Unbelievable?

Today’s show debates philosopher Alvin Plantinga’s reformed epistemology and his view that Christians have a ‘properly basic’ belief in God. Can Christians can be justified in their belief in God apart from argumentation? Tyler McNabb is a Christian PhD student specialising in epistemology and philosophy of religion who defends properly basic belief in God, using it in street evangelism as well as philosophy. Stephen Law is an atheist philosopher and Provost of the Centre for Enquiry UK. He has frequently critiqued reformed epistemology on his blog. Justin also speaks to Scott Klusendorf at the end of this week’s show about the Clarkson Academy - a pro-life training weekend for Christians in September. For Tyler McNabb http://www.tylermcnabb.com For Stephen Law http://www.stephenlaw.blogspot.co.uk For The Clarkson Academy 2016 https://www.theclarksonacademy.co.uk/book-now For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD 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

Jay Smith has led a Christian ministry engaging face to face with Muslims in London for over 20 years using polemics and apologetics. As he leaves the UK to undertake an international role Beth Grove will be leading the work in London through the newly established Pfander Centre for Apologetics. They talk about the joys and challenges of reaching Muslims in the UK, those they have seen convert, why the nature of the debates have changed and the new arguments critiquing the historicity of Mecca, Mohammed and the Koran. At the end of the show Ben Virgo of Christian Heritage London drops in to talk about the amazing history of London’s landmarks and the Christian figures who lived and worked there. For Pfander Centre for Apologetics http://www.pfander.uk For the documentary Up the Ladder in Hyde Park http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Episodes/Unbelievable-Up-the-Ladder-in-Hyde-Park-Muslims-Christians-in-debate For Jay’s 2014 debate with Shabir Ally http://www.pfander.uk/videos/the-classical-debates-which-is-the-word-of-god-the-bible-or-the-quran-jay-smith-vs-dr-shabir-ally/ For Christian Heritage London http://www.christianheritagelondon.org/ For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD 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

Do extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence? The 18th century philosopher David Hume is credited with originating the phrase often used by atheists and sceptics. In a second show, Christian philosopher Gary Habermas and atheist philosopher Michael Ruse debate whether Hume established that it is irrational to believe in miracles. They also discuss the evidence for the resurrection and what it would take for Ruse to believe in a miracle. For Gary Habermas http://www.garyhabermas.com For Michael Ruse http://philosophy.fsu.edu/content/view/full/871784 For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD 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

Gary Habermas is Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Liberty University. Michael Ruse is Professor of Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. They debate whether Michael's belief in naturalism (all that exists is the material world) is a coherent worldview given the challenges posed by personhood, morality, free will and subjective states. They also discuss whether progress in science has eliminated the need for God. For Gary Habermas on naturalism http://www.garyhabermas.com/articles/Bibliotheca-Sacra/habermas_BtS_paradigm-shift.htm For Michael Ruse http://philosophy.fsu.edu/content/view/full/871784 For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD 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

Richard Morgan was an atheist for many years before a sudden epiphany (via the Richard Dawkins website) brought him to Christian faith. He enjoys dialoguing online with other atheists but finds apologetics limited in how far it can persuade people. 8 years on from his conversion he takes an 'apophatic' approach to his faith and believes relationships are far more important than argument and evidence. Frances Janusz has been an atheist most of her life. She has been a friend of Richard since they started chatting on the Unbelievable discussion group. Having investigated apologetics she hasn't met an argument that seems convincing. She talks with Richard and Justin about religious experience, evidence, and what it would take for her to become a Christian. For Richard Morgan http://whyimcatholic.com/index.php/conversion-stories/atheist-converts/155-atheist-convert-richard-morgan For Frances Janusz https://counterapologistblog.wordpress.com/ For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD 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

Justin presents some highlights from this year’s Unbelievable Conference including the opening address by evangelist J.John, and snippets from the Reaching Young People, Rules of Engagement and What If They Ask Me? Seminar streams. The show concludes with highlights from the Panel Q&A at the end of the day. Justin also reveals details about Unbelievable? Live in the USA, a dialogue event taking place in California on Sat 27 Aug. Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD http://www.premier.org.uk/Shop Register free for Unbelievable? Live in California http://www.truthmattersministries.com/ 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

Holly Ordway is Professor of English and Director of the M.A. in Apologetics at Houston Baptist University. She was a happy atheist, but was converted to Christianity through apologetics and her love of literature. Vanessa James is a musician who was a committed Christian until a few years ago when she lost her faith and became an atheist. Both stories don’t quite finish there however, as you’ll hear in this programme as they dialogue on the pros and cons of atheism, Christianity and our search for meaning, beauty and truth. For Holly Ordway http://www.hollywordway.com Read Vanessa James’ ‘Christian Detox’ blogs at http://www.theallowed.com/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD 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

The argument that ‘the followers of Jesus wouldn’t have suffered and died for a lie’ is often used as evidence for the resurrection. But in recent years attacks have been mounted on whether the martyrdom accounts of the apostles are reliable. Sean McDowell, author of ‘The Fate of the Apostles’ defends the historicity of the martyrdom accounts of Paul, Peter, James and other early followers. Ken Humphreys, a Jesus mythicist, makes the case that the martyrdom accounts are pious inventions. For Sean McDowell http://seanmcdowell.org/ For Ken Humphreys http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/ 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

How should Christians interpret scriptures that describe the 'wrath' of God? Did God punish Jesus on the cross? Are we punished for our sins or do we merely suffer the 'consequences' of them? These and other questions are debated as Joshua Ryan Butler author of "The Pursuing God" and progressive pastor Brian Zahnd discuss the issues. For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 For Joshua Ryan Butler http://joshuaryanbutler.com/ For Brian Zahnd http://brianzahnd.com/about/ 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

Hear the live debate in Woking with 4 speakers putting the Christian case for and against the UK leaving the European Union. Justin Brierley chairs the debate. On the Stay team: Sir Simon Hughes & Gary Streeter MP. On the Go team: Adrian Hilton (aka Archbishop Cranmer) & Brendan Chilton.For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 Read Adrian Hilton & Simon Hughes' EU debate in Premier Christianity magazine: http://www.premierchristianity.com 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