Storyline

Compass is an Australian weekly news-documentary program screened on ABC Television on Sunday nights. Presented by Geraldine Doogue, the program is devoted to providing information about faith, values, ethics, and religion from across the globe.

First Aired
Last Aired

2016-05-29
Creator
Genre

Documentary, News
Seasons

6
Episodes

227
Status

Returning Series
Language

English
Network

ABC TV

Keywords:

christianity religion

Stream and watch Compass

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

1. Good Friday Special

Compass presents a special program for Easter. A time for all of us, believers and non-believers alike...More

Compass presents a special program for Easter. A time for all of us, believers and non-believers alike to reflect on sacrifice, renewal and hope.Less

30mins 2000-04-21

2. Rivals for Paradise (Part 1)

It has been a secret war between two rival faiths that has lasted for eighty years. For the Communists...More

It has been a secret war between two rival faiths that has lasted for eighty years. For the Communists, the vision was of workers' paradise here on Earth; for the Catholics it was a heavenly paradise promised after death.Less

30mins 2000-01-02

3. Rivals for Paradise (Part 2)

An intriguing look at the powerful alliance of Church and State - between Roman Catholicism and the Am...More

An intriguing look at the powerful alliance of Church and State - between Roman Catholicism and the American Government that destroyed the Soviet Empire.Less

30mins 2000-01-09

4. Black Sea : Voyage of Healing

Black Sea : Voyage of Healing mixes environmental issues, nationalist economic issues, mass tourism is...More

Black Sea : Voyage of Healing mixes environmental issues, nationalist economic issues, mass tourism issues, and Orthodox Church politics into a program which is as much a tourist's travelogue as an information piece.Less

30mins 2000-01-16

5. The Commitment

Finding approaches to abusive families.

Finding approaches to abusive families.Less

30mins 2000-01-23

6. The Time to Die

Filmed over three weeks at St Christopher's Hospice in South East London, it follows the last weeks of...More

Filmed over three weeks at St Christopher's Hospice in South East London, it follows the last weeks of Kevin, Hazel and Doris, who are all dying of cancer.Less

30mins 2000-01-30

7. Papabile

Who will be the next Pope? As the papacy of John Paul II enters its final phase, there is much specula...More

Who will be the next Pope? As the papacy of John Paul II enters its final phase, there is much speculation about who is likely to succeed him.Less

30mins 2000-02-06

8. The Slaves Of God

The Slaves Of God is a video journey to the all-male "enclosed" Russian and Greek Orthodox Christian m...More

The Slaves Of God is a video journey to the all-male "enclosed" Russian and Greek Orthodox Christian monks of this famed peninsula, Mount Athos, in northern Greece.Less

30mins 2000-02-13

9. Joanna Lumley In The Kingdom of The Thunder Dragon

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30mins 2000-02-20

10. George Pell

He is forthright... He has strong convictions... His controversial leadership style has caused frictio...More

He is forthright... He has strong convictions... His controversial leadership style has caused friction among his flock. Join Geraldine Doogue for a frank conversation with the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, George Pell...Less

30mins 2000-02-27

11. Three Million Gods

Hinduism is proportionately, the fastest growing religion in Australia today. Whether due to an influx...More

Hinduism is proportionately, the fastest growing religion in Australia today. Whether due to an influx of Hindu migrants of Indian extraction or the increasing involvement of Australians from a Judeo-Christian background.Less

30mins 2000-03-05

12. Ancient Voices Part 1 - The Mystery Of The Taj Mahal

Compass heads to India in search of the hidden spiritual message behind one of the world's most elegan...More

Compass heads to India in search of the hidden spiritual message behind one of the world's most elegant wonders.Less

30mins 2000-03-12

13. Ancient Voices Part 2 - Blood And Flowers

The extraordinary violence and beauty of the Aztec Empire. Behind this artistic and ordered society we...More

The extraordinary violence and beauty of the Aztec Empire. Behind this artistic and ordered society were Gods who demanded human sacrifice on a massive scale... a story of "Blood and Flowers"...Less

30mins 2000-03-19

14. Ancient Voices Part 3 - The Lost World Of El Dorado

The search for El Dorado, the legendary golden kingdom of South America. Did cultural misunderstanding...More

The search for El Dorado, the legendary golden kingdom of South America. Did cultural misunderstanding foil the quest for untold riches?Less

30mins 2000-03-26

15. Ancient Voices Part 4 - Empire Of Death

Compass peels back the centuries to investigate the ancient Nubian Empire of North Africa. At its hei...More

Compass peels back the centuries to investigate the ancient Nubian Empire of North Africa. At its height it challenged the power of the Egyptian pharoahs, but archaeologists have found it may also be one of the earliest examples of a mass suicide cult.Less

30mins 2000-04-02

16. People Power Part 1 - Civil Society in The Philippines

In this special Compass series we look at a quiet global revolution now underway, a new emphasis on th...More

In this special Compass series we look at a quiet global revolution now underway, a new emphasis on the role, significance and power of voluntary, non-profit, community, or non-government organisations, now often called civil society organisations (CSOs). The Philippines is regarded as having one of the strongest and most vibrant civil societies worldwide.Less

30mins 2000-04-09

17. People Power Part 2 - Civil Society and Volunteering

The second in our series on People Power, the quiet but profound revolution underway on how we might m...More

The second in our series on People Power, the quiet but profound revolution underway on how we might meet modern community problems better. It envisages a whole new approach to the spread of power and responsibility within the community....with a shift towards volunteer and non-government groups.Less

30mins 2000-04-16

18. People Power Part 3 - Civil Society, Government and Corporations

The last in our three part series on the emergence of a new era of Civil Society. A time of new promin...More

The last in our three part series on the emergence of a new era of Civil Society. A time of new prominence and power for community and volunteer groups, non-profit and non-government organisations.Less

30mins 2000-04-23

19. The Martyrs Of Timor

We've all read about East Timor , we've seen the Television Footage, heard the results of inquiries, a...More

We've all read about East Timor , we've seen the Television Footage, heard the results of inquiries, and maybe in some ways , even started to become a bit desensitised to the whole thing.Less

30mins 2000-04-30

20. Carnley

The man at the centre of controversy this weekend as he is installed as Australia's newest Church Lead...More

The man at the centre of controversy this weekend as he is installed as Australia's newest Church Leader.Less

30mins 2000-05-07

21. For God Or Caesar

Two years ago the government disbanded the CES (Commonwealth Employment Service) and put unemployment ...More

Two years ago the government disbanded the CES (Commonwealth Employment Service) and put unemployment services out to tender. Since then Church employment agencies have been major contract winners.Less

30mins 2000-05-14

22. A Buddhist Retreat

Buddhism is enjoying increasing popularity in Australia. Compass goes on retreat with one of the forem...More

Buddhism is enjoying increasing popularity in Australia. Compass goes on retreat with one of the foremost teachers of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, Sogyal Rinpoche.Less

30mins 2000-05-21

23. Stolen Children

Compass examines the role of Churches and Missions in separating Aboriginal children from their famili...More

Compass examines the role of Churches and Missions in separating Aboriginal children from their families.Less

30mins 2000-05-28

24. St. Paul's Part One: The New Man

Part one looks at the conflicts and clerical politics triggered by the simultaneous arrival at St. Pau...More

Part one looks at the conflicts and clerical politics triggered by the simultaneous arrival at St. Paul's of its new Dean, Dr. John Moses, and its first woman priest, Rev. Lucy Winkett on the occasion of the cathedral's 300th Anniversary.Less

30mins 2000-06-04

25. St. Paul's Part Two: We Need Money

We Need Money surveys the difficulties encountered by the new Dean to balance the Cathedral's finances...More

We Need Money surveys the difficulties encountered by the new Dean to balance the Cathedral's finances and downsize its institutional staff. In his pursuit of his fiscal obligations, the Dean reveals how Christian humanism may take second place to commercial realities in attending to worldly concerns.Less

30mins 2000-06-11

26. St. Paul's Part Three: Me Or The Music

In the final of our series on St. Paul's Cathedral, we examine its major human resource, the childrens...More

In the final of our series on St. Paul's Cathedral, we examine its major human resource, the childrens choir...and the trials and tribulations as young choristers aspire to be the best.Less

30mins 2000-06-18

27. Trial Of The Cross

Heroin injecting rooms... Are they the answer to Australia's worsening drug problem or a perpetuation ...More

Heroin injecting rooms... Are they the answer to Australia's worsening drug problem or a perpetuation of it? With trials to begin shortly in Sydney's Kings Cross, we look at the heated debate surrounding the involvement of the Uniting Church in the project.Less

30mins 2000-06-25

28. The Dead Sea Scrolls Part 1 - The End of Days

On the 14th of July an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls will open at the Art Gallery of NSW. For the...More

On the 14th of July an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls will open at the Art Gallery of NSW. For the first time Australians will have the opportunity to view some of these documents which represent one of the most important archaeological finds ever.Less

30mins 2000-07-02

29. The Dead Sea Scrolls Part 2 - A Common Heritage

A Common Heritage explores what the scrolls reveal about early Judaism and the origins of Christianity...More

A Common Heritage explores what the scrolls reveal about early Judaism and the origins of Christianity.Less

30mins 2000-07-09

30. Amnesty

A study of modern service and altruism, an account of Amnesty International.

A study of modern service and altruism, an account of Amnesty International.Less

30mins 2000-07-16

31. Opus Dei

Opus Dei enjoys favoured status within the Roman Catholic Church...but its secretive recruiting method...More

Opus Dei enjoys favoured status within the Roman Catholic Church...but its secretive recruiting methods and strict control of its members lives and beliefs have led some to liken it to a cult...Less

30mins 2000-07-23

32. Being Jewish But Gay

The appearance of the first all Jewish float in this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gra Parade po...More

The appearance of the first all Jewish float in this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gra Parade polarised opinion in the Jewish community. We examine conflicting interpretations of religious law, when Gay Jews challenge tradition.Less

30mins 2000-07-30

33. Pilgrimage To The Heart

On Compass we join the national leaders and youth representatives of Australian Christian Churches on ...More

On Compass we join the national leaders and youth representatives of Australian Christian Churches on a journey of reconciliation to the centre of Australia.Less

30mins 2000-08-06

34. The Price Of Self Esteem

Thousands of Australians are spending big dollars on personal development courses in the pursuit of su...More

Thousands of Australians are spending big dollars on personal development courses in the pursuit of success and self-esteem. Do they change people's lives for the better?Less

30mins 2000-08-13

35. A Living Hell (Part 1)

This two-part British series outlines the nature of depression, its human impact on families and indiv...More

This two-part British series outlines the nature of depression, its human impact on families and individuals, its damaging influence on the human spirit, and its current treatments. The series is hosted by biologist Professor Lewis Wolpert, himself a former sufferer of depression.Less

30mins 2000-08-20

36. A Living Hell (Part 2)

In Part Two of our revealing series on modern depression: Is it a physical illness? Is it genetic?

In Part Two of our revealing series on modern depression: Is it a physical illness? Is it genetic?Less

30mins 2000-08-27

37. Paws For Thought

Is non-human life important and if so, why?

Is non-human life important and if so, why?Less

30mins 2000-09-03

38. Reefer Madness 2

Marijuana, an ancient herbal remedy can help sufferers of epilepsy, arthritis and glaucoma but it is s...More

Marijuana, an ancient herbal remedy can help sufferers of epilepsy, arthritis and glaucoma but it is still on the illegal drug list in most countries.Less

30mins 2000-09-10

39. For God's Sake (Part 1)

A new four part series which will take us on a journey of religious discovery around the globe.

