Unbelievable?

The origin of our universe is the greatest mystery of all. Why is there something

rather than nothing? Further still, how did we come to exist in a world with such

precise laws of nature and complex creatures? As we shall see, how we answer

these questions determines everything: from the meaning of our lives to the

secrets of our futures.

This week Premier Unbelievable presents a two part show event entitled “The Mystery of Existence” opening with the perennial and mind teasing question, “Why is there something rather than nothing?”. We have teamed up with our friends at The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast to create a riveting two-part show made possible in part thanks to the Global Philosophy of Religion Project at the University of Birmingham. Featuring four of the biggest names

in philosophy: Richard Dawkins (representing science and atheism), Jessica

Frazier (on Hinduism), Silvia Jonas (speaking on Jewish philosophy), and

Richard Swinburne (defending Christianity), the show asks the question, Why is there something rather than nothing?”  The debate is presented by Unbelievable’s Ruth Jackson and hosted by Panpsycast’s Jack Symes.

The Global Philosophy of Religion Project: http://global-philosophy.org

Philosophers on God (book): http://amzn.to/3K4enjy

Talking about Philosophy: http://talkingaboutphilosophy.com

Richard Dawkins: http://richarddawkins.com

Jessica Frazier: http://bit.ly/jessicafrazier

Silvia Jonas: http://silviajonas.com

Jack Symes: http://jacksymes.co.uk

Richard Swinburne: http://bit.ly/richardswinburne

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From February 2015: New Testament scholar, author and speaker Paula Gooder joins Justin to tackle a range of questions sent in by listeners. The Old Covenant, eyewitness testimony, how the Gospels were written and much more is covered.

For Paula Gooder: http://www.gooder.me.uk/

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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.

• For bonus content, updates and more shows sign up at: http://www.thebigconversation.show

• Take our survey! https://survey-star.co.uk/dirckx&hurst

The Big Conversation is a video series from Premier Unbelievable? featuring world-class thinkers across the religious and non-religious community. Exploring science, faith, philosophy and what it means to be human. The Big Conversation is produced by Premier Unbelievable? in partnership with John Templeton Foundation.

• For Sharon Dirckx: https://www.faraday.cam.ac.uk/about/people/dr-sharon-dirckx/ and dirckx.org

• For Emily Qureshi-Hurst: https://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/people/emily-qureshi-hurst

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

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From February 2015: Following atheist Stephen Fry's viral anti-God video, the question of how a good God could allow suffering has come into focus again.

Justin is joined by Christian philosopher Vince Vitale, author of "Why Suffering?" as he debates the issues with atheist think Julian Baggini.

To watch Justin's own response to Stephen Fry: https://youtu.be/klPr708VWDk

To watch the video of this debate: https://youtu.be/GgCiEftlNy4

For Vince Vitale: www.theocca.org

For John Loftus: www.microphilosophy.net

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Unbelievable takes on the often-misunderstood topic of deconstruction in the sense of deconstructing Christian faith or becoming exvangelical is another phrase you might have come across.

It refers to a process, some would say a movement, where individuals critically examine their beliefs, doctrines, and assumptions about Christianity. It often involves re-evaluating traditional interpretations of scripture, exploring different theological perspectives, and grappling with doubts and uncertainties.

 

Many proponents of deconstruction argue that it can lead to a deeper and more authentic faith by shedding outdated or harmful beliefs and embracing a more personal and nuanced understanding of spirituality. Critics, on the other hand, express concerns that deconstruction can result in a crisis of one's most foundational beliefs crumble beneath them.

 

But is this at all surprising? With failures of the church to reflect Jesus, with abuse by Christian leaders in the news daily, where is one to turn? Will deconstruction take you deeper? Or will it destroy your belief altogether? Vince Vitale hosts this week, and his guests are Olivia Jackson author of (un) Certain A Collective Memoir of Deconstructing Faith and Preston Ulmer, founder of The Doubters Club and author of Deconstruct Faith Discover Jesus -  how questioning your religion can lead you to a healthy and holy God

Olivia's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Certain-Collective-Memoir-Deconstructing-Faith/dp/0334063639

Preston's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Preston-Ulmer/e/B098F92CQY/ref=aufs_dp_mata_dsk

https://www.instagram.com/ptulmer/

https://www.thedoubtersclub.com/startyourowndc

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From January 2015: In a continuation of last week’s show David Marshall & John Loftus continue to debate whether Christianity is rationally tenable and unique among world religions.

David Marshall author of ‘Why Jesus Passes the Outsider Test’, argues that Christianity uniquely fulfils the hopes and desires of all religious searching.

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More Christians are killed in Nigeria than in any other country in the world. According to the charity Open Doors almost nine in ten of the more than 5,600 Christians murdered worldwide during 2022 were in Nigeria. A report by the British Parliament, Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide? Three Years On, was released this week, and highlights the massacres. ‘When will the world wake up to the persecution of Nigerian Christians?’, asked a lone headline in the The Spectator magazine. Few other news outlets paid attention.

This week, Unbelievable host Roger Bolton speaks to Archdeacon Hassan John, an Anglican minister from Jos in northern Nigeria who has lived through much of the violence. A former journalist, he is now a church leader and campaigner for religious liberty, who tries to bring reconciliation between Christians and Muslims in the region. Hassan recalls harrowing tales of near-miss encounters with Islamic extremists and on-going anti-Christian violence which continues to tear apart communities. He also discusses how he and other Christians attempt to work with Muslim in their communities to prevent the violence.

The Unbelievable conversation will help listeners understand the complexity of the situation of Nigeria and beyond, as well as asking some of the bigger questions facing Christians being persecuted for their faith worldwide. Is it ever acceptable for Christians to respond to persecution with violence? How can Christians ever practice forgiveness and love for enemies who have killed or harmed their family and friends? And, more broadly, why does the Western media ignore the story in places like Nigeria?

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From January 2015: Atheist John Loftus has challenged Christians with the 'Outsider Test of Faith'. He believes that if Christians examined their own faith with the same level of scepticism they do other faiths, they would reject it.

Christian guest David Marshall is the author of 'How Jesus Passes the Outsider Test'. A resident of China, he debates Loftus, examining why, among other factors, the global success of Christianity means that it passes the Test.

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The Big Conversation - Episode 3 | Season 5

It’s a widely held view that science and religion are in conflict, including and perhaps especially over how they approach one of life's most fundamental questions: what does it mean to be human? But is that really the case, and do we need to rethink how we’ve been seeking the answer, at a time when we seemingly need more clarity over humanity's identity than ever before?

Atheist science writer and broadcaster Philip Ball, author of The Book of Minds: Understanding Ourselves and Other Beings, From Animals to Aliens, engages with Christian academic Nick Spencer, Senior Fellow at Theos and author of Magisteria: The Entangled Histories of Science & Religion.

• For bonus content, updates and more shows sign up at: http://www.thebigconversation.show

• Take our survey! https://survey-star.co.uk/ballandspencer

The Big Conversation is a video series from Premier Unbelievable? featuring world-class thinkers across the religious and non-religious community. Exploring science, faith, philosophy and what it means to be human. The Big Conversation is produced by Premier Unbelievable? in partnership with John Templeton Foundation.

• For Philip Ball: https://www.philipball.co.uk

• For Philip Ball's "second brain" project: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology/40960/why-im-growing-a-second-brain

• For Nick Spencer: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/03/02/magisteria-the-entangled-histories-of-science-and-religion

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From January 2015: The term 'Humanism' is often seen as synonymous with atheism. But a Theos report titled: 'The case for Christian Humanism: why Christians should be Humanists and Humanists should be Christians' claimed to show that atheism is ill-equipped to support the fundamental tenets of Humanism.

Report author Angus Ritchie debated with atheist philosopher Stephen Law on whether atheistic humanism can account for the human dignity, morality and reason it espouses.

For the Theos report: www.theosthinktank.co.uk

For Stephen Law's response: click here

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