Unbelievable?

Romans 9 is one of the key texts used by Calvinists to support the doctrine of individual election - that God predestines people for salvation or damnation. However, John Cranman believes Calvinists are misreading Paul’s words and meaning. He engages with Calvinist thinker James White as they debate whether Romans 9 refers to individual salvation or God’s prerogative to choose categories of people...

Muslim parents in Birmingham recently made headlines for protesting the teaching of LGBT issues in lessons at their primary school. So should Muslims and Christians who share common values join forces to respond to an increasingly secular world? James White and Abdullah Al-Andalusi explore the similarities and difference in the ways they engage with secularism in the West. For Unbelievable? the Co...

Philip Goff attends church even though he doesn’t believe in the doctrines of Christianity. He calls himself a ‘religious fictionalist’, believing that the practise of faith is more important than believing in supernatural claims. Kristi Mair, author of the new book ‘More Truth: Searching for Certainty in an Uncertain World’ (IVP) and a speaker at this year’s Unbelievable? conference, engages with...

In a podcast special Justin introduces the projects of two listeners inspired by the Unbelievable? show. Firstly, the new podcast ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ about agnostic Tom’s search for meaning by immersing himself in Christianity. Then Pedro Garcia tells Justin about his journey out of atheism and how Unbelievable? has inspired him to develop ‘Ask And Wonder’ a dialogue initiative in Nashville, U...

Atheist sceptic Michael Shermer debates Chrisitan apologist Luuk Vandeweghe on whether the miracles of Jesus recorded in the gospels can be treated as historically reliable. The debate was moderated by Justin Brierley of the Unbelievable? show and recorded live at the North West Miracles Conference in Sequim, WA. For Unbelievable? the Conference 2019:  http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbeliev...

Recorded live at the North West Miracles Conference, medical doctor Sean George tells his story, along with medical evidence, of how his heart stopped for an hour and 25 minutes, before his wife’s prayer brought him back to life again. Justin interviews Sean about his experience before he is cross-examined by Bradley Bowen and Hans Vodder, an atheist and Christian philosopher, in whether a miracle...

Chris Date is a Calvinist who believes in the ‘meticulous divine providence’ of a God who predetermines every aspect of the Universe. Leighton Flowers used to be a Calvinist but now believes that God achieves his purposes while allowing genuine human freedom. Leighton and Chris each bring 3 Bible passages to the debate, which they believe support their point of view, and debate them with each othe...

Renowned British broadcaster Melvyn Bragg joins Justin to talk about why, as a non-believer, he holds the Bible in such high regard. His recent book 'William Tyndale: A Very Brief History’ traces the life and legacy of the reformer William Tyndale whose English translation of the Bible laid the foundation for the King James Version.   Ben Virgo of Christian Heritage London joins the conversation t...

Social justice, woke politics, intersectionality, patriarchy, white privilege and diversity. Critical Theory and Identity Politics have created a lot of buzzwords and debate lately. Atheist James Lindsay believes it amounts to a religion in itself. He tells of the hoax ‘grievance studies’ project he helped to pull off and engages with Christian thinkers Esther O Reilly and Neil Shenvi on whether I...

Justin is joined by transgender Christian Jenny-Anne Bishop and Peter Lynas of the Evangelical Alliance. Recently some feminists and sports personalities have raised concerns about transgender. There has been a huge surge in young people being referred for transition. Churches are also navigating how they respond. Peter Lynas is the author of the Evangelical Alliance resource ‘Transformed’ aimed a...

We debate the good, the bad and the ugly of Christian and atheist memes - images shared on social media with funny/snarky objections to the other side. Christian theologian Randal Rauser and atheist podcaster David Smalley debate 5 zingers, including one by atheist comedian Ricky Gervais. Later in the show Justin is joined by Dr Sean George to talk about his back-from-the-dead miracle claim ahead...

Justin hosts a debate between a Charismatic and Cessationist Christian. Church leader and theologian Andrew Wilson, author of the new book ‘Spirit and Sacrament: An invitation to Eucharismatic worship’, says that the gifts of tongues, healing and prophecy are still active in the church. Simon Arscott is minister of All Nations Presbyterian church in Ilford. As a cessationist he believes that the c...

To mark the opening of ticketing for Unbelievable? The Conference 2019 (Sat 20 July), Justin hosts a dialogue between Christian philosopher JP Moreland Stephen and atheist philosopher Stephen Law.  They debate JP Moreland’s new book ‘Scientism and Secularism: Learning to respond to a dangerous ideology’. For Unbelievable? The Conference 2019  http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievableconfer...

This programme covers sensitive issues and includes descriptions of abortion procedures. Listener discretion advised. 1 in 3 women will have an abortion. Former Planned Parenthood employee Sue Thayer explains why she quit the US abortion provider and now campaigns for pro-life group 40 Day For Life. Ann Furedi, head of BPAS, the UK's leading abortion provider, debates Sue on whether women are bein...

Is it ok to make jokes about religion? Where is the line between poking fun and being offensive? Justin is joined by Christian guest James Cary, BBC comedy writer and author of 'The Sacred Art of Joking’, alongside comedian Katy Brand who recently told her story of being a former believer in her stand-up show ‘I was a teenage Christian’. For ’The Sacred Art of Joking’ and James Cary’s books and po...

Justin hosts a lively debate between John Lennox and Peter Atkins in front of a student audience at the University of Southampton. They debate whether science can answer all the questions we need to answer or whether some questions such as miracles, purpose and human morality require a supernatural explanation. Christian guest John Lennox is emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy of Scie...

Einstein said: “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible”. In his new book ‘Logos: The mystery of how we make sense of the world’ atheist philosopher Raymond Tallis explores various explanations of why we have minds capable of understanding the universe.  US theologian/philosopher David Bentley Hart author of ‘The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss’...

Dr Allan Chapman is an Oxford historian, fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a Christian believer. His new book ‘Comets, Cosmology and the Big Bang: From Halley to Hubble’ traces 400 colourful years of astronomical advance and the faith of those involved. Friend and colleague Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, joins the conversation to talk about his recent book ‘On The Future’ and w...

Although he writes from a secular perspective, Jonathan Haidt’s books on moral psychology such as ‘The Righteous Mind’ have been praised by many evangelical Christians. His latest title is ‘The Coddling Of The American mind: How good intentions and bad ideas are setting up a generation for failure.’ Church leader and theologian Andrew Wilson is a fan of Haidt’s work. They discuss safe spaces, micr...

Does the church need a #MeToo moment? Does egalitarian and complementarian theology help or harm men and women in the church? Natalie Collins, a gender justice specialist and author of ‘Out Of Control: Couples, conflict and the capacity for change’, supports an egalitarian approach to male and female roles. Phil Moore, leader of Everyday Church in London and author of ‘Straight to the Heart’ argue...

Justin chats to Kevin Palau of the Luis Palau Association, and Sam Adams, the first openly gay mayor of Portland. They talk about how they worked together, despite their differences, to make a difference in the city of Portland, and the lessons they have learned.  Later in the show Justin is joined by John Dickson of the Centre for Public Christianity in Australia to talk about the new video docum...

In a Christmas special Justin is joined by priest and physicist Revd Gillian Straine and agnostic astronomer Mark Kidger of the European Space Agency. They discuss the scientific theories for the star of Bethlehem, who the Magi were and how scientists reconcile the miracles of Christmas with science. And… cute kids alert! We hear the Christmas story retold by 6 and 7yr olds. Towards the end of the...

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby gave a keynote speech at the UK Trade Union Congress in September 2018 calling for the government to change its tax and welfare policies in order to support the neediest in society. James Price of the Taxpayers Alliance strongly criticised Welby’s intervention, quoting Jesus’ words ‘Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s’ and saying...

Are ‘social justice warriors’ a danger to the Gospel? In August 2018 a group of conservative Christians in the USA, led by John MacArthur, released The Statement On Social Justice And The Gospel to take a stand against the church being influenced by “questionable sociological, psychological, and political theories presently permeating our culture”. Some of the affirmations and denials in the docum...

In a ‘classic playback’ edition of the show, Justin re-airs the debate he hosted with agnostic Bible scholar Bart Ehrman opposite Christian Bible scholar Peter J Williams. They debate the reliability of the Gospels, textual criticism, and Bart’s claim that we can’t know what some of the original texts actually say. For Peter J Williams new book ‘Can We Trust the Gospels?’:  https://www.thegoodbook...