Undeceptions with John Dickson

From John Dickson: While we’re working hard on our next Season of Undeceptions, I’ve asked the Rev Dr George Athas to have a chat to you about how we can be sure our old stuff - artefacts we’ve found from thousands of years ago - is actually old. George is Director of Research, Old Testament and Hebrew at Moore Theological College in Sydney. We spoke to him at length for our super popular episode...

One of the surprises when we turn the pages of the New Testament is how little the word “Christian” actually comes up. Given this is the book for Christians you’d expect it to be littered with the words “Christian” and “Christianity.”  But the word “Christian” only comes three times, whereas the language of being “in Christ” comes up over 200 times. It’s pretty much everywhere.

The basic aim of ‘critical theory’ is to make visible the hidden structures of a culture, so as to critique society and then, in the best forms of critical theory, bring about improvements. Our guest today reckons the Bible has its own way of exposing the flaws of our culture– and , of course, pointing to the Good. The Bible, in other words, has a critical theory of its own. This episode of Undece...

It's our seasonal Q&A episode and there are actually quite a few curly questions about the future of the universe, heaven, as well as plenty of other questions about a bewildering range of topics, some of which push John to the edge of what he knows–perhaps beyond!   This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's new book Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone, Volume 1...

It may just be that science is an imaginative, creative, and emotive enterprise, just as it is obviously a rational, mathematical, evidence-based discipline. Which, to John Dickson's mind - and that of our expert guest - makes perfect sense. After all, the Creator is an artist and logician in one! This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's new book Biblical Critical Theory:...

We take a closer look at 15 words that are often misunderstood, or sometimes forgotten. And my guest today reckons these words communicate the heart and soul of the New Testament, of the Christian faith, of God himself. This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic’s new book Bright Hope for Tomorrow  by Chris Davis. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full...

This episode, we’re laying out the best arguments for and against legalising euthanasia and asking: What view of the human person should a good society embody in its laws? This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's new book Seasons of Sorrow  by Tim Challies. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Faceb...

The death of religion was the conventional wisdom in the social sciences during most of the twentieth century. Turns out, they were wrong. Religion is not dead. It’s still here. Actually, it’s growing. This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's new book The Lost Letters to the Twelve Prophets   by John Goldingay. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the ful...

The period 500 to 1500 - the Middle Ages - was anything but dark. In fact, it was one of the most lively periods in world history.  This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's new book The Beauty Chasers  by Timothy Willard. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email th...

Buddhism probably takes the prize today for World’s Most Lovable Religion. But is this widespread appreciation of Buddhism matched by widespread understanding? This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's new book 15 New Testament Words of Life by Nijay Gupta. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebo...

This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan’s new book Global Christianity: A Guide to the World’s Largest Religion from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe by Gina Zurlo. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeceptions.com Undeceptions is...

This episode was sponsored by Zondervan Academic's book Bully Pulpit by Michael J. Kruger. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeceptions.com Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com: Letting the truth out. Theme music: J...

The song 'Christmas Time' was written by John's mate Ben Shaw, with some help from John himself. We recorded Ben’s beautiful guitar parts just 4 weeks before he died of cancer.    Ben was on this podcast a couple of times in his last months, so we hope regular listeners think of him as their friend, too. He died a year ago today, June 17. And we’re releasing the song in his memory – it was one of...

This episode was sponsored by Zondervan’s new book The Beauty Chasers by Timothy Willard. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeceptions.com Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com: Letting the truth out. Theme music: JS...

This episode was sponsored by Zondervan's new book Religious Freedom in a Secular Age by Michael F. Bird. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeceptions.com Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com: Letting the truth out....

This episode was sponsored by Zondervan's new book Typology-Understanding the Bible's Promise-Shaped Patterns: How Old Testament Expectations are Fulfilled in Christ by James M. Hamilton Jr.  Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeception...

This episode is sponsored by Zondervan's new book Malestrom: How Jesus Dismantles Patriarchy and Redefines Manhood by Carolyn Custis James Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeceptions.com Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undecep...

This episode is sponsored by Zondervan's new book The Sexual Reformation  by Aimee Byrd.  Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeceptions.com Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com: Letting the truth out. Theme music: JS...

We're launching our longboats on to the seas of myth and popular culture… and discovering over two in-depth episodes what we can actually say with some confidence about the Vikings - their origins, exploits, culture, religion and - perhaps the best-kept Viking secret - their eventual decision (and it was their decision!) to become Christians. This episode is sponsored by Zondervan's new book Four...

What happens beyond death is one of those areas—like the idea of a Rapture prior to a Second Coming—where myths have crept into popular Christian thought which have little connection either with the Bible or with what the church has taught throughout the centuries. The modern myth is: When Christians die, their bodies decay once and for all, while their spirits (whatever they are) go eternally int...

The Joshua Tree National Park in California is a good starting place for Laurel Moffatt's reflection on our struggles to see the light. The park is full of interesting characters as well as a compelling number of stars - most of which are invisible to the outside world. Because of the amount of artificial light we use each night, more than a third of people can no longer see the Milky Way. But the...

Tim Keller is the founding pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and the author of several New York times best-selling books. It's also fair probably fair to say that he is something of a Christian prophet for our secularizing 21st century. This is a chat with one of our world’s most trusted ‘undeceivers’. Whether you believe or doubt, we're sure what you’re about to hear will bring fr...

This season, we’re launching Undeceptions Plus which offers exclusive bonus content to members - who we’re calling our ‘Undeceivers’. For a small monthly fee - just AU$5 a month - you can unlock uncut interviews, extra question and answer sessions, and peeks behind our creative process as we put the shows together. Don’t worry – all our regular episodes will remain free and available for everyone....

This episode was sponsored by Zondervan’s new book Religious Freedom in a Secular Age by Michael F. Bird. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: admin@undeceptions.com Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com: Letting the truth out....

This episode was sponsored by Zondervan's new book Rembrandt is in the Wind by Russ Ramsey. For the full show notes for this episode head to Undeceptions.com.