not limited to churches, mosques, synagogues and temples. Lawlor says you can find it everywhere, if you just look - even in the lineup at the grocery store!

We hear from two women who didn’t follow the script life had written for them. Today Jeanette Winterson is a famous British writer. We find out what happened when as a teenager, she had to tell her strict Pentecostal parents she had fallen in love with a girl. Also, Rebecca Hass explains why as limelight-loving mezzo soprano, she has decided to flee to the Mojave desert for some alone time.