Undeceptions with John Dickson

St. Augustine was the Bishop of Hippo and the leader of the Christian church in a city that had become a hub in the ancient world's slave trade.He led his followers in an ambitious buy-back program for those captured by unscrupulous traders. But when church funds failed, these meek and mild believers didn't hold back from carrying out dangerous slave raids.Join John Dickson as he takes us through a first hand account of what early Christians risked to save less fortunate men and women. 

The fourth century bishop, Gregory of Nyssa, led the charge on ending slavery centuries before modern champions like William Wilberforce and Frederick Douglass ever stepped on to the stage.His arguments regarding the value of human beings would fuel abolitionists and civil rights movements fifteen hundred years after he was dead. If only we'd listened sooner.

John Dickson delves into the history of the abolition of slavery in the 19th century and discovers its deep roots in Christian theology.His investigations reveal secular claims that Christianity was a leading cause of slavery are without foundation. In fact, the campaign for freedom arose from a distinctly Christian world view that had existed for well over a thousand years.Yet the church could clearly have done a lot more, a lot sooner.

Dr. Laurel Moffatt is a writer and researcher based in Sydney, and a special guest for our Undeceptions 'Single' this week.On a recent kayaking trip, she discovered a connection between our desperate need for 'places of safety' during this pandemic, and international statistics that show a growing desire to communicate with the Almighty. Leveraging the wisdom of Augustine, she shares how prayer can become your safest place. 

A remarkable event occurred on this day at 11:30am, 25 June, 1788. The 21 year old convict, Samuel Peyton,  entered into eternity courtesy of the hangman's noose. But unlike many of his convict comrades who suffered a similar fate, Peyton left behind a testament to his belief that, even in death, he was “firmly relying on the merits of a Blessed Redeemer.”Listen in for one of the most heartfelt stories of repentance Australia's colonial history has to offer, as well as a pointer to a Christian hope that still holds true today.

Rachel Gilson says she grew up knowing two things instinctively: she was romantically attracted to women and Christians were NOT ok with that. Smart, sophisticated, with a love for big ideas not small minds … Rachel Gilson sounds like she’s the poster girl for that common critique of Christianity - that it’s unhelpful and unhealthy for those with lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientations. But that is not her story.Rachel discovered that it was possible to walk a round that led between her same-sex attraction and a love of God. Her conclusions, including her life choices will surprise you. Yet Rachel’s quest to understand God and His opinion of her desires provide one of the most provocative, interesting and inspiring stories Undeceptions has had privilege to present.LINKSFor more on Rachel Gilson, check out her web site.And while you're clicking, have a look at the Undeceptions web site for all sorts of cool stuff related to undeceiving the worldSpecial thanks to Zondervan Academic, our show sponsorUndeceptions would like to encourage you to check out Zondervan Academic's latest publication, Collected Essays of N.T. Wright, 3: volumes: Interpreting Scripture, Interpreting Jesus, and Interpreting PaulRidley College, where John lectures in Public ChristianityYou can click here to sign up for the Life In Wartime podcast with David Robertson and Stephen McAlpine.Want to send John Dickson a question? He loves them. Just click here to provide a query for our next Q and A show!Undeceptions is part of the Eternity Podcast Network, an audio collection showcasing the seriously good news of faith today.

The end of the second season of Undeceptions is drawing night, so it's time to start unpacking all of the questions we've collected.This episode John Dickson tackles everything from is the Old Testament History to is the New Testament a re-write of Jesus' real perspective?If you enjoy listening to hosts squirm, you'll love season's two's Undeceptions Q and A.LINKSBoth atheistic evolutionists and literalistic creationists want you to read Genesis the same way, but is there a different take on the foundational book of the Bible? John asks Professor C. John Collins, Professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary, in the Undeceptions episode Six Days.Undeceptions brings to life the forgotten women of the early church so we can learn just how significant the fairer sex were for the spread of the Gospel with international expert Dr. Lynn Cohick in our episode Remembering Women.Studies continue to show that most people have a fairly positive view of the founder of Christianity. But that’s a long way from accepting that there’s any history - let alone relevance - in the alleged events of Easter. John tackles the top questions in Easter Myths.While you're clicking, have a look at the Undeceptions web site for all sorts of cool stuff related to undeceiving the worldSpecial thanks to Zondervan Academic, our show sponsorWe encourage you to especially check out Zondervan's new book, 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity by John Lennox.Ridley College, where John lectures in Public ChristianityYou can click here to sign up for the Life In Wartime podcast with David Robertson and Stephen McAlpine.Want to send John Dickson a question? He loves them. Just click here to provide a query for our next Q and A show!Undeceptions is part of the Eternity Podcast Network, an audio collection showcasing the seriously good news of faith today.

This episode, we’ll be zooming in on the early Christian women, for whom we have good evidence, and who had a profound impact on the church and its teaching in their time.Our guide is Dr. Lynn Cohick, who's written books on the topic, including Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through the Fifth Centuries (co-authored with Amy Brown Hughes) and Women in the World of the Earliest Christians.She paints a vivid picture for us of what life in ancient Rome might have been like for the first women to hear the gospel.LINKSFor more on Dr. Lynn Cohick, check out her web site.And while you're clicking, have a look at the Undeceptions web site for all sorts of cool stuff related to undeceiving the worldSpecial thanks to Zondervan Academic, our show sponsorA special just for Undeceptions listeners! Get free access to Zondervan Academic's Master Lectures for 14 days, and then save 25% for the next 6 months. Just type in the code UNDECEPTIONS at the check-out.Ridley College, where John lectures in Public ChristianityYou can click here to sign up for the With All Due Respect podcast with Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du ToitWant to send John Dickson a question? He loves them. Just click here to provide a query for our next Q and A show!Undeceptions is part of the Eternity Podcast Network, an audio collection showcasing the seriously good news of faith today.

Greg Sheridan cut his teeth at the legendary news magazine, The Bulletin, before moving on to the national daily newspaper, The Australian, where he’s been the foreign editor since 1982.John catches up to talk to him about Christianity's struggles in Australia and why, of all times, he would choose to out himself as a believer.However, Greg is not so glum on the future and underlines that because the faith is beholden to no particular political party it has the ability to reinvent itself that is more inline with its roots.LINKSFor more on Greg Sheridan, check out his web page at The AustralianCheck out the Undeceptions web site for all sorts of cool stuff related to undeceiving the worldSpecial thanks to Zondervan Academic, our show sponsorA special just for Undeceptions listeners! Get free access to Zondervan Academic's Master Lectures for 14 days, and then save 25% for the next 6 months. Just type in the code UNDECEPTIONS at the check-out.Ridley College, where John lectures in Public ChristianityYou can click here to sign up for the Salt podcast with Jenny SaltWant to send John Dickson a question? He loves them. Just click here to provide a query for our next Q and A show!Undeceptions is part of the Eternity Podcast Network, an audio collection showcasing the seriously good news of faith today.

Ian Hutchinson is Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Plasma Science and Fusion Center. Among many, many other things he wrote the standard monograph on measuring plasmas, Principles of Plasma Diagnostics. That's right, he literally wrote the book on plasmas.He’s also a fellow of the American Physical Society, a fellow of the Institute of Physics, and of the American Scientific Affiliation.And… he believes in miracles - healing, resurrection, all of it. Find out why.LINKSFor more on Professor Ian Hutchinson, check out his web site.Check out his book, Can A Scientist Believe In Miracles? by Ian HutchinsonAnd while you're clicking, have a look at the Undeceptions web site for all sorts of cool stuff related to undeceiving the worldSpecial thanks to Zondervan Academic, our show sponsorRidley College, where John lectures in Public ChristianityYou can click here to sign up for the With All Due Respect podcast with Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du ToitWant to send John Dickson a question? He loves them. Just click here to provide a query for our next Q and A show!Undeceptions is part of the Eternity Podcast Network, an audio collection showcasing the seriously good news of faith today.