Unbelievable?

Were Victorian missionaries a tool of oppression, exploitation and empire as some critics claim? Or did they leave a legacy of education, healthcare and eradicating inhumane practises?   Victor Simz, known online as the Z Historian, is a Zambian historian who has charted the impact of missionaries in East Africa. He discusses the issues with Jonathan Wilson who comes from a missionary family and believes the story of the positive global impact of missions work is often under-appreciated.   For Victor Simz: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheZHistorian For Jonathan Wilson: https://leadbysoul.com/ For Premier's 'Missions Week' website: https://www.missionsweek.org.uk/   • 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-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

From the archives: the Veritas Forum in Cambridge invited Christian philosopher Keith Ward and atheist philosopher Arif Ahmed to present the reasons for their different worldviews. Justin hosted this discussion with these two thinkers in front of an audience of Cambridge students who asked their own questions too.   • 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-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

As COP 27 gets underway Justin is joined by Christian climate campaigner Rachel Mander and Humanist activist Lori Marriott. They agree on the science and what needs to be done but have different views about which worldview provides the better moral foundation for the work of climate change action.   For Rachel Mander: https://arocha.org/en/about/people/rachel-mander/ For Lori Marriott: https://humanists.uk/humanist-climate-action/   • 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-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

In Jan 2013 a new church began in London - with singing, a sermon and a great sense of community - but for godless people. Atheist stand up comedian Sanderson Jones who co-founded "the Sunday Assembly" talked about its first meeting and why he set it up. David Robertson, at the time a church minister, asked questions about whether an "atheist church" makes sense and what Christians could learn from it. Justin was also joined by two of those who attended the first service, Rory Fenton and Simon Jenkins.   • 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-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

Stand up comedians Andy Kind (the Christian) and Andy White (the Atheist) join Justin to talk about comedy and faith and discuss Andy Kind's new book 'Hidden In Plain Sight: Clues you may have missed in the search for meaning'.   For Hidden In Plain Sight: https://standrewsbookshop.co.uk/product/hidden-in-plain-sight-2/ For Andy Kind: https://www.andykind.co.uk/ For Andy White: https://twitter.com/AndyJWhite   • 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-and-events • 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 episode from the archives, we go back to the time when then-leading UK evangelical Steve Chalke wrote an article for Christianity magazine on why he switched to affirming committed, faithful gay relationships. Justin talked to Steve about why he changed his mind, while theologian Greg Downes offered a defense of the traditional evangelical understanding of sexuality. We also heard the responses and reflections of church leaders including Steve Clifford of the Evangelical Alliance, Lord Richard Harries former Bishop of Oxford, Faith Forster of Ichthus Christian fellowship and more. • 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-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

Michael Gungor and his wife Lisa were pioneers in the Christian music scene, building a loyal fan base through Gungor's music and podcasts such as The Liturgists. However, Michael's recent turn towards an increasingly progressive, msytical and deconstructed interpretation of faith has left many Christians confused.   Evan Wickham is a pastor in San Diego and a friend and former musical collaborator with Gungor. They engage in a discussion on Michael's spiritual journey and why Evan has stayed within a historic orthodox Christian tradition.   For Michael Gungor: http://www.gungormusic.com/ For Evan Wickham: https://evanwickham.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/training-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

Mark Shrime tells Justin Brierley about his journey of faith and career as a surgeon, which now sees him deliver life-saving treatment around the world with Mercy Ships. Mark is the author of ‘Solving For Why: A surgeon’s journey to discover the transformative power of purpose’.   To support Mercy Ships https://www.mercyships.org.uk/premier/ • 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-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

Joseph D'Souza, bishop of the Good Shepherd Church network in South Asia and Andrew Scott of Operation Mobilisation join Justin to talk about a new paradigm for mission work in the Global South and how it impacts church and culture in the Global North.   For Joseph D'Souza: https://josephdsouza.dfnusa.org/ For Andrew Scott: https://scatterthebook.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/training-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

From Dec 2012. Richard Carrier is the world's foremost proponent of the "mythicist" view of Jesus - that he never actually existed as a historical person. He explained his theory that St. Paul only ever spoke of Jesus in the spiritual realm and that the Gospels are "extended parables". Mark Goodacre is NT professor at Duke University. He contended that Carrier's mythicist view is extrememly far fetched and the evidence for the historical Jesus is beyond reasonable doubt.   • 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-and-events • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate