In in this episode of Still Unbelievable! Matthew reads the Christmas narratives from the gospels. To show that as each gospel is written, the story gets embellished.

Unlike the death and resurrection narratives, see our 2025 Easter bonus episodes for thoughts on those, link in the show notes. The birth story of Jesus is not told in all four of the gospels.

Like the Easter episodes, we will be looking at each of the gospels in the order written, which means starting with Mark chapter 1.

1) Easter 2025 Bonus episodes on the death and resurrection of Jesus

https://youtu.be/f31UpncgmQk

https://youtu.be/wgZhMPE-kx0

https://youtu.be/bvtp-REH9oo

2) extra biblical account of the birth of Jesus

https://earlychristianwritings.com/infancyjames.html#google_vignette

Still Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1Cw

Apostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYx

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Matthew is joined by David from Skeptics and Seekers to answer Braxton Hunter's 5 questions for atheists 2025.

Join us for answers, spattered with laughing and swearing!

1) original youtube video

https://youtu.be/gsma6UT3rwk?si=2jdJVDlqIMjuuFxy

2) Robin Collins

https://www.messiah.edu/homepage/1662/robin_collins

https://www.messiah.edu/info/20003/faith_and_values/5/statements_of_faith

https://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil201/Collins.pdf (1999) source of the freemon dyson quote

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=0d385016fc615624829568172ae73c5ac695155a

https://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil383/collins.htm#N_1_

3) Freeman Dyson Quote - (1979). Disturbing the Universe

https://archive.org/details/disturbinguniver0000dyso/page/250/mode/2up?q=%22water+could+not+exist+as+a+liquid%22

https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article-abstract/32/12/51/432255/Disturbing-the-Universe

Freeman Dyson went on to say:

"I conclude from the existence of these accidents ... that the universe is ... unexpectedly hospitable .... I do not claim that the architecture of the universe proves the existence of god. I claim only that the architecture of the universe is consistent with the hypothesis that mind plays an essential role in its functioning."

4) Science Proves There are More than Two Human Sexes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT0HJkr1jj4

5) How evolution gave us free will

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=how+evolution+gave+us+free+will&adgrpid=1175379657968595&hvadid=73461428254687&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=69110&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73461487665568%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=24459_2219459&mcid=8a9d1f3c3e333d79aab99d6d9ab3256d&msclkid=bb7d0886990714ed0e9660e7a6a19fad&tag=mh0a9-21&ref=pd_sl_2myqx3bdnv_e

Still Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1Cw

Apostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYx

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable!, Matthew reviews Sean McDowell and William Lane Craig being shitty about Rhett's deconversion. When Christian apologists review the deconversion of a high profile Christian, it's a given that they will miss the point on the things they say and misdirect their adoring Christian fans on the negative aspects of Christianity that cause the person to leave. This conversation is no exception and we're going to have fun highlighting all the predictable and unsurprising ways that Sean and WLC achieve this.

Link 1 takes you to the Sean McDowell interview with WLC and Link 2 going to the Alex O'Connor interview with Rhett. It is very interesting that Sean does not provide a link to Alex's show in his YouTube notes. What is he afraid of?

1) original Sean McDowell conversation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75gT-lEgRRw

2) The original interview between Rhett and Alex O'Connor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9wjVLKy8Xk

3) The Web of Belief - By W. V. Quine, J. S. Ullian

https://emilkirkegaard.dk/en/wp-content/uploads/W.-V.-Quine-J.-S.-Ullian-The-Web-of-Belief.pdf

4) Biola statements of faith and evolution

https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2017/should-christians-evolve-on-evolution

https://archive.chosenpeople.com/pdf/Doctrinal-Statement.pdf

https://www.biola.edu/about/theological-positions

5) secular scholars on the history of christianity

https://www.worldhistory.org/user/rdenova/

https://www.religiousstudies.pitt.edu/people/rebecca-denova

https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Origins+of+Christianity+and+the+New+Testament-p-9781119759621

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Pagels

https://www.elaine-pagels.com/books/

https://censamm.org/about/people/crossley

https://www.librarything.com/work/1968245/book/10922499

6) Still Unbelievable! bonus episodes on the progression of the resurrection narrative

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ucNqgubkpUb

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/s97AttbkpUb

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/B77lFsbkpUb

Still Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1Cw

Apostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYx

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode Matthew reviews a conversation that Lee Strobel had with Justin Brierley in April 2022. In that discussion Lee tried very hard to make a case for heaven, and Matthew examines the points he makes and revealing why his case is utter bunk. It literally is wishful thinking gone wild.

The original you tube video of the conversation is at link 1, it's not long, about 20 minutes. Lee's Case for heaven movie is at link 2. It's longer at almost 2 hours.

1) Original conversation between Lee and Justin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Oeh8L-87U

2) case for heaven movie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbkwdT3Tq40

3) hyponatraemia

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hyponatraemia/

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hyponatraemia/background-information/complications/

4) Being Close to Death can Transform Your Life.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/understanding-grief/202411/can-being-close-to-death-transform-your-life?msockid=312d907b5d7169080dc782295cba68f7

5) Sharon Dirckx

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/17-february/features/interviews/interview-sharon-dirckx-christian-apologist

https://www.solas-cpc.org/book-am-i-just-my-brain-by-sharon-dirckx/

6) the Lancet

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(01)07100-8/abstract

7) Failure to Elicit Near-Death Experiences in Induced Cardiac Arrest

https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/360/2017/01/NDE47.pdf

8) the maria story

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2019/07/the-shoe-on-the-ledge.html

https://www.is-there-a-god.info/blog/life/whatever-happened-to-my-tennis-shoean-nde-story/

9) Blind Vicky NDE

https://ndestories.org/vicki-noratuk/

10) Psychology today article on apparent evidence for a soul

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/biocentrism/201112/does-the-soul-exist-evidence-says-yes

11) Pam Reynolds

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Reynolds_case

BBC report on the case

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osfIY4B3y1U

12) science articles

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/peace-of-mind-near-death/

https://sciencebasedlife.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/near-death-experiences-science-after-all/

13) Howard storm traumatic NDE

https://thepurposeoflife-nde.com/howard-storm/

https://near-death.com/howard-storm/

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 138 - Gavin Ortlund takes 5 minutes to Shoot Christianity in the foot.

This episode is the audio only of a video review that is available on the Still Unbelievable! YouTube channel. See show notes for a link.

the original

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QWcKjIKf0k

did the universe begin?

https://youtu.be/4Ps9-u0KfG4?si=1ew1M2-TI8rODbkq

apparent fine tuning does not mean a god did it

https://youtu.be/jJ-fj3lqJ6M?si=CRVg4At1mXpK-qd6

consciousness

https://youtu.be/MASBIB7zPo4?si=6JK-no1XeIdj1k9o

prayer does not work

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-31-sci-prayer31-story.html

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

1) Anna Clark Miller - services, podcast, and book

https://www.empathyparadigm.com/martyrshewrote

https://www.empathyparadigm.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Religious-Trauma-Survival-Guide-Professionals/dp/B0CHL5FGBM

2) Beyond Belief: the Coercive Power of High Control Religions

https://www.questioninglds.com/lds-articles/g6m1k7bpggn42irn5oyoirpwb16wll

3) Reclamation Collective

https://www.reclamationcollective.com/

4) Anna on the Life Unwasted Podcast

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/life-unwasted/anna-Y5IWraHvF9i/

5) What's the Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Trauma?

https://welldoing.org/article/whats-the-relationship-neurodiveristy-trauma

6) Matthew on the Life Unwasted Podcast

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/life-unwasted/matthew-C4ZD9NcP_6T/

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 136 - Transhumanism - with Revd Dr Stephen Goundrey-Smith

In this episode of Still Unbelievable!, Matthew chats with an old friend about Transhumanism. Stephen and Matthew have known each other since they were in a church 18+ group more than 30 years ago.

Stephen trained as a pharmacist and then as a minister for the church if England and now combines them both in his work at Ripon College Cuddesdon. We raise several topics in this conversation, so please as always check the show notes for essential links. And if you have any thoughts Steve and Matthew are both happy to receive them, [email protected].

1) Revd Dr Stephen Goundrey-Smith - items and books

https://www.rcc.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/revd-dr-stephen-goundrey-smith

https://www.ethicsandmedicine.com/ethical-evaluation-of-new-biomedical-technologies-using-past-case-studies-in-pharmaceutical-medicine/

https://amzn.eu/d/8lW8qvM

2) Transhumanism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism

3) CRISPR

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR

4) Upload TV_series

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upload_(TV_series)

5) Humanity +

https://www.humanityplus.org/

6) Co-creation spirituality

https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/co-creation-spirituality

7) Brent Waters - Bioethicist

https://www.cbhd.org/people/brent-waters

https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/this-mortal-flesh/289601

8) Leon Cass

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Kass

9) Michael Sandel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sandel

10) Anti-Natalism

https://www.thecollector.com/what-is-anti-natalism/

11) Lynn White - The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis

https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/energy-government-and-defense-magazines/historical-roots-our-ecological-crisis

12) The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement

https://www.vhemt.org/

13) Alasdair MacIntyre - After Virtue

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Virtue

14) Bernard WIlliams - The Makropulos case

https://www3.nd.edu/~pweithma/Readings/Williams/Williams%20on%20Immortality.pdf

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 135 - Allan Chapman - The Victorians and the Holy Land

In this episode of Still Unbelievable! Matthew chats with Allan Chapman, who teaches history of science at Oxford University, and has written extensively on history and science, including the relationship between the two. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a founder member of the Society for the History of Astronomy. He is the author of several books, including the one we will be discussing this episode. If you have any interest in the history of Christianity, then we recommend this book as an enjoyable read. As always, see the show notes to for links to the book and topics that are referenced in the book. There are items in the links that we do not specifically cover in this conversation, so please to check them out for a taste of what the book covers.

1) The Victorians and the Holy Land: Adventurers, Tourists, and Archaeologists in the Lands of the Bible

https://amzn.eu/d/j7QAYC5

2) Ozymandias By Percy Bysshe Shelley - referenced in Chapter 2

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/ozymandias

3) A description of the East, and some other countries ... / By Richard Pococke - referenced in Chapter 2

https://wellcomecollection.org/works/me6h66jf/items

4) Petra by John William Burgon - referenced in chapter 2

http://www.poetryatlas.com/poetry/poem/3771/petra.html

5) Johann Ludwig Burckhardt - explorer

(includes links to his published works)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Ludwig_Burckhardt

6) Lady Amytis, wife of Nebuchadnezzar

https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/amytis-of-babylon/amytis-of-babylon-the-queens-hanging-gardens-of-babylon/

7) Remarkably preserved shrines recovered at Assyrian temple of Ninurta in Nimrud, Iraq

https://archaeologymag.com/2024/12/remarkably-preserved-shrines-recovered-in-nimrud/

8) Biblical Researches - by Edward Robinson & Eli Smith - referenced in chapter 7

https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearc01smitgoog

9) Sinai & Palestine - by AP Stanley - referenced in chapter 7

https://archive.org/details/sinaipalestinei00stan/page/n9/mode/2up

10) A thousand miles up the Nile by Amelia B. Edwards - referenced in chapter 13

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70565

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 134 - Apostate - Jo Lloyd Johnson

In this episode of Still Unbelievable, Matthew chats with Jo, one of the contributors of the book Apostate, Stories of Deconversion. Jo is already an author and has written her own memoir of deconstruction. Please be aware that this conversation touches on sexual violence from the opening minutes, but it is not all that is talked about, other topics are covered as well. Jo's book does talk about her experience of sexual violence and proceeds from her book go to the fantastic charity, Louder Than Silence, see the notes for links to the books and the charity.

1) Silenced in Eden - Jo's book

https://a.co/d/cap1YWt

2) Louder than Silence

https://www.louderthansilence.org/

3) Apostate Book

https://apocryphilepress.com/book/apostate-stories-of-deconversion/

4) The Inverse Cowgirl

https://msmagazine.com/2023/09/25/inverse-cowgirl-book-intersex/

https://www.waterstones.com/book/inverse-cowgirl/alicia-roth-weigel/9780063295285

5) Pidgeon Pagonis - Nobody Needs to Know: A Memoir

https://pid.ge/

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/15/1193862556/pidgeon-pagonis-reveals-a-long-held-secret-in-nobody-needs-to-know

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/151908228-nobody-needs-to-know

6) Jo on the Graceful Atheist podcast

https://gracefulatheist.com/2023/05/07/joanna-johnson-silenced-in-eden/

7) RAINN

https://rainn.org/

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 132 - How to Kill God the easy Way

In this episode of Still Unbelievable!, Matthew chats with Alan Bondar about his provocatively titled book, How to Kill God the Easy Way. We enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is seeking to engage with a critical review of Christian apologetics. If you have any sympathies for Christianity and it's proponents, then this book will challenge those thoughts. If you have doubts about Christianity, then this book will help you to focus your thoughts and put words to those doubts.

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we did recording it.

1) Contact Alan:

https://howtokillgod.com/

[email protected]/

2) Buy the Book - How to Kill God the Easy Way

https://a.co/d/6BC6C24

3) Other books by Alan

https://a.co/d/3vNyo3s

https://a.co/d/cppZcPQ

4) Apostate: Stories of Deconversion

https://youtu.be/_hKSjwfnfms?si=yK6mbvfHUqWJVTMn

5) Alan on Jen Fishbourne's YouTube channel

part 1: https://youtu.be/Pq3zh5Od55I?si=5JombE2Iofgsv9rI

part 2: https://youtu.be/PyYUQk9vLKU?si=73HfowMH_QZSVGMo

To contact us, email: [email protected]

our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901

Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:

https://hollykirstensongs.com/

https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/