Unbelievable?

On the show this week: April is CS Lewis month on Premier Christian Radio.  In this edition of the show we examine two of CS Lewis' apologetic arguments for Christianity. The Trilemma - "Either Jesus is a lunatic, a liar or Lord. He cannot simply be a great moral teacher, he has not left that option open to us".  Does Lewis' argument still stand 60 years on? Kenneth R Samples is senior research scholar for Reasons To Believe and a lifelong fan of CS Lewis. He defends Lewis' apologetics against atheist James Croft who says that it fails to pass muster. They also discuss Lewis' "Argument for God from Reason" - that our belief in the trustworthiness of our reasoning faculties is only possible if God exists. To enter the draw for 3 CS Lewis books email unbelievable@premier.org.uk For Kenneth Samples http://www.reasons.org/about/who-we-are/kenneth-samples For James Croft http://www.templeofthefuture.net/about For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes You may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 18 February 2012 - Is apologetics a waste of time? Unbelievable? 30 Oct 2010 - The Apologetics of CS Lewis Michael Ward debates with Dan Barker. Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

This week's show. Sofia Europa sponsored a discussion between Richard Dawkins and Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The discussion is moderated by Prof Anthony Kenny. It is broadcast here in full. For the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bow4nnh1Wv0 For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes You may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 5 November 2011 - William Lane Craig - Is God a Delusion?At Oxford Sheldonian Theatre Unbelievable? 12 Dec 2009 - Dawkins Debate on Atheist fundamentalism Richard Dawkins debate on "Atheism is the New Fundamentalism" - review with interviews Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

This week's show: Chris Date is the host of the Theopologetics podcast. Until recently he believed in Hell as a place of never-ending punishment. But now he has become convinced that the Bible better supports an annihilationist view - that the damned will, in most respects, cease to exist. Steve Jeffery is Pastor Of Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Southgate. He holds to the traditional view that those in hell continue to be eternally conscious of their punishment. They debate the nature of hell. Is annihilationism a heresy? What is Gehenna? Does the 'fire' of Revelation comsume or ruin? What did Jesus say about it? For Chris Date & podcasts on annihilation http://theopologetics.podbean.com For Steve Jeffery http://northlondonchurch.org/ministers-blog/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes You may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 23rd April 2011 - Rob Bell defends 'Love Wins' Unbelievable? 8 Aug 2009 - Hell - two different views debated Conditional immortality vs. Eternal conscious torment - James White debates Roger and Faith Forster Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

The first of two programmes looking at miracles in the Bible and today. Craig S Keener is a New Testament Scholar at Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky. His new book "Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts" is a 2 volume work assessing the case for the miracles of Jesus and the many reported cases of miracles around the world. Geoff Lillis is an atheist listener from Ireland. He contests the reliability of miracle accounts from 2000 years ago. In a good-natured encounter that will be continued next week Geoff and Craig discuss the nature of Miracles, Hume's philosophical argument against them, whether the Gospel accounts of miracles were invented or embellished and "Why Does God Hate Amputees?". For The Book "Miracles" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Miracles-Credibility-New-Testament-Accounts/dp/0801039525 For Craig Keener http://www.craigkeener.com/ For Geoff Lillis http://geoffsshorts.blogspot.com/ More on the case of Craig Marsh http://www.turningpointministries.info/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes You may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 29 October 2011 - Gary Habermas & Geoff Campos Is it rational to believe in Miracles? Unbelievable? 17 Nov 2007 - Are miracles evidence for God? Miracles and healing - is it evidence for the truth of Christianity? Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

The Common English Bible is a recently released new translation of Scripture.  An interdenominational team of Bible scholars worked on the project, with thousands of people involved in test readings.  The aim was to produce an accurate, but jargon-free Bible, aimed at today's English reader. Joel B Green, Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary headed the team of NT translators. He discusses some of the unusual choices of phraseology and interpretation with NIV Bible scholar David Instone-Brewer of Tyndale House, Cambridge. Do we need another English translation? Why "Human One" instead of "Son of Man"? Is gender neutral language helpful? Have passages such as 1 Tim 2 been translated to favour an egalitarian theology? Plus questions from listeners. For the Common English Bible http://www.commonenglishbible.com/ Enter the draw for a copy by emailing unbelievable@premier.org.uk  For Joel B Green http://www.fuller.edu/academics/faculty/joel-green.aspx For David Instone-Brewer http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/index.php?page=david-instone-brewer For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes   If you enjoyed this progamme you may also enjoy:   Unbelievable? 22 Jan 2011 - Which Translation should we Trust?   Unbelievable? 13 Feb 2010 - Two views on Divorce and Remarriage - David Instone-Brewer & Andrew Corn   Unbelievable? 14 May 2011 - Should women be church leaders?With Christina Rees & John Richardson   Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Chris Sinkinson is a pastor and tutor at Moorlands Bible College. His new book 'Confident Christianity' aims to equip the believer with an overview of apologetics and how it can be used to make a rational defense of the Christian faith. James Croft is an atheist Brit studying at Harvard University and director of 'Temple of the Future'. He has read and debated with apologists - he says that all the apologetic arguments he has heard are incapable of convincing him. They debate what constitutes faith and evidence and whether it's irrational to believe in miracles such as the resurrection. We have 5 copies of Confident Christianity to give away - get in touch telling me "what makes you believe" and you may win one! email unbelievable@premier.org.uk To buy Confident Christianity http://amzn.to/ACKJH5 For Chris Sinkinson http://www.moorlands.ac.uk/home/about-us/staff-profiles.php For James Croft http://www.templeofthefuture.net/about For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes   If you enjoyed this progamme you may also enjoy:   Unbelievable? 29 October 2011 - Gary Habermas & Geoff Campos Belief in Miracles.Unbelievable? 11 June 2011 - Unbelievable? The Conference - John Lennox & GuestsUnbelievable? 21 Aug 2010 - Debating Apologetics Online Christians Todd Pitner & Richard Morgan with atheist Paul Baird   Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Atheism 2.0 is the logical next step for non-believers according to cultural philosopher Alain de Botton.  He outlines why atheists should borrow from the art, architecture, community, and contemplative traditions of religion without the supernatural beliefs.  The book "Religion for atheists" drew criticism from Richard Dawkins and others after De Botton apparently suggested that there should be "temples for atheism". De Botton responds and also gives his opinion on AC Grayling's "The Good Book" and Terry Eagleton's unfavourable review in The Guardian. Recorded in De Botton's home, he chats with James Orr, a Christian convert studying for a PhD in the History of Ideas at Cambridge University. They discuss whether the trappings of religion make sense without the kernel of faith. For Alain de Botton http://www.alaindebotton.com/ Buy "Religion for Atheists" http://amzn.to/rsrtAe The TED Talk http://blog.ted.com/2012/01/17/atheism-2-0-alain-de-botton-on-ted-com/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes   If you enjoyed this progamme you may also enjoy:   Unbelievable? 17 Dec 2011 Believing Bulls**t - Is Christianity an intellectual blackhole? Stephen Law & James Orr   Unbelievable? 26 Oct 2011 - William Lane Craig vs Peter Millican - Does God exist?   Unbelievable? 2 Apr 2011 - Is it best to be agnostic? Mark Vernon & David Robertson   Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Three Christians of different theological persuasion discuss the existence of demons. John Tancock (JT) is involved in Charismatic Church leadership. He believes demons are real. As well as pursuing apologetics, he is involved in deliverance ministry and had regularly prayed for demons to be cast out of people. Will Van Der Hart is a vicar in the Church Of England and a founder of Mind and Soul - helping Churches to understand mental health issues.  He believes in a negative spiritual realm but wants to stop the stigmatisation of people with mental health issues as "demonised". Jonathan Clatworthy is General Secretary of Modern Church - promoting liberal theology. He believes that demons don't exist and modern day deliverance ministry can do more harm than good. John Tancock http://jtsblogspot.blogspot.com/ or http://www.youtube.com/user/reachout/search?query=deliverance Will Van Der Hart http://www.mindandsoul.info/ Jonathan Clatworthy http://www.clatworthy.org/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 10 Jul 2010 - Was Saint Paul mentally ill & the proponent of a hoax religion?'B. Strong' & Christian John Tancock debate Unbelievable? 10 May 2008 The gift of tongues - faith or fake? Gerald Coates, Mark Johnston & Stephen Pilcher discuss. Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Angels have been reported for thousands of years across different cultures. What is the evidence of their existence? Three guests examine Biblical and contemporary accounts of angelic visitation. Peter S Williams is a Christian Philosopher and author of the book "The Case for Angels". He say that there is philosophical, biblical and experiential evidence for the existence of angels. Lee Warren is a magician by trade. As an atheist and sceptic he says the mind is capable of making people believe unusual things, but a natural explanation always lies behind accounts of supernatural beings. Roger Harper is an Anglican Vicar who has researched Christian accounts of modern-day angelic visitations. For Peter S Williams http://idpluspeterswilliams.blogspot.com/ His Books "The Case for Angels" http://tinyurl.com/79xjm3g and "Understanding Jesus" http://tinyurl.com/7ljghdf For Lee Warren http://www.leewarrenmagic.co.uk/ For Roger Harper http://rogerharper.wordpress.com/ More Resources: Emma Heathcote-Jones Seeing Angels and Pastor Roland Buck's Angelic Experiences http://www.angelsonassignment.org/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Demons: Do they exist? Different Christian views - Unbelievable? 28 Jan 2012 Unbelievable? 25 Jul 2009 - Michael Shermer debates "Miracles" Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Continuing our Mind, Body and Soul month of programming on Premier, Justin is joined by a Christian and an atheist as they discuss whether people's religious experiences can be explained by brain activity alone. Revd Dr Aladair Coles is an academice neurologist in Cambridge and part of the Faraday Institute's Test of Faith initiative. He says that even though neuroscience has helped us understand the brain activity of religious people, atheist scientists such as Sam Harris have not thereby disproved God. Martyn Frame is a psychological therapist and atheist. He believes that people's brain states fully explain their religious experiences and, in any case, the Christian God would not have given us the brains we have if He existed. For Premier's Mind, Body & Soul resources http://www.premier.org.uk/mind For Alasdair Coles http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/Biography.php?ID=60 For Test of Faith lectures by Alasdair http://www.testoffaith.com/resources/resources.aspx?resourceByTag=true&tagid=24 For Martyn Frame see http://www.freeoffaith.net For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 24 Jul 2010 - Psychology of Religion "Is religious belief a trick of the mind?" Atheist Martyn Frame & Christian Joanna Collicut McGrath Unbelievable? 24 Jul 2010 - Wired for God? The Biology of Spiritual Experience Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter