Unbelievable?

Is it ok to take the Christ out of Christmas carols? That's what TyLean Polley has done with The Atheist Christmas Album. She explains why she's produced an album of classic carols to secular lyrics. Evangelist Glen Scrivener engages with TyLean on why he doesn't think you can separate Christmas from the message of joy, hope and the birth of Jesus at its centre. For The Atheist Christmas Album:  h...

Hinge is a brand new documentary style podcast co-hosted by atheist Cory Markum and Christian pastor Drew Sokol. Justin plays out the first episode of Hinge and talks to Cory and Drew about their project to look into the evidence for the historical Jesus. In the final part of the show Justin speaks to Australian pastor and activist Jarrod McKenna about his recent adventure being smuggled into the...

After becoming disillusioned with failed prophecies at the charismatic church he was part of, Matthew Hartke lost his faith altogether when he become convinced Jesus himself was a failed apocalyptic prophet. Now an agnostic, Matthew engages with New Testament scholar Andrew Perriman. Andrew believes Jesus was indeed Israel's Messiah but that his apocalyptic prophecies in passages such as Matthew 2...

Ed Feser is a Catholic philosopher whose latest book ‘Five Proofs of the Existence of God’ presents five classical arguments that he believes present compelling evidence for theism. He debates two of the arguments on the show with atheist Cambridge philosopher Arif Ahmed. They talk about whether modern atheists take such arguments seriously, and then dive deep into debating the Aristotelian Proof...

Lynn Wilder and Corey Miller are among 4 scholars who tell their story of leaving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the new book 'Leaving Mormonism'. They engage with Mormon believer James Holt as they discuss Jesus, Joseph Smith, polygamy, testimony, the Book of Mormon and more. For 'Leaving Mormonism: Why Four Scholars Changed Their Mind': https://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Mormonis...

With the release of the audiobook version of "Unbelievable? Why, after ten years of talking with atheists, I'm still a Christian", show host Justin Brierley plays the Introduction and Chapter 1 on this bonus episode. He tells his own story of faith and how the Unbelievable? show came to be, some of the memorable moments along the way, the role of apologetics, and why atheists began tuning in to th...

Rupert Sheldrake is often regarded as a maverick in science. He had his TED talk on the “Science Delusion” banned after other scientists objected. In his new book “Science and Spiritual Practises” he makes the case for the proven scientific benefit of religious practises. He engages with atheist psychologist Susan Blackmore on their shared love of spiritual practises such as meditation but why Rup...

Christians as well as sceptics are often dubious of miracle healing claims. Ken Fish trained under John Wimber and now travels the world with Kingdom Fire Ministries to heal and train people. He believes thinking christians should embrace the miraculous as part of their faith and that it can serve as a sign to sceptics of Christ's power. Frances Janusz is an atheist who is sceptical of healing cla...

Mike McHargue (aka Science Mike) joins Justin again to revisit his book 'Finding God In The Waves' about his deconversion to atheism and reconversion to Christian faith. Mike interacts with math & science teacher and theology blogger JD Walters on Mike's rejection of a rationalistic approach to evidence for God and his championing of believing for the psychological benefits that faith affords. For...

Eminent cosmologists Sean Carroll and Luke Barnes join Justin for an extended edition of the show debating naturalism, Theism, Big Bang cosmology and fine tuning. Sean, an atheist astrophysicist and author of 'The Big Picture: on the origins of life, meaning and the universe itself' argues that naturalism best fits with our scientific understanding. Luke, a Christian astrophysicist and co-author o...

Andy Hill is an atheist who swapped hard-partying for pushing a buggy after his child was born. At a loose end with his son, he popped into a local church one day... and has continued going since. He discusses with Christian evangelist Glen Scrivener why, even though he doesn't believe, he thinks atheists like him should try churchgoing. Toward the end of the show Justin also chats with Bruxy Cave...

Australian young earth creationist John Mackay joins Justin along with theistic evolutionist Keith Fox to debate evolution. They debate Charles Lyell, the geological record, ice cores, Genesis and genetics. For John Mackay:  http://askjohnmackay.com/ For Keith Fox:  https://www.faraday.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/Biography.php? ID=174   Get signed copies of Unbelievable? the book and audiobook:  www.unbe...

To mark the 500th anniversary of The Reformation, Justin interviews two converts. One left his Catholic background for Reformed Baptist faith, the other went from Anglican to staunch Catholic. Chris Arnzen and James Bogle explain why they traded places and debate why they each think they stand on the right side of the Reformation's dividing lines concerning grace, works and Catholic doctrines. Rea...

Andrew Copson of Humanists UK is the author of new book 'Secularism: politics, religion and freedom'. He engages with Mail on Sunday journalist Peter Hitchens on whether secularism is the best future for the West, the 'myth' of neutrality, Islam and gay cakes. Juno the puppy also features. For 'Secularism' by Andrew Copson:  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/secularism-9780198809135?cc=gb&la...

In the first half of today's show Justin puts listener questions to eminent sociologist of religion Rodney Stark, author of 'The Rise of Christianity' and 'Reformation Myths'. In the final segment Justin speaks to David Wood about the passing away of Nabeel Qureshi, their friendship and his role in Nabeel's conversion from Islam to Christianity. For 'Reformation Myths' by Rodney Stark:  http://spc...

Alvin Plantinga is being awarded the 2017 Templeton Prize in honour of his lifetime contribution to philosophy. The influential thinker has been at the forefront of the revival of philosophical arguments for God as well as making important contributions to the science and faith debate. In a one-to-one interview Justin hears about his career and poses questions sent in by listeners on evolution, na...

As as student Susan Blackmore had an out-of-body experience that convinced her of the paranormal. However, after years of research, she came to the conclusion that such experiences are a purely brain phenomenon and not evidence of anything supernatural. Her new book 'Seeing Myself: the new science of out-of-body experiences' tells her story. She debates the issues with Graham Nicholls, author of '...

Justin gets a second interrogation from retired agnostic police officer Mike Rand who returns to continue the conversation with the show host about his Christian faith and new book 'Unbelievable? Why, after ten years of talking with atheists, I'm still a Christian'. They debate the evidence for the resurrection, Justin's interactions with Richard Dawkins, and what happens to those who don't believ...

Evangelist Glen Scrivener of Speak Life engages with Imam Musharraf Hussain on whether the Old Testament scriptures support the Christian view of God as Trinity or the Islamic view of Tawhid - the indivisible oneness of God. At the end of the show Jonathan McLatchie also talks to Justin about his weekly online Apologetics Academy. For Glen Scrivener http://christthetruth.net/about-2/   For Musharr...

White Christian evangelical voters played a significant part in electing Donald Trump to the White House and have traditionally been aligned with the US Republican Party. But UK evangelicals have very different political habits according to Prof Andrea Hatcher, author of “Political and Religious Identities of British Evangelicals”. Andrea joins Justin along with journalist Andy Walton, John Zmirak...

Justin presents a live audience edition of the show from the Creation Fest UK event in Wadebridge, Cornwall. He is joined by Christian apologist Andy Bannister and Mark Preedy of Cornwall Humanists. They discuss atheism, Humanism, Christianity and the search for meaning and morality. The audience also ask questions in a Q&A session.    For Andy Bannister  https://www.solas-cpc.org   For Mark Preed...

Critics of the Old Testament say that the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt is a myth and that no archaeological evidence outside scripture exists for the story. However, Ted Wright of Epic Archaeology believes that critics are misdating the story of the Exodus and that there is archeological evidence in the reign of an ancient Pharaoh that supports the story. Bob Price...

David Hutchings is a physics teacher and prof Tom McLeish chairs the Royal Society’s education committee. They are both Christians and have co-authored the book ‘Let there be Science: Why God Loves Science and Science needs God’ arguing that the Christian worldview has fuelled many of the greatest leaps forward in science. Joining David and Tom is Suzie Sheehy, an accelerator physicist at Oxford U...

Former atheist biologist-turned-Christian theologian Alister McGrath returns to the show. His new book ‘The Great Mystery’ argues that we need both science and faith to understand our place in the universe and the quest for human meaning. Atheist scientist Colin Blakemore is Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience at Oxford University. He engages Alister, explaining why he believes the human quest for...

Warning: This programme contains descriptions of abortion procedures.  Dr Haywood Robinson practised abortions early in his medical career until his conversion to Christianity. He joins Justin Brierley to explain why he changed his mind and became a pro-life campaigner.  Dr Wendy Savage of Doctors For A Woman's Choice on Abortion has performed over 10,000 abortions in her career. She debates Haywo...