Unbelievable?

Hundreds of thousands died in the Haiti earthquake of Jan 2010.  Many more are still suffering.  So where was God? Can we believe in an all loving, all powerful God in the face of such suffering and destruction? Roger Forster of The Ichthus Christian Fellowship argues that God suffers with those affected.  Atheist Gordon Livesey believes that if God existed he would act to intervene.  Nick Peters, who himself suffers from disability, argues that the existence of evil does not preclude a loving, almighty God. For Roger Forster's book "Suffering and the Love of God" visit http://www.ichthus.org.uk/Shop/ To support the DEC appeal for Haiti visit www.dec.org.uk You can hear more Christian/non-Christian discussion at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes. If you want to hear similar programmes: Unbelievable? 10 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Richard Swinburne - "God's Problem: does the Bible fail to answer the problem of suffering?" Unbelievable? 19 Apr 2008 problems with God - an Atheist and Christian philosopher debate Join the discussion at the Premier Community

The documentary film "Expelled" is presented by US Actor Ben Stein and makes the case that scientists who question Darwinian orthodoxy and support Intelligent Design are being "expelled" from academia. As the UK edition of the DVD is released we ask "Is freedom of thought at stake or is Intelligent Design out of bounds when it comes to biological science?" Stephen C Meyer is co founder of the Discovery Institute in the USA and a major proponent of Intelligent Design.  Peter Atkins is Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University and an outspoken atheist. They both feature in "Expelled" and join Justin to debate the pros and cons of Intelligent Design theory. Mark Haville who is bringing the film to the UK also joins the discussion. You can order Expelled the DVD (UK edition) at Amazon Play.com and HMV (click for direct links) or via http://www.christianvideos.co.uk/ For details & booking for the Unbelievable? Screening of "Expelled" and debate at Imperial College London in February visit www.premier.org.uk/expelled For Stephen C Meyer's book visit http://www.signatureinthecell.com/ For info on Peter Atkins visit http://www.secularism.org.uk/prof.peteratkins.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? 2 Jan 2010 - Is there design in biology? Intelligent Design proponent William Dembski vs. Biology Professor Lewis Wolpert Unbelievable? 21 Feb 2009 - DNA & the origin of life - the cosmic fingerprints of God? Perry Marshall and Peter Hearty debate. Join the discussion at the Premier Community

A re-broadcast of a compelling debate with listener input on the issue of abortion. When does human life begin?  Whose rights come first - the mother or foetus?  Is disability grounds for abortion?  Should the time limit for abortion in the UK be lowered?   This debate between Liberal Democrat Shadow Science minister Evan Harris MP and Pro-life advocate Sarah Macken is joined by listeners and emails as the questions get discussed from both perspectives. For more Christian/non-Christian discussion visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may want to listen to: Unbelievable? 19 Jan 2008 Abortion - pro-life vs. pro-choice. Unbelievable? 12 Jan 2008 Human Fertilisation & Embryology - are we playing God? You can join the debate at the Premier Community

William (Bill) Dembski is an American mathematician, theologian and professor of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX.   Bill returns to defend his latest Book "The End of Christianity" -an argument defending the Christian God against the argument of Evil. How can natural evil and death that have existed for millions of years on an Old Earth view be reconciled to the view that the Fall brought these things into God's good world?  Why does God answer some prayers and not others?  Does free will exist? Just some of the questions tackled by Bill as he engages with Former Christian Norman Hansen. For Dembski's blog see http://www.uncommondescent.com/ For his book " The End of Christianity" Click here For Norman Hansen see http://www.nrhansen.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ For more Christian/non Christian debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast  or via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy Unbelievable? 10 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Richard Swinburne - "God's Problem: does the Bible fail to answer the problem of suffering?" Unbelievable? 19 Apr 2008 Philosophical problems with God - an Atheist and Christian philosopher debate Join the discussion at the Unbelievable? Group at the Premier Community  

One of the world's leading Intelligent Design proponents joins Justin to explain why he believes biological life exhibits "specified complexity" that runs against Darwinian evolution. William (Bill) Dembski is an American mathematician, theologian and professor of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, TX.  He debates the issue of ID with atheist Lewis Wolpert, Emeritus Professor of Biology at University College London. For Bill Dembski see  http://www.designinference.com/ or his blog http://www.uncommondescent.com/ For Lewis Wolpert's Wikipedia profile see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Wolpert For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or Get the podcast or via Itunes If you enjoyed this porgramme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 18 Jul 2009 - Intelligent Design vs Evolution - Peter S Williams and Peter Hearty debate Unbelievable? 30 Aug 2008 - Darwin vs Design - Dr. Tom Woodward & Peter Hearty Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Matthew and Luke are the two Gospel writers that include narratives of the birth of Christ.  The traditional Nativity Story is an amalgamation of the two accounts.  Critics claim the two stories do not match up.  Barrister Charles Foster wrote "The Christmas Mystery" to show that Matthew and Luke are different, but reliable accounts of Jesus' birth.  Atheist Robert Stovold believes that the stories are a blend of Pagan myth and later invention. Evangelical scholar Anthony McRoy also joins in the conversation. They debate issues such as Matthew's use of Old Testament prophecy, the Virgin birth, Bethlehem as the birth place and whether Luke dates the Census correctly. For Charles Foster see www.charlesfoster.co.uk  To buy "The Christmas Mystery" click here For Robert Stovold and his booklet "Did Christians Steal Christmas?" click here Hear more Christian/non Christian discussion at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy Unbelievable? 22 Dec 2007 - Did Christians steal Christmas? Unbelievable? 20 Dec 2008 Virgin Birth: Fact or Fiction? Revd Michael Sayward debates Unitarian Sarah Tinker Join in the discussion at the "Unbelievable" group on The Premier Community

Atheists Richard Dawkins, and AC Grayling recently squared up against Christians Richard Harries and Charles Moore for a debate on the motion "Atheism is the new fundamentalism". Justin Brierley reviews the debate with audio clips from the speakers and Q&A session, as well as interviews with those who attended, including AC Grayling and the Chair of the debate Anthony Seldon. For the full debate visit http://www.intelligencesquared.com/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy Unbelievable? 8 Nov 2008 Dawkins & John Lennox's Oxford debate - a review with interviews and comment. Unbelievable? 19 Jul 2008 Masters of Apologetics Pt 2: William Lane Craig Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Dan Barker was a Christian evangelist and musician for 19 years before he lost his faith.  He tells the story in his book "Godless: How an evangelical preacher became one of America's leading Atheists".  Dan is now President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation in the USA. Charles Foster is a writer, barrister and traveller.  A committed Christian he has written books defending the Christian faith including "The Jesus Inquest: the case for and against the resurrection".  He says that, unlike Dan, when doubt came knocking he found the Bible to be trustworthy and the Christian story to be fulfilling.  They discuss Dan's deconversion, the case for the resurrection, and whether we are better off free from religion. For Dan Barker see http://ffrf.org/about/bio_dan.php For his Book "Godless" click here For Charles Foster see http://www.charlesfoster.co.uk/ For his book "The Jesus Inquest" click here For more Christian/non-Christian discussion visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 8 Mar 2008 Can we trust the Gospels? Unbelievable? 26 Apr 2008 Proof for the Resurrection - Evangelist Tony Costa & Atheist Ken Humphreys debate Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Professor Lewis Wolpert is Emeritus Professor of Biology at University College London.  Professor Russell Cowburn is Chair of Nanotechnology at Imperial College. Wolpert is an atheist, Cowburn a Christian. Following on from a debate at Gunnersbury Baptist Church, the two scientists tackle the question "does science tell us anything about God?"  Wolpert believes it does - that belief in God is a product of evolution.  Cowburn believes that both science and scripture witness to a God who reveals himself to us. Their conversation ranges over evolution, the new atheism and whether God should reveal himself through the miraculous. To hear their original debate from November 2009 visit http://www.gunnersburybaptistchurch.org/events/opentoquestion/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes If you enjoyed this discussion you may also enjoy Unbelievable? 21 Jun 2008 - Keith Ward on "The Big Questions in Science and Religion": Why Christians CAN believe in evolution Unbelievable? 21 Feb 2009 - DNA & the origin of life - the cosmic fingerprints of God? Perry Marshall and Peter Hearty debate. Join in the discussion at the "Unbelievable?" group of the Premier Community

Alister McGrath combines a background in science with a passion for theology and apologetics.  "The Dawkins Delusion" - his critique of Richard Dawkins and the New Atheism has been a bestseller. In this wide-ranging interview McGrath shares his own journey of faith and why Christianity makes best sense of the world as he sees it.  He addresses the way atheism is currently making its case, as well as fine tuning of the universe, the resurrection, heresy and much more besides! You can read the Christianity Magazine profile of Alister McGrath here For Alister McGrath's website visit http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mcgrath/ For more Christian debate and dialogue visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or Get the podcast or via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy the following: Unbelievable? 12 Jul 2008 Gary Habermas - American Masters of Apologetics pt 1 American Masters of Apologetics Pt 1: Gary Habermas Unbelievable? 19 Jul 2008 William Lane Craig - American Masters of Apologetics pt 2 American Masters of Apologetics Pt 2: William Lane Craig To join in the debate visit the Unbelievable group of the Premier Community