Undeceptions with John Dickson

Latest Episodes:

REWIND: Jesus Philosopher Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

The cliche: ‘faith’ is the antithesis of knowledge, of wisdom and therefore “Christian philosophy” is an oxymoron, right? For this Undeceptions rewind, we speak to two Christian philosophers who explain why that’s not the case. Available now, wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like what you hear, listen to the episode in full: Episode 57 'Jesus Philosopher'.

REWIND: Danger - Proselytising Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Why are Christians such god-botherers? Is it possible to share your belief system with someone who doesn’t accept it without being a jerk? In this Undeceptions rewind, we revisit a conversation about why Christians are so committed to sharing their faith with others - and why, if done right, it can be life changing.

If you like what you hear, listen to the episode in full: Episode 33 'Danger: Proselytising'.

Introducing Small Wonders season 4 Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Words can change lives – whether on paper, on screen, or spoken down a phone line.

A library has an abundance of words – and an abundance of opportunities to change a life.

After a long break, Laurel Moffatt returns with season 4 of Small Wonders!

Undeceptions is pleased to introduce our listeners to this podcast in our network. Each episode of Small Wonders offers a brief but piercing look into a topic. The clarity the desert brings. Hurricanes and hard relationships. Finding reason in the middle of a ruin.

These quiet but profound observations about life uncovers lessons learned. Lessons from broken and beautiful things that are polished to perfection and set in rich audio landscapes for your consideration.

Subscribe to Small Wonders wherever you get your podcasts.

147. On Hell Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Hell is one of the most difficult parts of Christian belief - but of all the characters in the Bible, no one comes close to using the word "Hell" as much as Jesus does.

So, what did he mean, how is it plausible, and what does it matter?

REWIND: Kingdom Come Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

As we gear up for a special episode on the difficult topic of Hell, we first bring you this Undeceptions Rewind looking at what the Bible says about Heaven. This rewind is from episode 64 'Kingdom Come'

146. Question Answer XIII Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Is Christianity an offshoot of an ancient fertility cult? Why do the Gospels only talk about Jesus' genealogy in connection to Joseph? Is there a place for Christian patriotism?

John answers all these and more in our Season XIII Q&A!

(00:00) - - Intro
(04:16) - - Missionaries
(12:02) - - Anglicanism
(16:06) - - Resurrection science
(23:39) - - Intellectuals who don't convert
(29:38) - - Jesus' genealogies
(33:36) - - Christian fertility cult
(40:07) - - Biblical patriotism
(49:39) - - Just war

145. Second Act Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

The Acts of the Apostles is the epic sequel to Luke's Gospel.

It follows the dramatic events immediately after the resurrection of Jesus, and follows how the first Christians - led by perhaps the most unlikely person - took the news of the Messiah to the edges of the Roman Empire - and beyond.

(00:10) - - A Biblical sequel
(04:50) - - The genre of Acts
(10:33) - - Luke
(21:36) - - Gallio
(27:28) - - A Roman World
(31:31) - - The first evangelists
(35:58) - - Acts 17
(46:28) - - Five Minute Jesus
(49:01) - - The true myth
(55:56) - - How did Christianity spread?
(01:03:27) - - Imperial faith
(01:08:59) - - The end of Acts
(01:13:53) - - The meaning of it all

144. Into Wine Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

If we’re talking only about liquids you drink—because the water in the Bible is washed in, crossed over, and even walked on once—wine is no.1.

Wine appears more than 200 times in the Bible. And almost all of them are positive references—not critiques.

Christianity has a long, rich history with wine. But oftentimes, we’ve made it much more complicated and, at times, harmful.

(00:00) - Chapter 1
(02:36) - - Wine in the Bible
(04:52) - - Meeting Gisela
(09:16) - - Different drinking cultures
(13:32) - - Alcohol in America
(17:54) - - Wine in the Old Testament
(23:36) - - Jesus and the wedding of Cana
(27:30) - - 5 Minute Jesus
(35:19) - - Early Christianity and wine
(40:57) - - Monks, nuns, and booze
(46:17) - - When to stop drinking
(49:04) - - Drinking as a sin
(55:00) - - Holy tipsiness
(59:09) - - Alcoholism
(01:02:13) - - The Godliness of wine

143. Virgin Mary Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

There's just something about the Virgin Mary.

She stirs up big feelings - she has for millennia.

Some have perhaps given her more prominence than she would feel comfortable with.

Others have hacked down her statues in reforming zeal.

Others never think about her, except when they come across a nativity scene in a shopping mall (and even that’s becoming a rarity).

So, it’s time we met Mary properly this Christmas.

(06:10) - - Mary in the New Testament
(08:50) - - Daily life for Mary
(13:46) - - The conception of Jesus
(18:42) - - Science vs. the Virgin Birth
(24:54) - - The Incarnation
(32:24) - - Was Mary always a virgin?
(41:12) - - Mary as mother
(43:41) - - The Magnificat
(49:39) - - Mary the prophet
(52:13) - - Mary, after the Bible
(53:24) - - The Assumption
(58:51) - - Can Mary hear our prayers?
(01:03:40) - - Have we sidelined Mary?
(01:07:25) - - Mary for the modern church
(01:10:13) - - Christianity and sexism

142. First Hymn Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

In the 3rd century, in the Ancient Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus, a group of Christians composed a song of praise set to the pagan music of the time.

Now, 1800 years later, John Dickson is working with two of the world's best songwriters to bring this lost song - this First Hymn - back to life.

Along the way, they make some incredible discoveries about early church music, shedding light on what the earliest Christians believed.

This is the first in a three-part podcast series on The First Hymn Project - taking its name from the forthcoming Undeceptions documentary, to be released at Easter 2025.

(00:10) - - Singing the First Hymn
(06:31) - - How the project began
(09:10) - - Music in the ancient world
(16:20) - - Christian music in the ancient world
(20:22) - - Egyptian Christianity
(24:02) - - The Oxyrhynchus discovery
(29:24) - - The music of the First Hymn
(35:51) - - The message of the First Hymn
(44:01) - - Hymns throughout the New Testament
(48:18) - - 5 Minute Jesus
(54:18) - - The purpose of hymns
(56:15) - - The First Hymn performed by the Wheaton Choir
(57:49) - - Connecting Christians through history
(59:07) - - Chris Tomlin, Ben Fielding, and the First Hymn

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