Unbelievable?

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  

Justin is joined by Christian astrophysicist Hugh Ross, founder of Reasons to Believe, and atheist scientist Peter Atkins of Oxford University, to debate whether the laws of nature came from ‘nothing’ or from God. Peter Atkins’ new book ‘Conjuring The Universe: The Origins of the Laws of Nature’ claims that the Universe and it’s laws reflect the ‘nothing’ from whence they came. Hugh Ross has recently released a 4th edition of ‘The Cosmos and the Creator’ and explains why he believes the scientific evidence is continually growing for a creator of the universe and its life-permitting laws. For ‘Conjuring The Universe’: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/conjuring-the-universe-9780198813378  For ‘The Creator and the Cosmos’: https://shop.reasons.org/product/599/creator-and-the-cosmos-fourth-edition  For The Big Conversation series https://www.thebigconversation.show  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: http://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

Justin presents selected highlights from last weekend’s Unbelievable? The Conference 2018 #JustAsk. Includes Glen Scrivener’s spoken word ‘Given’, Rob Parsons on keeping the faith when life is tough, Sharon Dirckx on why the world is broken, Andy Bannister on Bible reliability, Ken Samples on the divine claims of Jesus and excerpts from the panel Q&A. Pre-order the Unbelievable? Conference 2018 DVD/CD or Digital Download http://www.premier.org.uk/shop Get updates from Unbelievable’s Big Conversation series https://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

Justin presents a mid-week bonus podcast to make an important announcement about the forthcoming Big Conversation series. The Big Conversation is a new series of video conversations on science, faith, philosophy and what it means to be human featuring leading atheist and Christian voices. Be the first to watch, listen, download and get the newsletter at http://www.thebigconversation.show Be part of the Unbelievable? Live recording in London on Wed 18 July http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievablelive

Christian philosopher Lydia McGrew has recently accused evangelical scholars such as Mike Licona and Craig Evans, of undermining the historical reliability of John’s gospel. She cites Evans’ interactions with Bart Ehrman in debate as giving away too much ground to a sceptical view. New Testament scholar Craig Evans defends his view that John’s gospel is historically reliable but also includes theological development by the Johannine community who knew Jesus’ teaching. Also, at the end of today’s show, Jonny Somerville, creator of the NUA film series talks about its impact on young people investigating Christianity. For Lydia McGrew’s blog http://lydiaswebpage.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/jesus-never-said-i-am-statements.html For Craig Evans https://www.craigaevans.com/ For the NUA film series: https://nuafilmseries.org/  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://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

New Testament scholar Paula Gooder joins Justin to talk about her new book ‘Phoebe: A Story’ a fictional account of the life of the woman that St Paul entrusted with delivering his letter to the Romans. But have the ensuing centuries lost sight of the role of women such as Phoebe in the early church? Sceptical Bible scholar Francesca Stavrakopoulou joins Paula to discuss whether Christianity is inherently patriarchal and sexist. They debate passages such as 1 Timothy 2: 11-12 and how much St Paul’s attitude toward women leaders in the early church contrasted with the prevailing culture.    For ‘Phoebe’ by Paula Gooder https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781473669727 For Francesca Stavrakopoulou http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/theology/staff/stavrakopoulou/  For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://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

Christian guest John Cottingham is a philosopher whose new book ‘How Can I Believe?’ offers advice on why belief in God can make sense and the human quest for the transcendent. Atheist philosopher Richard Norman engages with John’s case for belief, and responds to the question: ‘What would it take for an atheist to believe?’ Richard is the editor of the book ‘Religion and Atheism: Beyond the Divide’. For John Cottingham https://spckpublishing.co.uk/how-can-i-believe/ For Richard Norman https://www.routledge.com/Religion-and-Atheism-Beyond-the-Divide/Carroll-Norman/p/book/9781138891913  For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://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

Sharon Dirckx of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics discusses the problem of suffering with Hannah Timson, head of Humanist Students UK. Hannah explains how she lost her faith in her late teens, in part because of the issue of suffering. Drawing on her book ‘Why? Looking at God, Evil and Personal Suffering’ Sharon responds to Hannah as they discuss their different stories and the problem of evil.  For Sharon Dirckx http://rzim.org/bio/sharon-dirckx/ For Hannah Timson https://humanism.org.uk/students/ Vote for your top tough question at this year’s Unbelievable? conference https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Features/Unbelievable-The-Conference-2018/What-s-your-big-question-for-God-Vote-Now Sharon Dirckx is speaking at Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://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

A recent dialogue event at Wycliffe College, Canada saw Jordan B Peterson, Rebecca Goldstein and William Lane Craig in conversation on the question “Is there meaning to life?” In this podcast-only edition of the show Justin introduces the event. One of the participants, Jordan B Peterson, has become an increasingly influential voice and will join Justin in person on Unbelievable? for the start of a series of special programmes called The Big Conversation in early June.  For the video of the Wycliffe College event https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/religionandsociety For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask  Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: www.unbelievablebook.co.uk  Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://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

Rev Gillian Straine is an Anglican priest with a background in science. She tells the story of how she dealt with the spiritual and medical challenges of being diagnosed with cancer aged 21, as told in her book 'Cancer: A Pilgrim's Companion'.  She also shares news of a free public lecture by internationally renowned physicist Marcelo Glasier in London on Tue 22 May. Atheist guest Alom Shaha is a secondary school physics teacher and engages with Gillian on the question of faith, illness and science. He shares his story of rejecting his Islamic upbringing after the death of his mother and how he fell in love with the world of science. Alom has recently authored a book of practical science experiments for kids 'Mr Shaha's Recipes For Wonder'. For Marcelo Gleiser's free Drawbridge Lecture 'Unknowns in Heaven and Earth' on 22 May https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-drawbridge-lecture-tickets-39148003733  For Gillian Straine: http://www.gillianstraine.com/my-books/ For Alom Shaha: http://alomshaha.com/books/mr-shahas-recipes-for-wonder/  For Unbelievable? the Conference 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook: http://www.unbelievablebook.co.uk Get Unbelievable? the Conference 2017 DVD/CD & Digital Download: http://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