Still Unbelievable!

Episode 146 - Suicide and the Communion of Saints. In this episode of Still Unbelievable! Matthew is joined by wife Sarah to talk with priest and author Rhonda Mawhood Lee. She writes compassionately about suicide in her book, Suicide and the Communion of Saints see the show notes for further information, where there are additional mental health and suicide resources.

If you wish to send feedback on this collaboration contact us at [email protected].

1) Suicide and the Communion of Saints

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suicide-Communion-Saints-Rhonda-Mawhood/dp/0802884717

https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/theology-books/liberation-theology/suicide-and-the-communion-of-saints/

2) more about Rhonda

https://faithandleadership.com/authors/rhonda-mawhood-lee

https://www.eerdmans.com/author/rhonda-mawhood-lee/

https://thrivinginministry.org/authors/

3) Alexander Murray - Suicide in the Middle Ages: Volume 2: The Curse on Self-Murder

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=trene_8DY10C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://academic.oup.com/book/1711

4) the catholic view on suicide and why it changed

https://christianfaithguide.com/what-is-the-catholic-churchs-view-on-suicide-the-catholic-position-on-suicide/

5) suicide by proxy

https://daily.jstor.org/suicide-by-proxy/

6) Elizabeth Antus

https://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/003Hp00002jNaqrIAC/elizabeth-antus

https://www.ncpd.org/events/where-god-when-somebody-dies-suicide-updated-consideration-divine-mercy-and-justice

https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/centers/boisi-center/events/archive/spring-2019/Elizabeth-Antus.html

https://theologicalstudies.net/articles/the-silence-of-the-dead-remembering-suicide-victims-and-reimagining-the-communion-of-saints/

https://philpapers.org/s/Elizabeth%20L.%20Antus

7) biblical references and thoughts

Ahithophel’s suicide - 2 Samuel 17:23.

Samson’s death - Judges 16:30

Hagar going into the wilderness known death would come - Genesis 21:16

did Paul consider suicide?

8) Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1 — Laertes at Ophelia’s funeral

https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/hamlet/read/5/1/

9) suicide and mental health resources

UK:

Samaritans

- 24/7 phone: 116 123

- Email: [email protected]

NHS 111 (Option 2 in some regions)

- Phone: 111

Shout Crisis Text Line

- Text: “SHOUT” to 85258

Childline

- Phone: 0800 1111

- Website: childline.org.uk

YoungMinds Crisis Messenger

- Text: “YM” to 85258

Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline

- Phone: 0300 330 0630

Papyrus (for under 35s)

- HOPELINE247: 0800 068 4141

- Text: 07860 039967

USA:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

- Call: 988

- Text: 988

- Chat: 988lifeline.org

Crisis Text Line

- Text: “HOME” to 741741

The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth)

- Call: 1‑866‑488‑7386

- Text: “START” to 678678

- Chat: thetrevorproject.org

Trans Lifeline

- US: 877‑565‑8860

Mental Health America

- Website: mhanational.org

Canada:

988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada)

- Call or Text: 988

Talk Suicide Canada

- Call: 1‑833‑456‑4566

- Text: 45645 (evenings)

Kids Help Phone

- Call: 1‑800‑668‑6868

- Text: “CONNECT” to 686868

Trans Lifeline (Canada)

- Canada: 877‑330‑6366

Australia:

Lifeline Australia

- Call: 13 11 14

- Text: 0477 13 11 14

- Chat: lifeline.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service

- Call: 1300 659 467

13YARN (for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples)

- Call: 13 92 76

Kids Helpline

- Call: 1800 55 1800

- Chat: kidshelpline.com.au

QLife

- Call: 1800 184 527

- Chat: qlife.org.au

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/

Episode 145 Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentials.

In this episode of Still Unbelievable Matthew is in conversation with Michelle Van Loon, a writer with a Jewish upbringing who converted to evangelical Christianity as a teen. She gives her perspective on both traditions. Hear what drew her towards Christianity, what she carried from Judaism, and what she thinks people often misunderstand about Jewish identity and practice.

They discuss:

- her experiences inside evangelicalism, including patterns of spiritual abuse. Are these isolated situations or symptoms of deeper issues around evangelism and revival culture, that protect harmful behaviour.

- religious trauma, what led Michelle to seek counselling, and how others might identify and recover from similar experiences.

- What churches might need to let go of, how “downsizing” can compliment deconstruction and how a downsized community might look.

- And of course her favourite bible character

1) Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentials

https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884626/downsizing/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224465982-downsizing

https://bobonbooks.com/2025/09/15/review-downsizing/

https://amzn.eu/d/6VE2CxW

2) Follow Michelle

https://michellevanloon.substack.com/

https://thesageforum.com/about-us

3) Michelle's other books

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/383322.Michelle_Van_Loon

4) Deconversion Anonymous

https://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion

5) Religious Trauma

https://www.empathyparadigm.com/religioustrauma

https://therapist.com/trauma/religious-trauma/

https://resilientmindcounseling.com/10-signs-you-may-be-experiencing-religious-trauma/

6) Jewish Chosenness

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-quot-chosen-people-quot

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/

Episode 144 - Angela J. Herrington - Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods

In this episode of still Unbelievable! Matthew interviews Angela Herrington author of Embracing the Old witch in the woods. Angela has written another book, Deconstruct your faith without losing yourself. She is a beautiful human being who puts enormous effort and thought into affirming others and guiding them into being validated versions of themselves. We found her book thought provoking and challenging as well as heart warming and helpful. When you've listened to this, please support her by buying her books. Links below.

Angela, is the first of several author conversations that we will publish in 2026. This year is going to be a busy year here at Still Unbelievable!

1) Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods

https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889835233/Embracing-the-Old-Witch-in-the-Woods

2) Angela's website

https://angelajherrington.com/about/

https://angelajherrington.com/press/

https://angelajherrington.com/books-by-angela-j-herrington/

3) The Relentless Indigenous Woman

https://relentlessindigenouswoman.ca/

https://relentlessindigenouswoman.ca/pages/podcast

4) intersectionality explained

https://www.britannica.com/topic/intersectionality

5) perpetual virginity of mary

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/how-to-explain-the-perpetual-virginity-of-mary

6) Mary did not have consent

https://blakehereth.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/127509046/w_mary_did_you_consent_.pdf

7) Wilda Gafney

https://www.holytroublemakers.com/revgafney

https://www.wilgafney.com/

8) Wounds into Wisdom by Tirzah Firestone

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

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

9) other trauma healing resources

It Didn’t Start with You - https://amzn.eu/d/3kL8uaZ

My Grandmother’s Hands - https://amzn.eu/d/3Y6C8FC

The Body Keeps the Score - https://amzn.eu/d/iS56mLX

Healing Collective Trauma - https://amzn.eu/d/85L1mM6

Break the Cycle - https://amzn.eu/d/bVJObFT

Survivor Café - https://amzn.eu/d/8iYALqB

https://www.balancedmindstherapy.com/blog/healing-intergenerational-trauma

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-flourishing-family/202107/breaking-the-chains-generational-trauma

https://thepsychologycompany.co.uk/unraveling-the-threads-understanding-and-healing-intergenerational-trauma/

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 an episode of the Unbelievable? podcast. It's an episode that features Stephen Law and Michael Jones in conversation. He'll mostly focus on the things that Michael Jones says, because through his channel, Inspiring Philosophy, he says things about Christianity which are Unbelievable!, at least to the listener who is prepared to fact check things. Which sadly, most christians are not, so let us do that job for you so we can all see how Christianity always was, and is Still, Unbelievable!

1) original episode

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

https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unbelievable/does-humanism-or-christianity-offer-the-world-a-better-future-mike-jones-inspiring-philosophy-vs-stephen-law/19875.article?fbclid=IwY2xjawMFQvhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHn10xC1NvdZ0kJ4DK7W0wbeHoLbQEzThrFMsbk6TOJmSPwV_cM7ThYeErj5m_aem_DpmX3nw7Y91-weiovn7nqw

2) Dr Stephen Law

https://lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/profiles/stephen-law

3) Michael Jones

https://www.inspiringphilosophy.com/team

4) 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

5) Foundations of Modern Science in the Middle Ages, Edward Grant

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YyvmEyX6rZgC&pg=PA223&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

6) The Byzantine Empire

https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Government/

7) Forced Conversion

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

8) Human rights

https://www.un.org/en/about-us/udhr/history-of-the-declaration

9) Life Unwasted Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/4z1czHu4yiCPXGU4gauvkM

10) Robert Woodberry and the Benefits of Protestant Missions

https://tifwe.org/robert-woodberry-and-the-benefits-of-protestant-missions/

11) Critique of Robert Woodberry

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/abs/conversionary-protestants-do-not-cause-democracy/89D4552E3CEED18F62E94E4ABEF322F6

12) National context, religiosity, and volunteering: Results from 53 countries

https://research-portal.uu.nl/en/publications/national-context-religiosity-and-volunteering-results-from-53-cou

13) Community involvement and mental health

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/england/node/9466

https://www.jstor.org/stable/30038985

14) Secularism and Fertility Worldwide

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/23780231211031320

15) Is the Earth really overpopulated?

https://mahb.stanford.edu/library-item/is-the-earth-really-overpopulated/

16) Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, By Eric Kaufmann

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/shall-the-religious-inherit-the-earth-by-eric-kaufmann-1939316.html

17) Human Rights

https://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol10-issue3/Ser-2/B10030812.pdf

https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/human-rights-explained-human-rights-origins

https://polsci.institute/comparative-politics/human-rights-evolution/

https://lawbhoomi.com/evolution-and-historical-development-of-human-rights/

18) Children in Antiquity and Early Christianity: Research History and Central Issues

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/50604571.pdf

19) Ancient Marriage in Myth and Reality

https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-4438-2261-9-sample.pdf

20) John W. Compton

https://academic.oup.com/book/32101

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywrobxq-h7U

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 an episode of J Warner Wallace's Cold Case Christianity podcast where he tries to make a case for objective morality being explained by his preferred god. J Warner Wallace is infamous for his cold case Christianity book, which allegedly claims to be his story of discovery by investigating god like a detective. His podcast is not a good example of honest detective work and in this review of his case for objective morality, we'll see why. Word of warning, there is so much to comment on in this episode that we have added more interjections than any other other episode. if this is too much for you as a lister, please do let me know. Feedback on what is good and bad is always useful, and on that note, please do add a review of still unbelievable to wherever you get your podcasts, it helps others and it certainly helps us.

1) the original episode

https://coldcasechristianity.com/podcasts/podcasts-about-gods-existence/why-objective-moral-truth-is-best-explained-by-the-existence-of-god-podcast/

2) Barna Poll : Survey Reveals Significant Shifts in Faith Allegiance and Growing Confusion about Moral Truth

https://georgebarna.com/2025/05/confusion-about-moral-truth/

3) Human Hunting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human-hunting#cite_note-11

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 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/