Unbelievable

Do extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence? The 18th century philosopher David Hume is credited with originating the phrase often used by atheists and sceptics. In a second show, Christian philosopher Gary Habermas and atheist philosopher Michael Ruse debate whether Hume established that it is irrational to believe in miracles. They also discuss the evidence for the resurrection and what it would take for Ruse to believe in a miracle. For Gary Habermas http://www.garyhabermas.com For Michael Ruse http://philosophy.fsu.edu/content/view/full/871784 For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD http://www.premier.org.uk/Shop For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Gary Habermas is Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Liberty University. Michael Ruse is Professor of Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. They debate whether Michael's belief in naturalism (all that exists is the material world) is a coherent worldview given the challenges posed by personhood, morality, free will and subjective states. They also discuss whether progress in science has eliminated the need for God. For Gary Habermas on naturalism http://www.garyhabermas.com/articles/Bibliotheca-Sacra/habermas_BtS_paradigm-shift.htm For Michael Ruse http://philosophy.fsu.edu/content/view/full/871784 For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD http://www.premier.org.uk/Shop For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Richard Morgan was an atheist for many years before a sudden epiphany (via the Richard Dawkins website) brought him to Christian faith. He enjoys dialoguing online with other atheists but finds apologetics limited in how far it can persuade people. 8 years on from his conversion he takes an 'apophatic' approach to his faith and believes relationships are far more important than argument and evidence. Frances Janusz has been an atheist most of her life. She has been a friend of Richard since they started chatting on the Unbelievable discussion group. Having investigated apologetics she hasn't met an argument that seems convincing. She talks with Richard and Justin about religious experience, evidence, and what it would take for her to become a Christian. For Richard Morgan http://whyimcatholic.com/index.php/conversion-stories/atheist-converts/155-atheist-convert-richard-morgan For Frances Janusz https://counterapologistblog.wordpress.com/ For Unbelievable? Live in the USA on Sat 27 Aug http://www.truthmattersministries.com/events/unbelievable-live/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD http://www.premier.org.uk/Shop For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Justin presents some highlights from this year’s Unbelievable Conference including the opening address by evangelist J.John, and snippets from the Reaching Young People, Rules of Engagement and What If They Ask Me? Seminar streams. The show concludes with highlights from the Panel Q&A at the end of the day. Justin also reveals details about Unbelievable? Live in the USA, a dialogue event taking place in California on Sat 27 Aug. Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD http://www.premier.org.uk/Shop Register free for Unbelievable? Live in California http://www.truthmattersministries.com/ For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Holly Ordway is Professor of English and Director of the M.A. in Apologetics at Houston Baptist University. She was a happy atheist, but was converted to Christianity through apologetics and her love of literature. Vanessa James is a musician who was a committed Christian until a few years ago when she lost her faith and became an atheist. Both stories don’t quite finish there however, as you’ll hear in this programme as they dialogue on the pros and cons of atheism, Christianity and our search for meaning, beauty and truth. For Holly Ordway http://www.hollywordway.com Read Vanessa James’ ‘Christian Detox’ blogs at http://www.theallowed.com/ Order Unbelievable? The Conference 2016 DVD/MP3CD http://www.premier.org.uk/Shop For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

The argument that ‘the followers of Jesus wouldn’t have suffered and died for a lie’ is often used as evidence for the resurrection. But in recent years attacks have been mounted on whether the martyrdom accounts of the apostles are reliable. Sean McDowell, author of ‘The Fate of the Apostles’ defends the historicity of the martyrdom accounts of Paul, Peter, James and other early followers. Ken Humphreys, a Jesus mythicist, makes the case that the martyrdom accounts are pious inventions. For Sean McDowell http://seanmcdowell.org/ For Ken Humphreys http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/ For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

How should Christians interpret scriptures that describe the 'wrath' of God? Did God punish Jesus on the cross? Are we punished for our sins or do we merely suffer the 'consequences' of them? These and other questions are debated as Joshua Ryan Butler author of "The Pursuing God" and progressive pastor Brian Zahnd discuss the issues. For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 For Joshua Ryan Butler http://joshuaryanbutler.com/ For Brian Zahnd http://brianzahnd.com/about/ For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Hear the live debate in Woking with 4 speakers putting the Christian case for and against the UK leaving the European Union. Justin Brierley chairs the debate. On the Stay team: Sir Simon Hughes & Gary Streeter MP. On the Go team: Adrian Hilton (aka Archbishop Cranmer) & Brendan Chilton.For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 Read Adrian Hilton & Simon Hughes' EU debate in Premier Christianity magazine: http://www.premierchristianity.com For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Christian Apologist, Greg Koukl joins Justin ahead of an apologetics event in London in July. They take calls from atheist listeners on whether prayer makes sense if God already know what we'll ask for, whether penal atonement is just, and why God remains hidden. For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016" For Greg's London event on 2 July: http://www.christianheritagelondon.org/events/ For the EU debate in Woking: http://www.wokingurc.org.uk/events.htm For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

