Undeceptions with John Dickson

Latest Episodes:

170. Evolution Revolution? Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

Since Charles Darwin’s 1859 book On the Origin of Species, evolution has been considered by many to be the final nail in the coffin of religion.

Because evolution is supposedly random - or indeed, blind - the argument follows that there is no design.

But recently, a quiet revolution has been raging among the top tier of evolutionary scientists.

The apparent randomness of evolution has come into question, and some experts now suggest there may be patterns, agency, and even intention behind it all.

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - click here.

CREDITS

Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actor today was Dakotah Love.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

169. Against Coercion Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

A popular myth is that when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, he forced everyone else to embrace the faith - or else face deadly consequences.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth.

It was under Constantine that the very modern-sounding ideas of freedom of religion and “justice for all” were first instituted.

These were revolutionary ideals, and they came from a very smart, learned Christian in the Emperor's inner circle.

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - https://undeceptions.com/podcast/against-coercion/

(00:00) - - One of history's great persuaders
(06:17) - - Persecution and the Crisis of the Third Century
(09:52) - - Christianity and Neoplatonism
(17:44) - - Lactantius: The Christian Cicero
(29:42) - - Lactantius and Constantine
(37:58) - - Constantine and religious tolerance
(46:38) - - Arguing Christian ethics from pagan philosophy
(50:13) - - Freedom of religion and Thomas Jefferson
(54:56) - - Lactantius and justice
(01:03:29) - - Five Minute Jesus
(01:07:58) - - Lactantius' legacy

CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

168. Virtue / Vice Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

In pop culture, we often enjoy watching - or reading - vice and virtue play out, with the former often far more exciting than the latter.

But what about real life? Do we still find vice “sizzling” (as one writer described it), and virtue stale?

At the heart of this lies a much deeper question: What good is there in pursuing the good?

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES: https://undeceptions.com/podcast/virtue-vice/

(00:08) - - Is virtue boring?
(05:18) - - What is virtue?
(11:14) - - What's valuable about the Middle Ages?
(15:23) - - Aristotle and the virtues
(18:10) - - Vice vs. Virtue
(28:02) - - The root of all evil
(31:58) - - The root of all good
(39:16) - - Rapid Fire Round: Virtue/Vice pairs
(46:13) - - Cultivating virtue
(55:14) - - Why pursue Christian virtue?
(58:55) - - Five Minute Jesus

CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Peter Kozushko is our North American representative, a contact point for church pastors who are interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out

REWIND: The Reformation Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

The Reformation remains a pivotal moment not just for the church, but for global history.

It permanently split the church, triggered wars, created new city-states, and even led, in the opinion of many experts, to the Enlightenment, Science, and the secularisation of the West.

When it came to covering the topic on Undeceptions, there was so much to talk about that we needed two episodes just to scratch the surface.

In this Rewind, we’re revisiting some highlights of those episodes.

SINGLE: Concert Hymn Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

On November 2, 2024, Chris Tomlin performed the world premiere of The First Hymn at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Ben Fielding joined him onstage that night to help gift this 1800-year-old song back to the world.

In this special, shorter episode, you get a front row seat to a fireside chat with Chris as he introduces the new First Hymn to the world, for the first time.

SINGLE: Christmas Peace Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

We attempt to make sense of the silly season, to explain why there really is “more to life”, and why the traditional Christmas story still holds the answers.

(00:00) - - Unwanted Christmas cards
(04:41) - - Diagnosing our festive illness
(08:49) - - Happiness or peace?
(10:35) - - Jesus the umpire
(13:10) - - The Prince of Peace
(18:55) - - Christmas and the Gulag Archipelago
(22:56) - - Christmas is good enough without Jesus, right?
(30:39) - - Jesus turns his face towards us

CREDITS

Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were the Undeceptions Team - wishing you a happy Christmas!

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

167. Nicene Creed Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

It’s probably the most significant of all church history’s debates: Was Jesus fully human, fully divine, or a hybrid of some sort?

1700 years ago, bishops from across the Christian world gathered in the city of Nicaea to settle this once and for all.

The outcome was three paragraphs which went on to represent the core of Christianity, and spell out who Jesus is - and who he isn’t.

(00:00) - - Jesus: Man or something else?
(08:44) - - Why did the Creed happen?
(12:19) - - Constantine's influence
(17:18) - - The key players at the council
(29:45) - - The Arian controversy
(42:02) - - The Trinity
(56:49) - - Five Minute Jesus
(01:01:23) - - Faith and the Creed
(01:04:19) - - Why does the Creed matter?

CREDITS

Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

166. Jesus Proof? Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

The first-century historian Flavius Josephus is the oldest source we have for the historical Jesus outside of the Bible.

His 90-word paragraph about Jesus - where he calls Jesus “the Christ”, and says Jesus “appeared to them [the disciples] alive again on the third day", spending a third day restored to life - has sparked centuries of debate.

Most experts think this paragraph has an authentic core, but has been embellished by a later Christian scribe.

But new scholarly evidence has emerged that might turn our understanding of Josephus - and what he wrote about Jesus - on its head.

(00:00) - - 90 Words
(10:39) - - Flavius Josephus
(14:20) - - Traitor or pragmatist?
(22:09) - - Josephus and James
(26:22) - - Testamonium Flavianum
(41:43) - - "Would Josephus really write that?"
(55:43) - - Josephus' networks
(01:08:41) - - What did Josephus really say about Jesus?
(01:13:42) - - What did Josephus really think about Jesus?
(01:15:49) - - Rethinking history

CREDITS

Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

165. Question Answer XV Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Why don’t Christians still follow the Laws of the Old Testament? Why did God create humans if so many are apparently destined for Hell? Is the ‘Golden Rule’ actually a Christian idea? John answers all these - and more - for our Season XV Q&A!

(00:00) - - Intro
(05:12) - - Why don't Christians still follow the Old Testament Law?
(14:49) - - Deep reading for non-readers
(19:41) - - Are Christians allowed to practise Old Testament laments post-Jesus?
(23:31) - - Why would God create a species destined for Hell?
(32:42) - - Why does the modern church look so different compared to the first-century church?
(38:47) - - Why did Joseph and Mary have to go to Bethlehem?
(49:55) - - The Golden Rule

CREDITS

Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne, and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is the online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

164. After Christendom Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Christianity no longer has the cultural sway it once held. But there’s always been a long tradition of Christians being flexible in engaging their culture—whether in ancient Rome, Viking Scandinavia, or modern America. So what does a ‘relevant’ Christianity look like in the 21st century?

CREDITS

Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors for this episode were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.