Unbelievable?

Were the concentration camps of the Holocaust absolutely evil, or simply something that goes against people's tastes today?  Canon Angus Ritchie is the author of "From Morality to Metaphysics" in which he argues that God is the best explanation of moral realism (that there are objective moral facts). Kile Jones is an atheist studying for a PhD.  He argues that God is an unecessary entity when it c...

A podcast special airing the Student-Alumni debate that took place at Christ Church, Oxford University in November. The Proposition: Peter Hitchens, columnist for The Mail on Sunday, foreign correspondent and author. The Opposition: Alex Gabriel, former president of Oxford Atheists, Secularists and Humanists Society (OxASH) and writer for The Heresy Club. For Premier's Extending Hope appeal www.pr...

Were the concentration camps of the Holocaust absolutely evil, or simply something that goes against people's tastes today?  Canon Angus Ritchie is the author of "From Morality to Metaphysics" in which he argues that God is the best explanation of moral realism (that there are objective moral facts). Kile Jones is an atheist studying for a PhD.  He argues that God is an unecessary entity when it c...

In the first of two shows Justin is joined by Tim Mawson, the Oxford philosopher whose paper "Praying to Stop Being an Atheist" inspired the Atheist Prayer Experiment. 71 atheists and agnostics signed up to the experiment, comitting to pray for God to reveal himself to them over 40 days. Did anyone end up believing in God? We reveal the results and hear from a variety of people who took part, incl...

Jeff Cook is a Christian philosopher who tells his story of losing and returning to faith in his book 'Everything New'.  Jeff has critiqued contemporary apologetics for sometimes failing to present a God that people would want to exist. Alex Gabriel is a student and atheist activist. He engages with Jeff on what it would take for a sceptic to change their perspective - is evidence and argument eno...

Marcus Brigstocke is a well known comedian on UK radio and TV. An atheist, last year he wrote the book "God Collar" about his problems with religion, but also why he wants to believe in God. He chats with David Robertson of Solas, the Centre for Public Christianity.  They talk about UK comedy's atheist leanings, Marcus' ciriticisms of both religion and new atheism, the problem of evil, the Old Tes...

Some of the key differences between Catholic and Protestant doctrine are explored in a friendly dialogue. Roman Catholic Peter D Williams and Protestant pastor David Robertson debate The Pope, Sola Scriptura and justification by faith.   For Premier's Coverage of the "Year of Faith" visit http://www.premier.org.uk/yearoffaith   For David Robertson & the "Confident Christianity" Conference http://b...

Claims of UFO sightings and alien abductions have been widespread in the last few decades. Is there any substance to the sightings, do UFOs appear in scripture and would discovering alien life make a difference to the Christian faith? Is evidence for UFOs on a par with evidence for supernatural events like the resurrection of Christ as some atheists claim? Theologian Brendan Devitt and UFOlogist a...

David Glass is a University lecturer in Northern Ireland. His book "Atheism's New Clothes" critiques the arguments of Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens and Dennett.  He says that, on the balance of probabilities, theism offers a better explanation of life and the Universe than atheism. James Croft works with the Harvard humanist community. He contests David's use of probability theory. They discuss whethe...

Muslim protests and riots have been taking place around the world over an online video called "Innocence of Muslims" which mocks the prophet Mohammad. James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries and Muhammad Al-Hussaini of Scriptural Resaoning discuss the video and the reaction to it. As the death toll rises we ask questions like "what does this video say?" "Why do many Muslims respond this way when...

A controversial blog post by Jared Wilson, quoting pastor Doug Wilson on the role of men and women in sex, recently reignited the debate between complementarians and egalitarians. Rachel Held Evans is a popular US author, blogger and speaker who believes the New Testament supports the equality of men and women in the church and in the home (Egalitarian). Owen Strachan is a theology professor at Bo...

For a second week running we address the question of whether pornography is harmful, this time from the perspective of those in the porn industry. Former porn actress Danielle Williams explains why she feels the industry is abusive and detrimental to the women involved. Current adult entertainer Sophie Hirschfeld speaks in support of pornography.  In the studio atheist Steve Miller & Christian Pet...

In the first of two episodes, we ask the question "is pornography harmful?" This week focusses on the effect upon users of pornography. Peter Watts is from Living Waters, a Christian ministry helping those affected by sexual issues. He argues that pornography is a form of false intimacy which negatively rewires the brain and damages relationships. Steve Miller is an atheist with a background in ps...

