Unbelievable?

Latest Episodes:

Do we need to rethink petitionary prayer? Mark Karris & Steve Jeffery Mar 09, 2018

Show notes

Mark Karris is author of 'Divine Echoes: Reconciling prayer with the uncontrolling love of God'. He believes Christians often have the wrong idea both about asking for things in prayer and the God they are asking.

Steve Jeffery is the pastor of Emmanuel Church, North London and co-author of 'Pierced for our Transgressions'. He takes a Calvinist perspective and critiques Mark's view of prayer, sovereignty and what it means for our understanding of scripture.

For 'Divine Echoes' by Mark Karris: http://conspiringprayer.com/

For Steve Jeffery: http://www.northlondonchurch.org/

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

Mythicism debate: Did St. Paul believe in a real or 'celestial' Jesus? Richard Carrier vs Jonathan McLatchie Mar 02, 2018

Show notes

One of the leading voices in 'Jesus mythicism', Richard Carrier, joins Justin on the show. He debates his theory that the apostle Paul only believed in a 'celestial' spiritual version of Jesus, not a flesh-and-blood man.

Christian apologist Jonathan McLatchie defends the mainstream view, arguing that Paul's references to Christ, as well as the book of Acts and the Gospels, all provide evidence for a real person.

For Richard Carrier: https://www.richardcarrier.info/

For Jonathan McLatchie: http://apologetics-academy.org/

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

Debating ID – Can evolution explain the bacterial flagellum? Jonathan McLatchie vs Keith Fox Feb 23, 2018

Show notes

A bacterial flagellum acts as the outboard motor on a bacteria. But is the complex arrangement of parts that enable it to do its job a result of design or evolution? Michael Behe first opened the debate on the ‘irreducible complexity’ of biochemical machines in his 1996 book Darwin’s Black Box.

Intelligent Design proponent Jonathan McLatchie and theistic evolutionist Keith Fox debate whether Behe’s theory has stood the test of time, the bacterial flagellum and whether ID is a science stopper or theologically helpful.

For Jonathan McLatchie: http://apologetics-academy.org/

For Keith Fox: https://www.faraday.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/Biography.php?ID=174

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

Debating embryonic stem cells & biotechnology - Fuz Rana & Robert Stovold Feb 16, 2018

Show notes

Stem cells are an early development form of cells with the potential to turn into any part of the human system. They are used medically for regenerative therapy to treat many conditions. However stem cells have traditionally been harvested from early-stage embryos causing concerns for those who believe life begins at conception.

Fuz Rana a scientist with Reasons To Believe joins Justin to discuss a new technology that allows stem cells to be produced without the need for the destruction of embryos. He debates atheist biologist Robert Stovold who believes that Judaeo-Christian concerns about life should not inhibit research in biotechnology.

For Fuz at Unbelievable? 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask

For Reasons To Believe: http://www.reasons.org

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

Is it time to ditch the label ‘evangelical’? Frank Schaeffer, Randal Rauser & Sam Hailes Feb 09, 2018

Show notes

In the age of Trump, the term ‘evangelical’ is increasingly associated with right-wing political views and fundamentalism. So is the evangelical label a lost cause? Randal Rauser argues we should hold on to the term while Frank Schaeffer, son of the late Francis Schaeffer, argues we should ditch the evangelical movement his famous father helped to create.

Sam Hailes, the new editor of Premier Christianity magazine also joins the discussion commenting on his recent article ‘Can evangelicalism survive in the age of Trump?’ Get a free sample copy of the magazine at www.premierchristianity.com/freesample

For ‘What’s So Confusing About Grace?’ by Randal Rauser: https://randalrauser.com/books/

For ‘Letter to Lucy’ by Frank Schaeffer: http://www.frankschaeffer.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

Can we find God in a suffering world? Richard Harries & Michael Ruse (+ Jordan B Peterson debate preview) Feb 02, 2018

Show notes

Lord Richard Harries is the former Bishop of Oxford and a life peer in the House of Lords. His book ‘The Beauty And The Horror: Finding God in a suffering world’ (SPCK) delves into art, history and literature to show why Christianity can make sense of both the beauty and the tragedy of life.

He debates the search for meaning and beauty, and the question of why God allows suffering with atheist Michael Ruse, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University.

Towards the end of the show Justin also plays a preview clip of a forthcoming debate between popular Canadian psychologist Jordan B Peterson and atheist psychologist Susan Blackmore ahead of the launch of The Big Conversation dialogue series later this year.

For ‘The Beauty and the Horror’ by Richard Harries: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beauty-Horror-Searching-Suffering-World/dp/0281076936

For ‘On Purpose’ by Michael Ruse: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Purpose-Michael-Ruse/dp/0691172463

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

Boyd & Copan pt 2 - debating Amalekite destruction & Ananias and Sapphira Jan 26, 2018

Show notes

In the second part of their debate Greg Boyd and Paul Copan continue their conversation about Boyd's new book The Crucifixion Of The Warrior God in which Boyd sets out a new way of reconciling Old Testament violence with the love of God shown on the cross.

In this conversation they deal with specific examples of violence in the Old Testament such as the slaughter of the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15 and the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5z

For Greg Boyd's Crucifixion Of The Warrior God: http://reknew.org/book/crucifixion-warrior-god/

For Cross Vision: http://fortresspress.com/product/cross-vision-how-crucifixion-jesus-makes-sense-old-testament-violence

For Paul Copan: http://paulcopan.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

Greg Boyd & Paul Copan debate Old Testament violence and Boyd's new theology in Crucifixion Of The Warrior God Jan 19, 2018

Show notes

Greg Boyd's new 2-volume book The Crucifixion Of The Warrior God is a new theological approach to understanding Old Testament violence and warfare through the cross of Christ.

Greg engages in the first of two shows with theologian Paul Copan who holds to a "synthesis" view of how to understand OT violence and disagrees with Greg's theology.

Justin also announces booking open for Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: #JustAsk, on Sat 19th May. Check out the theme, speakers and early bird discount at www.premier.org.uk/justask

For Greg Boyd's Crucifixion Of The Warrior God: http://reknew.org/book/crucifixion-warrior-god/

For Cross Vision: http://fortresspress.com/product/cross-vision-how-crucifixion-jesus-makes-sense-old-testament-violence

For Paul Copan: http://paulcopan.com/

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

The Tim Farron affair: Are evangelicals no longer welcome in politics? David Robertson & Jonathan Bartley Jan 12, 2018

Show notes

During his time as leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Tim Farron was repeatedly questioned about his views on homosexuality and gay sex. When he resigned he said “To be a political leader and to live as a committed Christian, has felt impossible for me”. On a recent Premier Christian Radio interview he reignited the controversy by stating that he regrets saying that gay sex was not a sin.

Revd David Robertson of Solas Centre for Public Christianity and Jonathan Bartley of the Green Party react to the interview. David believes that Christians are being discriminated against if they diverge from society’s current views on sexuality. Jonathan, who is also a Christian, doesn’t believe that discrimination is happening and conservative Christians need to get used to new realities.

For the Tim Farron Interview: https://www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/Tim-Farron-Q-A-Why-I-resigned-why-it-matters-and-what-I-should-have-said-about-gay-sex

For David Robertson: https://theweeflea.com/ For Jonathan Bartley: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/people/leaders-of-green-party.html 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

Meet a Street Epistemologist: Pascoe Rapacci vs Cameron Bertuzzi Jan 05, 2018

Show notes

Street Epistemology has become popular among many atheists as a conversational way to interrogate people's spiritual beliefs. Popularised by atheist philosopher Peter Boghossian in his book "A Manual For Creating Atheists" the movement is now seeking to create 10,000 street evangelists for atheism.

Pascoe Rapacci engages regularly in Street Epistemology (though doesn't claim to speak for the movement as a whole). He engages with Christian apologist Cameron Bertuzzi of Capturing Christianity on whether Street Epistemology is a valid way of investigating the truth of people's beliefs.

For Street Epistemology: https://streetepistemology.com/

For Pascoe Rapacci: https://www.twitter.com/pocketpasc

For Cameron Bertuzzi's written dialogue with a Street Epistemologist: http://capturingchristianity.com/conversation-street-epistemologist/

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