Undeceptions with John Dickson

By Undeceptions Ltd

Every week on Undeceptions we’ll explore some aspect of life, faith, history, culture, or ethics that is either much misunderstood or mostly forgotten. With the help of people who know what they’re ta... more

4.8

315315 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Undeceptions with John Dickson:

How many episodes does Undeceptions with John Dickson have?

The podcast currently has 240 episodes available.

Undeceptions with John Dickson episodes:

November 23, 2025167. Nicene Creed
It’s probably the most significant of all church history’s debates: Was Jesus fully human, fully divine, or a hybrid of some sort?

1700 years ago, bishops from across the Christian world gathered in the city of Nicaea to settle this once and for all.

The outcome was three paragraphs which went on to represent the core of Christianity, and spell out who Jesus is - and who he isn’t.
(00:00) - - Jesus: Man or something else?
(08:44) - - Why did the Creed happen?
(12:19) - - Constantine's influence
(17:18) - - The key players at the council
(31:23) - - The Arian controversy
(43:40) - - The Trinity
(59:52) - - Five Minute Jesus
(01:04:26) - - Faith and the Creed
(01:07:22) - - Why does the Creed matter?

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.
Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.
Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.
Editing by Richard Hamwi.
Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.
Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.
Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 13min
November 16, 2025166. Jesus Proof?
The first-century historian Flavius Josephus is the oldest source we have for the historical Jesus outside of the Bible.

His 90-word paragraph about Jesus - where he calls Jesus “the Christ”, and says Jesus “appeared to them [the disciples] alive again on the third day", spending a third day restored to life - has sparked centuries of debate.

Most experts think this paragraph has an authentic core, but has been embellished by a later Christian scribe.

But new scholarly evidence has emerged that might turn our understanding of Josephus - and what he wrote about Jesus - on its head.
(00:00) - - 90 Words
(10:39) - - Flavius Josephus
(14:20) - - Traitor or pragmatist?
(23:47) - - Josephus and James
(28:00) - - Testamonium Flavianum
(43:21) - - "Would Josephus really write that?"
(58:46) - - Josephus' networks
(01:11:44) - - What did Josephus really say about Jesus?
(01:16:45) - - What did Josephus really think about Jesus?
(01:18:52) - - Rethinking history

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.
Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.
Siobhan McGuiness is online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.
Editing by Richard Hamwi.
Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.
Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.
Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 27min
November 09, 2025165. Question Answer XV
Why don’t Christians still follow the Laws of the Old Testament? Why did God create humans if so many are apparently destined for Hell? Is the ‘Golden Rule’ actually a Christian idea? John answers all these - and more - for our Season XV Q&A!
(00:00) - - Intro
(05:12) - - Why don't Christians still follow the Old Testament Law?
(14:49) - - Deep reading for non-readers
(19:41) - - Are Christians allowed to practise Old Testament laments post-Jesus?
(23:31) - - Why would God create a species destined for Hell?
(34:20) - - Why does the modern church look so different compared to the first-century church?
(41:50) - - Why did Joseph and Mary have to go to Bethlehem?
(52:58) - - The Golden Rule

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne, and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is the online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 1min
November 02, 2025 164. After Christendom
Christianity no longer has the cultural sway it once held. But there’s always been a long tradition of Christians being flexible in engaging their culture—whether in ancient Rome, Viking Scandinavia, or modern America. So what does a ‘relevant’ Christianity look like in the 21st century?
CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors for this episode were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 27min
October 26, 2025 REWIND: Post Christian
Back in 2020, John caught up with author and journalist Greg Sheridan to talk about Christianity’s struggles in both Australia, and the global West more broadly. However, Greg wasn’t so glum on the future of the faith in a post-Christian world. Ahead of an upcoming episode on how the gospel applies to a post-Christian world, we thought now was the time to look back at what Greg had to say.
...more
18min
October 19, 2025 163. Divine Comedy
In his Divine Comedy, Dante isn’t claiming to offer us a vision of what hell and heaven are actually like.
It might be set in the afterlife, but it’s really about how we live life here and now.
Even if you’ve never read one line of the epic poem, you’ve been influenced by The Divine Comedy.
It’s time we learned more about one of Western literature’s greatest works … and how it might just change our lives.
CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception's episode possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 30min
October 12, 2025162. Persecution Complex
Some claim Christian persecution is on the rise, while others find the idea of a modern persecution implausible. So, what’s the truth? It’s complex …
(00:00) - - John Dickson's persecution complex
(08:56) - - The myth of persecution
(13:24) - - The first Christian persecutions
(21:29) - - The third-century persecutions
(34:03) - - The Emperor Diocletian comes to power
(40:10) - - The Great Persecution
(49:42) - - The persecutions end
(56:13) - - Haroon's story
(01:05:56) - - Smash and squeeze persecution
(01:18:36) - - Five Minute Jesus

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actor today was Yannick Lawry.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 29min
October 05, 2025161. Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s words and books are well known. But what do we know of Jane herself - what she was like, and what she believed? What did she think of society and class, ethics, literature, romance, and faith?
(00:00) - - Jane behind the text
(05:51) - - Jane's world
(10:35) - - Jane the novelist
(19:31) - - The author and the characters
(34:17) - - Romance, satire, or something else?
(41:28) - - Jane's 'undeceptions'
(44:37) - - Jane and the church
(53:53) - - Ethics and virtues
(58:50) - - Five Minute Jesus
(01:03:34) - - Silence on slavery
(01:09:29) - - Jane's legacy

CREDITS

Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 16min
September 28, 2025160. Deep Learning
Christianity is sometimes branded as anti-intellectual, and its followers labelled unteachable. But in an increasingly divided age, the church - with its rich history of learning - might be able to help the world recover what it means to have a teachable spirit … and to know who to learn from.
(00:00) - - How we learn
(04:17) - - Teachability
(10:44) - - Humility in learning
(16:00) - - Is faith a block to thinking critically?
(20:58) - - Combating fear with knowledge
(28:29) - - Learning from strangers
(33:03) - - Learning from the dead
(46:36) - - Learning from our enemies
(56:43) - - Five Minute Jesus
(01:04:06) - - Why learn from Christians?

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley.

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian.

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant.

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant.

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actor for this episode was Suzanne Ellis.

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible.

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.
...more
1h 11min
September 21, 2025159. African Jesus
African Christianity is almost as old as Christianity itself. Many of the early church's theological giants came from Africa, and today, Christianity is exploding across the continent. In this episode, we look at Jesus through African eyes.
(00:09) - - The Tortoise and the Hare: A different perspective
(08:15) - - Why look at Jesus through African eyes?
(11:26) - - Africa in the Bible
(15:26) - - Diversity in Christianity
(18:19) - - Hermeneutics - African style!
(23:30) - - The African church
(32:17) - - Syncretism
(38:19) - - Scripture through different lenses
(45:10) - - Five Minute Jesus
(54:07) - - Hannah's prayer
(01:00:15) - - Can we see Jesus however we want?
...more
1h 5min

FAQs about Undeceptions with John Dickson:

How many episodes does Undeceptions with John Dickson have?

The podcast currently has 240 episodes available.

More shows like Undeceptions with John Dickson

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life by Tim Keller

Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

16,011 Listeners

Unbelievable? by Premier Unbelievable?

Unbelievable?

2,010 Listeners

TGC Podcast by The Gospel Coalition

TGC Podcast

1,129 Listeners

The Russell Moore Show by Christianity Today, Russell Moore

The Russell Moore Show

1,079 Listeners

The Speak Life Podcast by Speak Life with Glen Scrivener.

The Speak Life Podcast

72 Listeners

John Anderson: Conversations by John Anderson

John Anderson: Conversations

290 Listeners

With All Due Respect by The WADR Project

With All Due Respect

5 Listeners

Ask NT Wright Anything by Premier Unbelievable

Ask NT Wright Anything

2,048 Listeners

Salt – Conversations by Amy Townsend

Salt – Conversations

5 Listeners

The Good Vote by Eternity News

The Good Vote

1 Listeners

Rebuilders by Red Church

Rebuilders

284 Listeners

The Biblical Mind by Center For Hebraic Thought

The Biblical Mind

222 Listeners

Gospelbound by The Gospel Coalition, Collin Hansen

Gospelbound

340 Listeners

Evangelism In A Skeptical World by Eternity News

Evangelism In A Skeptical World

14 Listeners

Life and Books and Everything by Clearly Reformed

Life and Books and Everything

634 Listeners

Trinity Forum Conversations by The Trinity Forum

Trinity Forum Conversations

221 Listeners

Confronting Christianity with Rebecca McLaughlin by Rebecca McLaughlin

Confronting Christianity with Rebecca McLaughlin

322 Listeners

Re-Enchanting by Seen & Unseen

Re-Enchanting

90 Listeners

The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God by Justin Brierley

The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God

460 Listeners