Around the World in 80 Faiths

Around the World in 80 Faiths presents an ambitious journey through diverse religious practices across the globe. This BBC series, hosted by Anglican vicar Pete Owen Jones, showcases 80 different faiths spanning eight regions: Australasia, the Far East, Africa, the Middle East, India, the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

Throughout the series, Owen Jones immerses himself in various religious rituals and ceremonies, offering a firsthand perspective on the rich tapestry of global spirituality. The documentary’s structure divides the world into distinct geographical areas, with each episode focusing on approximately 10 faiths within a specific region.

In Australasia and the Pacific Ring of Fire, Owen Jones encounters Aboriginal Dreaming practices and participates in a sword-stabbing ritual performed by the Bugis people of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Far East episode features exotic religious experiences, including the anarchic Buddhist Naked Man festival in Japan and enlightening encounters with Taoist monks in China’s mountains.

The African segment of the series presents a diverse array of spiritual practices, from ancient voodoo rituals in Benin to trance dances performed by San Bushmen in Botswana. The Middle East episode covers nine different faiths across countries such as Israel, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq, highlighting the region’s religious complexity.

In the United States, Owen Jones experiences a wide range of faiths, including serpent handling, Navajo sweat lodge ceremonies, Mormonism, and the Burning Man Festival. The Indian subcontinent episode takes viewers on a journey from the Nepalese Himalayas to southern India, exploring concepts such as the transmigration of the soul, karma, and the pantheon of gods.

Latin America offers a unique blend of indigenous and imported religious practices. Owen Jones smokes cigars with Saint Death in Mexico and ventures into a Bolivian mine to encounter a god of the underworld. The final episode, set in Europe, reveals unexpected rituals and sects, including underground New Age temples in Italy and shamanic practices in Norway.

Around the World in 80 Faiths provides a look at both major world religions and lesser-known spiritual practices. It showcases the diversity of human faith, from established denominations to new religious movements and tribal beliefs. By participating in various rituals and ceremonies, Owen Jones offers insights into how faith is expressed through a rich array of customs and traditions.

The series covers a broad spectrum of spiritual experiences, including outdoor prayer meetings in South Africa, Purim celebrations in Jerusalem, whirling dervishes in Syria, and automobile blessings in Bolivia. It also touches on more controversial or persecuted faiths, such as the Yazidis in Iraq and urban witchcraft in Sydney.

Through its global scope and intimate portrayal of religious practices, the documentary highlights the universal human quest for meaning and connection to the divine, while also illustrating the vast differences in how this search manifests across cultures and communities.