Unbelievable?

From the Archives: First Aired in 2011, today's Classic Replay takes an in-depth look at some of the most contentious passages in the Bible when it comes to women's roles and leadership in the Church. In 1995 the Church of England allowed the ordination of Women priests, but the question of whether the Bible forbids female authority in the church remains today.

Christina Rees is a writer and broadcaster and served on the Archbishop’s Council and the General Synod for 25 years. For many years Christina was Chair of WATCH (Women and the Church), the group that led the campaign for women bishops and that works for women’s equality in the Church. Our other guest is the Rev John Richardson, who disagrees with female ordination. John was a speaker, lecturer and a member of the former conservative Evangelical grouping Reform within the CofE. John passed away a few years after this episode in 2014.

Today's guests debate passages in the New Testament that appear to forbid women speaking in Church, the role of husbands and wives and the practical realities of men and women being church leaders.

Find out more:

For WATCH Women and the Church http://womenandthechurch.org/

For Christina Rees’ book “Apostolic Women, Apostolic Authority” http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apostolic-women-apostolic-authority-transfiguring/dp/1848250401

For John Richardson's blog http://www.ugleyvicar.blogspot.com/

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This week in the UK, discussions are taking place in Parliament around various aspects of the Criminal Justice Bill. One of the most contentious areas is around a couple of tabled amendments* that would remove offences that make it illegal for a woman to perform a self-abortion at any point through to birth. There's lots to unpack about the potential decriminalisation of abortion, the ethical questions around a fetus's right to life and a woman's choice. Even if we can agree on when life begins how do we navigate the rights of the mother and the unborn child. Andy Kind is joined by Lois McLatchie, Senior Legal Communications Officer at ADF, and Ellie Lee, Professor of Family and Parenting Research, SSPSSR, the Director for Centre for Parenting Culture Studies and the co-author of Parenting Culture Studies.

*Since this show was recorded the proposed amendments discussed in this show have been withdrawn. The matter has been postponed to the Report stage of the Criminal Justice Bill. However, it is anticipated that similar amendments will be reintroduced during the floor debate in the House of Commons, where all Members of Parliament are expected to vote on the matter.

For Lois McLatchie: follow @LoisMcLatch on X formerly known as twitter

For Ellie Lee: follow @CPCS_UniKent and @SSPSSR on X formerly known as Twitter

For more on on this and related topics check out:

Life, Equality and Choice: the abortion debate with Ann Furedi and Dr Calum Miller https://youtu.be/W6b-wKQO9gs?si=VTBN6YlSrIikZTAM

Should praying outside aborting clinics be banned? with Ann Furedi and Lois McLatchie https://youtu.be/aK5anLOfRWI?si=P5G-_kK7WnK3pMkL

Christianity, the sexual revolution and the future of the West with Louise Perry and Rod Dreher: https://youtu.be/MYf7aHe_GT0?si=UlTRY7GAq1HQ36Dl

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First aired in 2021, today's replay looks at what it truly means to be human and how young people today are building identity amidst the powers of ai and the metaverse. Why are we increasingly anxious, stressed and obsessed with identity? What can Christianity offer to re-humanise us? 

These and more questions get addressed in conversation between Alan Noble, author of ‘You Are Not Your Own’ and Kelly Kapic, author of ‘You’re Only Human’.

Books mentioned in today's show:

You are not your own Alan Noble

Shop Amazon UK https://shorturl.at/sHMS7S

Shop Amazon US https://shorturl.at/cdisz

You're only human by Kelly Kapic

Shop Amazon UK https://shorturl.at/hoLUY

Shop Amazon US https://shorturl.at/rK047

Find out more

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Andy Kind hosts today's Unbelievable where the debate topic is Does Secular Humanism or Christianity offer a brighter future for the UK? We have teamed up with our friends at Aylesbury Vale Youth For Christ a pioneering youth ministry that holds debates in UK schools in the style of Unbelievable to engage the students in the big questions of life, faith and differing worldviews. A key component is that the students get to put their questions directly to the debaters. So grab your schoolbag as we join a fascinating debate held at the end of 2023 between secular humanist Neil McKain and Christian apologist Sara Stevenson. Neil McKain is also the vice-chairman of Humanists UK, and a religious studies teacher. Sara Stevenson who is a writer, speaker and theologian from the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. This was a debate held at St Michaels School in Aylesbury, UK. The debate was moderated by head of Religious Studies, Mark Smallwood. 

https://www.theocca.org/

https://aylesburyvale.yfc.co.uk/

https://standrewsbookshop.co.uk/product/hidden-in-plain-sight-2-2/

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From the Archives: Leslie Scrace, a former Methodist minister who transitioned to atheism, turned away from the Bible when he lost his faith. Two decades later, he penned a comprehensive account of his atheist perspective in a book titled "An Unbelievers Guide to the Bible" in which Scrace critically examines sections of the Old Testament, deeming some as primitive and immoral, while applauding others that align with humanist values.

In response, Chris Sinkinson, a church pastor and an instructor in Old Testament and Apologetics at Moorlands Bible College, challenges Scrace's approach, asserting that the Bible should not be dissected in this way and argues that removing God from the moral framework of the Bible diminishes its inherent meaning. Their dialogue delves into specific books like Job, Joshua, Song of Solomon, and the Gospels.

Additionally, Chris questions Leslie on the objective foundation of his humanist morality, sparking a thoughtful exchange between the two perspectives.

We hope you enjoy this fascinating dive into one of the greatest objection to Christianity, can we truly trust the Bible?

First aired: May 2011

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Today on Unbelievable? Andy Kind hosts the first part of an occasional series on the topic of women in the church, how women are portrayed in the Bible, and questions around women in ministry. Why do women often feel unequal to men in Church? There are plenty of differing views and we will cover a number of them in the coming months.

Women in the Bible frequently emerge as devoted followers of Jesus, prominently present at significant events such as the tomb and the Cross. They function as followers and disciples of Jesus, with the Apostle Paul acknowledging and respecting female coworkers. However, our understanding often falls short in fully recognising the humanity of these female characters, as attention tends to be directed solely toward Jesus' interactions with them. This series aims to delve deeper into the lives of these women, offering a more comprehensive exploration that may reshape our perspectives today.

First up we have Liz Cooledge Jenkins, a writer, preacher, and former college campus minister, and the author of Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism.

Follow Liz Cooledge Jenkins on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizcoolj

Find out more and shop Liz's book 'Nice Churchy Patriarchy': https://lizcooledgejenkins.com/nice-churchy-patriarchy/

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

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From the Archives: This week we play the second part (the Q&A) of our all time favourite episodes: a discussion hosted live in California, between Christian apologist John Lennox and US talk show host Dave Rubin, from 2019.

In Part 2 of this Big Conversation, Professor Lennox and Rubin dive into the Live Q&A at this open forum event.

Tune into Part 1 of this incredible debate here: [link here to Part 1 podcast]

Discover more from The Big Conversation and sign up to our newsletter for early access to new episodes, as well as to receive updates and access to hours of bonus content! Go to: https://thebigconversation.show

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This week on Unbelievable we return to the topic of free will. Following the debate between Ben Shapiro and Alex O'Connor, Christian apologist Tim Stratton got in touch to say he took issue with some of Alex's arguments against free will. Indeed Tim noted that Alex agreed with Ben Shapiro that if there is no God, then there is no free will. Tim Stratton develops the argument in a spirited debate with atheist philosopher Alex Malpass, hosted by Andy Kind.

Alex Malpass has a PhD in philosophy from the University of Bristol, and these days specialises in philosophy of religion, but also metaphysics and logic more generally. He runs a podcast called Thoughtology and an infrequently updated blog called the Use of Reason. Alex Malpass has published in various philosophical journals including the International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion. For Alex Malpass's book: History of Philosophical and Formal Logic: From Aristotle to Tarski go here

Tim Stratton holds a graduate degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and a PhD in theology from North-West University. He is a professor at Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary and the author of Human Freedom, Divine Knowledge, and Mere Molinism. He has also recently contributed a chapter to a book entitled, Faith Examined: New Arguments for Persistent Questions, Essays in Honor of Dr. Frank Turek. Stratton has coauthored multiple academic journal articles (most notably with J.P. Moreland) related to the topics of libertarian freedom, the problems of evil, and also responding to the Hiddenness Argument. To find Stratton’s popular level work, find his videos on YouTube at FreeThinking Ministries and his blogs at FreeThinking Ministries.com or FreeThinkInc.org. His X handle is @TSXpress. For more on Tim Stratton's paper authored with JP Moreland read: An Explanation and Defense of the Free-thinking argument

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From the Archives: This week we play one of our all time favourite episodes: a discussion hosted live in California, between Christian apologist John Lennox and US talk show host Dave Rubin, from 2019.

In Part 1 of this Big Conversation, Professor Lennox and Rubin discuss the question of where the next generation is turning to in the search for meaning and identity. Is God finally dead, as Nietzsche once declared? Or is there space for a renaissance of religious belief in the modern world?

Discover more from The Big Conversation and sign up to our newsletter for early access to new episodes, as well as to receive updates and access to hours of bonus content! Go to: https://thebigconversation.show

• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101

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In this episode, top British comedian and writer Milton Jones and Baptist minister, comedian and semi-finalist of Britain's Got Talent, Allan Finnegan, offer a captivating behind-the-scenes glimpse into their world.

From tackling ego and humility to navigating the rollercoaster of highs and lows, the discussion hosted by comedian and Unbelievable host Andy Kind delves into the intricate dance between comedy, faith and meaning. The paradox of not caring too much about opinions while needing audience approval takes centre stage, as the comedians share their tales of failure, emphasising the resilience needed to keep going. Small moments take on immense significance, and creating meaningful experiences for audiences becomes a driving force.

The conversation explores the nuanced relationship between comedy and the church, addressing the challenges of meeting diverse expectations. Post-pandemic shifts in comedy and concerns about cancel culture add a contemporary twist. The intersection of comedy and faith sparks thought-provoking questions about its mission and potential to convey a narrative of hope, joy, peace, freedom, and love.

The conversation wraps up with reflections on truth personified and the pivotal role of authenticity in comedy.

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