Unbelievable?

Are we slaves to our genes, and is who we are already written in our DNA?

In this live edition of Unbelievable?, recorded at Aylesbury High School, Andy Kind is joined by humanist physicist Dr. Simon Walker-Samuel and Christian biologist Dr. Denis Alexander for a lively and thought-provoking debate on genetics, free will, and what makes us… us.

From CRISPR and epigenetics to moral responsibility, determinism, and the question of "the soul", this conversation dives deep into whether our genes define our destiny, or if there's more to the human story. Are we morally responsible if we’re biologically programmed? Can science detect a “soul”? What do twin studies reveal about nature vs nurture? And do your genes influence your beliefs?

Are we just highly evolved biological machines? Or is there something that transcends our biology?

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In this classic, Unbelievable? podcast episode hosted by Justin Brierley, the discussion centres around the nuanced relationships between faith and doubt from 2019. Senior Pastor Dominic Done talks about his book 'When Faith Fails,' sharing his journey through a significant period of questioning and how he rebuilt his faith. In contrast, Andrew Whyte, co-host of the 'Doubts Allowed' podcast, shares how his journey of doubt led him from Christianity to agnosticism. They examine various aspects of doubt - its origins, its implications, and how it can be both corrosive and life-giving.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

02:00 Dominic's Faith Journey and Cultural Context

08:52 Andrew's Journey from Faith to Agnosticism

17:33 Dominic's Struggles with Doubt and Suffering

26:01 Exploring Doubt and Unbelief

38:28 Exploring the Depths of Belief and Doubt

38:47 The Challenge of Diverse Religious Beliefs

41:36 Deconstructing and Reconstructing Faith

42:59 The Role of Doubt in Strengthening Faith

46:38 The Importance of Foundational Beliefs

49:46 Personal Journeys Through Faith and Doubt

53:04 The Intersection of Faith, Morality, and Evidence

01:08:11 Final Thoughts on Faith and Doubt

​What really happened 14 billion years ago? Was there a Big Bang - or are we on the brink of a bold new origin story?

This week on Unbelievable?, Andy Kind hosts a mind-expanding cosmic debate with two leading cosmologists, Dr Niayesh Afshordi and Dr Hugh Ross, joined by science communicator and Battle of the Big Bang co-author, Phil Halper.

Are we still living in the shadow of the Big Bang, or is it time for a scientific rethink? Could black holes hold the key to understanding the true origins of the universe? And what about creation theories - do recent discoveries offer fresh evidence for the existence of God, or do they further challenge the idea of a divine beginning

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A must-hear clash of minds from 2018: when two Toms – world-renowned Bible scholar NT Wright and bestselling historian Tom Holland – met on Unbelievable? podcast to discuss Paul: A Biography (SPCK).

Wright unpacks the life, character and world-changing mission of St Paul. Holland, though agnostic, shares why Paul’s message shocked the Roman world and reshaped Western values for centuries.

📖 Rome. Revolution. Revelation. This is Paul as you’ve never heard him before.

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​Can Therapy Heal the Soul?

Exploring BPD, NPD and Meaning in Christian and Secular Psychiatry

Today we’re asking: Can therapy heal the soul? We’ll be exploring two complex and often misunderstood conditions - borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) - through both Christian and secular perspectives. What happens when psychiatry meets philosophy? And how do meaning, identity, and belief shape the path to healing?

Joining Vince Vitale on Unbelievable? are two leading psychiatrists from the Gunderson Residence at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts - Dr Brandon Unruh and Dr Claire Brickell. As colleagues, friends, and thoughtful practitioners, they bring Christian and secular perspectives to the complex work of treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) - exploring how therapy, identity, and belief intersect in the search for meaning.

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Originally recorded in March 2022, this classic Unbelievable? takes us back to the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As the world grappled with the shock of war, this conversation sought to uncover a deeper layer of the conflict — its religious and ideological roots.

Justin Brierley is joined by Father Cyril Hovorun, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest and theologian, and Clifford Longley, a Catholic journalist and Tablet contributor. Together, they explore the ancient Christian heritage shared by Russia and Ukraine, the mystical ideology of “Holy Rus,” and how Putin’s vision of spiritual destiny has shaped his aggression.

While some see this war as a purely political power play, this episode argues that religion, nationalism, and myth all play a critical role in Putin’s motivations.

🎧 Listen to this important archive conversation

📥 Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast for new episodes every week

Fr Cyril Hovorun: https://www.sanktignatios.org/dr-cyril-hovorun   

Clifford Longley: https://www.thetablet.co.uk/editors-desk/2/21568/religious-roots-of-ukraine-crisis-   

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Is it more meaningful to convert to Christianity as an adult—or to leave it behind after growing up in the faith? In this special schools debate, host Sam McKee is joined by Matthew Su, a Christian convert and Cambridge PhD candidate, and Nathan Ormond, ex-Christian and YouTuber at Digital Gnosis. With big questions from teenage students, the episode dives into belief, deconstruction, and what it really means to be intellectually honest about faith.

A raw and thoughtful exchange for anyone navigating belief, doubt, or somewhere in between.

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Holly Ordway is the Cardinal Francis George Professor of Faith and Culture at the Word on Fire Institute and a Visiting Professor of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. She holds a PhD in English and serves as a subject editor for the Journal of Inklings Studies. A regular guest on The CS Lewis Podcast, Holly has a deep passion for exploring the intersection of faith and culture.

In 2016, she engaged in a fascinating conversation with Vanessa James, a musician who was once a committed Christian but later became an atheist. Their discussion explores the complexities of faith, the pros and cons of atheism and Christianity, and our shared search for meaning, beauty, and truth. This dialogue offers a compelling look into both women’s journeys and the challenges they faced in their quests for understanding.

In this episode of Premier Unbelievable? comedian and host Andy Kind welcomes marine biologist and Christian author Rachel G. Jordan, author of If the Ocean has a Soul, and sceptic science-historian Dr Michael Shermer, founder of Skeptic Magazine and author of The Moral Arc, for a dynamic conversation exploring whether nature reveals divine purpose or reflects impersonal forces.

Drawing on Rachel’s book If the Ocean Has a Soul, today's guests tackle questions on the nature of the soul, biblical interpretation of creation and evolution, and what counts as truth in science and faith. From coral reefs to cosmic entropy, they wrestle with suffering, beauty, and the possibility of redemption through opposing worldviews.

They explore awe, the hero’s journey, the implications of the gospel, and the call to care for creation. Can awe lead to belief? Does randomness rule the universe?

Buy Rachel Jordan's If the Ocean has a soul https://amzn.to/4mnzuPx

Buy Michael's book Conspiracy Why the Rational Buy the Irrational https://amzn.to/3SfPk0R

In 2025, as the world is devastated by continuing wars, many are simultaneously commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Returning to this edition of Unbelievable, recorded as marks of Remembrance took place across the world to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1 in 2018, Justin Brierley discussed just war theory, Darwinism and Christianity with atheist guest Prof Michael Ruse and Christian Prof Nigel Biggar.

Michel Ruse is Professor of Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. Nigel Biggar is Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford. Ruse’s book ‘The Problem of War’ critiques Biggar’s work on just war theory, 'In Defence of War’.

Further reading

‘In Defence of War’ by Nigel Biggar: https://amzn.to/3SbPxCk

For ‘The Problem of War’ by Michael Ruse: https://amzn.to/4k0JegS

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