Unbelievable?

Justin is joined for the seond time by New Testament scholars Michael F Bird And James G Crossley.  Their book "How Did Christianity begin? A believer and non-believer examine the evidence" gives rival accounts of the cause of Christianity and its beliefs.  This week they debate whether Paul believed Jesus was God and whether we can trust the Gospel portrayals of him. Order the book at www.premier...

On this week's show (17 Jan 09) two New Testament scholars go head to head. Michael Bird is a believer, James Crossley is not. They have different conclusions about how the Christian faith began and have written a dialogue in their new book "How Did Christianity Begin - a believer and non-Believer examine the evidence". In today's programme they debate whether Jesus himself beliived he was God, as...

Bart Ehrman is the US author of the bestselling book "Misquoting Jesus" (In the UK "Whose word is it?").  He calls into question the authority of the New Testament as scribal changes over time have changed the documents.  So can we trust the scripture? Bible scholar Peter Williams believes in the reliability of the New Testament and that Bart's prognosis is far too pessimistic. To hear more discus...

Bart Ehrman lost his faith altogether when he confronted the problem of how a loving, powerful God can allow suffering.  In his new book "God's Problem" he states that the Bible contains different and unconvincing explanations to the issue. Richard Swinburne is a reknowned Christian philosopher.  He answers Bart's objections with arguments from his own book "Providence and the Problem of Evil". To...

A treat for the end of the year as Justin plays some exclusive content accumulated in the past year.  NT Wright is among contributors to a feature answering common ojections to the resurrection of Jesus; New York Pastor Tim Keller on his book "The Reason for God"; and David Robertson author of "The Dawkins Letters".  Happy new year! To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go...

Canon Michael Sayward believes that the Virgin Conception is an attested historical fact, and an essential doctrine for Christian belief. Unitarian minister Sarah Tinker believes it to be a "beautiful myth" that should not be taken literally. They debate and we hear listener phone calls, response to the last few weeks of programming as well as tackling the "Jesus is a plagiarism of Pagan Gods" arg...

Does God have a continuing special convenant relationship with Jewish people?  Should Christians be especially concerned for Israel?  Two Christians with very different views tackle this week's subject.  Revd Stephen Sizer has written extensively against "Christian Zionism", whereas Geoffrey Smith believes God still has a special relationship with Israel. What do you think? Have your say on this d...

Denis Alexander is the author of "Creation or Evolution - do we have to choose?" - his answer is "no".  Denis believes Darwin's theory is perfectly compatible with belief in the creator God of the Bible.  Stephen Lloyd of Biblical Creation Ministries disagrees - he says that the Gospel itself depends on the Adam and Eve story being literally true. Buy "Creation or Evolution- do we have to choose?"...

Stand up comedian Robin Ince is hosting "A rational celebration of Christmas".  Ricky Gervais and Richard Dawkins are among many other atheists on the bill.  Comedy writer and Christian James Cary discusses with Robin whether Christianity and belief in God is irrational.. and there's plenty of jokes along the way..  To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.o...

What do Pagans believe?  We find out from Mike Stygal of the Pagan Federation in London. What approach should Christian take when it come to sharing faith and understanding the way pagans see the world?  Nick Stead and Steve Hollinghusrst regularly engage with Pagans at New Age Fairs. For Nick Stead and the London City Mission see www.lcm.org.uk For the Pagan Federation London see www.pflondon.org...

Atheist Professor Richard Dawkins and Christian Professor John Lennox recently met in Oxford to debate whether Science has buried God.  The discussion was sponsored by The Fixed Point Foundation.  Justin Brierley was there, taking interviews with them both and those who watched.  He presents a review of the debate with the interviews. To order the DVD visit www.fixed-point.org  For John Lennox's b...

Christian apologist James White believes that the God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is present in the pages of the Bible.  Muslim Abdullah Al Andalusi believes that a Trinitarian God is a contradiction in terms.  They debate whether it makes sense and whether the Bible supports it. For James White see www.aomin.org For Abdullah see www.youtube.com/mujtahid2006 To hear more discussions between Chr...

Atheist Ed Turner, in common with the new atheists, believes that religion is bad for the world because of the conflict it causes across the world.  Historian and Christian Meic Pearse who wrote the bestseller "Why the rest hates the West" says that a proper understanding of history shows the opposite - that secular regimes are bad for the world. Order Meic's new book "The Gods of War" at www.prem...

Norman Hansen lost his faith partly because of coming to doubt the historical reliability of the Bible and Jesus.  Amy Orr-Ewing spends her time defending the Bible around the world -she says belief in Jesus is perfectly rational. For more info on Amy's ministry www.zactrust.org To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable . Join the discussi...

Atheists are funding a campaign that will see London buses bearing the poster "There is probably no god.  Now stop worrying and get on with your life".  Its the brainchild of Ariane Sherine and has been backed by Richard Dawkins.  We discuss the campaign, whether there really is no God and what it means for morality if there isn't. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go...

The Alpha Course has become the most successful evangelistic course around the world.  Atheist Michael Marsden went on the course at Holy Trinity Brompton - he didn't become a Christian and explains why.  Church pastor Nigel Desborough defends the course and its value. Book mention - Timothy Keller - "The Reason For God".  Pub. Hodder & Stoughton To hear more discussions between Christians and non...

Justin is joined by Zoroastrian priest Rostam Bhedwar, Almut Hintze who has studied the religion extensively and Omar Ralf, the Premier listener who sparked this discussion.  Richard Sudworth of the Church Mission Society also joins in to explore the essential differences between Christianity and Zoroastrianism. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.u...

In what could be a radio first, "Unbelievable?" links up with "The Infidel Guy" show and talks to its atheist host Reginald Finley.  They debate the question:  "Which makes more sense: Atheism or Christianity?". See the Infidel Guy's website at www.infidelguy.com To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable . Join the discussion on the Premie...

Ed Turner is a lawyer from Liverpool who contacted the programme saying he wants to put Christianity and the Bible on Trial.  In this programme he presents his case against trusting the scriptural accounts.  Andy Bannister in defence believes that the Bible is a historically valid document.  Continued next week... To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org...

Atheist lawyer Ed Turner and Theologian Andy Bannister return to debate whether Jesus and the Bible are a good guide for morality.  Ed believes that certain episodes in the Gospels suggest Jesus is actually an evil person.  Andy defends Jesus, the gospel and Christian ethics. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable . Join the discussion...

Well known USA Intelligent Design advocate Tom Woodward takes on the National Secular Society's science representative Pete Hearty.  Does the new evidence in biological science point towards an ultimate creator?  Other guests also join the fray... To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable . Join the discussion on the Premier Community www....

Former Regius professor of Divinity at Oxford University Keith Ward has written a response book to The God Delusion on why Dawkins' philosophical arguments against God are wrong.  Atheist scientist Robert Stovold defends Dawkins "naturalism" view. To buy Ward's book "Why there almost certainly is a God" go to http://shop.premier.org.uk/ To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christian...

Jonathan Castro runs an anti-church website.  He believes in Christianity but says he has never felt like he has connected with God, and certainly not in church.  Find out if Pastor Nigel Desborough of Forest Hill Community Church has any words of help for him. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable . Join the discussion on the Premier...

An in depth interview with veteran apologist Norman Geisler who co-founded the Southern Evangleical Seminary in North Carolina. Miracles, Jesus, the Bible, inerrancy and apparent contradictions all come under the spotlight.  The last in the series interviewing ket Christian thinkers from the States. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievabl...

Should the Government fund schools that promote Christianity?  Church of England spokesperson on Education Jan Ainsworth says that a faith ethos is a good thing for a school.  Andrew Copson of the British Humanist Association says that's not true. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable . Join the discussion on the Premier Community www....