Aretha Franklin influence, 'Conversion therapy' ban, Vaccine refusal among US evangelicals

As the Aretha Franklin biopic ‘Respect’ premieres this weekend, we explore how the singer helped to bring black spirituality into the mainstream of American life. Ahead of a public consultation and proposed ban on so-called 'conversion therapy' in England and Wales, we hear views about how a ban should work in practice and what the implications could be for some religious groups. The latest polling in the US suggests that around a quarter of white evangelicals don’t want the Covid vaccine. We explore how much religion is playing a part in their decision and how church leaders are influencing uptake of the vaccine. Research by Sunday has found that over the past decade the number of applicants accepted onto religion and theology related undergraduate courses in UK universities has nearly halved. We ask what might be behind the figures and examine the value of a theology degree. Producers: Dan Tierney and Rosie Dawson. Editor: Helen Grady.