Unbelievable?

Do science and genetics support the existence of a 'first' human couple? How should we interpret the first chapters of Genesis? Do we need a historical Adam & Eve to make sense of sin and salvation? Three Christians discuss the issues from different perspectives. Dr Denis Alexander is the emeritus director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge. Fuz Rana is a biochemist wit...

Amy Orr-Ewing is an evangelist and apologist with the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. She is a speaker at Unbelievable? The Conference 2013 Amy takes calls from 3 atheist listeners. Trevor asks whether we can trust the Gospels as eyewitness accounts? Rachel asks whether Christians can learn from other spiritual practices? Jay asks why Christians are so divided in the US culture wars. Chec...

In the USA Kermit Gosnell is being tried on counts of murdering children born alive in illegal late-term abortions at his unsanitary practise in Philadelphia. Dr Trevor Stammers is a Christian former GP who refused to personally refer women for abortion. Dr Evan Harris is a former Liberal Democrat MP and atheist who believes that women should have the choice to terminate their pregnancy. They disc...

Alister McGrath chats to Justin Brierley about his major new biography 'CS Lewis: A Life - Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet'. They discuss Lewis' (re-dated) conversion, his life in Oxford, his arguments for God and why he remains so singificant a figure 50 years on from his death. Alister also answers listener questions. Enter the draw for a signed copy of the book by emailing unbelievable@prem...

For more information about Rob Bell's new book, click here: http://bit.ly/15Mve2T Rob Bell returns to Unbelievable? 2 years after his debate on the controversial best-seller 'Love Wins'. He talks about life after Mars Hill Bible Church and his latest book 'What we talk about when we talk about God'. Andrew Wilson is an author and theologian with the New Frontiers church network. He quizzes Rob abo...

In a podcast special, atheist scientist Adam Rutherford and Christian biochemist Fazale (Fuz) Rana of Reasons To Believe, discuss the latest advances in synthetic bio-engineering and whether they support or contradict the view that life is a product of design. In the second of 2 programmes they explain the latest scientific advances in attempting to create simple synthetic life in the laboratory a...

Was the emergence of the first self-replicating organism a result of design or the blind forces of nature? Adam Rutherford is an atheist scientist whose new book "Creation: The Origin of Life" claims to show a naturalistic explanation for how life arose. Fazale (Fuz) Rana is a biochemist with Reasons To Believe (and a speaker at Unbelievable? The Conference 2013 ). He values scientific research in...

Christians believe that Jesus' death on the cross provided the atonement for sins. But in what way? Advocates of the penal substitution view hold that God punished the Son, instead of us. Others argue this is an unjust way of viewing the crucifixion and prefer the 'Christus Victor' view, that Jesus defeats the powers of evil on the cross. Steve Jeffery defends Penal Substitution, while Alan Moline...

AC Grayling is one of the Uk's most well known atheist thinkers. His new book The God Argument claims to refute the key arguments for God and show why humanism is the best way forward. Christian Philosopher Peter S Williams interacts with Grayling who he believes has badly misunderstood the arguments for God in his book. In a busy show they debate The Argument from Fine Tuning, The Cosmological Ar...

"Why?" is the title of the new book by Sharon Dirckx looking at God, evil and suffering. She interacts with atheist Alom Shaha as we ask "how can a loving God allow suffering?" We also hear stories from people who have been through suffering but kept their faith. Will, who became a Christian after losing his wife and a child in a tragic road accident. Rachel who has suffered from MS for a number o...

Rowan Williams led the Anglican Church for 10 years. He reflects on his journey of faith, and the trials and joys of his time in office in a wide ranging interview with Justin Brierley. Find out why he briefly considered becoming a Catholic, what he makes of new atheists like Richard Dawkins, the debate on penal substitution and whether he has had doubts about God. Read this interview in Christian...

Bible Scholar Derek Tidball takes on a range of objections to the New Testaments from three atheist callers. Andrew Nightingale asks why Christians can't agree on doctrines in scripture? Andrew Hindmarch asks why the genealogies of Jesus vary? Jack, a sceptical teenager in Australia, asks about apparent contradictions in the story of Judas' death. For Unbelievable? the Conference 2013 www.premier....

The religious right wing primarily campaigns on abortion and homosexuality - but is this the way Christians should be involved in politics? Andy Walton of the Contextual Theology Centre had published a report on whether the UK is seeing the rise of a religious right. Alan Craig is from the Christian People's Alliance, a small political party campaigning for Christian values in society. Joining by...

Hellbound is the new movie by Kevin Miller which questions the traditional "eternal, conscious torment" view of hell and asks whether Universalism is actually taught in scripture. Justin is joined by Kevin, along with Glenn Peoples who holds an "annihilationist" position, and Peter Sanlon who defends the traditional view. They discuss whether questioning hell goes against evangelicalism, wheter ev...

NT Wright is a leading professor of New Testament at the forefront of the New Perspective on Paul. His reassesment of the words of Paul on "justification" have led to concern from reformed church leaders like John Piper. Is Wright undermining important doctrine, or did the reformers read their Bible wrong? James White, reformed Bible scholar discusses with Wright as they seek to find out what Paul...

Is the phrase "I just believe in one less god than you" a good argument for atheism against Christianity? Ralph Jones is an atheist who recently featured in Christianity Magazine's " Why I'm not a Christian" column . He interacts with Christian apologist Randal Rauser, the author of "The Swedish atheist, the scuba diver and other apologetic rabbit trails". They talk about theism, deism and atheism...

The Veritas Forum in Cambridge invited Christian philosopher Keith Ward and atheist philosopher Arif Ahmed to present the reasons for their different worldviews. Justin Brierley hosts a discussion with the two thinkers in front of an audience of Cambridge students who ask their own questions too. For more discussion between Christians and non-Christians visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable   Join...

In Jan 2013 a new church began in London - with singing, a sermon and a great sense of community - but its for godless people.  Atheist stand up comedian Sanderson Jones who co-founded "the Sunday Assembly" talks about its first meeting and why it exists. Scottish church minister David Robertson asks questions about whether an "atheist church" makes sense and what Christians could learn from it. J...

Leading UK evangelical Steve Chalke has written an article for Christianity magazine on why he now affirms committed, faithful gay relationships. Justin Brierley talks to Steve about why he's changed his mind while theologian Greg Downes offers a defence of the traditional evangelical understanding of sexuality. We also hear the responses and reflections of church leaders including Steve Clifford...

In the first show of 2013, three 'Unbelievable?' listeners join Justin Brierley to discuss their views of atheism. Calum Miller is a Christian medical student at Oxford with an interest in philosophy.  He chats with atheist Paul Orton and agnostic Steve (aka Non Stamp Collector). They both define their atheism as a mere "lack of belief in God" rather than a positive belief that "there is no God". ...

1 Samuel Chapter 15 may be one of the hardest passages in the Bible to reconcile with a God of love.  It describes God apparently commanding  the slaughter of men, women and children in the Amalekite tribe.   How can Christians who take OT passages on warfare seriously reconcile it with the God of love shown in Jesus?  Is God Evil?   John Allister is the vicar of St. Jude's Church, Nottingham. He...

As videos from 2011's Bethinking Conference are made available on Youtube  we hear the talk that leading Christian philosopher William Lane Craig gave to those gathered on the apologetic task of reaching the UK. Includes audience Q&A.  Plus we hear you suggestions for show topics in the new year and some advance details of Unbelievable? The Conference 2013. For The Bethinking Conference videos www...

Matthew and Luke both tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The stories share some details in common but also vary in others.  Where did they get their information from, and should we regard them as historical or merely "theological"? Stephen Thornton is a liberal Bible tutor who believes that none of the details of the Christmas story are historically true. Rather, stories of the virgin co...

Francis Spufford is a prize-winning author who returned to faith as an adult after years as an atheist. His latest book is "Unapologetic: Why despite everything Christianity can still make surprising emotional sense".  He says he didn't write it to try to give an objective argument for Christianity, but to show why its concepts, doctrines and beliefs help those who believe it make emotional sense...

Richard Carrier is the world's foremost proponent of the "mythicist" view of Jesus - that he never actually existed as a historical person. He explains his theory that St. Paul only ever spoke of Jesus in the spiritual realm and that the Gospels are "extended parables". Mark Goodacre is NT professor at Duke University. He contends that Carrier's mythicist view is extrememly far fetched and the evi...