Unbelievable?

Decoding the Cosmos: Atheist Philosopher vs Christian Scientist on Fine-Tuning, Time, Incarnation & Alien Life Emily Qureshi-Hurst vs Sam McKee hosted by Andy Kind

Jan 8, 2026
Join philosopher Emily Qureshi-Hurst, an expert in the intersection of religion and science, and scientist Sam McKee, who embraces Christian theology, for a captivating discussion. They explore cosmic fine-tuning and the limits of physics, with Emily critiquing New Atheism and debating design arguments. Sam presents Christianity as a coherent worldview. The conversation dives into deep topics like resurrection, salvation, and the implications of extraterrestrial life, challenging listeners to consider the theological nuances of the universe.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Interdisciplinary Humility Beats Totalizing Science

  • Emily rejects New Atheism because it reduces religion to fundamentalism and insists science answers all important questions.
  • She argues interdisciplinary approaches better respect the richness of reality than a single totalizing explanation.
INSIGHT

Fine-Tuning Requires Explanation, Not Hasty Theism

  • Emily outlines the fine-tuning problem: physical constants lie in an extraordinarily narrow life-permitting range.
  • She insists the data demands explanation but cautions against jumping to theological conclusions from incomplete physics.
INSIGHT

Paley Caution: Today's Gaps May Get Physical Answers

  • Emily warns Paley-style design in biology was overtaken by Darwinian explanation and urges similar caution for cosmological design claims.
  • She highlights physics is incomplete, so design-like data might later get a physical account.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app