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Unbelievable?

Latest episodes

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Mar 14, 2025 • 52min

Does science point toward or away from God? Phil Halper vs Professor Paul Ewart (Oxford Physics) hosted by Sam McKee

Today's episode will seek to answer the age-old question: Does science bring us closer to understanding a divine creator, or does it steer us away from such a belief? Sam McKee, researcher and associate tutor in history and philosophy of science at Manchester Metropolitan University guest hosts and he is joined by two distinguished guests. Paul Ewart, an Emeritus Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. He has served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics. His research areas include fundamental atomic physics, quantum and nonlinear optics, and the design of novel lasers for spectroscopy. He has also focused on developing new techniques for optical diagnostics and gas-sensing for environmental monitoring. Debating with Paul is Phil Halper, a YouTuber who has interviewed many of the world's leading scientists, including Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose, and Alan Guth. Phil is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and was appointed journalist in residence at the Penn State Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos. He has been the lead author on several peer-reviewed papers in fields ranging from cosmology to neuroscience and philosophy. Phil's first book, 'Battle of the Big Bang: The New Tales of our Cosmic Origins,' co-authored with award-winning cosmologist Niayesh Afshordi, will be published by the University of Chicago Press in the spring of 2025. So listen below as Paul Ewart and Phil Halper engage in a compelling debate exploring the profound question: Does science point toward or away from God? Guest hosted by Dr. Sam McKee.
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Mar 11, 2025 • 1h 20min

Classic: Is there historical evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus? Justin Bass & Dale Allison

New Testament scholars Dale Allison and Justin Bass discuss their different approaches to the evidence for Jesus' resurrection in a show first aired in 2021. Bass, author of 'The Bedrock of Christianity: The unalterable facts of Jesus' death and resurrection' says the evidence from the core historical facts points to a resurrection. Allison, author of 'The Resurrection of Jesus: Apologetics, Criticism, History' is less certain that these facts lead us to a bodily resurrection. For more Justin Bass on Unbelievable https://youtu.be/LVUQAVQS1-U For more Dale Allison :https://youtu.be/FfUD1OkbSHw
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Mar 7, 2025 • 1h 12min

Islamic blasphemy law in Britain? Andy Bannister and Tim Dieppe hosted by Andy Kind

As the UK government announced the launch of a new Islamophobia council to define ‘anti-Muslim hatred/ Islamophobia’ on February 28th, the start of Ramadan, one thing is clear: This is a hot-button issue that raises serious questions about free speech, blasphemy laws, and the balance between protecting religious sensibilities and upholding open dialogue in a liberal society. Joining us on the podcast today are Andy Bannister from Solas CPC and Tim Dieppe from Christian Concern to tackle this complex but important topic. Together, we ask the tough questions: What is the controversy surrounding the definition of Islamophobia in Britain today? What are the chilling effects of unofficial laws on people of all beliefs? How does Islam view blasphemy, and does that perspective clash with modern Western ideals? And what will ultimately be the impact on British society?
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Feb 28, 2025 • 1h 26min

Classic: Why I believe with Professor John C. Lennox

This week, we revisit a conversation with Dr. John Lennox, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and renowned Christian apologist. Lennox shares his journey from growing up in Ireland to studying at Cambridge and defending his faith globally, from Russia to East Germany. He also reflects on his debates with leading atheists like Richard Dawkins, Peter Atkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Peter Singer. Don’t miss this insightful look into his life and work. Originally Aired: 20 Oct 2023
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Feb 21, 2025 • 1h

Is God’s hiddenness proof he isn’t there? Live Debate Theist Dr Max Baker-Hytch vs Atheist Dr Julian Baggini

If God exists, why isn’t His existence obvious to everyone? In today’s Unbelievable? debate, public philosopher Julian Baggini and Oxford University’s Dr. Max Baker-Hytch go head-to-head on the problem of divine hiddenness. Is God’s absence a test of faith, or is it evidence that He doesn’t exist? Can history, reason, and personal experience point to the divine, or are religious beliefs simply shaped by culture and psychology? Join us for a deep dive into faith, skepticism, and the mystery of God’s silence, as we explore one of the biggest challenges in philosophy and theology. 🔔 Subscribe now for more debates on faith, reason, and belief! SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/courses • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
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Feb 14, 2025 • 1h 9min

