Unbelievable?

As Pope Benedict XVI undertakes a four day tour of Britain we explore the theology of the Roman Catholic Church. What is the Catholic view of the role of the Pope?  How do they ground his authority as head of the church in Scripture?  Is he God's representative or mediator on earth?  What does it mean to speak of his "infallible" statements? Is Catholic tradition a part of God's revelation alongside scripture? William Johnston was ordained in the Anglican Church before going "over to Rome" because of a felt lack of authority in the Anglican church.  He says the Pope's role as ultimate arbiter of authority in the church is essential. Duncan Boyd of the Protestant Truth Society believes Roman Catholicism is a false religion and the Pope is a heretic.  He argues that the role of the Pope is unscriptural along with many of the doctrines of the Catholic church. For more on Roman Catholic teaching see http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/Catholic-Church/what_does_the_catholic_church_teach/catechism For William Johnstone http://www.catholicvoices.org.uk/team For the Protestant Truth Society see http://www.protestant-truth.org/ For Duncan Boyd http://protestant-truth.org/aboutus/duncan_boyd.html For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 11 Sep 2010 - "Is the Catholic Church a force for Good or Evil?" - Catholic Peter D Williams & Humanist Andrew Copson Unbelievable? 16 May 2009 - A Response to Angels & Demons - Ged Clapson, Susan Fani, David Wilkinson & Robert Stovold Join the debate at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

We return to listener questions on whether Hawking was right or wrong to dismiss God as a cause of the universe in his new book "The Grand Design". John Polkinghorne is a theoretical physicist and Anglican Priest in Cambridge.  Hugh Ross is a Christian physicist and founder of "Reasons to Believe". They tackle questions on whether the multiverse is really an alternative to God in explaining our fine-tuned universe. What physicists really mean when they say the universe came into being "out of nothing", and whether the massive size of the universe makes our existence insignificant. For Hugh Ross see http://www.reasons.org/resources For John Polkinghorne see http://www.polkinghorne.net/ For more debates and discussions visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or via Itunes Join the discussion at the "Unbelievable?" group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

With the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the UK, some are protesting that his visit should not be sponsored by the State.  They say that the Catholic church is a force for bad in the light of its record on human rights, child abuse and past persecution. Peter D Williams, a young "revert" to Catholicism from atheism argues the Catholic church's record of wrongs has been overstated and misunderstood and that it remains the most beneficial institution in the world today.  Andrew Copson, Director of the British Humanist Association and part of the Protest the Pope Coalition argues that the Pope should not visit the UK in the manner of a head of State and that the record of the Catholic church undermines its claim to be a force for good. For Peter D Williams see http://www.catholicvoices.org.uk/team For Andrew Copson see http://www.humanism.org.uk/home For the IQ2 debate see http://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/catholic-church For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 27 Feb 2010 - Stop worrying and enjoy your life" - are we better off without God in Britain? Andrew Copson of the British Humanist Association vs. David Robertson Unbelievable? 12 Dec 2009 - Dawkins debate on "Atheism is the New Fundamentalism" - review with interviews Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Christians have traditionally held that humans comprise two things - a body and a soul.  Christian Philosophers have written in defence of the soul against a reductive atheism that claims we are material beings alone. But a new movement in Christian philosophy claims that the atheists are correct, at least when it comes to humans. Glenn Peoples is a Christian philosopher who subscribes to physicalism - that humans are only physical and they have no immaterial soul.  He explains how he arrived at that view from Scripture and how he defends it philosophically, without giving up an evangelical Christian view. Prof John Haldane is a Christian philosopher at St Andrews University in Scotland.  He believes that Christian faith and Philosophy bear witness to an immaterial soul - though his "Thomistic" view defends it differently to the prevailing trend. For Glenn Peoples Blog visit http://www.beretta-online.com/wordpress/ For John Haldane see http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~jjh1/ For John's Book "Reasonable Faith" see http://www.amazon.com/Reasonable-Faith-John-Haldane/dp/0415430240/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1 For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 17 Jul 2010 - Wired for God? The biology of spiritual experience - Christian Charles Foster & Atheist Susan Blackmore Unbelievable? 23 Aug 2008 - Why there almost certainly IS a God: Keith Ward and Robert Stovold Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Peter Byrom says he is "very nearly" convinced of Christianity.  Having dallied with an atheist perspective he now rejects many of those arguments.  However one area of theology he doesn't feel is clear is the question of Adam and Eve and the Fall. Who were Adam and Eve -  a historical couple or a metaphor for the human condition?  Why did their rebellion impact the whole of humanity?  How can we reconcile original sin with  human free will? Peter Sanlon is a lecturer in theology at Oakhill College. He responds to the theology.  Prof Norman Nevin is Emeritus professor of Medical Genetics at Queens University Belfast.  He responds to scientific aspects of the discussion. For Peter Sanlon see http://grace-city.blogspot.com/ or http://www.oakhill.ac.uk/ Norman Nevin is the Editor of "Should Christians Embrace Evolution?" http://www.ivpbooks.com/9781844744060 To see Peter Byrom quiz Dawkins on why he won't debate William Lane Craig http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFamS4RGE_A Peter Byrom is a member of the Premier Community - you can interact with the show there too http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 1 Aug 2009 - Debating doctrine - James White and Roger & Faith Forster debate predestination Unbelievable? 29 Nov 2008 Creation or Evolution - do we have to choose? Denis Alexander & Stephen Lloyd debate

The place where many Christians engage with atheists about belief is online.  But why do both sides turn up to engage in the conversation, and what is the fruit? Todd Pitner and Richard Morgan are adult converts to Christianity who often engage in apologetics debate online.  They meet face to face with Paul Baird - one of the many atheists they debate online. All three are members of the Premier Community where apologetics debate is common at the "Unbelievable?" group http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable They discuss the different style, tactics and motives of those who participate and whether atheists or Christians are prepared to change their mind. For Todd's apologetics website see http://www.iloveatheists.com/ For Richard's musical talents see http://www.myspace.com/morgansoriginals For Paul Baird's new blog http://patientandpersistant.blogspot.com/ For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 27 Mar 2010 - Former atheists conversion experiences - Is it evidence for God? Richard Morgan & Todd Pitner with atheist Gordon Livesey Unbelievable? 12 Sep 2009 - From Atheism to Christian faith via richarddawkins.net - Christians Richard Morgan, David Robertson and Atheist Ed Turner

Should people suffering from terminal illness or in terrible pain be allowed to take their own life?  Should doctors help them?  British law currently forbids it but there are voices asking for a change.  At the forefront is "Dignity in Dying" whose Chief-Executive Sarah Wootton argues that allowing people to choose when and how they die is an extension of personal liberty. Revd George Pitcher is an Anglican priest.  He argues in his new book "A Time To Live - the argument against euthanasia and assisted dying", that human dignity requires us to respect human life. Both the legal and Christian ramifications are discussed as they are joined by Revd Paul Badham, also an ordained Anglican who believes that assisted-dying is a moral option. For George Pitcher's book "A Time to Live" see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Live-Against-Euthanasia-Assisted/dp/1854249878/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281622100&sr=1-1 For Paul Badham's book "Is there a Christian case for Assisted dying?" see http://www.amazon.co.uk/There-Christian-Case-Assisted-Dying/dp/0281059195 For Dignity in Dying see http://www.dignityindying.org.uk/ For an anti-euthanasia viewpoint see http://www.carenotkilling.org.uk/ For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 25 Apr 2009 Euthanasia - Should it be legalised? Lord Dick Taverne & Dan Boucher Unbelievable? 12 Jan 2008 Human Fertilisation & Embryology - are we playing God? Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community online http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

The resurrection of Christ is fundamental to the Christian faith.  However, not all Christians agree on how it should be interpreted. Adrian Warnock is a church leader, blogger and author.  His book "Raised with Christ" aims to put the resurrection of Jesus back at the centre of all Christian theology.  He says that acceptance of the doctrine of the physical resurrection of Jesus is fundamental to being a Christian. Jonathan Clatworthy of "Modern Church" represents a liberal view.  He says that the Bible supports a merely "spiritual" resurrection and that a thoughtful theology requires such a view. They debate the implications of the Biblical interpretation, resurrection of the dead, and knowing the 'power' of the resurrection from their different perspectives.  For Adrian's popular blog and the book see http://adrianwarnock.com/ For Jonathan Clatworthy and "Modern Church" see http://www.modchurchunion.org/ For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 12 Jul 2008 - American Masters of Apologetics Pt 1: Gary Habermas. Unbelievable? 11 Apr 2009 - Atheist Steven Carr & Canon Michael Cole - Did Jesus Rise from the dead? An atheist perspective. Join the debate at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

"Arguing against God's existence is on a par with arguing against air, breathing it all the while".  So says the website of Sye TenBrugencatte who believes that Christians need to rediscover the power of 'presuppositional apologetics'. Our use of the laws of logic, mathematics, science and morality cannot be accounted for unless we believe in a God who guarantees our perceptions and reasoning is trustworthy in the first place. Paul Baird describes himself as a "freethinker".  He debates whether he is obliged to believe in God when faced by Sye who argues that atheists are effectively "suppressing" the truth of God that is self evident - as described in Romans Ch 1. Sye's website is http://www.proofthatgodexists.org/ Paul Baird and Sye TenBruggencate are both online members of the "Unbelievable?" Group of the Premier Community and will be continuing to discuss there.  Check it out at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 13 Jun 2009 The Moral Argument For God - Atheist Paul Orton & Christian David Robertson Unbelievable? 1 Nov 2008 - Atheist Bus Campaign: Its creator Ariane Sherine, Humanist Hanne Stinson and Christian Paul Woolley debate

Is belief in the supernatural inherent from birth?  Is Christianity a psychological crutch or a path to emotional wholeness? Is God belief simply a result of evolution?  Would it make belief untrue if it were? These and other questions are discussed by atheist psychological therapist Martyn Frame and Christian tutor of psychology of religion Revd Dr Joanna Collicut McGrath. Martyn believes that religious belief can be given a psychological evolutionary explanation that precludes need for belief in God.  Joanna argues that such theories are sketchy at best and that humanity's religious longings can't be rationalised so easily. For Joanna Collicut McGrath see http://www.heythrop.ac.uk/about-us/college-staff/academic-staff/dr-joanna-collicutt.html "The Dawkins Delusion" co-authored with her husband Alister Mcgrath can be found on Amazon here  Martyn Frame's profile page at the Premier Community http://premiercommunity.ning.com/profile/MartynFrame?xg_source=activity For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast at http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 24 Apr 2010 - "Grill a Christian" show - four atheists challenge David Robertson with their objections to faith Unbelievable? 19 Dec 2009 - What does Science Tell us about God?" - Atheist scientist Lewis Wolpert debates believing scientist Russell Cowburn Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable