Unbelievable?

Richard Dawkins describes the Old Testament God as "a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser" (among other things).  Paul Copan is a Christian apologist and has written a book aiming to show why God's actions in the Old Testament are not immoral when taken in context. Norman Bacrac is an atheist humanist and part ot the South place Ethical Society.  He believes that Old Testament morality was barbaric and we don't need a God to tell us how to behave.  He holds that God's morality is called into question if we take the Old Testament literally. So how do we interpret passages where the Israelites were commanded to wipe out whole towns including women and children? For Paul Copan and his book "Is God a Moral Monster?" see http://www.paulcopan.com/ For the Ethical Society see http://www.ethicalsoc.org.uk/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 16 Oct 2010 - The Moral argument for God Philosophers Arif Ahmed and Glenn People debate Unbelievable? 19 June 2010 - Does the Bible condone slavery? Bob Price & David Instone-Brewer. Unbelievable? 13 Sep 2008 Christianity on Trial - Part 2 Can we really look to the Bible and Jesus for morality? Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

"Love Wins" by US megachurch pastor Rob Bell has ignited a theological debate about the nature of Hell, the nature of God and whether all people will utimately be saved.  Bell joins Justin Brierley to discuss the book and respond to some of the key criticisms that have been levelled at it.  UK Church blogger Adrian Warnock disagrees with many of Bell's conclusions and believes he is swimming outside the stream of evangelical orthodoxy.  We also hear from listeners who have been tweeting and emailing their questions. A Video version of the debate will be available at the Unbelievable website soon http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable For Rob Bell see http://www.robbell.com/ For Adrian Warnock see http://adrianwarnock.com/ For more theological debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 19 Feb 2011 - Are there many paths to God? - John Hick vs. Chris Sinckinson Unbelievable? 17 Oct 2009 - The Evangelical Universalist - will everyone be saved? Robin Parry & Laurence M Blanchard Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Bart Ehrman is well known as a US New Testament Scholar who lost his Christian faith and now questions many core precepts of Christianity, including the Resurrection of Jesus.  When Mike Licona had doubts he devoted himself to investigating the evidence and became convinced that Jesus resurrection is the only rational explanation for the facts. They debate key historical facts about the resurrection - are the letters of Paul that report the resurrection and the Gospel accounts trustworthy or theologised and changed with time?  What about apparent contradictions between the Gospels? Does the consensus of scholars count as evidence, or is there a Christian bias?  Can a miracle count as an explanation for historical data? For Mike Licona  http://www.risenjesus.com/ For Bart Ehrman http://www.bartdehrman.com/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 3 Jan 2009 - Bart Ehrman & Peter Williams - "Misquoting Jesus: Do we have the original writings of the New Testament?" Unbelievable? 7th August 2010 - Adrian Warnock in discussion with Jonathan Clatworthy. Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Mark Vernon trained to be an Anglican priest before losing his faith to become an atheist. But he became disenchanted with that position too. Now he champions agnosticism. He says agnosticism is more than "sitting on the fence" and is a rich place of searching after the big questions. Church Pastor David Robertson debates with Mark on whether God is ultimately unknowable. David claims that Jesus has made God knowable and that a journey of searching only makes sense in order to arrive at knowing. For Mark's book "How to be an Agnostic" see http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Be-Agnostic-Mark-Vernon/dp/0230293212/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_6 For Mark Vernon's blog http://www.markvernon.com For David Robertson http://www.solas-cpc.org/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 5 Dec 2009 - Are we better off free from religion? Atheist Dan Barker vs. Christian Charles Foster. Unbelievable? 28 Mar 2009 - "Challenging Atheist myths" - Part 2 - Adrian Hayter & David Robertson on Godless Morality and the Immoral Bible. Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

6 months ago Sye Ten Bruggencate and atheist Paul Baird met to discuss Sye's presuppositional approach to proof of God.  Sye claims that the fact Paul believes in laws of logic, maths, science and rationality prove that God exists. The show was a popular download with many subsequent online debates.  They are back - Paul brings 6 months experience of debate on the subject online with him.  Sye responds to some criticisms we received of his approach, including whether one can prove full blown Christian belief from presuppositional apologetics. For Sye see http://www.proofthatgodexists.org/ For Paul Baird http://patientandpersistant.blogspot.com/ To see some of the discussion threads on Presuppositional apologetics created by the last programme see: Sye & James debate Presuppositional apologetics round 2 Presuppositional apologetics Sye & Paul Show Comments For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 31 July 2010 - Presuppositional apologetic proof of God Paul Baird and Sye TenBruggencate - the first time round Unbelievable? 21 Aug 2010 - Debating Apologetics Online Christians Todd Pitner & Richard Morgan with atheist Paul Baird Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

The Koran claims that Jesus did not die on the cross. Mohammed Bahmanpour of the Islamic College in London defends the Koranic view that although "it was made to appear to them" that he died, in fact he was substituted by another. Jay Smith is a Christian evangelist to Muslims in London and brings to bear Biblical and other historical witnesses to the crucifixion.  They debate the issue and whether the Koran or the New Testament is to be trusted as a revelation of God. Includes listener interactions with the guests. Jay will be speaking on "How do I respond to Islam? - 3 questions on God, Jesus and the Trinity that Muslims ask" at Unbelievable?: The Conference, Sat 14 May.  Book your place http://www.premier.org.uk/answers For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 4 Apr 2009 Muslim Shabir Ally & Christian Tony Costa - "Did Jesus rise from the Dead?" - A Muslim/Christian Dialogue Hear Jay in action in the Documentary "Up the Ladder in Hyde Park" in our Feature section - http://www.premierradio.org.uk/shows/saturday/unbelievable/Features.aspx Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Music often evokes strong emotions in people. But is there more to the beauty and meaning we find in music than atheism allows? David Robertson contends that the joy and meaning we experience in music is a pointer beyond itself to an ultimate source of joy and meaning in God. Gordon Livesey is a musician and an atheist. He contends that while we all experience emotions and meaning in music, it ultimately can be explained in scientific terms alone. They play selections of music including Beethoven, Leonard Cohen, Sixpence None the Richer, The Manic Street Preachers and... wait for it.. the Weather Girls! For David Robertson http://www.solas-cpc.co.uk For Unbelievable? : The Conference www.premier.org.uk/answers For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 27 March 2010 - " Former atheists conversion experiences - Is it evidence for God? Richard Morgan & Todd Pitner with atheist Gordon Livesey. Unbelievable? 21 March 2009 - "Challenging Atheist Myths" Pt 1 Christian David Robertson & Atheist Adrian Hayter. Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Today's show begins with details of the forthcoming Unbelievable? apologetics conference in London where Justin will be joined by speakers including John Lennox, Jay Smith, David Instone-Brewer and David Robertson. David Robertson joins Justin for a third round of sceptical questions from Unbelievable? atheist listeners. Andrew in the UK asks about Secular society, Amigo in Japan about trusting scripture and Rob in the Netherlands about Freewill in light of God's omniscience. For David Robertson http://www.solas-cpc.co.uk For Unbelievable? : The Conference www.premier.org.uk/answers For Amigojapan's full story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhAkY-pwUvg For more Christian/non-Christian debate visithttp://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcasthttp://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 4 Dec 2010 - "Grill a Christian: Round 2" David Robertson answers questions on miracles, hell and prayer. Unbelievable? 24 Apr 2010 - The "Grill a Christian" show - four atheists challenge David Robertson with their objections to faith Join the discussion at the Premier Communityhttp://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

In an age of religious pluralism it can seem arrogant for Christians to claim they have "the truth" or the only means to salvation.  So when Jesus said "no-one comes to the Father except through me" what did he mean? And what about those who have not heard the Gospel? John Hick is a noted philosopher and theologian who is a proponent of a pluralist view of religion - that there is one light (God) but many lampshades (religious expressions). Chris Sinkinson is a pastor and Bible tutor who has critiqued Hick's work.  He says that pluralism empties Christianity of any content and in its own way disrespects other religions more than his own exclusivist stance. For John Hick see http://www.johnhick.org.uk/ Chris Sinkinson is a tutor at Moorlands Bible College http://www.moorlands.ac.uk/home/about-us/staff-profiles.php For his book "The Universe of Faiths" http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Faiths-C-Sinkinson/dp/1842271067 For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 10 Oct 2009 - Jesus and the God of Israel Is the divinity of Jesus at odds with Jewish Monotheism? Richard Bauckham & James Crossley. Unbelievable? 23 May 2009 Buddhism & Christianity in dialogue Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

The UK Government recently outlined a White Paper that threatens to demote Religious Education to a peripheral subject in the curriculum.  More info on the campaign to have it reinstated here: http://www.reactcampaign.co.uk/ Mark Roques of Reality Bites regularly leads RE workshops for students - he says we need more engaging ways of teaching RE.  He also claims there is a hidden curriculum in education indoctrinating students into an individualistic, secularist worldview. Andrew Copson, CEO of the British Humanist Association also wants good RE teaching but disagrees with Mark's conclusions about hidden agendas in education causing consumerist attitudes among students. They also debate whether an atheist worldview can account for our belief in reason and freewill. For Mark Roques and Worldview RE resources see http://www.realitybites.org.uk  View the Reality Bites paper on secular indoctrination in education http://www.realitybites.org.uk/downloads/RealityBites_Education-Indoctrination-and-God.pdf  For Andrew Copson and the BHA see http://www.humanism.org.uk For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 29 Jan 2011 - Why do we value human life? Subversive Story Teller Mark Roques & atheist Paul Thompson Unbelievable? 2 Aug 2008 - Faith & School - do they mix? Jan Ainsworth & Andrew Copson debate. Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter