Unbelievable?

A bacterial flagellum acts as the outboard motor on a bacteria. But is the complex arrangement of parts that enable it to do its job a result of design or evolution? Michael Behe first opened the debate on the ‘irreducible complexity’ of biochemical machines in his 1996 book Darwin’s Black Box. Intelligent Design proponent Jonathan McLatchie and theistic evolutionist Keith Fox debate whether Behe’s theory has stood the test of time, the bacterial flagellum and whether ID is a science stopper or theologically helpful. For Jonathan McLatchie: http://apologetics-academy.org/  For Keith Fox: https://www.faraday.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/Biography.php?ID=174 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  

Stem cells are an early development form of cells with the potential to turn into any part of the human system. They are used medically for regenerative therapy to treat many conditions. However stem cells have traditionally been harvested from early-stage embryos causing concerns for those who believe life begins at conception. Fuz Rana a scientist with Reasons To Believe joins Justin to discuss a new technology that allows stem cells to be produced without the need for the destruction of embryos. He debates atheist biologist Robert Stovold who believes that Judaeo-Christian concerns about life should not inhibit research in biotechnology. For Fuz at Unbelievable? 2018: http://www.premier.org.uk/justask  For Reasons To Believe: http://www.reasons.org 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    

In the age of Trump, the term ‘evangelical’ is increasingly associated with right-wing political views and fundamentalism. So is the evangelical label a lost cause? Randal Rauser argues we should hold on to the term while Frank Schaeffer, son of the late Francis Schaeffer, argues we should ditch the evangelical movement his famous father helped to create. Sam Hailes, the new editor of Premier Christianity magazine also joins the discussion commenting on his recent article ‘Can evangelicalism survive in the age of Trump?’ Get a free sample copy of the magazine at www.premierchristianity.com/freesample For ‘What’s So Confusing About Grace?’ by Randal Rauser: https://randalrauser.com/books/  For ‘Letter to Lucy’ by Frank Schaeffer: http://www.frankschaeffer.com 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  

Lord Richard Harries is the former Bishop of Oxford and a life peer in the House of Lords. His book ‘The Beauty And The Horror: Finding God in a suffering world’ (SPCK) delves into art, history and literature to show why Christianity can make sense of both the beauty and the tragedy of life. He debates the search for meaning and beauty, and the question of why God allows suffering with atheist Michael Ruse, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University.   Towards the end of the show Justin also plays a preview clip of a forthcoming debate between popular Canadian psychologist Jordan B Peterson and atheist psychologist Susan Blackmore ahead of the launch of The Big Conversation dialogue series later this year. For ‘The Beauty and the Horror’ by Richard Harries: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beauty-Horror-Searching-Suffering-World/dp/0281076936    For ‘On Purpose’ by Michael Ruse: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Purpose-Michael-Ruse/dp/0691172463 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  

In the second part of their debate Greg Boyd and Paul Copan continue their conversation about Boyd's new book The Crucifixion Of The Warrior God in which Boyd sets out a new way of reconciling Old Testament violence with the love of God shown on the cross. In this conversation they deal with specific examples of violence in the Old Testament such as the slaughter of the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15 and the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5z For Greg Boyd's Crucifixion Of The Warrior God: http://reknew.org/book/crucifixion-warrior-god/  For Cross Vision: http://fortresspress.com/product/cross-vision-how-crucifixion-jesus-makes-sense-old-testament-violence  For Paul Copan: http://paulcopan.com/ 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  

Greg Boyd, a pastor and theologian known for his work on the Renew movement, engages in a thought-provoking debate with Paul Copan, a philosopher and author of 'Is God a Moral Monster?'. They explore Boyd's cruciform hermeneutic—how Christ’s cross reinterprets Old Testament violence. Topics include divine character, cultural accommodation in ancient texts, and the nature of divine judgment versus violence. Boyd argues for reading violent images as literary crucifixes, while Copan defends a synthesis view of continuity between the Testaments.

During his time as leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Tim Farron was repeatedly questioned about his views on homosexuality and gay sex. When he resigned he said “To be a political leader and to live as a committed Christian, has felt impossible for me”. On a recent Premier Christian Radio interview he reignited the controversy by stating that he regrets saying that gay sex was not a sin. Revd David Robertson of Solas Centre for Public Christianity and Jonathan Bartley of the Green Party react to the interview. David believes that Christians are being discriminated against if they diverge from society’s current views on sexuality. Jonathan, who is also a Christian, doesn’t believe that discrimination is happening and conservative Christians need to get used to new realities. For the Tim Farron Interview: https://www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/Tim-Farron-Q-A-Why-I-resigned-why-it-matters-and-what-I-should-have-said-about-gay-sex For David Robertson: https://theweeflea.com/   For Jonathan Bartley: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/people/leaders-of-green-party.html   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 

Street Epistemology has become popular among many atheists as a conversational way to interrogate people's spiritual beliefs. Popularised by atheist philosopher Peter Boghossian in his book "A Manual For Creating Atheists" the movement is now seeking to create 10,000 street evangelists for atheism.  Pascoe Rapacci engages regularly in Street Epistemology (though doesn't claim to speak for the movement as a whole). He engages with Christian apologist Cameron Bertuzzi of Capturing Christianity on whether Street Epistemology is a valid way of investigating the truth of people's beliefs.  For Street Epistemology: https://streetepistemology.com/ For Pascoe Rapacci: https://www.twitter.com/pocketpasc For Cameron Bertuzzi's written dialogue with a Street Epistemologist: http://capturingchristianity.com/conversation-street-epistemologist/ 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  

Myron B Penner wrote 'The End of Apologetics: Christian witness in a postmodern context'. He argues that rational defence of the Christian faith can become a form of idolatry and that modern believers need to rethink their relationship with apologetics. Myron engages with Sean McDowell who with his father Josh has written an updated version of the classic apologetics book 'Evidence That Demands a Verdict'. They discuss the benefits and limits of apologetics and why Myron wrote a book critiquing the whole area. For Sean McDowell: http://seanmcdowell.org/ For Evidence That Demands a Verdict: http://seanmcdowell.org/item/evidence-that-demands-a-verdict  For Myron B Penner: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/the-end-of-apologetics/285610 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  

Is it ok to take the Christ out of Christmas carols? That's what TyLean Polley has done with The Atheist Christmas Album. She explains why she's produced an album of classic carols to secular lyrics. Evangelist Glen Scrivener engages with TyLean on why he doesn't think you can separate Christmas from the message of joy, hope and the birth of Jesus at its centre. For The Atheist Christmas Album: http://atheistchristmas.bandcamp.com/  For Meet The Nativity: https://meetthenativity.com/  For Glen Scrivener: http://speaklife.org.uk/ 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