Undeceptions with John Dickson

Latest Episodes:

141. Bible Genres Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

With 66 different books composed across literally thousands of years, it's fair to say the Bible is a complex read. But it doesn't have to be. The key to understanding the Bible is understanding the different literary genres.

140. Disenchanted Age Dec 02, 2024

Show notes

The great project of the Enlightenment was to bring reason to the forefront.

No more would humans be held back by superstitions: the power of the mind was all that was needed for advancement.

Three centuries on though, and some people are beginning to think the pendulum has swung too far.

Celebrated journalist and public intellectual Stan Grant joined John onstage in Sydney for a live recording of Undeceptions to discuss this new disenchanted age.

(02:19) - - Introduction: Everything we wished for is here, and that's a problem
(07:55) - - Stan Grant arrives
(08:56) - - The Voice to Parliament
(14:38) - - Stan on St Augustine
(16:43) - - Stan's early life
(19:48) - - Beginning a career in journalism
(31:38) - - What makes you 'Australian'?
(34:57) - - Deconstructing the Enlightenment
(41:45) - - Truth-telling
(43:28) - - Stan's theological journey
(49:43) - - Reflections of suffering
(56:01) - - 5 Minute Jesus
(01:00:02) - - Hasn't Christianity done terrible damage to Indigenous cultures?

139. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

A new movie has been released this week about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who was killed by the Nazis for his involvement in a plot to kill Hitler.

Bonhoeffer's fame has ballooned into a kind of mythology that has seen people of all stripes "claim" him as their own. But our guest for this episode says that if we only think of him as a “hero” for our cause, we may miss important pieces of Bonhoeffer’s complex life and thinking.

So, who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer and why does he still matter?

(04:47) - - Bonhoeffer's Germany
(13:13) - - The Nazi Church
(22:59) - - Bonhoeffer's career begins
(30:36) - - Bonhoeffer begins to speak out
(40:20) - - Bonhoeffer joins a resistence
(46:55) - - The plot to kill Hitler
(50:51) - - Bonhoeffer's ethical theory: how he might have justified killing Hitler
(58:09) - - Imprisoned by the Nazis
(01:00:21) - - Bonhoeffer is executed
(01:04:59) - - What we get wrong about Bonhoeffer
(01:08:11) - - Jesus: the man for others

SINGLE: Environmental Jesus Nov 18, 2024

Show notes

Sam Allberry was involved in environmental activism when he became a Christian - a development that his activist friends saw as bad news.

After all, why would a follower of a religion that looks forward to the coming of a new Earth be concerned with the state of the current world?

For Sam though, becoming a Christian led him to a very different conclusion.

SINGLE: 39 Books Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

The Old Testament is sacred not just to the Christian but also to the Jewish religion. Its 39 books cover thousands of years with an array of literary genres including poetry, history, creation myth, apocalyptic, and song.

It can be confusing and overwhelming - but luckily, John happens to work in the same building as a leading expert on it all who gives us a quick rundown in this special Single.

REWIND: Global Christianity Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

The 21st century has seen—and will continue to see—the rise of Christianity in the ‘Global South’, with surging conversion numbers in Asia and Africa. That’s according to Gina Zurlo, a leading authority on Christian demographics, and our guest on episode 75, ‘Global Christianity’. According to Gina, while the Western world is grappling with secularism, a new spiritual awakening of sorts is taking hold in the world’s two most populous nations, China and India.

This is our next Undeceptions Rewind, where we resurface some of the best bits of our older episodes that might have been mostly forgotten (but hopefully not misunderstood!) In this episode, we feature snippets of both Episode 17 'Hindu Priest', and Episode 75 'Global Christianity'.

REWIND: Christian Revolution Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

We interviewed Tom Holland, historian and co-host of the extraordinarily popular podcast The Rest is History, back in 2021 for episode 45, Christian Revolution.

At the time Tom wouldn’t have called himself a Christian (and we won't speak for him now), but he was adamant that not only is Christianity good, but our very sense of what good is comes from Christianity.

Check out our first Undeceptions Rewind, where we resurface some of the best bits of our older episodes that might have been mostly forgotten (but hopefully not misunderstood!)

138. Van Gogh Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

Artists have used their tools not just to capture beauty and transcendence, but also the essence of what it means to be human.

In this episode, we learn from history's greatest artists about loss, hope, the ugly, and the sublime.

What lessons can we take from these broken artists? What might their observations about the world tell us about God?

(04:39) - - Creations and experiences
(12:55) - - Albert Bierstadat
(16:09) - - Artemisia Gentileschi
(21:18) - - Vincent Van Gogh
(31:33) - - The Yellow House and the Ear episode
(38:35) - - Van Gogh and faith
(46:21) - - Five Minute Jesus
(51:09) - - Transcendence

137. Bible Unlocked Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

Is there a "right" way to read The Bible?

Millennia of Ink has been split trying to answer that question.

Surely if The Bible is God's word it should be easier to understand, right?

Well, some experts think there is a right way to read scripture. What we need is a key to unlock The Bible for us.

(00:48) - - The Rossetta Stone
(05:02) - - Reading theologically
(07:43) - - What are hermeneutics?
(13:28) - - The three laws of hermeneutical motion
(17:16) - - Reading cultures
(19:16) - - Frames of reference
(22:06) - - Our spiritual baggage
(25:04) - - Reading The Bible above our own interests
(29:01) - - Hermeneutics in The Enlightenment
(32:05) - - Five Minute Jesus
(38:09) - - The Transfiguration
(43:50) - - The key to unlocking The Bible
(50:50) - - Where to start when reading The Bible
(55:22) - - Why is Kevin struck by The Bible?

136. Question Answer XII Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

Why did God make the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Can Christians smoke weed? Why does God allow natural disasters to happen? John Dickson tackles your questions in one of our best Q&A episodes yet!

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