Around the World in 80 Faiths is a British religion documentary television series which follows the Anglican vicar Peter Owen-Jones as he takes a year-long journey around the world to explore the shocking, bizarre and often dangerous rituals practised by some of the world's major religions and tribes.
The series originally aired in the UK on BBC Two from 2 January to 20 February, 2009. There are eight hour-long episodes in the series.
Around the World in 80 Faiths premiered in South Africa on SABC3 on Sunday 5 February 2012, at 22h00. New episodes broadcast weekly.
Synopsis
Religion can be explained as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Around the World in 80 Faiths is an eight-part series that shares the strange rituals of various traditions around the globe that we are not always accustomed to witnessing.
Every day, around the world, strange - and sometimes shocking - rituals take place. Rituals gives a guide to the lengths human societies go to get in touch with the spiritual world.
Vicar Pete Owen-Jones takes a year-long journey as he travels the world to explore the shocking, bizarre and often dangerous rituals practised by some of the world's major religions and tribes.
Arriving in time for each festival, he meets the practitioners of the faith, attempts to understand their beliefs and immerses himself in their ceremonies.
Amid the often baffling and intense events, Pete finds moments of serenity and also terror: from the remote beauty of the Henan Mountains in western China as he meets Taoists in search of immortality to the Japanese Fire Festival where hundreds of young men soaked in sake hurtle down a mountain with torches.
Continuing his travels, in Indonesia Pete experiences the remarkable funeral of a woman who has been lying in state for 20 years, joins in a Wicca dance in Australia, witnesses Voodoo priests sacrificing animals in Benin, and joins in a spiritualist séance in Florida.