“I like going to church, but it’s the sermons I don’t particularly like – they go rambling on in such a boring way.” Children from the village of Dibden Purlieu in Hampshire share their opinions on religion with Harold Williamson. Does God exist? What does heaven look like? This clip is from Children Talking: On Religion, originally broadcast 25 May, 1969.
In this 1969 clip from the BBC series Children Talking, English children in Hampshire are asked a series of questions on religion, with their answers framed by their Christian upbringing. With queries ranging from the personal (Do you enjoy attending church?) to the metaphysical (Do you know what God is like?), the youngsters share their views with unguarded, and often quite amusing, candour. But more than just entertaining, their responses offer a fascinating glimpse into the many ways people of all ages view religion – as obvious fiction, as allegory, and as certain truth.