Alom Shaha grew up in a Muslim background in London but became an atheist in his teens. Now a science teacher he has written about that journey in his book "The Young Atheist's Handbook". He chats with Tom Price of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics about Love, God, Narnia, Hope and much more... For The Young Atheists Handbook http://alomshaha.com/buy-the-book.html For Alom Shaha http://a...

Alex Preston is the author of "The Revelations", a novel about faith, doubt, guilt, sex and secrets. The 4 main characters are leaders on "The Course" an evangelism programme similar to the Alpha Course. Alex, a former banker who sees himself as a "spiritual seeker", describes his experience of attending the Alpha Course and the motivation for writing the book. Tom Price is a tutor at the Oxford C...

In this one-on-one edition of the show, Justin Brierley speaks to New Testament Historian Bart Ehrman about his recent book "Did Jesus Exist?" which argues for the historical fact of Jesus of Nazareth. Ehrman, whose books are more usually at odds with evangelicals, was this time attacked by atheist proponents of "mythicism" - the view that Jesus never existed. He responds to the criticisms, includ...

In the second show examining the beliefs of Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Bobby Gilpin and Charles Dayton return to talk about Mormon doctrines. Bobby runs UK Parternships for Christ, an outreach to Mormons and JWs. Charles is a lifelong Mormon and Western Artist in Wyoming. They discuss Mormon beliefs about whether God was "once a man", whether we are potential gods ou...

Robert Spencer runs Jihad Watch in the USA. His controversial new book "Did Muhammad Exist?" claims that the prophet of Islam owes more to fiction than fact, and has led to death threats against him. Adnan Rashid, a Muslim speaker from the Islamic Education and Research Academy, responds to Spencer's claims in a heated exchange. Get "Did Muhammad Exist?" http://amzn.to/NS44JA For Robert Spencer ht...

As Mitt Romney prepares to challenge Barack Obama for the American Presidency, we look at the Mormon religion (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) he is part of. Bobby Gilpin runs UK Parternerships for Christ - a Christian ministry to Mormons and JWs. Charles Dayton is a lifelong Mormon in Wyoming.   They discuss the origins of Mormonism and whether its founder Joseph Smith really did rec...

When Leah Libresco recently became a Catholic her story was featured on CNN.  Why?  Because up to that point she had been an atheist blogger. Her story was soon being shared on Christian and atheist blogs.  She talks to atheist blogger Hemant Mehta (aka The Friendly Atheist) about why the moral argument helped her in the journey and he quizzes her over why she chose Catholicism. Listener questions...

In the first of two programmes Justin Brierley talks to Jehovah's Witness Robert King (aka e-watchman) and former JW Tony Brown. Robert is disfellowshipped but still holds to Jehovah's Witness doctrine.  He does not speak in any offical capacity for the Watchtower Society. Tony Brown is now a Christian pastor with a ministry to Jehovah's Witnesses, he describes how he joined and left the organisat...

In the second programme examining the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, Robert King and Tony Brown discuss whether Christ claims to be God. Robert is a disfellowshiped JW but still holds to Watchtower doctrine. Tony is a former JW, now a Christian pastor.  They talk about whether JWs rely upon a works-based salvation, return to the 144,000 and discuss whether Jesus is the Archangel Michael and not t...

Social Critic and Christian author Os Guinness sets out his "Global Charter of Conscience" which seeks to give all voices a fair hearing in the public square. He debates with Terry Sanderson of the UK National Secular Society about the limits of religious freedoms. Are those who wish to live out their religious beliefs in society being marginalised? Os and Terry discuss Gay Marriage, doctors prayi...

Recorded at Imperial College London. Christian astrophysicist Hugh Ross of Reasons To Believe debates atheist biologist Lewis Wolpert. Ross brings evidence for God from Big Bang cosmology, explaining why scientific advance provides a testable model of Biblical Creation.  Wolpert says that belief in God is a by-product of evolution and nothing more.  The debate was hosted by Imperial College Christ...

Young Earth Creationists (YEC) claim the earth and universe is only some 6000 years old according to the Bible and that science that goes against this is flawed. Old Earth Creationists (OEC) argue that the Bible does not commit us to a 24hr day view of creation days, but that the earth and universe is, as mainstream science predicts, billions of years old. This debate was recorded in front of a li...