Unbelievable?

🌟 Is faith necessary for a moral life? 🌟

Is belief in God essential for a meaningful moral framework? Or can secular philosophy give us all the answers? 🤔 This week on Unbelievable?, host Ruth Jackson 🎙️ welcomes two dynamic thinkers to explore one of the most profound debates: the role of God in shaping our moral universe.

🌌✨ Recorded live at Waddesdon School, UK with Aylesbury Vale Youth for Christ, this episode promises to challenge everything you thought you knew about faith and philosophy. 🙌

👤 British philosopher at Oxford University, Stephen Law, creator of the famous "Evil God Challenge," isn’t afraid to question the existence of a benevolent deity in a world full of suffering. Is God really all-good, or could an “evil god” be just as plausible? 😱💡

👤 Joining him is Christian scholar from Cambridge University, Matthew Su, whose perspective celebrates life as a gift from a loving creator. For Matthew, God not only grounds morality but gives life ultimate meaning and purpose. 🌱💖

🔥 This episode tackles the biggest questions: Why would a good God allow suffering? Is morality possible without divine authority? And can secular ethics truly guide humanity? 🧠💬

🎧 Don’t miss this clash of worldviews, where belief meets scepticism. Get ready to have your beliefs challenged! 💥👇 #UnbelievablePodcast #GodVsMorality #FaithAndPhilosophy #Debate

Additional shows to watch The Good God vs. Evil God Debate: Max Baker-Hytch vs Asha Lancaster-Thomas host Vince Vitale : watch here / https://youtu.be/LXY9DJlP5Gs?si=l-JXMB8InPhaUnz_

#debate #evilgodchallenge #philosophy #philosophyofreligion #theism #atheism #evil #goodgod

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CS Lewis said "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."

Peter Kreeft is a philosophy professor and well known Christian thinker and writer. He defends the "argument from desire". Does our experience of transcendent longing indicate that there is a God to satisfy it?

Atheist philosopher Richard Norman says that the argument amounts to wish-fulfillment.

They both sat down to discuss this issue, first broadcast in 2013.

Originally aired: 2013

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New Testament scholars Mike Licona and Darrell L. Bock dive into the Bible’s rich complexities, covering divine inspiration, authorship, and textual variations 📖✨. They discuss how understanding the Bible as both divinely inspired and humanly transmitted influences its authority and interpretation. Topics include the formation of the Old and New Testaments, challenges in translation 🌍, and the development of core doctrines like the Trinity ✝️. Gain insights into how cultural context shapes interpretation and how differing Gospel accounts add perspective without undermining Scripture’s message.

#BibleStudy #DivineInspiration #BiblicalTruth #TheologyExplained #ScriptureDeepDive #Trinity #GospelInsights #UnderstandingFaith #ChristianDoctrine #BibleInterpretation

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Secular scientist and academic John Hands has been described as a ‘polymath’. His 2016 book Cosmosapiens received wide praise for its analysis of human evolution since the beginning of the universe. His new book ‘The Future of Humankind’ looks ahead to what lies in store for homosapiens.

He discusses the issues with Christian thinker Perry Marshall, author of Evolution 2.0, as they discuss whether the dangers posed by AI, climate change or conflict are likely to lead to extinction, or whether we are due for a further development of human consciousness.

For John Hands: https://johnhands.com/

For Perry Marshall: https://evo2.org/

Originally aired: March 2023

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In a nation divided and a pivotal election on the horizon, how should Christians engage with politics? 🤔 How much should our faith influence our public life? What’s truly at stake when we step into the political arena?

As we approach the U.S. elections, the spotlight is on debates and appearances from figures like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Here’s the kicker: many Christians are grappling with how to reconcile Trump’s controversial past—marked by scandals and a self-serving attitude—with the moral values they hold dear. What are conservative Christians really seeking when it comes time to cast their votes?

Can Christians genuinely justify voting for Trump? Join Roger Bolton as he dives into this contentious issue, exploring the complex intersection of faith and politics with New York Times bestselling author and Trump supporter Eric Metaxas.

Other shows to check out

God, Government and Trump 🔥 How should Christians navigate #politics ?

Christian Nationalism: Faith or Agenda? | Michael Bird vs. Stephen Wolfe, Hosted by Billy Hallowell

 Was Jesus an activist? with Tom 'NT' Wright, Preston Sprinkle and Billy Hallowell

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👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢

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The Big Conversation - Episode 2 | Season 5

Is post-Christendom a brave new world or a culture in collapse? Can ancient wisdom still offer answers to the modern problems of life?

Rod Dreher is Senior Editor of The American Conservative and author of bestselling books including ‘The Benedict Option’ and ‘Live Not By Lies’. Louise Perry is a journalist and campaigner against sexual violence. Her book ‘The Case Against The Sexual Revolution’ explains why today’s liberal hook up culture has been bad for women from a purely socio-evolutionary perspective. They discuss Christianity, the sexual revolution and the future of the West.

Originally aired: March 2023

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In this episode of Premier Unbelievable?, host Vince Vitale moderates a riveting debate that tackles one of the most profound questions in philosophy, religion, and ethics: Can we be 'good' without God? 🤔✨ Dr. Michael Shermer, renowned skeptic and author of The Moral Arc, joins Glen Scrivener, Anglican minister, author of The Air We Breathe, speaker and filmmaker who directs the charity Speak Life, to explore the origins and foundations of morality. Together, they address whether human morality is the product of secular, scientific, and cultural evolution 🧠🌍, or whether it is deeply rooted in divine principles, particularly those derived from Christianity ✝️🙏 .

This conversation explores key arguments on both sides. Shermer argues that morality can be understood through secular reasoning 🌐 with frameworks like utilitarianism and deontology 📜, and that moral values evolve over time through cultural shifts and reason. He contends that religion has not always been a reliable moral guide and that objective moral values can exist independently of God, emerging from evolutionary and cultural processes. Shermer emphasizes that moral progress, such as individual rights from the Enlightenment 🕊️, often arises from philosophical reasoning and societal change, not divine command.

On the other hand, Scrivener argues that many moral principles, especially the inherent value of every individual, are rooted in Christian theology ✝️. He asserts that human rights and justice ⚖️  are inseparable from Christian teachings, which have historically shaped modern morality. Scrivenor highlights Christianity’s role in moral progress, such as the abolition of slavery and the concept of universal human worth. While recognizing cultural and philosophical influences, he argues that without a divine source, the foundation of absolute moral values is unstable.

#MoralityDebate #GoodWithoutGod #PhilosophyAndReligion #MichaelShermer #GlenScrivener #ChristianityVsAtheism #SecularMorality #FaithAndReason #theenlightenment #humanrights #MoralProgress #EthicsDebate #SpeakLife #UnbelievablePodcast

For Glen Scrivener

Speak Life https://speaklife.org.uk/

YouTube: @SpeakLifeMedia

X: @glenscrivener

For Michael Shermer

https://michaelshermer.com/

YouTube: @skepticmagazine

X: @michaelshermer

Further Reading:

The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule, Michael Shermer - https://amzn.to/3Afd5AKThe Moral Arc, Michael Shermer - https://amzn.to/3YiYfRJ

The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality, Glen Scrivener - https://amzn.to/3NFRggWHow To See Life: A Guide In 321, Glen Scrivener - https://amzn.to/48pb55I

The Big Conversation - Episode 4 | Season 5

What should we make of accounts of “near death experiences”? Do they give credible support to the possibility that there is life after death, or can they be explained away as mere physical phenomena? Indeed, what is the connection between the brain, consciousness, and “the soul” (if it even exists)?

Christian speaker and former neuroscientist Dr Sharon Dirckx, author of Am I Just My Brain?, engages with atheist philosopher Dr Emily Qureshi-Hurst, college lecturer and Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and author of the book God, Salvation, and the Problem of Spacetime.

Originally aired: Jul 2023

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In this Halloween special, we examine the intersection of the occult, Halloween, and Christian perspectives on spiritual matters. Is Halloween merely harmless fun, or does it carry deeper, more sinister implications? Can activities like tarot readings and astrology open the door to evil forces? What does Christianity teach about demons—and is it possible for Christians to be possessed?

Joining us is Jen Nizza, a former psychic medium turned Christian, who offers firsthand insights into the deceptive nature of the occult and the spiritual dangers many unknowingly face. We also welcome Toby Watts, a Christian horror writer and filmmaker, who advocates for using horror to highlight the real threats of demonic forces. Together, they explore Halloween, the occult, and the role Christians can play in addressing spiritual dangers through the horror genre.

Follow Jenn

IG: ➡ www.instagram.com/expsychicsaved

Follow Toby

X: ➡ x.com/wattsbrothers_

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Historian Tom Holland tells how his experiences among persecuted Christians and Yazidis in Iraq impacted his own intellectual and personal journey with Christianity. Titled 'Invisible Fire: Christianity in a post-western world', this 'Perspectives' lecture was recorded in Nov 2021 at the British Library for Christian persecution charity Open Doors with audience Q&A. Used with permission. https://www.opendoorsuk.org ----

Originally aired: Nov 2021

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