Unbelievable?

What does it mean to be truly human in an age of artificial intelligence, declining religious belief, and rising spiritual hunger? Oxford mathematician and Christian apologist Professor John Lennox and cognitive scientist Dr John Vervaeke of the University of Toronto explore whether AI threatens or reveals our uniqueness, if meaning can exist without God, and whether spiritual transformation is possible in a post-religious age. Along the way, they challenge one another on the Logos, consciousness, and the enduring power of the Book of Revelation. Lennox draws from his new book, God, AI and the End of History, to argue for a Christian vision of wisdom and hope.

In the wake of the catastrophic and deadly 2025 floods in Texas, that caused widespread devastation, fresh questions are being asked about divine justice and human suffering. This classic episode of the Unbelievable? podcast from 2010 grapples with the topic of natural disaster in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, which claimed over 150,000 lives. The discussion brings together Roger Forster of the Ichthus Christian Fellowship, atheist Gordon Livesey, and philosophy student Nick Peters to explore the theological, philosophical, and emotional dimensions of suffering and natural disasters. While Forster and Peters suggest that suffering may have a place within God's greater plan, Livesey challenges the coherence of belief in a loving, omnipotent God in light of such tragedy. The conversation remains strikingly relevant today, as communities continue to wrestle with the meaning of good and evil in a broken world. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:09 The Haiti Earthquake: Facts and Figures 00:41 Panel Introduction and Initial Reactions 00:53 The Problem of Evil and Suffering 02:52 Personal Stories and Perspectives 04:38 Atheist Perspective on Suffering 09:10 Philosophical and Theological Debates 10:41 Listener Reactions and Further Discussion 13:43 God's Role in Human Suffering 17:25 Debating God's Omnipotence and Love 24:52 Summarizing Arguments and Next Steps 31:21 The Problem of Evil and Natural Disasters 31:55 Human Responsibility and the Role of God 33:55 Nancy's Perspective on God's Power 35:35 Gordon's Skepticism and Human Limitations 37:43 Roger's Explanation of Human History and Divine Purpose 43:25 Debating the Nature of Good and Evil 50:14 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Join Dr. Joe Rigney, a theology fellow and author of The Sin of Empathy, as he argues that unchecked empathy can be sinful. He squares off with Dr. Alastair Roberts, a theologian and co-author of Echoes of Exodus, who advocates for a more nuanced view. They dive into the moral complexities of empathy, its role in pastoral care, and the importance of balancing compassion with truth. From scriptural foundations to discussions on masculinity in relationships, this dialogue challenges listeners to rethink the nature of empathy in a modern context.

Justin Brierley moderates a thought-provoking discussion between Theo Hobson, author of 'God Created Humanism,' and Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association. The conversation examines whether humanist values of equality and human dignity are rooted in Christianity's shaping of Western culture or can develop independently from a secular perspective. What are the origins of secular humanism? And what is the sustainability of humanist values without religious foundations? This dialogue from 2017 explores the historical and philosophical underpinnings of modern humanism. For more of Theo Hobson and his book https://theohobson.wordpress.com/ Andrew Copson’s book is The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of • 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

This week on Unbelievable. Do animals go to heaven? Do humans become angels? Do we start families in the afterlife? And what about reincarnation? Is that really off the table for Christians? Andy Kind spoke with Princeton theologian Dr. Dale Allison Jr. and rising scholar Andrew Hronich for a mind-expanding conversation on heaven, what it is, who's there, and what we might do for eternity. You will not want to miss this one! 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://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • 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: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate

More than a decade ago, Unbelievable? brought together two experts with very different conclusions about the Shroud of Turin—one of the most mysterious and debated Christian relics. Dr Alan Whanger, who devoted years to studying the Shroud, claimed to identify faint images and markings that point to its origins in 1st-century Israel. Meanwhile, Hugh Farey, editor of The Catholic Shroud of Turin Newsletter, has spent decades critically examining the Shroud literature and argues the evidence strongly supports a medieval origin. Latest Developments (2020s): Since that episode aired, there have been further scientific investigations and renewed debates. In 2017, Italian researchers used new dating techniques (notably, Raman spectroscopy and FTIR analysis) to argue for a possible 1st-century origin—challenging the 1988 carbon dating that placed the Shroud in the 13th or 14th century. However, these newer findings remain controversial and have not overturned the scientific consensus. The Shroud continues to spark interest not only among believers and sceptics, but also in fields as diverse as history, forensic science, and art restoration. For Alan Whanger: http://people.duke.edu/~adw2/shroud/ For Hugh Farey: https://www.shroud.com/bstsmain.htm

What grounds morality... and who counts? Is morality hardwired into us by evolution, shaped by culture, or guided by religion? In this live edition of the Unbelievable? Podcast recorded in London and hosted by public philosopher Jack Symes, four leading thinkers explore the origins and future of ethical thought. From the role of emotions in our moral choices to the ethics of animal rights and cross-cultural disagreements, this conversation tackles one of humanity’s most enduring questions: what does it mean to be good? Joining us are: Peter Singer: World-renowned utilitarian philosopher and animal rights advocate (Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University)Jessica Frazier: Oxford scholar of comparative religion and Indian philosophy (Fellow, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies)Richard Swinburne: Leading Christian philosopher and defender of theism (Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Oxford)Alex O’Connor: Atheist thinker and host of Within Reason PodcastProduced by Theora Media x Unbelievable? x Within Reason, 00:00 Exploring the Roots of Morality 05:13 The Evolution of Moral Reasoning 11:00 The Role of Emotions in Ethics 17:33 Moral Disagreement and Its Implications 23:52 The Intersection of Ethics and Religion 30:04 Animal Rights and Moral Considerations 36:32 Cultural Perspectives on Morality 42:52 The Future of Moral Philosophy Link to related content Alex O'Connor debates Ben Shapiro https://youtu.be/yspPYcJHI3k and Richard Swinburne debates Philip Goff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQmBJDc2FCY For Today's Guests: Richard Swinburne: users.ox.ac.uk/~orie0087 Jessica Frazier: theology.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-jessica-frazier Jack Symes: jacksymes.co.uk Alex O’Connor: alexoconnor.com Peter Singer: petersinger.info 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

In this 2015 episode of Unbelievable, host Justin Brierley moderates a discussion between Christian advocate for Intelligent Design Jonathan McLatchie and atheist blogger Corey Markum. The debate centres on whether God or another form of intelligence is the best explanation for the complexity and apparent design observed in nature. The conversation addresses scientific arguments, the potential biases inherent in human perception of design, and theological implications, especially in regard to the problem of suffering and 'poor' design in biological systems. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:43 Corey Markham's Journey to Atheism 05:51 Jonathan McClatchy's Interest in Intelligent Design 09:44 Defining Intelligent Design 15:48 Corey Markham's Psychological Perspective on Design 20:47 Philosophical and Scientific Critiques of Intelligent Design 26:54 Debating the Validity of Intelligent Design 34:07 Questioning Biological Design 34:33 Possibility of Natural Explanations 35:55 Debating Intelligent Design 38:10 Common Ancestry vs. Intelligent Design 40:11 Scientific Hypotheses and Worldviews 44:14 The Role of Theism in Science 47:56 Evidence and Inference in Intelligent Design 54:55 Challenges to Intelligent Design 58:18 The Problem of Suffering and Design 01:03:14 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions • 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

Are we slaves to our genes, and is who we are already written in our DNA? In this live edition of Unbelievable?, recorded at Aylesbury High School, Andy Kind is joined by humanist physicist Dr. Simon Walker-Samuel and Christian biologist Dr. Denis Alexander for a lively and thought-provoking debate on genetics, free will, and what makes us… us. From CRISPR and epigenetics to moral responsibility, determinism, and the question of "the soul", this conversation dives deep into whether our genes define our destiny, or if there's more to the human story. Are we morally responsible if we’re biologically programmed? Can science detect a “soul”? What do twin studies reveal about nature vs nurture? And do your genes influence your beliefs? Are we just highly evolved biological machines? Or is there something that transcends our biology? 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://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • 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: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate

In this classic, Unbelievable? podcast episode hosted by Justin Brierley, the discussion centres around the nuanced relationships between faith and doubt from 2019. Senior Pastor Dominic Done talks about his book 'When Faith Fails,' sharing his journey through a significant period of questioning and how he rebuilt his faith. In contrast, Andrew Whyte, co-host of the 'Doubts Allowed' podcast, shares how his journey of doubt led him from Christianity to agnosticism. They examine various aspects of doubt - its origins, its implications, and how it can be both corrosive and life-giving. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 02:00 Dominic's Faith Journey and Cultural Context 08:52 Andrew's Journey from Faith to Agnosticism 17:33 Dominic's Struggles with Doubt and Suffering 26:01 Exploring Doubt and Unbelief 38:28 Exploring the Depths of Belief and Doubt 38:47 The Challenge of Diverse Religious Beliefs 41:36 Deconstructing and Reconstructing Faith 42:59 The Role of Doubt in Strengthening Faith 46:38 The Importance of Foundational Beliefs 49:46 Personal Journeys Through Faith and Doubt 53:04 The Intersection of Faith, Morality, and Evidence 01:08:11 Final Thoughts on Faith and Doubt