Unbelievable?

Latest Episodes:

Unbelievable? 27 Feb 2010 - Faith in Britain - Andrew Copson of the BHA vs David Robertson Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

A year ago the British Humanist Association launched the "Atheist Bus Campaign" declaring "There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life".

Would we enjoy life and be less worried without belief in God in modern Britain? Where do humanist values come from? What about the role of faith in school and society? Their latest poster campaign urges that children should not be "labelled" with a faith position.

Andrew Copson Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association discusses the issues with Scottish minister and apologist David Robertson.

For the BHA see http://www.humanism.org.uk

For David Robertson see http://www.stpeters-dundee.org.uk/davidblog

For more Christian/Non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable of 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 Sep 2009 - "Would Europe be better off as an atheistic or Christian society?" David Robertson, Ed Turner & Richard Morgan

Unbelievable? 2 Aug 2008 - Faith & School - do they mix? Jan Ainsworth & Andrew Copson debate.

Check out the "Unbelievable?" TV debate on "Christian Origins" that won Gold at the 2010 Christian Broadcasting Council Awards here. http://player.premier.tv//Premiertv.aspx?AssetId=23b04461-0eec-4668-bc56-b93d6df14693

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

Unbelievable? 20 Feb 2010 - "Is Christianity good for us?" Michael Shermer vs. David Robertson Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

Are societies better off with the influence of Christianity? Are Christians more caring than atheists? What role should faith play in society?

Just some of the questions explored by atheist Michael Shermer and Christian David Robertson.

Michael Shermer is president of the US Skeptics Society and Editor of its magazine "Skeptic". He claims that there are various ways in which Christianity has had a negative influence on society and that a Christian worldview is unnecessary for living a good life.

David Robertson is pastor of St Peter's Free Church in Dundee, Scotland and author of "The Dawkins Letters". He says that true Christianity has been a force for good and continues to empower people to live better lives.

For Michael Shermer visit http://www.michaelshermer.com

For David Robertson visit http://www.stpeters-dundee.org.uk/

You can hear more Christian/non-Christian discussions 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? 25 Jul 2009 - Do miracles happen today? Atheist Michael Shermer vs Christian Adrian Holloway

Unbelievable? 12 Sep 2009 - From Atheism to Christian faith via richarddawkins.net - Christians Richard Morgan, David Robertson and Atheist Ed Turner

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

Unbelievable? 13 Feb 2010 - Two views on Divorce and Remarriage - David Instone-Brewer & Andrew Corn Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

This week: As part of Premier Radio's coverage of National Marriage Week we look at two different Christian views of Divorce and Remarriage.

Andrew Cornes is Vicar of All Saints Crowborough. He holds to the traditional understanding that Jesus taught divorce is only permissible for adultery, and that the Bible forbids remarriage.

David Instone-Brewer is a New Testament scholar from Tyndale House Cambridge. He believes the church has misunderstood Jesus teaching on divorce. He claims that Jesus was responding to "any cause" divorce - a Rabbinical view of divorce popular at the time.

They debate the Biblical and pastoral issues involved.

For David Instone-Brewer visit http://www.divorceremarriage.com

For his book "Divorce and Remarriage in the Church" (Paternoster) Click here

For Andrew Cornes visit http://www.allsaintscrowborough.org

For his book "Divorce and Remarriage: Biblical Principle and Pastoral Practise" (Christian Focus) Click here

For Christian/non Christian debate and theology 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 show you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 8 Aug 2009 Debating doctrine: Hell - Conditional immortality vs. Eternal conscious torment - James White debates Roger and Faith Forster

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

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

Unbelievable? 6 Feb 2010 - Do we need God to do Science? Steve Fuller & Thomas Dixon Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

As we look forward to the screening and debate around the film Expelled at Imperial College London on Sat 27th Feb (See www.premier.org.uk/expelled for info on extra screening & debate) two of the panellists join Justin to debate Intelligent Design.

Steve Fuller is Professor of Sociology at Warwick University. He features as a pro ID advocate in the film "Expelled" and was an expert witness in the USA "Dover Trial" of 2005 when ID was judged non-scientific.

Thomas Dixon is Senior Lecturer in History at Queen Mary University of London. He is critical of the film and the ID movement.

For Steve Fuller see http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~sysdt/Index.html

For his book "Dissent over Descent" click here

For his forthcoming book "Science: the art of living" Click here

For Thomas Dixon see http://www.history.qmul.ac.uk/staff/dixont.html

For his book "Science and Religion: a very short introduction" Click Here

Hear more faith debate at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes

If you enjoyed this show you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 16 Jan 2010 - "Expelled" the Movie - Intelligent Design theorist Stephen Meyer vs. Atheist scientist Peter Atkins debate Intelligent Design

Unbelievable? 27 Jun 2009 - "Is Christian faith at odds with science?" Atheist biologist PZ Myers & Christian biologist Denis Alexander

For tickets to the newly added screening and debate on Sat 27th Feb at 6.30pm visit www.premier.org.uk/expelled

Unbelievable? 30 Jan 2010 - Where was God in Haiti? Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

Hundreds of thousands died in the Haiti earthquake of Jan 2010. Many more are still suffering. So where was God?

Can we believe in an all loving, all powerful God in the face of such suffering and destruction?

Roger Forster of The Ichthus Christian Fellowship argues that God suffers with those affected. Atheist Gordon Livesey believes that if God existed he would act to intervene. Nick Peters, who himself suffers from disability, argues that the existence of evil does not preclude a loving, almighty God.

For Roger Forster's book "Suffering and the Love of God" visit http://www.ichthus.org.uk/Shop/

To support the DEC appeal for Haiti visit www.dec.org.uk

You can hear more Christian/non-Christian discussion at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes.

If you want to hear similar programmes:

Unbelievable? 10 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Richard Swinburne - "God's Problem: does the Bible fail to answer the problem of suffering?"

Unbelievable? 19 Apr 2008 problems with God - an Atheist and Christian philosopher debate

Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Unbelievable? 9 Jan 2010 - Bill Dembski & Norman Hansen on Natural Evil Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

William (Bill) Dembski is an American mathematician, theologian and professor of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX.

Bill returns to defend his latest Book "The End of Christianity" -an argument defending the Christian God against the argument of Evil.

How can natural evil and death that have existed for millions of years on an Old Earth view be reconciled to the view that the Fall brought these things into God's good world? Why does God answer some prayers and not others? Does free will exist?

Just some of the questions tackled by Bill as he engages with Former Christian Norman Hansen.

For Dembski's blog see http://www.uncommondescent.com/

For his book " The End of Christianity" Click here

For Norman Hansen see http://www.nrhansen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

For more Christian/non Christian debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy

Unbelievable? 10 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Richard Swinburne - "God's Problem: does the Bible fail to answer the problem of suffering?"

Unbelievable? 19 Apr 2008 Philosophical problems with God - an Atheist and Christian philosopher debate

Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? Group at the Premier Community

Unbelievable? 23 Jan 2010 - Abortion - Pro-choice Evan Harris MP vs Pro-life Sarah Macken Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

A re-broadcast of a compelling debate with listener input on the issue of abortion.

When does human life begin? Whose rights come first - the mother or foetus? Is disability grounds for abortion? Should the time limit for abortion in the UK be lowered?

This debate between Liberal Democrat Shadow Science minister Evan Harris MP and Pro-life advocate Sarah Macken is joined by listeners and emails as the questions get discussed from both perspectives.

For more Christian/non-Christian discussion visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may want to listen to:

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

Unbelievable? 12 Jan 2008 Human Fertilisation & Embryology - are we playing God?

You can join the debate at the Premier Community

Unbelievable? 16 Jan 2010 - "Expelled" The Movie - Stephen C Meyer vs. Peter Atkins Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

The documentary film "Expelled" is presented by US Actor Ben Stein and makes the case that scientists who question Darwinian orthodoxy and support Intelligent Design are being "expelled" from academia.

As the UK edition of the DVD is released we ask "Is freedom of thought at stake or is Intelligent Design out of bounds when it comes to biological science?"

Stephen C Meyer is co founder of the Discovery Institute in the USA and a major proponent of Intelligent Design. Peter Atkins is Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University and an outspoken atheist.

They both feature in "Expelled" and join Justin to debate the pros and cons of Intelligent Design theory.

Mark Haville who is bringing the film to the UK also joins the discussion.

You can order Expelled the DVD (UK edition) at Amazon Play.com and HMV (click for direct links) or via http://www.christianvideos.co.uk/

For details & booking for the Unbelievable? Screening of "Expelled" and debate at Imperial College London in February visit www.premier.org.uk/expelled

For Stephen C Meyer's book visit http://www.signatureinthecell.com/

For info on Peter Atkins visit http://www.secularism.org.uk/prof.peteratkins.html

For more Christian/non Christian debate visit 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? 2 Jan 2010 - Is there design in biology? Intelligent Design proponent William Dembski vs. Biology Professor Lewis Wolpert

Unbelievable? 21 Feb 2009 - DNA & the origin of life - the cosmic fingerprints of God? Perry Marshall and Peter Hearty debate.

Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Unbelievable? 26 Dec 2009 - Are the two Christmas accounts contradictory? Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

Matthew and Luke are the two Gospel writers that include narratives of the birth of Christ. The traditional Nativity Story is an amalgamation of the two accounts.

Critics claim the two stories do not match up. Barrister Charles Foster wrote "The Christmas Mystery" to show that Matthew and Luke are different, but reliable accounts of Jesus' birth. Atheist Robert Stovold believes that the stories are a blend of Pagan myth and later invention.

Evangelical scholar Anthony McRoy also joins in the conversation.

They debate issues such as Matthew's use of Old Testament prophecy, the Virgin birth, Bethlehem as the birth place and whether Luke dates the Census correctly.

For Charles Foster see www.charlesfoster.co.uk

To buy "The Christmas Mystery" click here

For Robert Stovold and his booklet "Did Christians Steal Christmas?" click here

Hear more Christian/non Christian discussion at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy

Unbelievable? 22 Dec 2007 - Did Christians steal Christmas?

Unbelievable? 20 Dec 2008 Virgin Birth: Fact or Fiction? Revd Michael Sayward debates Unitarian Sarah Tinker

Join in the discussion at the "Unbelievable" group on The Premier Community

Unbelievable? 2 Jan 2010 - Intelligent Design - William Dembski debates Lewis Wolpert Jun 05, 2014

Show notes

One of the world's leading Intelligent Design proponents joins Justin to explain why he believes biological life exhibits "specified complexity" that runs against Darwinian evolution.

William (Bill) Dembski is an American mathematician, theologian and professor of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX. He debates the issue of ID with atheist Lewis Wolpert, Emeritus Professor of Biology at University College London.

For Bill Dembski see http://www.designinference.com/ or his blog http://www.uncommondescent.com/

For Lewis Wolpert's Wikipedia profile see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Wolpert

For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or Get the podcast or via Itunes

If you enjoyed this porgramme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 18 Jul 2009 - Intelligent Design vs Evolution - Peter S Williams and Peter Hearty debate

Unbelievable? 30 Aug 2008 - Darwin vs Design - Dr. Tom Woodward & Peter Hearty

Join the discussion at the Premier Community