Unbelievable?

The second episode in which Bart Ehrman defends his latest book 'How Jesus Became God' against Simon Gathercole. Ehrman claims that the early church turned Christ into the son of God. In this episode they discuss the earliest Christian writings in Scripture, and whether St Paul viewed Christ as a highly exalted being or as God himself. Cambridge scholar Simon Gathercole has contributed to a respon...

New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman's latest explosive book How Jesus Became God claims that the early Church turned Christ into the son of God, but Jesus himself never believed it and nor did his first followers. Cambridge scholar Simon Gathercole has contributed to a response book How God Became Jesus (released at the same time) and, in the first of two shows, debates with Ehrman about whether the...

Leading Christian philosopher William Lane Craig and leading atheist scientist Sean Carroll recently participated in a debate on "The existence of God in the light of contemporary cosmology" at the Greer-Heard forum. In an extended podcast we hear the debate and audience Q&A. With thanks to Tactical Faith and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary www.nobts.edu Book for Unbelievable? The Con...

Robby Dawkins (not to be confused with Richard) says he regularly sees healing miracles occur for the people he prays for. Cancer is gone, blind eyes see, pain disappears, even a lung was re-grown. David Beebee, an atheist sceptic with an interest in the charismatic church interacts with Dawkins and questions why we don't see more convincing proof, and what he does about the 'misses'. We also hear...

Austin Fischer embraced 'New Calvinism' as a teenager, after being influenced by its popular proponents. But he recently abandoned it when he found he was unable to worship God as truly just, good and loving. Calvinist theologian James White (old, rested and still reformed) challenges Austin about his journey and his theology. This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest....

Book for Unbelievable? The Conference 2014 www.premier.org.uk/reasonablefaith A recent report on the Church of England showed overall decline, but growth among 'Fresh Expressions' and Cathedral congregations. The Archbishop's advisor on Evangelism Chris Russell, tells the story of how his own church in Reading was revitalised, and why there is a bright future for the church. Phil Hoyle, who runs a...

The Apostle's Creed begins "I believe in God". David Robertson explains why he doesn't believe atheism makes sense, as related in a chapter of Why I Am Not An Atheist. Matt Dillahunty, host of The Atheist Experience responds in the first of two debates with David. They engage on the cause of the universe, morality and whether Hitler was a Christian. This programme is brought to you in partnership...

Its round 2 of atheist Matt Dillahunty & David Robertson. This time Dillahunty explains why following the person of Christ doesn't make sense to him. Robertson responds as they engage on whether Jesus was good, by what standard we judge, and whether we can trust what he said. This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest.org For David Robertson www.solas-cpc.org For Magnif...

Ryan J Bell is a former pastor who has decided to try being an atheist for a year. He explains why and interacts with New Zealand apologist Matt Flannagan. We also hear from Bentley Browning & Simon Capes at the conclusion of their atheist-Christian Faith Swap. This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest.org For Ryan J Bell http://www.yearwithoutgod.com For Matt Flannaga...

Randal Rauser says we are wrong to imagine heaven as clouds, harps or a never-ending church service. In his new book What on Earth do we know about Heaven? he unpacks the Biblical view of heaven as a 'renewed earth'. Hemant Mehta, known online as The Friendly Atheist, explains why he believes heaven is a projection of our desires and nothing more. They discuss the evidence, whether heaven and hell...

David Bentley Hart is a renowned Eastern Orthodox scholar of religion who presents three approaches to the existence of God in his new book "The Experience of God". He debates whether only God can explain 'being, consciousness and bliss', with atheist philosopher Richard Norman. This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.christianheritage.co.uk For 'The Experience of God' http://yale...

Justin Lee is a gay Christian. In his book Unconditional he describes his struggle to reconcile his sexuality with his evangelical faith and how he believes the church should respond to LGBT people. Ed Shaw is a church leader who is also same-sex attracted. Unlike Lee he believes that celibacy is the only biblical option for those who are gay. They discuss their experiences growing up, how the Chu...

Two friends, Bentley Browning (the Christian) and Simon Capes (the atheist) are both comics. They tell Justin about the religious role reversal they are undertaking and why they decided to do it. Bentley will be stopping prayer, Bible reading and going to church, while Simon will be taking them all up. We also hear from Jake Warren an atheist who made a film about living with evangelical Christian...

If God ordains the future, can humans have free will? Are people predestined for salvation? And what does the Bible say on the matter? William Lane Craig is a Christian philosopher and leading proponent of Molinism, a view of divine sovereignty that seeks to reconcile God's fore-ordination with human free will. Paul Helm is a leading Calvin Scholar. He defends the view that God predestines the fut...

The second of three shows debating the identity of Jesus. Orthodox Rabbi David Lister talks to New Testament scholar David Instone-Brewer. They discuss the rabbinic credentials of Jesus and why they differ on whether he was the messiah of the Jews. This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest.org & www.thegodquestion.tv For more resources on the Bible TV series http://www...

Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet, but not the Son of God as Christians believe. James White is a US Bible Scholar and Yusuf Ismail is a Muslim scholar from South Africa - they debate the issues. This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest.org & www.thegodquestion.tv For more resources on the Bible TV series http://www.premier.org.uk/thebible For James White's rev...

Reza Aslan is the author of the bestselling book Zealot which claims Jesus was a political revolutionary and not the peace loving Messiah of the Gospels. He debates with New Testament scholar Anthony Le Donne who has written a scathing review of Aslan's book. This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest.org & www.thegodquestion.tv For more resources on the Bible TV series...

Richard Dawkins has described the God of the Old Testament as (among other things) a "capriciously malevolent bully". The world's best known atheist joins Justin Brierley to discuss the morality of the Old Testament in light of the Bible TV series airing in the UK on Channel 5. Rabbi Josh Levy and Christian lecturer Chris Sinkinson discuss with Dawkins whether the events of the Old Testament are h...

Stephen C Meyer is the world's leading Intelligent Design proponent. His new book Darwin's Doubt claims that the Cambrian fossil record, which saw an "explosion" of new life forms in a short space of time, is evidence for ID. Evolutionary biologist Charles Marshall of the University of California, Berkeley has written a critical review of the book. He debates Meyer on whether Darwinian evolution c...

Hanns Mattsson, a leader in the European wing of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints recently went public about his doubts in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/us/some-mormons-search-the-web-and-find-doubt.html?_r=0 Former Mormon Russ East discusses with Mormon historian Brian Hales the concerns of Mattsson over the legitimacy of the Book of Mormon and the character...

US Bible teacher John MacArthur recently condemned charismatic Christians as unbiblical and unsaved at his Strange Fire conference. Reformed Blogger Adrian Warnock explains why John MacArthur has thrown the charismatic baby out with the bathwater, and why he believes in the continuing gifts of healing, prophecy and tongues. Doug Wilson, a reformed church leader in the US, reflects on the conferenc...

Ann Furedi of the British Preganancy Advisory Service (the UK's largest abortion provider) debates Gregg Cunningham of the pro-life Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. They debate the motion "This house believes that it is morally wrong for groups to approach women and display abortion imagery outside facilities which provide abortion services." The debate took place in London and was organised by Chri...

The National Secular Society recently raised concerns that Christian groups were infiltrating RE lessons in order to evangelise at schools. Although their report was dismissed by the Department for Education, President Terry Sanderson explains why their concerns were raised after they received dozens of complaints from parents. Revd David Robertson of the Solas Centre For Public Christianity expla...

Renowned New Testament Scholar NT (Tom) Wright joins Justin to talk about his new book 'Paul And The Faithfulness of God'. He also answers a number of listener questions that have come in on Facebook and Twitter He answers questions on hell, Satan, creation, Adam and Eve, Old Testament texts, the role of women and more. Justin is also joined later in the show by Iain Morris, creator of the God Que...

How does a non-religious person choose to mark significant milestones in life such as births, weddings and deaths? Some people are turning to the services of Humanist celebrants such as Hannah Hart, who talks to Justin about her line of work. Faith Forster is co-founder of Ichthus Christian Fellowship and discusses the differences between the way she conducts baby dedications, weddings and funeral...