Unbelievable?

Latest Episodes:

Unbelievable? 17 Jul 2010 - Wired for God? The Biology of Spiritual Experience Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

From shamanism, hallucenogenic drugs, out-of-body experiences, to being "filled with the Spirit". Christian author and barrister Charles Foster draws on these and many more to examine the biological evidence of what happens when people claim supernatural experiences.

Is there room left for God? Yes, says Foster, whose own experience of the Holy Spirit led him to research why our brains seem to be wired for God to communicate with us.

Susan Blackmore is an atheist and Professor of Psychology. She reveals how her own 'Out of Body Experience' as a student led to research that ultimately convinced her that no "supernatural" activity is needed to account for these type of phenomena.

They debate the issues, including whether Consciousness itself can be given a naturalistic explanation.

For Charles Foster see http://www.charlesfoster.co.uk/

To buy "Wired for God?" visit http://www.amazon.co.uk or click here

For Sue Blackmore see http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/

To buy "Consciousness: An introduction" visit http://www.amazon.co.uk or click here

For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 27 Mar 2010 - Former atheists conversion experiences - Is it evidence for God? Richard Morgan & Todd Pitner with atheist Gordon Livesey

Unbelievable? 23 Aug 2008 - Why there almost certainly IS a God: Keith Ward and Robert Stovold

Join the discussion at the "Unbelievable?" group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 10 Jul 2010 - Was Saint Paul mentally ill & the proponent of a hoax religion? Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

'B Strong' is a former Christian who lost his faith after examining the claims of the Bible. His booklet "Jesus is a hoax" claims, among many things, that the Apostle Paul was mentally ill due to his fanatical pre and post-conversion behaviour. It also claims Jesus is one of the greatest hoaxes of history.

John Tancock (JT) is a Welsh church leader and apologist. He engages the sceptical arguments on Paul and Jesus. He believes Jesus is one of the best attested historical character of antiquity and that the Apostle Paul one of his most reliable (and perfectly sane) witnesses.

They will continue the debate at the "Unbelievable?" Group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

For JT's Youtube apologetics videos see http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=john+tancock&suggested_categories=22&page=1

To get in touch with JT directly email john.tancock@ntlworld.com

For B Strong's booklets and blog see http://s2.webstarts.com/wowbooks/

For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

If you enjoyed this discussion then you will probably enjoy:

Unbelievable? 3 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Peter Williams - "Misquoting Jesus: Do we have the original writings of the New Testament?"

Unbelievable? 26 Apr 2008 Proof for the Resurrection - Evangelist Tony Costa & Atheist Ken Humphreys debate.

Unbelievable? 26 Jun 2010 - Is God a Failed hypothesis? pr 1 - Victor Stenger vs. Steve Fuller Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

The first of two shows featuring atheist US physicist Victor Stenger, author of NY Times bestseller "God: The failed Hypothesis".

Stenger claims that Christian belief has been a block to science historically and that science has shown the Universe to look "Exactly as it would if there were no God".

Steve Fuller is Professor of Sociology at Warwick University. He takes issue with the current wave of scientific atheism and in his new book "Science" (The Art of Living Series, Acumen) says that science can't be done without the concept of God at its heart.

For Victor Stenger see http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/VWeb/Home.html

To buy the book "God: the failed hypothesis" http://www.amazon.co.uk/God-Failed-Hypothesis-Science-Shows/dp/1591024811

For Steve Fuller see http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/staff/academicstaff/sfuller/fullers_index

For "Science (Art of Living)" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Art-Living-Steve-Fuller/dp/1844652041

For more Christian/non-Christian discussion shows visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievableor get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

Unbelievable? 6 Feb 2010 - Do we need God to Do Science? Steve Fuller and Thomas Dixon debate Intelligent Design and the Dover Trial

Unbelievable? 8 Nov 2008 - Richard Dawkins & John Lennox's Oxford debate - a review with interviews and comment

Join in the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 3 Jul 2010 - Is God a failed hypothesis? Pr 2 - Victor Stenger vs. David Bartholomew Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

Can we use science to ascertain whether prayer works? Data from a series of prayer experiments is part of the evidence that US atheist scientist Victor Stenger uses to build the case against God in his best-selling book "God: The failed hypothesis".

David Bartholomew is a Christian and Emeritus Professor of Statistics at the London School of Economics. He has written a paper contesting Stenger's use of data to disprove God as invalid.

They debate the issues on whether we can detect or disprove God using scientific methods.

For Victor Stenger see http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/VWeb/Media.html

For David Bartholomew see http://www.djbartholomew.com/

For the Science and Christian Belief Journal his paper will be published in http://www.scienceandchristianbelief.org

For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy

Unbelievable? 26 Jun 2010 - "Is God a Failed hypothesis - philosophically?" Atheist US physicist Victor Stenger vs. Prof of Sociology Steve Fuller

Unbelievable? 14 Mar 2009 - Fine Tuning of the Universe - is it evidence of God? Nicholas Beale vs Julian Baggini

To join the discussion visit the "Unbelievable?" Group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 19 Jun 2010 - Does the Bible condone slavery? Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

The Bible is often criticised for either supporting or not condemning the institution of slavery. So how should we treat portions of Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments that relate to slavery? Why does the Old Testament contain laws regarding the treatment of slaves? Does Paul condemn or affirm the institution?

Bob Price is a former US church minister whose doubts about the Bible led him to ultimately reject evangelical Christian faith. He says that the Bible is a book that reflects the time it was written in. Slavery was acceptable and the early Christians regrettably followed suit, and did not challenge the prevailing status quo.

David Instone-Brewer is a New Testament Scholar at Tyndale House, Cambridge. He says that, in its cultural context, the Bible goes as far as it can towards an anti-slavery message and that Christians have been at the forefront of anti-slavery movements.

For Bob Price see http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/

For David Instone-Brewer see http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/index.php?page=david-instone-brewer

For his Visual Sermons see http://www.visualsermons.co.uk/

For more Christian/non-Christian debates visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or via Itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 20 Feb 2010 - "Is Christianity Good for us?" US atheist Michael Shermer debates Scottish apologist David Robertson

Unbelievable? 2 May 2009 -"Did Jesus Exist?" - Apologist JP Holding & Atheist Ken Humphreys debate.

Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 12 Jun 2010 - The Jesus Discovery Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

Dr Adam Bradford believes he has discovered a significant new insight into Jesus Christ. In "The Jesus Discovery" he explains why he believes that Jesus was not an unschooled peasant preacher, as many depict him. Instead, he claims that Jesus came from a middle class family and would have been schooled in Jerusalem's top school of Rabbis. This, he says, explains how the religious authorities treated him before and after his trial.

Is there evidence for this view, and what difference would it make if it were true?

New Testament Scholar David Instone-Brewer debates the evidence with Adam.

For "The Jesus Discovery" website http://www.thejesusdiscovery.com/

To order the book http://www.templehouse-publishing.com/books.htm

For David Instone-Brewer see http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/index.php?page=david-instone-brewer

For his work on divorce & remarriage see http://www.instonebrewer.com/divorceremarriage/

For more Christian theological debates visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or via Itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 13 Feb 2010 - "What did Jesus really say about Divorce and remarriage?" - David Instone-Brewer debates Andrew Cornes

Unbelievable? 18 Oct 2008 - Why Should I believe in Jesus? Ex-Christian Norman Hansen vs. Amy Orr-Ewing of the Zacharias Trust

Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 5 Jun 2010 - Homosexuality and the church Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

In response to listener requests Justin hosts two shows dealing with Homosexuality and Christian faith.

This second show addresses whether the church is homophobic in its attitude towards gay people. Would a gay person feel welcome at an evangelical church? Should practising gays be allowed to become church members or receive communion? Has the church focussed on the gay issue to the exclusion of all other sins?

Mike Dark of the organisation "Accepting Evangelicals" is a gay Christian in a same sex relationship. He says he experienced rejection and homophobia in his church when he "came out" as gay, but has since found a church where same sex relationships are welcomed.

John Richardson (who blogs as the Ugley Vicar) is part of the conservative-evangelical Anglican group Reform. He believes there is a line to be drawn when it comes to the church condoning same sex activity among its members.

Martin Hallett is the former director of The True Freedom Trust. As a Christian of homosexual orientation he chooses to remain celibate, believing the Bible does not condone same sex activity. But he says the church is often guilty of homophobia too.

For Mike Dark see http://www.acceptingevangelicals.org/

For John Richardson see http://ugleyvicar.blogspot.com/ or http://www.reform.org.uk/

For Martin Hallett see http://www.truefreedomtrust.co.uk/

For more Christian theological debates visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or via Itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 22 Aug 2009 - "Does religion make people unhappy?" - Christian Apologist Tom Price & Atheist Barry Duke

Unbelievable? 18 Apr 2009 - Peter Kerridge, Terry Sanderson and Andrea Williams - "I am A Christian" - are Christians being marginalised in society?

Join the debate at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 22 May 2010 - Sex outside Marriage debate Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

Evangelical Christians hold that sexual relations outside of marriage are against Biblical mandate and have negative moral and social consequences.

In modern society, as marriage becomes less common and most people are sexually active from their teens, is this belief outmoded and irrelevant?

Sue Meyer describes herself as an "Atheist freethinking feminist". She claims that Christian marriage has historically been used as a way of subjugating women. She says that the modern climate where people are at liberty to have sex with who they want, when they want is a welcome change.

Faith Forster is one of the founders of the Ichthus Christian Fellowship network of churches in the UK. She says that the Biblical principle of keeping sex within the marriage bond is given for the good of both individuals and society.

For Faith Forster visit http://www.ichthus.org.uk/

You can hear more Christian/non-Christian debate at http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or via itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 19 Jan 2008 Abortion - pro-life vs. pro-choice.

Unbelievable? 30 Jun 2007 - Are evangelical Christians too exclusive?

Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 29 May 2010 - Homosexuality and the Bible Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

In response to listener requests Justin hosts two shows dealing with Homosexuality and Christian faith.

This first show addresses the main scriptural passages that relate to homosexuality. Are the prohibitions against same sex acts in the Old Testament relevant to today? What is the correct interpretation of the apostle Paul's writing on "homosexual offenders" in Romans, Corinthians and elsewhere? Were Jonathan and King David gay lovers?

Mike Dark of the organisation "Accepting Evangelicals" is a gay Christian in a same sex relationship. He believes that Old and New Testament prohibitions on homosexuality need to be understood in light of their cultural context and that they do not preclude faithful, loving same sex relationships today.

John Richardson (who blogs as the Ugley Vicar) is part of the conservative-evangelical Anglican group Reform. He believes the remit of scripture clearly stands against all forms of homosexual behaviour.

Jeremy Marks of the gay affirming Christian support organisation "Courage UK" explains why they had a radical change of mind on same sex relationships in 2000.

For Mike Dark see http://www.acceptingevangelicals.org/

For John Richardson see http://ugleyvicar.blogspot.com/ or http://www.reform.org.uk/

For Jeremy Marks see http://www.courage.org.uk/

For more Christian theological debates visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or via Itunes

If you enjoyed today's programme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 24 Apr 2010 - "Grill a Christian" show - four atheists challenge David Robertson with their objections to faith

Unbelievable? 13 Feb 2010 - "What did Jesus really say about Divorce and remarriage?" - David Instone-Brewer debates Andrew Cornes

Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Unbelievable? 8 May 2010 - Philip Pullman on the historical Jesus Jun 23, 2014

Show notes

"The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ" is the latest book from the pen of prominent atheist author Philip Pullman. It re-imagines the story of Jesus as the story of two twins - one called Jesus, the other Christ. It is the twin Christ who writes the history of Jesus, turning him into the God-man of the Gospels.

Philip Pullman joins Justin Brierley to discuss whether we should believe the Biblical stories of Jesus as historical fact or whether myth and invention are inevitable in the 2000 year old Gospel accounts.

Christian journalist Martin Saunders engages Pullman on his view of the Church and his scepticism of the miraculous while Bible Scholar Anthony McRoy challenges Pullman's view that the Gospels are the product of the mythologising and interpretation of its historical core. He particularly takes issue with Pullman's recasting of the resurrection as a fabricated trick to create the foundation of the future church.

For "The book of Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ" see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Jesus-Scoundrel-Christ-Myths/dp/1847678254

For a further debate between Philip Pullman and Rt Revd Lord Richard Harries courtesy of English Pen go to http://www.premierradio.org.uk/shows/saturday/unbelievable/features.aspx

For Philip Pullman see http://www.philip-pullman.com/

Martin Saunders is a contributor to Christianity Magazine and reviews the book in their June edition http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/

For Anthony McRoy on the historical Jesus see http://www.bethinking.org/bible-jesus/introductory/debunking-channel-4s-conspiracy-theory.htm

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 3 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Peter Williams - "Misquoting Jesus: Do we have the original writings of the New Testament?"

Unbelievable? 29 Aug 2009 - and the Eyewitnesses part 1 : Richard Bauckham and James Crossley

Unbelievable? 6 Sep 2008 Christianity on trial pt 1: Can I trust the Bible? Atheist lawyer Ed Turner vs Theologian Andy Bannister

Jon the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

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