Unbelievable?

Richard Morgan was a confirmed atheist for much of his life and a keen poster on the richarddawkins.net website.  However, after becoming disillusioned with the mentality of some atheists on the website, he subsequently experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity in 2008.  He relates the story, along with Christian apologist David Robertson who had a hand in his conversion.  Ed Turner a forthright atheist blogger (aka Manicstreetpreacher) joins the discussion as they look at the world of Christian and Atheist chat forums. Chat to this week's guests at the "Unbelievable?" Group of the "Premier Community": www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable For Richard Morgan see:  http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/profile/RichardMorgan For David Robertson see: http://www.stpeters-dundee.org.uk/ For Ed Turner see: http://edthemanicstreetpreacher.wordpress.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? 21 Mar 2009 - "Challenging Atheist Myths" pt 1 Christian David Robertson & Atheist Adrian Hayter Unbelievable? 6 Sep 2008 - Christianity on trial pt 1: Can I trust the Bible? Atheist lawyer Ed Turner vs Theologian Andy Bannister

Scriptural Reasoning is an organisation committed to honest interfaith dialogue that promotes "better quality disagreement".  Its founder Muhammad Al-Hussaini explains how they hope to bring greater understanding of the scriptures of the three Abrahamic religions.  He is joined by Liberal Judaism Rabbi Mark Solomon and Dr David Jackson, formerly of the London School of Theology.  They discuss the purpose of interfaith dialogue and engage in some on-air scriptural reasoning on the theme of "servant leadership" reading from the Koran, the Torah and the Bible. Find out more at www.scripturalreasoning.org.uk You can hear more interfaith discussion at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 4 Aug 2007 - Judaism and Christianity Unbelievable? 4 Oct 2008 - Does Islam or Christianity oppress women? Jay Smith and Mohamed Ali Join the discussion at the Premier Community  

Many "New Atheists" have written books claiming that Christianity is bad for people.   Barry Duke is editor of "The Freethinker" - a longstanding humanist magazine and website that seeks to show why religion is bad for the world.  Barry claims that most religious people are weighed down by guilt and that atheism sets people free. Tom Price is an apologist with Damaris and the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.  He says that his search for happiness was fulfilled when he found Christ as an adult. For Tom Price see: The Damaris Trust www.damaris.org and the Oxford Centre for Christian apologetics http://www.theocca.org/ For Barry Duke see: http://freethinker.co.uk/ For more Christian/non-Christian debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 24 Nov 2007 "I Sold My Soul on eBay" - the friendly atheist at a church near you...  Tom Price & Hemant Mehta Unbelievable? 3 Nov 2007 - The "New Atheism" - Barry Duke and David Marshall Debate You can also listen via podcast and Itunes Join the discussion at the Premier Community

"Jesus and the Eyewitnesses" has been heralded as a paradigm shift in the way the authorship of the Gospels should be seen.  Richard Bauckham is the author of the book, which won the 2009 Michael Ramsey prize.  He argues that the Gospels are based on eyewitness accounts and should be regarded as fundamentally trustworthy. New Testament historian James Crossley discusses the implications of Bauckham's work and whether the Gospel of John was written by the disciple John himself, as Bauckham claims. They continue the debate next week... Click here For Jesus and the Eyewitnesses For Richard Bauckham visit http://www.ridley.cam.ac.uk/people/rbauckham.html For James Crossley see http://shef.ac.uk/bibs/staff/jgc.html Listen to more Christian/non-Christian debates at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or via podcast or 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? 17 Jan 2009 A believing and a non-believing New Testament scholar debate "How did Christianity begin?" - Michael Bird & James Crossley - Pt 1 Join the debate at the Premier Community

The first of two programmes focussing on inter-Christian debates over doctrine. 500 years ago the birth of John Calvin heralded the arrival of one who would have a momentous impact on the shape of world Christianity. Calvinism is most often defined by its belief in predestination.  Calvinist James White of Alpha and Omega ministries explains why he believes Calvin was right when he claimed that God's will alone controls the eternal destiny of humans.  Roger and Faith Forster of the Ichthus Christian fellowship defend an Arminian view - that human freewill is part of God's grace when it comes to human salvation. For James White see www.aomin.org For Roger and Faith see www.ichthus.org.uk For more Faith debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or via podcast or via itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may wish to listen to Unbelievable? 15 Nov 2008 Does the Trinity lead to polytheism? James White of Alpha & Omega ministries debates Abdullah Al Andalusi Unbelievable? 22 Mar 2008 Easter & the Atonement - does it make sense? Roger Forster debates humanist Marilyn Mason Join the discussion at the Premier Community

What do Christians believe about the immortality of the soul and the justification for punishment?  Has hell been lost as a doctrine in the modern church? In their second inter-Christian encounter James White and Roger and Faith Forster explain their different view of hell.  James White holds to an "eternal conscious torment" view - that those in hell are punished for all eternity.  Roger and Faith Forster believe in "conditional immortality" - that only those in Christ are granted eternal life and those who go to hell cease to exist. For James White see www.aomin.org For Roger and Faith see www.ichthus.org.uk For more faith debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or via podcast or via itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may wish to listen to Unbelievable? 15 Mar 2008 Christian Universalism - Will everyone be saved? Unbelievable? 1 Dec 2007 - Salvation: Grace or Works? A Jew & Christian compare approaches Get involved at the Premier Community

A re-broadcast of a classic debate that won a New York Radio Festivals Gold medal. Peter Hearty is an atheist who says that Evolution alone explains the living world around us.  Peter Williams, an Intelligent Design proponent claims that Evolution is a theory with serious problems that only an inference to design can explain.  They debate, and we take calls from Christian and atheist listeners. For Peter S Williams: http://www.arn.org/authors/williams.html Peter Hearty recommends: http://www.talkorigins.org/ For more Christian/non-Christian discussion visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable If you enjoyed this programme you may also like to listen to: Unbelievable? 21 Feb 2009 DNA & the origin of life - the cosmic fingerprints of God? Perry Marshall and Peter Hearty debate. Unbelievable? 30 Aug 2008 Darwin vs Design Darwin vs Design - Dr. Tom Woodward & Peter Hearty Click here to get the podcast or via itunes Join the debate at the Premier Community

You don't have to look far for claims of the miraculous. But what constitutes a "miracle" and do Christian beliefs in this area make sense? Michael Shermer is a well-known atheist in the USA and Director of the Skeptics Society. He says miraculous claims always have a natural explanation. Adrian Holloway is a London Pastor and apologist. He claims to have witnessed the miraculous and says that Michael's skepticism is unjustified. For Michael Shermer see www.michaelshermer.com For Adrian Holloway see www.christchurchlondon.org/team.php For more Christian/Non-Christian debate www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 17 Nov 2007 - Are miracles evidence for God? Miracles and healing - is it evidence for the truth of Christianity? Unbelievable? 10 May 2008 The gift of tongues - faith or fake? The gift of tongues - Faith or fake? Gerald Coates, Mark Johnston & Stephen Pilcher discuss. Join the discussion at the Premier Community www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

Nabeel Qureshi converted to Christianity from Islam after being convinced that the weight of evidence was in favour of Christian faith.  Yahya Seymour's story is the opposite - he became a Muslim after having a Christian upbringing.  They discuss the issues in advance of debates coming up in London. For more information on the debates from Sun 12 Jul 09 to Sat 18 Jul 09 see www.thedebateinitiative.com or www.answeringmuslims.com If you enjoyed this show you may also want to listen to: Unbelievable? 5 Jul 2008 Islam & Christianity -which is more relevant to Britain? Which is more relevant to 21st Century Britain: Islam or Christianity? For more Christian/Non-Christian discussion visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable and get the podcast 

Peter Hitchens is a well known journalist and Anglican Christian.  Unlike his atheist brother Christopher, he believes Christianity is an essential bedrock for society.  He says Islam will fill the spiritual vaccuum of Britain if secularists have their way. Ibrahim Mogra represents the Muslim Council of Britain.  He says that Muslims are only interested in living harmoniously within society. They discuss Sharia Law, multiculturalism, religious freedom and more. For Peter Hitchens visit http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/ For The Muslim Council of Britain visit www.mcb.org.uk For more Christian/non-Christian discussions visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast or via Itunes. If you enjoyed this show you may wish to listen to Unbelievable? 1 Mar 2008 Sharia law in the UK - Muslims & Christian debate. Unbelievable? 15 Dec 2007 Jihad & terrorism - Does Islam need to be reformed? Join the discussion at the Premier Community