A new four part series which will take us on a journey of religious discovery around the globe.Less

30mins 2000-09-17

40. For God's Sake (Part 2)

In Part Two of this four-part series Frederic Raphael travels to Thailand and Malaysia where Buddhism ...More

In Part Two of this four-part series Frederic Raphael travels to Thailand and Malaysia where Buddhism and Islam have both absorbed and been transformed by older beliefs and customs.Less

30mins 2000-09-24

41. For God's Sake (Part 3)

In this episode Frederic Raphael travels to Spain and Mexico to see this devotional intensity first-ha...More

In this episode Frederic Raphael travels to Spain and Mexico to see this devotional intensity first-hand.Less

30mins 2000-10-01

42. For God's Sake (Part 4)

In Part Four our series closes with Frederic Raphael going back home... journeying deep into the Unite...More

In Part Four our series closes with Frederic Raphael going back home... journeying deep into the United States to explore the American way of religion in it's Bible belt heartland.Less

30mins 2000-10-08

43. Contact

Contact surveys the contemporary phenomenon of reports of alien abduction, UFO visitations and similar...More

Contact surveys the contemporary phenomenon of reports of alien abduction, UFO visitations and similar paranormal experiences in Canada and the USA. With several first-hand claims of abduction and descriptions of alien visits, the program canvasses the North American climate of Ufology...cults such as the Raelians who base their religion on extraterrestrial intelligence, plus psychiatric interpretations of this disposition towards the paranormal.Less

30mins 2000-10-15

44. The Greening Of God

In this edition of Compass, the role of the mainstream churches in the global environment crisis... an...More

In this edition of Compass, the role of the mainstream churches in the global environment crisis... and whether theology should be responding.Less

30mins 2000-10-22

45. Passing On Beliefs

In this edition of Compass, the growth of church schools and the nature of religious education.

In this edition of Compass, the growth of church schools and the nature of religious education.Less

30mins 2000-11-12

46. Trauma & The Spirit

When disaster strikes, many turn to religion for solace, and for answers. But catastrophe can also cau...More

When disaster strikes, many turn to religion for solace, and for answers. But catastrophe can also cause drastic change in beliefs, or total abandonment of faith.Less

30mins 2000-11-19

47. Seeing Salvation (Part 1)

Christianity has produced some of the greatest works of art of all time, in which believers and non-be...More

Christianity has produced some of the greatest works of art of all time, in which believers and non-believers alike can explore the great themes of life and death. It is the language in which Leonardo and Michelangelo, Dali and Rembrandt speak to us all about love and suffering, loss and hope.Less

30mins 2000-12-03

48. Seeing Salvation (Part 2)

As Christmas approaches we are bombarded with images of the baby Jesus in the manger, one of the quint...More

As Christmas approaches we are bombarded with images of the baby Jesus in the manger, one of the quintessential expressions of the Christmas story.Less

30mins 2000-12-10

49. Seeing Salvation (Part 3)

At the core of the Christian faith is an image at once powerful and harrowing the figure Jesus on the ...More

At the core of the Christian faith is an image at once powerful and harrowing the figure Jesus on the Cross.Less

30mins 2000-12-17

50. Seeing Salvation (Part 4)

On Christmas Eve, as the Christian world prepares to celebrate the 2000th birthday of Jesus of Nazaret...More

On Christmas Eve, as the Christian world prepares to celebrate the 2000th birthday of Jesus of Nazareth, this edition of Compass takes a final tour through some of the greatest works of Christian art.Less

30mins 2000-12-24

51. Christmas Special

Geraldine Doogue's panel of notable Australians discuss themes of the 2000th Birthday of Jesus, the en...More

Geraldine Doogue's panel of notable Australians discuss themes of the 2000th Birthday of Jesus, the end of the Jubilee Year, and the true advent of The Third Millennium.Less