Unbelievable?

Is our physical brain one and the same with the consciousness, thoughts and perceptions we experience? Is matter all there is ultimately?

Keith Ward is a prominent Christian Philosopher & Theologian.  The Former Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University. He believes in an immaterial mind, as well as the phsical brain.

David Papineau is Professor of Philosophy of Science at Kings College London.  As an atheist & physicalist he believes that the mind is one and the same with the brain - there is nothing immaterial about it.

For Keith Ward see http://www.keithward.org.uk/

For David Papineau http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/philosophy/people/staff/academic/papineau/index.aspx

For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

Unbelievable? 23 Aug 2008 Why there IS a God - Keith Ward  Keith Ward and Robert Stovold

Unbelievable? 21 Jun 2008 A Case for theistic evolution - Keith Ward

Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

A show marking January's Feast of the Epiphany which marks the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus.

Various astronomical theories have been put forward for what might have constituted the "Star of Bethlehem" that guided the Magi as recorded in Matthew 2.

Christian Astrophysicists Hugh Ross and Jeff Zweerink of Reasons To Believe join Justin. Agnostic Astronomer Mark Kidger who works for the European Space Agency also joins the conversation. The firmly sceptical side is catered for by Norman Bacrac of the Ethical Society.

Hugh, Jeff and Mark outline the conclusion their work has drawn on the Star of Bethlehem most likely being a recurring nova, witnessed by other astronomers in 5 BC. Norman expresses scepticism at the idea a celestial object could have led the Magi to a specific location and the astronomers respond.

For Reasons to Believe resources on The Star http://www.reasons.org/christmasstar

For Mark Kidger's book The Star of Bethlehem http://amzn.to/wNklg2

For the Ethical Society http://www.ethicalsoc.org.uk

For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

If you enjoyed this show you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 26 Dec 2009 - Are the two Christmas accounts contradictory? Christian Charles Foster vs. Atheist Robert Stovold

Unbelievable? 22 Dec 2007 - Did Christians steal Christmas?

Join the conversation at http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

A festive edition of the show in which we investigate some of the common Old Testament prophecies associated with Christmas. Isaiah 7:14 "The virgin will conceive" and Micah 5:2 "But you Bethlehem..."

Do such prophecies supernaturally predict the coming of Christ?

Dr Michael Brown is a Messianic Jew who believes there is overwhelming evidence for Jesus fulfiling the prophecies of the Old Testament.  Andrew Hindmarch is an atheist who denies that any kind of prophecy can be show to be valid.

Dr Michael Brown http://www.askdrbrown.org/

The Reasonable Faith Tour Video page http://www.premier.org.uk/craig

If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy

Unbelievable? 24 May 2008 Jesus & Jewishness Jesus & Jewishness: are they compatible? Rabbi Shmuley Boteach & Michael Brown debate

Unbelievable? 20 Dec 2008 The Virgin Birth - for & against The Virgin Birth: Fact or Fiction? Revd Michael Sayward debates Unitarian Sarah Tinker

A varied New Year's Eve show with contributions from Revd David Robertson on his life-threatening illness. Reflections on the passing away of Christopher Hitchens from listeners and debate oppponent Prof John Lennox.  Humorous "Praxman &..." sketches.  An extract from a forthcoming interview with sometimes controversial US pastor Mark Driscoll. Audio from the Reasonable Faith Tour in Cambridge and more...

For Praxman sketches see http://youtu.be/fywHc4M7LdA http://youtu.be/Ki-TdFv7IVE http://youtu.be/LgafS_jfQMc or http://www.premier.tv/sketches

For Mark Driscoll interview in Feb edition of Christianity Magazine check back at http://www.christianitymagazine.co.uk/

For Reasonable Faith Tour videos http://www.premier.org.uk/craig

For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

Join the conversation at

Stephen Law is senior lecturer in philosophy at Heythrop College, London and director of the Centre For Inquiry UK. He joins Justin to reflect on his debate with William Lane Craig during the UK Reasonable Faith Tour where he defended atheism.

Glenn Peoples is a Christian Philosopher from New Zealand.  He discusses Stephen's central argument against God - The Evil God Challenge and why he believes that the Moral Argument is the solution to it.

For Stephen Law http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/

For Glenn Peoples http://www.beretta-online.com/

For Unbelievable? the Conference on DVD http://www.premier.org.uk/dvd

Stephen Law is an atheist and Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Heythrop College and director of the Centre for Inquiry UK. His latest book "Believing Bulls**t: how not to get sucked into an intellectual black hole" looks at the reasons people are persuaded into believing irrational things.

Jame Orr is a Christian convert studying for a Doctorate in philosophy at Cambridge University. He engages Stephen on whether the criteria for recognising "intellectual black holes" applies to the claims of Christianity, including The Resurrection.

For Stephen Law http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/

Get the Book http://amzn.to/vNX92y

Edgar Andrews is Emeritus Professor of Materials at the University of London and the author of "Who Made God?" He returns to support the view that only God explains the ability of science to make sense of the world around us.

Lewis Wolpert is Emeritus Professor of Biology at University College London, he is an atheist and Vice President of the British Humanist Association. He argues tht belief in God is purely a result of evolution.

They debate what constitutes "evidence" for God, and whether science is the only admissible type of evidence.

For "Who made God?" http://whomadegod.org/

Order the book: http://www.epbooks.org/who-made-god-p-2170.html

For Lewis Wolpert http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cdb/research/wolpert

For Unbelievable? the Conference on DVD http://www.premier.org.uk/dvd

William Lane Craig is research professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, California.

As part of the Reasonable Faith Tour in October 2011 he visited Oxford.  As well as delivering a public lecture in the evening, Craig also addressed invited students about apologetics at a lunchtime gathering.

This recording of elements of the Q&A includes Bill addressing questions such as "What if all your arguments were refuted?" "Are debates the best way of doing apologetics?" and "What do you think of the young, restless and reformed movement?"

For videos from the Reasonable Faith Tour sponsored by UCCF, Damaris and Premier Radio http://www.premier.org.uk/craig

For Bill's latest apologetics training book "On Guard" http://amzn.to/u3Bid3

If you enjoyed this progamme you may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 5 Nov 2011 - Is God a Delusion? William Lane Craig in Oxford

William Lane Craig Profile Interview with Justin Brierley http://bit.ly/vF772O

Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter