Unbelievable?

Latest Episodes:

Covid, Churches and the Frankfurt Declaration: Jamie Franklin & John Stevens debate Christian liberty and government overreach Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

As the global pandemic subsides, the way the Covid lockdowns were implemented in churches still divides Christians. The Frankfurt Declaration has been signed by church leaders who are concerned that civil and religious liberties are being eroded by Government overreach.

One of the signatories is Anglican priest Jamie Franklin, a co-host of the Irreverend podcast. He has been critical of the church's handling of Covid saying it fell into line with restrictions too readily. He discusses the issues with John Stevens of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC) who believes that the government mandates were appropriate for what was known at the time.

For Jamie Franklin: https://irreverendpod.com/

For John Stevens: https://fiec.org.uk/

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Classic Replay: The atheist prayer experiment results show - part 1 Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

From Nov 2012. The first of two shows where Justin was joined by Tim Mawson, the Oxford philosopher whose paper "Praying to Stop Being an Atheist" inspired the Atheist Prayer Experiment.

71 atheists and agnostics signed up to the experiment, comitting to pray for God to reveal himself to them over 40 days. Did anyone end up believing in God?

We revealed the results and heard from a variety of people who took part, including Andrew, Kendra, Laura, Cang & Freki as well as exploring questions that arose.

Was this really an 'experiment'? What does an atheist pray? Does it matter which god is being prayed to? Do the results have any bearing on the question of God's existence?

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Church abuse, leadership scandals & RZIM: Rachael Denhollander, Amy Orr-Ewing, Mike Cosper & Diane Langberg Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

Justin Brierley was joined by four guests and hundreds of attendees for a live webinar event 'Falling From Grace: Addressing power, leadership and abuse in the church'.

Panellists: Abuse survivor and advocate Rachael Denhollander; author, theologian and former RZIM vice-president Amy Orr-Ewing; Rise And Fall Of Mars Hill Podcast presenter Mike Cosper; and trauma and abuse specialist Diane Langberg. Justin Humphreys of the leading independent Christian safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight also joins the conversation.

For the resources from Thirtyone:eight: https://thirtyoneeight.org/unbelievable

Rachael Denhollander: https://rachaeldenhollander.com/

Amy Orr-Ewing: https://www.amyorr-ewing.com/

Mike Cosper: https://mikecosper.net/podcasts/rise-and-fall

Diane Langberg: https://www.dianelangberg.com/

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

• More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com

• For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live

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Classic Replay: Comedy & Christianity: Marcus Brigstocke vs David Robertson Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

Marcus Brigstocke is a well-known comedian on UK radio and TV. An atheist, he wrote the book "God Collar" about his problems with religion, but also why he wants to believe in God.

He chatted with David Robertson, who at the time led Solas, the Centre for Public Christianity. They talked about UK comedy's atheist leanings, Marcus' criticisms of both religion and new atheism, the problem of evil, the Old Testament and more besides.

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

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Angels, visions and near death encounters - Dale C Allison on whether skeptics can take religious experiences seriously Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

From rapturous joy to inexplicable terror, angelic encounters to near death experiences, New Testament scholar Dale Allison has researched a wide range of phenomena in his new book 'Encountering Mystery: Religious Experience in a Secular Age'. He tells of his own experiences and explains why they are more common than many people realise, and why skeptics shouldn't dismiss them out of hand. Justin also brings listener questions from atheists and believers.

For Dale's book 'Encountering Mystery': https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/8188/encountering-mystery.aspx

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

• More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com

• For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live

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Remembering Queen Elizabeth II - NT Wright, Gavin Ashenden & Ruth Jackson Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

As the world marks the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Justin Brierley presents a special edition of Unbelievable? speaking to New Testament scholar NT Wright about his memories of the queen when he preached for her as Bishop of Durham. Former chaplain to the queen Gavin Ashenden asks whether the end of her reign marks the end of Christendom in the UK, and Ruth Jackson reflects on the hope that comes with grief.

For Ruth Jackson's article: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/articles/we-mourn-the-queen-but-not-as-those-without-hope/13812.article

To offer prayers and tributes: https://www.premier.org.uk/prayers-of-thanksgiving-for-the-queen/

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

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• For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live

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Classic Replay: Is the Catholic Church the one true church? Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

Some of the key differences between Catholic and Protestant doctrine were explored in a friendly dialogue in this show from the archives. Roman Catholic Peter D Williams and Protestant pastor David Robertson debated The Pope, Sola Scriptura and justification by faith.

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

• More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com

• For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live

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Are the public ready to move beyond the science vs faith conflict? Nick Spencer & Katherine Mathieson Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

Katherine Mathieson, director of the Royal Institution and Nick Spencer of Theos discuss the recent report 'Science and Religion: Moving away from the shallow end', which surveyed the British public's attitudes towards science and faith. They explore questions such as: Why does the public believe there is a conflict? How has New Atheism played into the debate? Is science the only way of knowing truth?

For the Theos report: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/research/2022/04/21/science-and-religion-moving-away-from-the-shallow-end

For the Royal Institution: https://www.rigb.org/

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

• More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com

• For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live

• For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training-and-events

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Classic Replay: Egalitarian vs Complementarian views on men & women Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

A controversial blog post by Jared Wilson, quoting pastor Doug Wilson on the role of men and women in sex reignited the debate between complementarians and egalitarians.

Our guests on this episode from the archives were:

Rachel Held Evans: popular US author, blogger and speaker who believes the New Testament supports the equality of men and women in the church and in the home (Egalitarian).

Owen Strachan: theology professor at Boyce College, Kentucky who believes the Bible teaches that men and women have equal dignity but different roles in family and church (Complementarian).

UK church blogger Adrian Warnock joined the conversation too as we discussed reactions to the Wilson blog post, how to interpret verses in the Bible about women "submitting" to husbands and "remaining quiet" in church, and more.

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

• More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com

• For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live

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The 2 men who invented the war between science & faith - Tim O’Neill, Dave Hutchings & James Ungureanu Aug 26, 2022

Show notes

Podcast version:

In the 19th Century John Draper and Andrew White conjured up one of the most successful and enduring myths of the modern world - the supposed historical conflict between science and faith.

Justin explores their story with David Hutchings and James Ungureanu, authors of 'Of Popes and Unicorns: Science, Christianity and how the conflict thesis fooled the world'. They are also joined by Tim O'Neill of the 'History For Atheists' website, a non-believer who has established a reputation for critiquing his own side when they get things wrong.

At the end of the show Justin also speaks to director Christopher Shawn Shaw about the comedy movie 'Church People'.

For a 30% discount on 'Of Popes and Unicorns' use checkout code AAFLYG6: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/of-popes-and-unicorns-9780190053093?

For Tim O'Neill: https://historyforatheists.com/

For the movie 'Church People': https://churchpeoplefilm.com/

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

• More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com

• For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live

• For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training-and-events

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