
The Long Search
The Long Search was a 1977 BBC documentary television series spanning 13 episodes. Presented by theatre director Ronald Eyre, the series surveyed several major world religions, including Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic Christianity. Other episodes surveyed Theraveda and Zen Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and even the New Age movement. Location filming took place in India, England, Italy, Japan, Israel, Romania, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the United States, Egypt, Indonesia, and South Africa. Scholar of religion Ninian Smart acted as editorial consultant to the show, and also authored a companion book by the same name. The series was re-issued on DVD, and is currently distributed by Ambrose Video.
- Created By
- First Aired on
Sep 19, 1977
- Popularity: 0.0214
- 1 votes
- Status: Ended
Show Ended
1 seaons till Sep 19, 1977
Last episode: Reflections on the Long Search
Seasons & episodes
Total 1 seasons, 13 episodes

Season 1
Aired
Episode 1Protestant Spirit USA min
In the 1100 churches of Indianapolis, we see bewildering multiplicity of Protestantism. Churches with the seating and styling of deluxe first-run theaters. Services conducted with the professionalism of television spectaculars. And congregations that occupy every seat at four staggered services every Sunday. All are features of the US church-going boom. We discover that religion is not in a state of apathy in America; in some quarters it is decidedly big business.
Episode 2Hinduism: 330 Million Gods min
Traces the Indian religious experience in two highly contrasting locations: the bustling city of Benares where millions come to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganges, and the small village of Bhith Bhagwanpur, unvisited except by professional story tellers and itinerant priests. The film concentrates its attention on the Hindu approach to God. But which God? For there are 330 million of them.
Episode 3Buddhism: Footprint of the Buddha min
To Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and India to discover the type of Buddhism practiced throughout southeast Asia. Among those we meet are Buddhist monks-including one American, school children, novices and housewives. Each offers something from his own experience to help us come to grips with a religion that has high moral standards but does not believe in God.
Episode 4Catholicism: Rome, Leeds and the Desert min
Catholicism, especially since Vatican II, has undergone many changes. In this episode filmed in Rome, Spain and England, we discover the diversity and the unity of the religious experience labeled the Holy Catholic Church.
Episode 5Islam: There is no God but God min
It is said in Islam that every child is born Muslim by nature: he has the belief in his heart of one God. Over 400 million people profess Islam, and its numbers are said to be growing. In this program we travel to Egypt to explore the Islamic experience in an oasis village 50 miles from Cairo at a wedding, in the market town of El Fayoum for dawn prayers, and in Cairo itself.