How should the church treat LGBT people? Preston Sprinkle & Brandan Robertson Preston Sprinkle, author of "People To Be Loved: Why homosexuality is not just an issue" joins Justin in studio. He dialogues with Brandan Robertson, a young gay evangelical who became gay affirming last year. Brandan Robertson's book "Nomad: A Spirituality for travelling light" tells his journey. As they both embark on book tours in the UK, they debate their different perspectives and what the church must do to improve its treatment and dialogue around LGBT people. For Preston Sprinkle http://www.prestonsprinkle.com/ For Preston's UK dates http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theologyintheraw/2016/05/uk-speaking-tour/ For Brandan Robertson & his book tour http://www.brandanrobertson.com Info on the EU referendum debate event on Tue 14 June in Woking http://www.wokingurc.org.uk/events.htm For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Reformed apologist James White joins Justin again, this time to take calls from listeners on whether the apostles preached Jesus’ divinity, whether God is the author of evil, and whether Calvin wasn’t reformed enough. In the final part of the show Justin is joined by Larry Taunton to talk about his unlikely friendship with one of the world’s best known atheists, as detailed in his new book ‘The Faith of Christopher Hitchens’. For James White http://www.aomin.org/ To read the interview with Larry Taunton on Christopher Hitchens https://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2016/June-2016/My-unlikely-friendship-with-the-world-s-most-notorious-atheist For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

John E Sanders is one among a number of evangelical theologians such as Greg Boyd who have embraced Open Theism – the view that God does not necessarily have foreknowledge of all future events and that the future is open. Many evangelicals believe Open Theism is a heresy – denying the omniscience of God and going against Biblical teaching. James White of Alpha and Omega ministries believes Open Theism is a serious heresy and defends a Calvinist view of God’s sovereignty – that God has predestined all future events for his glory. They debate the issues. For John Sanders https://www.hendrix.edu/religion/religion.aspx?id=6596 For James White http://www.aomin.org/ For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Mike Rand is an agnostic who has been listening to Unbelievable? for several years. He is attracted to aspects of the Christian faith but has certain intellectual objections which he hasn’t found satisfactory answers to yet. He engages with David Robertson of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity in a good humoured and wide ranging discussion on Mike’s questions and what it would take for Mike to believe. For David Robertson http://www.solas-cpc.org For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 To donate to Premier Christian Radio’s ‘Extend The Hope’ appeal: http://www.premier.org.uk/donate For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Richard Weikart, professor of history at California State University, joins Justin to talk about his new book 'The Death of Humanity'. He says the loss of belief in the value of human life is leading to disastrous consequences for society. Peter Singer is an Australian ethicist who believes we should dispense with the concept of the sanctity of human life in favour of a view of 'personhood'. Humans who are less capable of having preferences, such as babies, have less claim to be kept alive. They debate whether this view of humanity is dangerous and Susan Blackmore, atheist psychologist and philosopher also joins the conversation. For The Death of Humanity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Humanity-Case-Life/dp/162157489X For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 To donate to Premier Christian Radio’s ‘Extend The Hope’ appeal: http://www.premier.org.uk/donate For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

In this podcast-only edition of the programme, Justin Brierley delves into the archives to air a radio documentary which was first broadcast in 2009. He and his family went on a US road trip to visit two megachurches and meet their pastors. Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas is the largest church in America with over 40,000 in attendance each week. TV pastor Joel Osteen broadcasts his message of health, wealth and positivity to thousands more every week. They also visited another large (but very different) church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mars Hill Bible Church, pastored at the time by Rob Bell, was seen as a thriving example of the so-called ‘emerging’ church. The programme compares and contrasts the two different churches and their leaders. Justin and his wife Lucy share their thoughts on the experience and what the UK can learn from the American example. For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016 To donate to Premier Christian Radio’s ‘Extend The Hope’ appeal: http://www.premier.org.uk/donate For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes