Within Reason

New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman explores the history and contradictions surrounding Jesus' birth in the New Testament. They discuss the pagan roots of Christmas and its connection to Saturnalia. The chapter explores the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke, highlighting differences and shared themes. The prophetic perfect tense and prophecy fulfillment are explored, as well as contradictions in the birth narratives and a historical contradiction in the gospel. The concept and significance of the virgin birth are discussed, including the possibility of Joseph being Jesus' father.

Edward Feser, American Catholic philosopher and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Pasadena City College, discusses the Aristotelean argument from motion, potentiality and actuality, hierarchical causal series, existence of an actual infinite, causality, essence and existence, and the argument from contingency.

Josh Rasmussen, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Azusa Pacific University discusses the emergence and complexity of consciousness, the challenges of using science to explain it, the philosophical problem of consciousness and unity, the relationship between thoughts and mindless states, and the intricate nature of consciousness.

John Vervaeke, award-winning professor, discusses the meaning crisis and its impact on humanity. Topics include the relationship between wisdom and belonging, the role of narrative in society, video game addiction, decline of religious belief, and finding meaning in death and intrinsic value.

Graham Oppy, a well-known atheist thinker, discusses the definition of atheism, the burden of proof, exploring belief through behavior, perspectives on belief and the concept of God, and the process of selecting theories in this thought-provoking podcast.

This podcast discusses the controversial activist group Just Stop Oil and their disruptive methods of protest. Topics include the ethics of protests, the use of violence in protests, the debate over the term 'genocide' in relation to climate change, democracy and crisis, and challenging misconceptions about the Just Stop Oil movement.

Peter Hitchens, author, broadcaster, journalist, and commentator discusses the classification of cannabis as a gateway drug, the consequences of decriminalizing cannabis, exploring the limitations of freedom and the question of self-harm, moral arguments vs legal arguments on drug possession, criminalization and moral objections, the impact of drug decriminalization in Portugal, and a heated exchange on drugs versus God.

Drew McCoy, creator and host of Genetically Modified Skeptic, talks about his recent trip to SatanCon and the rise of modern Satanism as a reaction to Christian nationalism. They discuss reclaiming Satanism, attending the largest gathering of Satanists in history, and the political associations of the Satanic Temple. They also explore the evolution of atheism on YouTube and reflect on becoming a responsible role model.

Justin Brierley, Christian apologist and author, explores the surprising rebirth of belief in God and the impact of the new atheist movement. He discusses the decline of religious belief in the UK and shifting perspectives towards religion among prominent atheists. The chapter also delves into the rise of a social justice religion and shares a story about an atheist philosopher who participated in an audacious hoax.

Slavoj Žižek, a Slovenian-born political philosopher and cultural critic, discusses topics ranging from criticism of Stalin to the transformation of horror into pleasure. They explore the paradoxes of cancel culture and the self-destructive tendencies within the Western tradition perpetuated by the woke left. The conversation also touches on the motivations behind destructive sexual fetishes and the obsession of totalitarian regimes with false expressions of loyalty. They discuss the threats to democracy and the need for critical thinking in today's society.