News & Events
How should we respond to church scandal?
In light of recent events in the Church of England, culminating in Archbishop Justin Welby’s resignation, Drew Cordell looks at whether there is any hope
How should we vote in this election?
As we approach the US election, physician Erik Strandness challenges us on what it meant to vote Christianly
All I did was pray to God - and yet I stand convicted as a criminal
Is it now possible to be prosecuted for silent prayer? There is confusion over to what extent people are allowed to be present outside abortion facilities following a new court ruling
The P Diddy charges are awful. But can we really judge who is “good” and who is “bad”?
When terrible stories of abuse hit the headlines, many people are happy to reject the perpetrators as “bad” and happy to consider themselves as “good”. But is it really that simple to make these moral categories of human beings?
Should we be outraged by the Olympics opening ceremony?
Many people complained about drag artists depicting the Last Supper during the Olympics opening ceremony. Author Drew Cordell looks at whether their outrage was justified
Should Christians break the law? Civil disobedience, climate protest and heavy-handed policing
A landmark court case in the UK recently saw five radical climate activists jailed for up to five years for their role in organising the blocking of a major motorway to protest against fossil fuels.
Matters of Life & Death: Julian Assange, whistleblowers, and the Christian case for journalism
The controversial hacker and activist (and maybe journalist?) Julian Assange was suddenly freed for five years in a British jail last month, after he reached a surprise deal with the US authorities over classified military files he published online more than ten years ago.
Dr Michael Mosley (1957 – 2024): A life of service to all
Author Drew Cordell reflects on the death of British celebrity doctor and looks at what we can learn from his life
Eclipsing God: Why were we so taken by this natural phenomenon?
In light of the recent eclipse, neonatal consultant Erik Strandness reflects on why rare cosmological events catch the attention of the world
Never again: Why we desperately need Holocaust Memorial Day
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January, Steve Maltz from Saltshakers – a Christian ministry witnessing to the Jewish roots of the Christian faith – shares his thoughts about why this day is more important than ever in light of current events
Unbelievable? Coming to faith through Dawkins - Part 2: Is there a new New Atheism? Alister McGrath & Alex O’Connor
In the second part of their discussion based on the book Coming to Faith Through Dawkins, theologian Alister McGrath and YouTuber Alex O’Connor discuss where we may be heading in regards to religion and atheism.
Should Christians ever defend themselves with weapons?
Nigerian pastor Hassan John reflects on the anti-Christian violence in his home country and considers the appropriate response
Matters of Life & Death: Trans children: Gender dysphoria, diagnostic overshadowing, boy Lego versus girl Lego, and the non-replicated Dutch Protocol
Perhaps the most contentious political, medical and social issue of the day is how to treat and care for young people who are questioning or experiencing distress around their sex and gender.
Why King Charles III’s coronation matters
Church of England vicar Rev Jeremy Crossley reflects on why we crown and what the upcoming coronation reveals about King Charles III’s vocation and calling
Why I’m an atheist anti-monarchist
Alex O’Connor, also known as Cosmic Skeptic, shares his thoughts about the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III
Unbelievable? Celebrating 17 years - Justin Brierley, Ruth Jackson, and Vince Vitale
The Unbelievable? show has been broadcasting for over 17 years. Justin Brierley and Ruth Jackson take a retrospective tour through highlights from the show from day one to some of the most significant debates that have been hosted, before being joined by Dr. Vince Vitale for a special announcement by Justin.
Matters of Life & Death: Friendship 2: Walks in the Garden of Eden, David and Jonathan, covenantal clarity, and red flags
In this episode we take a lightning-quick tour through the Bible to consider what we can learn about friendship there – with God, between God’s people, and fundamentally lived out in the life of Jesus.
Matters Of Life & Death Friendship 1: The hermeneutic of suspicion, Classical ideals, scandalising middle-class Vienna, and the ‘mysticism of materialism’
Somebody once said that in contemporary society we all want to ‘have sex with our friends, and be friends with our sexual partners’. There is a broad suspicion of intimate but non-sexual friendships, especially those which are intergenerational or cross the sexes.
Unbelievable? Optimism or extinction? What’s the future of humanity? John Hands & Perry Marshall
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.
Does place matter? Lessons from Covid-19
Tim James explores how the Covid-19 pandemic contributed to our understanding of the divine importance of physical place in our modern world
Finding God through science – an atheist discovers chemical evolution can’t adequately explain the origin of life
Jana Harmon shares the story of Dr Fazale Rana who discovered God through his pursuit of science. His paradigm shift began when he began to find scientific explanations for the origin of life inadequate and started to look elsewhere
Unbelievable? Where does order in nature and the cosmos come from? Stephen Meyer & Saleem Ali
Prof Saleem Ali of the University of Delaware is author of ‘Earthly Order: How natural laws define human life’ and describes the way order in the universe drives order in human and social settings. He engages with Dr Stephen Meyer of the Discovery Institute, whose book ‘The Return of The God Hypothesis’ makes the case that order in nature points to a divine mind.
Matters of Life & Death: Public sector strikes 2: Taking patients hostage, employment as service, slaves and masters, and Christian peacemaking
There are two strong Christian traditions when it comes to robust political or industrial action such as strikes.
Matters of Life & Death: Public sector strikes 1: The Winter of Discontent, austerity-era pay freezes, Christian socialist solidarity, and continuity of patient care
The UK is currently gripped by a wave of strikes from public sector employees – nurses, teachers, postal workers, train drivers, paramedics, and soon junior doctors too.
Unbelievable? The Asbury Revival: A new move of God? Timothy Tennent, Alisa Childers & Gavin Ortlund
Thousands have been flocking to Asbury University in Kentucky after a chapel service turned into a 24/7 revival outpouring. Justin is joined by guests as he asks: What are the true marks of revival? What are the blessings and concerns that accompany this student-led awakening?
Why would God allow the Turkey-Syria earthquake?
In light of the tragic Kahramanmaras earthquake, apologist Dr Sharon Dirckx shares her thoughts on how we reconcile the idea of a good and powerful God with the presence of natural disasters
Racial justice: Why and how should we fight for it?
As we approach Racial Justice Sunday, apologist Adam Coleman of Tru-ID looks at why all humans have intrinsic worth. He shares examples of abolitionists who took matters of justice into their own hands as well as those who opted for non-violence, trusting God to act on their behalf
Unbelievable? ChatGPT, AI and the future - John Wyatt Q&A on living faithfully in a technologically confusing world
Justin and Ruth were joined by research scientist Dr John Wyatt on a live show to talk about AI, robotics and technology. Listeners asked questions about machine consciousness, the potential dangers of AI and how to raise children in a tech world.
The Top 10 Unbelievable? shows of 2022
Justin Brierley rounds up the most popular shows of the year
Unbelievable? Should praying outside abortion clinics be banned? Ann Furedi & Lois McLatchie
A Public Order Bill in UK Parliament proposing ‘buffer zones’ could potentially criminalise pro-life activity or even silent prayer outside abortion clinics.
Unbelievable? How to overcome tribalism in politics and the church - Patrick Miller & Keith Simon
‘Truth Over Tribe: Pledging allegiance to the lamb, not the donkey or the elephant’ is the name of the new book by Patrick Miller and Keith Simon. They are both church pastors in the USA who started the Truth Over Tribe podcast to combat polarisation in politics, culture and Christianity.
Ask NT Wright Anything #146 Can a Christian vote for Biden? Can faith be disentangled from left vs right politics?
Tom is joined by Texan Bible scholar Justin Bass as they respond to questions from US listeners about right wing politics and faith. Where does patriotism fit with Christian worship? What do I say to family members who say I can’t be a Christian and vote for Joe Biden? How do I talk to post-Christian friends who have rejected US evangelicalism?
Unbelievable? Sean McDowell live Q&A on sexuality, transgender and culture war questions
Apologist and author Sean McDowell joined Justin along with hundreds of Unbelievable? listeners for a live show talking about Sean’s new book ‘A Rebel’s Manifesto’ and taking questions on LGBT, same-sex marriage, transgender, divorce, theology and more.
Unbelievable? Are religious funerals ‘empty and platitudinous’? Ian Dunt & Andy Bannister
The Queen’s state funeral was watched by billions of people and marked by deep Christian symbolism. However, during the ceremony, atheist journalist Ian Dunt tweeted that he found it “empty and platitudinous, a cardboard shield against existential despair”.
Media coverage of religion is ‘broken’. This global survey confirms it
Veteran religion reporter Julia Bicknell analyses a major global survey on media coverage of religion
Unbelievable? Covid, Churches and the Frankfurt Declaration: Jamie Franklin & John Stevens debate Christian liberty and government overreach
As the global pandemic subsides, the way the Covid lockdowns were implemented in churches still divides Christians. The Frankfurt Declaration has been signed by church leaders who are concerned that civil and religious liberties are being eroded by Government overreach.
Church abuse, leadership scandals & RZIM: Rachael Denhollander, Amy Orr-Ewing, Mike Cosper & Diane Langberg
Four guests and hundreds of attendees gathered with host Justin Brierley for the live webinar event ’Falling From Grace: Addressing Power, Leadership, and Abuse in the Church.
Last Post for Christian England
Following the Queen’s funeral, author Paul Kingsnorth reflects on what it means for a nation to profess that life has no meaning beyond what we ascribe to it.
“I was in the presence of someone who was being faithful to Jesus” - A chaplain to the Queen pays tribute
Gavin Ashenden was appointed chaplain to the Queen from 2008 until 2017. He shares his thoughts about Elizabeth II’s faith, role and character.
Unbelievable? Are the public ready to move beyond the science vs faith conflict? Nick Spencer & Katherine Mathieson
Katherine Mathieson, director of the Royal Institution and Nick Spencer of Theos discuss the recent report ‘Science and Religion: Moving away from the shallow end’, which surveyed the British public’s attitudes towards science and faith. They explore questions such as: Why does the public believe there is a conflict? How has New Atheism played into the debate? Is science the only way of knowing truth?
Moral Machines: How do we build robots that know right from wrong?
Deep-fakes, Turing Tests and chatbots - AI systems are becoming ever more human-like. Robotics expert Prof Nigel Crook says we need to make sure they are moral too.
Unapologetic #11 Scott Stripling: The game-changing archaeological discovery that supports the Old Testament
Archaeologist Scott Stripling recently made a significant discovery in Israel - a ‘curse’ tablet that could prove the historical authenticity of parts of the Old Testament. He tells Justin Brierley about why this find is so significant.
The surrogacy industry: John & Tim Wyatt on the ethics of paying for pregnancy
This episode was recorded shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine. Prior to the outbreak of war, Ukraine’s lax surrogacy laws have made it a major destination for so-called ‘reproductive tourism’ for infertile and same-sex couples who wish to have a baby.
Putin’s Holy War: The religious roots of the Ukraine invasion - Fr Cyril Hovorun and Clifford Longley (+ Sergey Rakhuba)
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is more than just a geo-political conflict. The Russian leader believes in the spiritual destiny of a united ‘Holy Rus’ that goes back to the conversion of Vladimir the Great in 984.
Unbelievable? Tom Holland on Christianity, persecution and the cross
Historian Tom Holland tells how his experiences among persecuted Christians and Yazidis in Iraq impacted his own intellectual and personal journey with Christianity.
Unbelievable? Is the US Church in the grip of political idolatry? Shane Claiborne & Johnnie Moore
Following the pro-Trump riots and storming of Congress at Capitol Hill, many fear white evangelicals in the USA are in the grip of political idolatry in their support of the outgoing president.
Unbelievable? Should Christians vote for Trump? Eric Metaxas vs David French
Christian commentator David French debates Christian radio host and author Eric Metaxas on whether Christians should vote for Donald Trump in the US Elections in November.
Unbelievable? Hinduism, conversion and religious freedom
Tensions between Hindus and other religious groups in India have been growing in recent years as the BJP Government and Hindu nationalists have advocated for anti-conversion laws.
Unbelievable? Hitchens vs Hitchens debate on War and God - podcast special
In this podcast special edition of the show Justin broadcasts the 2008 public debate between Christopher Hitchens and his brother Peter Hitchens.
Don’t believe the news reports. Atheists are NOT more intelligent than religious people
Are religious people stupid, or do journalists just not do science? Heather Tomlinson takes a closer look at recent research
Why the Cliff Richard fiasco proves British justice is in a troubling state
Canon J John says hard questions need to be asked about the case of Sir Cliff Richard
Unbelievable? Should we Stay or should we Go? Christians debate the EU referendum
Hear the live debate in Woking with 4 speakers putting the Christian case for and against the UK leaving the European Union.
Unbelievable? Is peace between Israel & Palestine possible? Salim Munayer, Lisa Loden & Andrew Sibley
Justin is joined by Palestinian Christian Salim Munayer and Jewish Christian believer Lisa Loden, authors of ‘Through My Enemy’s Eyes’, as they discuss the prospects for peace in Israel.
Unbelievable? Is Christianity holding Northern Ireland back? David Robertson vs Michael Nugent
This week’s episode is a podcast-only special featuring the audio of a recent debate between David Robertson of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity and Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland.
Unbelievable? Is ISIS Islamic? Jeremiah J Johnston, Craig Evans, Inayat Bunglawala & Adnan Rashid
Following the terror attacks in Paris, Justin is joined by Christians and Muslims to debate whether Islamic State represents a true interpretation of Islam.
The power of God can change the heart of a terrorist
One year after the Paris attacks, David Cook says the biblical story of Saul reminds us that even fanatics can be converted
French ex-atheist: only God can make sense of the evil in Paris
Theologian Guillaume Bignon used to be an atheistic Parisian. He explains how his Christian faith makes sense of the attacks
UFOs, Aliens and God - Unbelievable?
Claims of UFO sightings and alien abductions have been widespread in the last few decades. Is there any substance to the sightings, do UFOs appear in scripture and would discovering alien life make a difference to the Christian faith? Is evidence for UFOs on a par with evidence for supernatural events like the resurrection of Christ as some atheists claim?
Antagonistic atheism: David Robertson vs Mike Lee - Unbelievable?
Book now! Unbelievable? The Conference 2012, Sat 26 May http://www.premier.org.uk/reasons Mike Lee aka “The Religious Antagonist” is a US atheist who makes YouTube videos mocking Christianity. His videos are popular but his approach earns him both praise and criticism from fellow atheists. David Robertson is Pastor of St Peter’s Free Church, Dundee and director of the Solas Centre for Public Christianity.
The Gay Marriage Debate - Tatchell vs Williams Unbelievable?
Peter Tatchell is a lifelong gay rights campaigner who has staged controversial protests campaigning for equal rights. He believes that the proposed legislation to introduce same-sex marriage in the UK is long overdue. Peter D Williams of Catholic Voices believes that putting gay marriage on an equal footing with heterosexual marriage is a dangerous and unnecessary step.
What’s wrong with the world? Unbelievable?
Book now for Unbelievable?: The Conference 2012 http://www.premier.org.uk/reasons On the show this week: Andrew Wilson is an apologist, author and elder at KingsChurch Eastbourne. His new book ‘If God, Then What?’ presents arguments for the existence of God and how the Christian Gospel addresses the issues of suffering and death in the world. Geoff Lillis, a humanist atheist from Ireland returns to chat with Andrew.
Unbelievable? - Does Religion make people kill?
On Fri 22 July 2011 tragedy struck Norway as Anders Breivik detonated a bomb in Oslo and shot dozens of people on the island of Utoya.
Unbelievable? - Was Osama Bin Laden the true face of Islam?
With the death of Osama Bin Laden we ask “Did Bin Laden represent the true face of Islam” Radical Islamist Anjem Choudary who has frequently praised Bin Laden and Al Queada for their acts of terror, joins the discussion. He says Osama was a true Muslim doing the work of Allah. Muhammad Al Hussaini is a Muslim scholar for the organisation Scriptural Reasoning. He deplores acts of terror and says Bin Laden transgressed multiple commands of Islam.
Unbelievable? Buddhism, Burma and Christianity
As peaceful demonstrations by thousands of Buddhist monks have been brutally quashed by the military dictatorship in Burma, Justin Brierley is joined by Buddhist Alison Murdoch as she explains the thought behind the pacifist approach. Nick Spencer of Christian think-tank Theos also joins the discussion, along with Quaker Michael Bartlett.
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