Undeceptions with John Dickson

African Christianity is almost as old as Christianity itself. Many of the early church's theological giants came from Africa, and today, Christianity is exploding across the continent. In this episode, we look at Jesus through African eyes. (00:09) - - The Tortoise and the Hare: A different perspective (08:15) - - Why look at Jesus through African eyes? (11:26) - - Africa in the Bible (15:26) - -...

As the West undergoes a ‘de-churching,’ some are starting to wonder about the unintended consequences of a society with fewer believers. After all, some of history’s greatest humanitarians all had one thing in common: a Christian faith. (00:00) - - Intro (00:00) - Chapter 2 (04:32) - - The power of faith communities (08:21) - - Faith and politics (15:20) - - Navigating tragedy in a faith community...

Season 15 of Undeceptions is coming really soon! And our latest REWIND will help you brush up on some of the issues we’ll be discussing in our first full episode of next season. There’s a growing body of research – authoritative, real-life, peer-reviewed research – that reports a significant benefit to wellbeing if you are religious. And not just religious, but part of a faith community.

Are our dreams full of messages and warnings?  John was sceptical, but for most of human history, that’s been the common view. In this Undeceptions REWIND, we take a closer look.  If you like what you hear, listen to the episode in full: Episode 105 'Decoding Dreams'.

The 18th-century philosopher David Hume famously predicted that, as the world grew more rational and scientific, people would stop having supernatural encounters. But that’s not what has played out. We might live in a secular age, but we continue to have seemingly divine experiences. Lots of people now describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious”, but taking that next step - that leap of f...

Why does the church meet on a Sunday? How far is too far when it comes to self-defence, biblically speaking? Is it possible that Hell is temporary? John tackles these questions and more in this, our season XIV Q&A!

The world’s attention has recently been on the Vatican, and the election of the new Pope Leo XIV. But what’s the history behind the office of the Bishop of Rome? What makes a good pope? By looking at the extraordinary career of John Dickson’s favourite pontiff, we attempt to answer those questions. CREDITS Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley....

Some think we might not be too far away from Artificial Intelligence actually having feelings. If it does happen, what will it mean? Might it mean we humans are, in the end, just machines? We look back at that question - and more - in this Undeceptions Rewind! If you like what you hear, listen to the episode in full: Episode 71 'Emotional Intelligence'.

The Gospels tell us about Jesus’ adult life, with scant references to his childhood. We can catch glimpses of the younger Jesus' life, but there’s so much we don’t know. But if we move beyond the Bible, we can learn about the world the younger Jesus lived in. Growing up a refugee, in a land under foreign occupation, and a region full of militia groups, it’s worth asking: How did the turbulent back...

According to the data, chemistry is the scientific discipline with the highest number of ”theists”. Perhaps it’s not that surprising: Chemistry grew out of alchemy, a mysterious science that attempted to uncover the secrets of nature, with goals some would consider supernatural. Modern chemists are also working to uncover the secrets of nature.  For some, seeing just how ordered the world is has l...

Like it or not, life will let us down. We all face disappointment. Despite this, people spend their entire lives trying to avoid and outrun disappointment. But the Bible offers a different solution. It gives us the tools to feel and express disappointment. Tools to grieve well. Tools to lament. But it doesn’t stop there. In the Bible, we also find a God who sits with us in our grief and shares our...

Mary Magdalene has played many roles throughout history.  She’s been a prostitute, a temptation, Jesus’ wife, Jesus’ lover, a cave-dwelling mystic, a devoted follower, a revolutionary, and a penitent. The supposed sinner-turned-saint comes to us in a multiplicity of earthly, perhaps even scandalous, portraits that surprise and inspire. So what can we know about this woman for sure? CREDITS Undecep...

This week, leading up to Easter, we’re looking at the most famous trial of all time: the trial of Jesus. It’s a courtroom drama like no other, and its outcome changed everything. But what do we actually know about the trial and conviction of Jesus? Was it fair? Was it real?

When John Dickson convinced top Christian songwriters Ben Fielding and Chris Tomlin to have a go at transforming an 1800-year-old hymn into a tune for our times, they felt the weight of responsibility. This is part two of our mini-series on how the song 'The First Hymn' came to life, with a full documentary soon to follow, which will track the hymn's journey from the deserts of Egypt to the middle...

Welcome to season XIV of Undeceptions! Anthropology has a reputation for being the most “godless” of all the sciences.  The so-called Father of Anthropology, Sir Edward Burnett Tylor, abandoned his faith as an anthropologist, declaring religion was “animalistic”.  But religion hasn’t gone away - and many anthropologists are now realising there might be something to belief after all … (00:00) - - C...

The cliche: ‘faith’ is the antithesis of knowledge, of wisdom and therefore “Christian philosophy” is an oxymoron, right? For this Undeceptions rewind, we speak to two Christian philosophers who explain why that’s not the case. Available now, wherever you get your podcasts.  If you like what you hear, listen to the episode in full: Episode 57 'Jesus Philosopher'.

Why are Christians such god-botherers? Is it possible to share your belief system with someone who doesn’t accept it without being a jerk? In this Undeceptions rewind, we revisit a conversation about why Christians are so committed to sharing their faith with others - and why, if done right, it can be life changing.  If you like what you hear, listen to the episode in full: Episode 33 'Danger: Pro...

Words can change lives – whether on paper, on screen, or spoken down a phone line. A library has an abundance of words – and an abundance of opportunities to change a life. After a long break, Laurel Moffatt returns with season 4 of Small Wonders! Undeceptions is pleased to introduce our listeners to this podcast in our network. Each episode of Small Wonders offers a brief but piercing look into a...

Hell is one of the most difficult parts of Christian belief - but of all the characters in the Bible, no one comes close to using the word "Hell" as much as Jesus does. So, what did he mean, how is it plausible, and what does it matter?

As we gear up for a special episode on the difficult topic of Hell, we first bring you this Undeceptions Rewind looking at what the Bible says about Heaven. This rewind is from episode 64 'Kingdom Come'

Is Christianity an offshoot of an ancient fertility cult? Why do the Gospels only talk about Jesus' genealogy in connection to Joseph? Is there a place for Christian patriotism? John answers all these and more in our Season XIII Q&A! (00:00) - - Intro (04:16) - - Missionaries (12:02) - - Anglicanism (16:06) - - Resurrection science (23:39) - - Intellectuals who don't convert (29:38) - - Jesus'...

The Acts of the Apostles is the epic sequel to Luke's Gospel.  It follows the dramatic events immediately after the resurrection of Jesus, and follows how the first Christians - led by perhaps the most unlikely person - took the news of the Messiah to the edges of the Roman Empire - and beyond.  (00:10) - - A Biblical sequel (04:50) - - The genre of Acts (10:33) - - Luke (21:36) - - Gallio (27:28)...

If we’re talking only about liquids you drink—because the water in the Bible is washed in, crossed over, and even walked on once—wine is no.1. Wine appears more than 200 times in the Bible. And almost all of them are positive references—not critiques.  Christianity has a long, rich history with wine. But oftentimes, we’ve made it much more complicated and, at times, harmful. (00:00) - Chapter 1 (0...

There's just something about the Virgin Mary.  She stirs up big feelings - she has for millennia.  Some have perhaps given her more prominence than she would feel comfortable with. Others have hacked down her statues in reforming zeal.  Others never think about her, except when they come across a nativity scene in a shopping mall (and even that’s becoming a rarity). So, it’s time we met Mary prope...

In the 3rd century, in the Ancient Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus, a group of Christians composed a song of praise set to the pagan music of the time.  Now, 1800 years later, John Dickson is working with two of the world's best songwriters to bring this lost song - this First Hymn - back to life.  Along the way, they make some incredible discoveries about early church music, shedding light on what t...