Faith vs. Science: does DNA editing challenge God’s plan/existence? Nick Spencer vs Sam McKee

In this gripping episode of Unbelievable? we're diving into one of the most controversial and thought-provoking debates of our time: the future of human evolution. 🧬 🚀 Will Genetic Engineering Reshape Humanity? Will AI Make Us Gods? 🌍 Can Faith Keep Up? 🤖 With the power of AI and genetic modification at our fingertips, are we playing God— or simply fulfilling our human potential? Joining the discussion are Sam McKee, Associate Tutor and PhD Candidate in the Philosophy of Science at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Nick Spencer, Senior Fellow at Theos Think Tank and author of Playing God: Science, Religion, and the Future.
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Feb 7, 2025 • 1h 8min

Does Suffering disprove God? Simon Edwards v Harry Amos

Can belief in a loving God withstand the reality of suffering? In this special live debate hosted in front of a live student audience in partnership with Youth For Christ in Aylesbury, Unbelievable? brings together two compelling voices to tackle one of the most profound questions in philosophy and theology: does suffering debunk the existence of a God? Can a good God allow such suffering? And does God send good people to hell? 🤔 Harry Amos – An agnostic atheist and blogger at The Book of Amos, who argues that the existence of suffering challenges belief in a benevolent God. 🙏 Simon Edwards – An adjunct speaker apologist from the OCCA, The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and author of The Sanity of Belief, defending the rationality of faith in the face of pain and hardship.  Together, they engage in a discussion on whether suffering makes God’s existence implausible—or if it actually points to something deeper. For More: Harry Amos: https://thebookofamos.wordpress.com/ X: @harryamos94 Simon Edwards: The sanity of belief: why faith makes sense https://amzn.to/3CNMgoo X: @simon_a_edwards
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Jan 31, 2025 • 1h 22min

Is the universe fine-tuned for life? Luke Barnes vs Martin Bauer with Philip Goff [recorded on location at Durham Uni]

Is the universe fine-tuned for life? And does physics point to God?  Tune in to the Unbelievable? Podcast for our debate this week which was filmed in front of a live audience at the University of Durham, with Prof. Philip Goff moderating.  We have two excellent physicists in the hot seats. Dr Luke Barnes is a senior lecturer at Western Sydney University and has published extensively on the fine tuning of physics for life. On the other side we have Dr Martin Bauer an associate professor in physics from Durham University, UK. Martin's research focuses on dark matter, and Higgs physics to name just two. This debate at Durham University was funded by the panpsychism and panentheism three-year project that Philip Goff and Andre Buchareth run at Durham University, which is currently funded by the John Templeton Foundation.  MEET THE GUESTS For Philip Goff: https://philipgoffphilosophy.com/ Philip’s book: Why? The Purpose of the universe https://amzn.to/3X3zklx https://x.com/philip_goff https://bsky.app/profile/philipgoff.bsky.social For Luke Barnes: https://researchers.westernsydney.edu.au/en/persons/luke-barnes https://x.com/lukebarnesastro For Martin Bauer: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/martin-m-bauer/ https://x.com/martinmbauer?lang=en #finetuning #reasonsforgod #sciencevsgod #physicists #astrophysics #debate #christianapologetics • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
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Jan 24, 2025 • 1h 21min

Is the Universe 5 minutes old? Did the universe begin with a cause? Dan Linford vs David Lu Debate the Kalām Cosmological Argument

How do we know the age of the Universe, really? Today's guest suggests atheists should believe our world is actually 5 minutes old… no, seriously!!In this episode, Vince Vitale hosts a fascinating discussion with David Lu and Dan Linford to explore a groundbreaking theory and its philosophical and scientific implications on the Big Bang, the existence of a Creator, and the age of the universe. 🔍 David Lu presents a novel argument suggesting the universe might only be five minutes old, challenging traditional cosmological beliefs. This bold claim ignites a lively debate on causation, time, and the very nature of existence. 💡 Dan Linford counters with philosophical and scientific perspectives, leading to a deep exploration of topics such as: The nature of space-time and causationProbability distributions of cosmic events and the Boltzmann brain problemEmpirical evidence vs. theoretical claims about the universe's ageThe validity of cosmological dating methods Together, they unpack whether the universe’s beginning requires a cause and explore how the interplay of science and philosophy shapes our understanding of reality. Meet the Guests:1️⃣ David Lu David is an MD-PhD Candidate at Stanford University and holds an M.Sc. in Philosophy, Science, and Religion from the University of Edinburgh. With a background in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale University, David has published in leading scientific and philosophical journals. 📚 Follow David Lu: 🌐 Linktree 2️⃣ Dan Linford Dan is an instructor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Old Dominion University. He is also a co-host of the Sci-Phi Podcast and co-author of Existential Inertia and Classical Theistic Proofs with Joseph Schmid. 🎙️ Follow the Sci-Phi Podcast for more deep dives into philosophy and science. 👉 Join the Conversation! What do you think? Could the universe truly be five minutes old, or is this just a fascinating thought experiment? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media! 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform or watch the full discussion on YouTube for more philosophical insights. #BigBang #Cosmology #PhilosophyPodcast #PhilosophyOfScience #SpaceTime #BoltzmannBrain #CosmologicalArguments #UniverseAge #ScienceAndReligion #Causation #DeepThinking #PodcastDiscussion #ExistentialQuestions SOCIAL LINKS: 🌐 Subscribe to the podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 🎥 YouTube Channel: Premier Unbelievable 📸 Instagram: @premier.unbelievable 🐦 Twitter/X: @unbelievablefe 📘 Facebook: Premier Unbelievable 🎙️ For more podcasts, articles, and bonus content: www.premierunbelievable.com
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Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 16min

Does God Exist? The Ontological Argument Debate 🤔✨ Dr Gavin Ortlund vs AOC favourite agnostic Joe Schmid

In this thought-provoking episode of Premier Unbelievable, host Vince Vitale is joined by two brilliant minds to unpack the ontological argument for the existence of God: ✨ Dr. Gavin Ortlund – President of Truth Unites, theologian, author, and YouTuber and 🎓 Joe Schmid – Philosophy PhD student at Princeton, metaphysics expert, creator of Majesty of Reason and Alex O'Connor's favourite young agnostic. In this thought-provoking episode, we explore: 🔹 Anselm's famous ontological argument and its philosophical legacy 🔹 A priori reasoning and what it means for theology and metaphysics 🔹 Modal arguments and the concepts of necessary vs. contingent existence 🔹 Critiques, including Kant’s objections and parody arguments This dynamic conversation unpacks the complexities of God’s existence, philosophical rationality, and the nature of being itself. Whether you're a philosopher, theologian, or curious skeptic, this episode will challenge your perspective and expand your understanding. 🌌📚 Meet the Guests: 1️⃣ Joe Schmid Joe is a Philosophy PhD student at Princeton University, specializing in metaphysics and philosophy of religion. He has co-authored the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on ontological arguments and written two books: Existential Inertia and Classical Theistic Proofs and The Majesty of Reason. On his YouTube channel, Majesty of Reason, Joe creates lectures and hosts philosophical discussions. 📚 Follow Joe Schmid: 🌐 Website: josephschmid.com ▶️ YouTube: Majesty of Reason 🐦 Twitter/X: @majestyofreason 2️⃣ Dr. Gavin Ortlund Gavin is the President of Truth Unites, a theologian, and author of nine books, including Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn’t and What It Means to Be Protestant. He holds a PhD in historical theology from Fuller Seminary and is a fellow of several esteemed organizations, including the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. Gavin also shares content on theology, apologetics, and church history through his YouTube channel, Truth Unites. 📚 Follow Dr. Gavin Ortlund: 🌐 Website: truthunites.org ▶️ YouTube: Truth Unites 📸 Instagram: truth.unites 👍 Facebook: Truth Unites Page 🐦 Twitter/X: @gavinortlund 👉 What do you think? Can the ontological argument prove God’s existence, or is it just a fascinating mental exercise? Let us know in the comments below! 🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform or watch the full video for more deep philosophical insights! #Philosophy #Theology #ExistenceOfGod #OntologicalArgument #Anselm #Metaphysics #Kant #Agnosticism #FaithAndReason #PhilosophicalDebate #GodExists #LogicAndReason #PhilosophyPodcast SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

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