Unbelievable?

In the first of two philosophical ‘deep dive’ shows debating famous ‘cosmological’ arguments for God, YouTube atheist Alex O Connor (aka Cosmic Skeptic) debates apologist Cameron Bertuzzi of Capturing Christianity. They discuss the argument from contingency and whether the existence of the universe is contingent on a necessary being - God. For a video of today’s show on the Cosmic Skeptic channel https://www.youtube.com/user/alexjoconnor  For Cameron Bertuzzi: http://capturingchristianity.com/ For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  Unbelievable? the Conference USA, Portland, 31 Aug & Sat 1 Sep https://westsideajc.org/unbelievable-conference  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Dr Denis Alexander is a notable British proponent of theistic evolution – the view that Christianity and Darwinian evolution are perfectly compatible. Many atheist biologists claim that evolution has disproved the idea of purpose in biology. Denis’ new book ‘Is There Purpose in Biology? The cost of existence and the God of love’ sets out how he believes Christians can still discern God’s purposes in evolutionary history.   Denis is joined in discussion by Perry Marshall, author of ‘Evolution 2.0’ which draws on his research into biology, intelligent design and evolution to show that neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory is no longer tenable. Towards the end of the show Justin is joined by Dominic Done of Westside: A Jesus Church in Portland with a look ahead to Unbelievable? the Conference USA on Fri 31 Aug and Sat 1 Sep. For Denis Alexander’s book Is There Purpose In Biology?: http://www.lionhudson.com/page/detail/?k=9780857217141  For Perry Marshall’s book Evolution 2.0: https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-2-0-Breaking-Deadlock-between/dp/1940363802/  For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  Unbelievable? the Conference USA, Portland, 31 Aug & Sat 1 Sep https://westsideajc.org/unbelievable-conference  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Krish Kandiah’s new book ‘Faitheism: Why Christians and Atheists have more in common than you think’, aims to elevate the conversation between both sides.  Krish is joined by Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society as they discuss the good, bad and ugly of how Christians and atheist engage each other.  For Faitheism: https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781473648951 For the National Secular Society: https://www.secularism.org.uk/  For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  Unbelievable? the Conference USA, Portland, 31 Aug & Sat 1 Sep https://westsideajc.org/unbelievable-conference  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Renowned New Testament scholar NT (Tom) Wright returns to Unbelievable? to talk about his latest book Paul: A Biography (SPCK). Joining Wright is historical writer Tom Holland, author of popular books on the rise and fall of the Roman empire such as Rubicon and Dynasty, Tom Wright unpacks the life, character and untold story of Paul. Tom Holland explains why as an agnostic, he is nevertheless convinced of the massive cultural significance of Paul’s message in Roman culture and how it would positively shape Western culture for centuries to come. Watch the discussion on video! https://youtu.be/nlf_ULB26cU  For Paul: A Biography: https://spckpublishing.co.uk/paul-a-biography  For Tom Holland: https://www.abdumurray.com/ For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  Unbelievable? the Conference USA, Portland, 31 Aug & Sat 1 Sep https://westsideajc.org/unbelievable-conference Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018 DVD / Digital download: www.premier.org.uk/shop  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Aliyah Saleem was a Muslim at one time but is now an atheist. She tells her story and those of other former Muslims in ‘Leaving Faith Behind’. Abdu Murray, North America director of RZIM,  was a Muslim but converted to Christianity. He engages with Aliyah on why they both left Islam but came to different conclusions about faith. For Aliyah Saleem: http://dltbooks.com/titles/2224-9780232533644-leaving-faith-behind  For Abdu Murray: https://www.abdumurray.com/ For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show Unbelievable? the Conference USA, Portland, 31 Aug & Sat 1 Sep https://westsideajc.org/unbelievable-conference  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

In the third Big Conversation episode, Justin is joined by illusionist Derren Brown and popstar-turned-media-priest Rev Richard Coles. In a wide-ranging conversation they tell their respective stories of moving away from and towards Christian faith. Drawing on his book Happy: Why more or less everything is absolutely fine, Derren makes the case for living a fulfilled life as an atheist in the absence of God. Richard draws from his experience of ‘meeting the resurrected Christ’ as they discuss suffering, death and ultimate meaning. The Big Conversation is produced in partnership with Templeton Religion Trust. For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  Register for Unbelievable? the Conference USA, Portland, Sat 1 Sep https://westsideajc.org/unbelievable-conference For Derren Brown: http://derrenbrown.co.uk  For Richard Coles: http://www.richardcoles.com/  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

In a podcast special Justin goes head to head with atheist podcast host David Smalley debating Justin’s arguments for Christianity in his book “Unbelievable? Why after, ten years of talking with atheists, I’m still a Christian”. They debate suffering, the moral argument and the evidence for the resurrection in a wide ranging discussion of over 2.5 hrs. For Dogma Debate: https://www.davidcsmalley.com/ For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

In the second Big Conversation episode, Justin is joined by Harvard professor of psychology Steven Pinker and Nick Spencer of Christian think-tank Theos. They debate the future of humanity in relation to Pinker’s recent book ‘Enlightenment Now’, addressing his claim that science, reason and humanism are the drivers of progress in the world, rather than religion. Nick Spencer argues that science and enlightenment values are firmly tied to the West’s Judeo-Christian tradition. The Big Conversation is produced in partnership with Templeton Religion Trust. For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  For Steven Pinker: https://stevenpinker.com   For Nick Spencer: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evolution-West-Nick-Spencer/dp/0281075204  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Sir Colin Humphreys is a Cambridge scientist with an interest in Biblical studies. His book ‘The Miracles of Exodus: A Scientist's Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories’ makes the case that events like the parting of the Red Sea, the stopping of the Jordan river and the sun standing still in Joshua all have a basis in scientific facts and natural causes. The miracle is in the timing of the events by God. Sceptical Bible scholar Bob Price debates Humphreys on these Old Testament events and whether his research proves the credible historicity of the Biblical accounts, and whether his approach runs the risk of eliminating the supernatural from the Bible. For Colin Humphreys: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miracles-Exodus-Scientists-Discovery-Extraordinary/dp/0060582731 For Bob Price: http://robertmprice.mindvendor.com/ For Big Conversation videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Launching The Big Conversation debate series, Justin is joined by Canadian psychologist Jordan B Peterson who has risen to fame in recent months for his political, social and religious views. He engages with atheist psychologist Susan Blackmore on the psychology of belief. They debate Peterson’s own religious convictions, the new atheists, whether society needs God, and whether atheists are truly atheists… The Big Conversation is produced in partnership with Templeton Religion Trust. For videos, updates and bonus content sign up: http://www.thebigconversation.show For ‘12 Rules for Life’ by Jordan Peterson: https://www.amazon.co.uk/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0241351634 For Susan Blackmore: https://www.susanblackmore.uk/   Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk   For more faith debates visit: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable   Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter   Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes