Unbelievable?

Latest Episodes:

Is John’s Gospel historically accurate? Lydia McGrew & Craig Evans debate May 18, 2018

Show notes

Christian philosopher Lydia McGrew has recently accused evangelical scholars such as Mike Licona and Craig Evans, of undermining the historical reliability of John’s gospel. She cites Evans’ interactions with Bart Ehrman in debate as giving away too much ground to a sceptical view.

New Testament scholar Craig Evans defends his view that John’s gospel is historically reliable but also includes theological development by the Johannine community who knew Jesus’ teaching. Also, at the end of today’s show, Jonny Somerville, creator of the NUA film series talks about its impact on young people investigating Christianity.

For Lydia McGrew’s blog http://lydiaswebpage.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/jesus-never-said-i-am-statements.html

For Craig Evans https://www.craigaevans.com/

For the NUA film series: https://nuafilmseries.org/

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

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Is Christianity sexist? Paula Gooder & Francesca Stavrakopoulou May 11, 2018

Show notes

New Testament scholar Paula Gooder joins Justin to talk about her new book ‘Phoebe: A Story’ a fictional account of the life of the woman that St Paul entrusted with delivering his letter to the Romans. But have the ensuing centuries lost sight of the role of women such as Phoebe in the early church?

Sceptical Bible scholar Francesca Stavrakopoulou joins Paula to discuss whether Christianity is inherently patriarchal and sexist. They debate passages such as 1 Timothy 2: 11-12 and how much St Paul’s attitude toward women leaders in the early church contrasted with the prevailing culture.

For ‘Phoebe’ by Paula Gooder https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781473669727

For Francesca Stavrakopoulou http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/theology/staff/stavrakopoulou/

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievabl e

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

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How Can I Believe? John Cottingham & Richard Norman May 04, 2018

Show notes

Christian guest John Cottingham is a philosopher whose new book ‘How Can I Believe?’ offers advice on why belief in God can make sense and the human quest for the transcendent.

Atheist philosopher Richard Norman engages with John’s case for belief, and responds to the question: ‘What would it take for an atheist to believe?’ Richard is the editor of the book ‘Religion and Atheism: Beyond the Divide’.

For John Cottingham https://spckpublishing.co.uk/how-can-i-believe/

For Richard Norman https://www.routledge.com/Religion-and-Atheism-Beyond-the-Divide/Carroll-Norman/p/book/9781138891913

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Why would a good God allow evil? Sharon Dirckx & Hannah Timson Apr 27, 2018

Show notes

Sharon Dirckx of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics discusses the problem of suffering with Hannah Timson, head of Humanist Students UK. Hannah explains how she lost her faith in her late teens, in part because of the issue of suffering.

Drawing on her book ‘Why? Looking at God, Evil and Personal Suffering’ Sharon responds to Hannah as they discuss their different stories and the problem of evil.

For Sharon Dirckx http://rzim.org/bio/sharon-dirckx/

For Hannah Timson https://humanism.org.uk/students/

Vote for your top tough question at this year’s Unbelievable? conference https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Features/Unbelievable-The-Conference-2018/What-s-your-big-question-for-God-Vote-Now

Sharon Dirckx is speaking at Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Jordan Peterson, William Lane Craig & Rebecca Goldstein debate the meaning of life. A Podcast special. Apr 20, 2018

Show notes

A recent dialogue event at Wycliffe College, Canada saw Jordan B Peterson, Rebecca Goldstein and William Lane Craig in conversation on the question “Is there meaning to life?”

In this podcast-only edition of the show Justin introduces the event. One of the participants, Jordan B Peterson, has become an increasingly influential voice and will join Justin in person on Unbelievable? for the start of a series of special programmes called The Big Conversation in early June.

For the video of the Wycliffe College event https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/religionandsociety

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Can faith survive cancer and science? Gillian Straine & Alom Shaha Apr 13, 2018

Show notes

Rev Gillian Straine is an Anglican priest with a background in science. She tells the story of how she dealt with the spiritual and medical challenges of being diagnosed with cancer aged 21, as told in her book 'Cancer: A Pilgrim's Companion'.

She also shares news of a free public lecture by internationally renowned physicist Marcelo Glasier in London on Tue 22 May.

Atheist guest Alom Shaha is a secondary school physics teacher and engages with Gillian on the question of faith, illness and science. He shares his story of rejecting his Islamic upbringing after the death of his mother and how he fell in love with the world of science. Alom has recently authored a book of practical science experiments for kids 'Mr Shaha's Recipes For Wonder'.

For Marcelo Gleiser's free Drawbridge Lecture 'Unknowns in Heaven and Earth' on 22 May https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-drawbridge-lecture-tickets-39148003733

For Gillian Straine: http://www.gillianstraine.com/my-books/

For Alom Shaha: http://alomshaha.com/books/mr-shahas-recipes-for-wonder/

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: http://www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Bart Campolo & Sean McDowell: Why Bart lost his faith, why Sean kept his Apr 06, 2018

Show notes

Bart Campolo is the son of high-profile Christian speaker, author and sociologist Tony Campolo. Bart became a Christian in his teens and went on to run an inner city Christian youth ministry. However Bart recently announced that he had lost his faith altogether and become a Humanist chaplain.

Justin interviews Bart alongside Sean McDowell. Sean also has a well known father in ministry - Josh McDowell. But when Sean experienced his own crisis of faith he found the rational basis he needed to support his faith. Justin chats to Bart about the reasons for his deconversion as spelled out in a recent documentary 'Leaving My Father's Faith', and Sean responds to Bart's newly adopted Humanist perspective.

For 'Leaving My Father's Faith' documentary https://campolofilm.com/

For Sean McDowell: http://seanmcdowell.org/

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: http://www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Is death a tragedy for atheists, is resurrection wishful thinking for Christians? Glen Scrivener & Michael Collett Mar 29, 2018

Show notes

In this Easter weekend edition of the show Justin hosts a dialogue between evangelist Glen Scrivener (who is speaking at Unbelievable? 2018) and atheist journalist Michael Collett. Glen’s recent book ‘Divine Comedy, Human Tragedy: What is life?’ is an evangelistic book on why Christianity makes sense of the tragedy of death.

Michael Collett, an ex-Christian and a fellow Aussie, discusses why as an atheist he believes life can have meaning even if death is the end, and why he can’t believe in the joy of heavenly resurrection if there is also a hell.

For Glen’s book https://www.10ofthose.com/products/23634/divine-comedy-human-tragedy

For Michael Collett: https://twitter.com/collettmp

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Does Calvinism excuse sinners and make God guilty? Guillaume Bignon & Paul Franks Mar 23, 2018

Show notes

Calvinist theology holds that everything is pre-ordained by God. Critics say that such a deterministic view makes God morally responsible for evil and means that sinners can’t be blamed for their wrongdoing – after all they were predestined to do it. Guilluame Bignon, a French convert to Christianity who is now a Calvinist philosopher/theologian, seeks to answer these questions in his new book Excusing Sinners and Blaming God: A Calvinist Assessment of Determinism, Moral Responsibility, and Divine Involvement in Evil. He engages W Paul Franks of Tyndale University College, Toronto on the issues, who holds to a Wesleyan/ Arminian view of libertarian freedom. For Guillaume Bignon’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Excusing-Sinners-Blaming-God-Responsibility/dp/1532618654 For W Paul Franks: http://wpaulfranks.com/ For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Live in Canada. Andy Bannister & Justin Trottier debate the foundation of human rights Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

Justin hosts a public dialogue between Christian Andy Bannister and atheist humanist Justin Trottier, live on stage at the Apologetics Canada conference in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

In front of an audience of 1,400 they debate whether Christianity or naturalism provides a better foundation for the concept of universal human rights, followed by questions from the floor.

For Apologetics Canada https://www.apologeticscanada.com/

For Andy Bannister: https://www.solas-cpc.org/what-are-human-rights-based-on-andy-bannister

For Justin Trottier: https://equalitycanada.com/

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk

Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://www.premier.org.uk/shop

For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes