Unbelievable?

In the first show of 2013, three 'Unbelievable?' listeners join Justin Brierley to discuss their views of atheism.

Calum Miller is a Christian medical student at Oxford with an interest in philosophy.  He chats with atheist Paul Orton and agnostic Steve (aka Non Stamp Collector).

They both define their atheism as a mere "lack of belief in God" rather than a positive belief that "there is no God". 

Why the distinction? Find out as we ask questions about where the burden of proof lies, the difference between agnosticism and atheism, and the God of the Bible.

For Calum Miller http://dovetheology.com http://www.twitter.com/dovetheology

For Paul Orton http://www.missinggodgene.com http://www.skepticule.com

For Non Stamp Collector http://www.nonstampcollector.com/ http://www.youtube.com/user/NonStampCollector

Watch the video promo for Unbelievable? the Conference 2012 DVD http://youtu.be/6g-5jTMeZew Order it at http://www.premier.org.uk/dvd

You may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 20 August 2011 – Dialogue with an ex-Christian Rebekah Bennetch & Sheridan Voysey

Unbelievable? 11 February 2012 - Should atheists be more religious? Alain de Botton & James Orr

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

David Glass is a University lecturer in Northern Ireland. His book "Atheism's New Clothes" critiques the arguments of Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens and Dennett.  He says that, on the balance of probabilities, theism offers a better explanation of life and the Universe than atheism.

James Croft works with the Harvard humanist community. He contests David's use of probability theory. They discuss whether God is a good explanation for the fine tuning of the universe.

For David & Atheism's New Clothes http://www.saintsandsceptics.org/books/atheisms-new-clothes/

For James Croft http://harvardhumanist.org/authors/

Watch the video promo for Unbelievable? the Conference 2012 DVD http://youtu.be/6g-5jTMeZew Order it at http://www.premier.org.uk/dvd

Info on The Atheist Prayer Experiment http://www.premier.org.uk/atheistprayerexperiment

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

You may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 12 Dec 2009 - Dawkins Debate on Atheist fundemantalism  review with interviews

Unbelievable? 18 February 2012 - Is apologetics a waste of time? Chris Sinkinson & James Croft

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

On the show this week:

Andrew Wilson is an apologist, author and elder at Kings Church Eastbourne. His new book 'If God, Then What?' presents arguments for the existence of God and how the Christian Gospel addresses the issues of suffering and death in the world.

Geoff Lillis, a humanist atheist from Ireland returns to chat with Andrew.

From different perspectives they discuss whether the world is getting better or worse, what the diagnosis is and what the cure might be.

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

You may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 25 Aug 2007 - God Delusion debate Deluded by Dawkins? Andrew Wilson & Gordon Livesey

Unbelievable? 3 Oct 2009 - What picture of God does the Bible paint? Christian Andrew Wilson & Atheist Norman Bacrac debate

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

We return to listener questions on whether Hawking was right or wrong to dismiss God as a cause of the universe in his new book "The Grand Design".

John Polkinghorne is a theoretical physicist and Anglican Priest in Cambridge.  Hugh Ross is a Christian physicist and founder of "Reasons to Believe".

They tackle questions on whether the multiverse is really an alternative to God in explaining our fine-tuned universe. What physicists really mean when they say the universe came into being "out of nothing", and whether the massive size of the universe makes our existence insignificant.

For Hugh Ross see http://www.reasons.org/resources

For John Polkinghorne see http://www.polkinghorne.net/

For more debates and discussions visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or via Itunes

Join the discussion at the "Unbelievable?" group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

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

J Warner Wallace is a homicide detective specialising in cold case murder investigations.

In his book Cold Case Christianity he shows how the same tools of investigating evidence can show that the Gospels are trustworthy accounts.

Jim tells how the evidence moved him from atheism to Christianity and debates with 2 sceptical callers on differing timelines in the Gospels and corroboration.

For more faith debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable

Join the conversation via Facebook and Twitter

For Cold Case Christianity http://www.coldcasechristianity.com

Get the MP3 podcast of Unbelievable?

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Greg Koukl answers sceptics objections.

Austin Fischer embraced 'New Calvinism' as a teenager, after being influenced by its popular proponents. But he recently abandoned it when he found he was unable to worship God as truly just, good and loving.

Calvinist theologian James White (old, rested and still reformed) challenges Austin about his journey and his theology.

This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest.org

For Austin Fischer www.purpletheology.com

For James White www.aomin.org

For more faith debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 podcast of Unbelievable? http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

You may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 4th January 2014 - Calvinism vs Molinism - William Lane Craig vs Paul Helm

Unbelievable? 09 Aug 2009 - Calvinism vs Arminianism - James White vs Roger Forster

Is the phrase "I just believe in one less god than you" a good argument for atheism against Christianity?

Ralph Jones is an atheist who recently featured in Christianity Magazine's "Why I'm not a Christian" column. He interacts with Christian apologist Randal Rauser, the author of "The Swedish atheist, the scuba diver and other apologetic rabbit trails".

They talk about theism, deism and atheism. Randal ask how Ralph's atheism accounts for DNA and Morality, Ralph asks how Christianity can claim to be moral or justify hell.

For Unbelievable? the Conference 2013 www.premier.org.uk/jesus

For more discussion between Christians and non-Christians visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable

Join the conversation via Facebook and Twitter

For Randal Rauser www.randalrauser.com and for his book http://goo.gl/tbl4H

For Ralph Jones www.mrralphjones.co.uk or www.theawkwardsilence.co.uk

Ralph's Christianity column http://goo.gl/ZXTTI

Get the MP3 podcast of Unbelievable? http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

You may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 25th August 2012 - The Young Atheists Handbook - Alom Shaha & Tom Price

Unbelievable? 15 May 2010 - Peter Hitchens "The Rage Against God" debate with atheist Adam Rutherford

Ryan J Bell is a former pastor who has decided to try being an atheist for a year. He explains why and interacts with New Zealand apologist Matt Flannagan.

We also hear from Bentley Browning & Simon Capes at the conclusion of their atheist-Christian Faith Swap.

This programme is brought to you in partnership with www.springharvest.org

For Ryan J Bell http://www.yearwithoutgod.com

For Matt Flannagan http://www.mandm.org.nz

For more faith debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable

Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter

Get the MP3 podcast of Unbelievable? http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

You may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 11 January 2014 - The Christian & Atheist Faith Swap

The Veritas Forum in Cambridge invited Christian philosopher Keith Ward and atheist philosopher Arif Ahmed to present the reasons for their different worldviews.

Justin Brierley hosts a discussion with the two thinkers in front of an audience of Cambridge students who ask their own questions too.

For more discussion between Christians and non-Christians visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable 

Join the conversation via Facebook and Twitter

For Veritas USA www.veritas.org For Veritas Europe www.veritasforum.eu

For Keith Ward www.keithward.org.uk

For Arif Ahmed http://goo.gl/02nu7

Watch the video promo for Unbelievable? the Conference 2012 DVD http://youtu.be/6g-5jTMeZew Order it at http://www.premier.org.uk/dvd

You may also enjoy:

Unbelievable? 14th January 2012 - Is our Mind more than Matter? Keith Ward vs David Papineau

Unbelievable? 16 Oct 2010 - The Moral argument for God Philosophers Arif Ahmed and Glenn Peoples debate