Unbelievable?
Unbelievable?
Premier Unbelievable?
Unbelievable? offers a weekly podcast, blog, and video series hosted by Ruth Jackson and a team of thinkers and Christian apologists.
Was the Cross not enough? Rethinking the atonement with two Bible Scholars David Moffitt and Jonathan Rowlands
What if Jesus’ atoning work wasn’t completed on the cross? Professor David Moffitt and Dr Jonathan Rowlands join John Nelson to rethink one of Christianity’s central doctrines: the atonement. Is penal substitution really the Bible’s main explanation of Calvary? Does sacrifice simply mean the killing of an animal? And what did the first Christians believe Jesus was doing after his resurrection and ascension? Drawing on Leviticus, Hebrews and Paul, Moffitt and Rowlands argue that the cross cannot be understood in isolation from Jesus’ resurrection, ascension and ongoing intercession before the Father. But that raises some big questions. Was Jesus’ work really “finished” on the cross? Can Christians lose their salvation? What might the atonement mean for victims of abuse and violence? And why should any of this theology matter for ordinary Christian life today? This episode is sponsored by the University of St Andrews and its online  Bible and the Contemporary World  programme, a flexible part-time course engaging biblical and theological study in conversation with contemporary culture and major public issues. Learn more: Bible and the Contemporary World - online - Subjects - University of St Andrews: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/divinity/bible-contemporary-world-online/ Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Aug 19
1 hr 25 min
Will science make God obsolete? Paul Heslop vs Simon Walker-Samuel
Will science and technology eventually make religion obsolete? Physicists Paul Heslop and Simon Walker-Samuel join host Sam McKee for a fascinating clash of worldviews on the future of faith. This debate took place in front of a group of teenage students from Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury, UK, in partnership with Aylesbury Vale Youth for Christ. As artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, neuroscience and space exploration transform what it means to be human, will people still believe in God by 2100? Christian mathematical physicist Paul Heslop argues that science cannot answer the deepest questions of truth, meaning and existence. Humanist biophysicist Simon Walker-Samuel asks whether religion is instead a human response that advancing science may increasingly leave behind. From AI consciousness and free will to morality, evolution and the search for God, this Unbelievable debate asks whether our technological future will finally displace religion, or reveal why we still need it. Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Aug 13
53 min
Peter Hitchens on Britain’s decline, Christian faith and Christopher Hitchens
Peter Hitchens joins Luke Martin for a candid and confrontational conversation about Britain’s future, the collapse of its institutions and the loss of Christian conscience. He explains why he believes atheism is a choice, reflects on his journey from revolutionary Marxism to Christianity and speaks movingly about his late brother Christopher. They also discuss marriage, family, free speech, Islam, education, justice and whether Britain can still be renewed. For Luke Martin: follow on X: https://x.com/luke_s_martin   Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Aug 11
1 hr 6 min
Did C. S. Lewis get Jesus and the Bible wrong? Two Lewis Scholars discuss
Was C. S. Lewis a brilliant theologian, or did he sometimes misunderstand the Bible? John Nelson is joined by leading Lewis scholars Leslie Baynes and Jahdiel Perez for a lively reassessment of one of Christianity’s most influential writers. They explore Lewis’s conversion, his view of Scripture and the surprising theologian who shaped his thinking. Then the conversation turns to his famous “liar, lunatic or Lord” argument. Does it survive modern biblical scholarship, or did Lewis make claims about Jesus that the Gospels cannot support? Finally, they uncover the biblical imagination behind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, explaining why Narnia is not simply Christian allegory and how Aslan helps readers encounter faith afresh. A fascinating conversation for admirers, critics and anyone curious about the theology hidden inside C. S. Lewis’s most beloved works. Leslie's book: Between Interpretation and Imagination: C. S. Lewis and the Bible: https://amzn.to/4wW2x1H Jahdiel's thesis: https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:0c4e9be1-2245-467a-864e-01a8c9e30dc5/files/dpz50gw662 Jahdiel’s article on C.S. Lewis’s avoidance of theology: https://philpapers.org/rec/PERAAO-15 Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Aug 6
1 hr 18 min
Does Fine-Tuning Point to a Designer? Peter S. Williams vs John Richards
Is the universe fine-tuned for life, and if so, does that point to God? In this episode of Unbelievable John Nelson hosts a lively dialogue between Christian apologist Peter S. Williams and John Richards, President of Atheists UK. Peter argues that the fundamental constants, laws, and initial conditions of the universe appear strikingly calibrated for life, making design the best explanation. John pushes back, questioning whether “fine-tuning” is even the right category and insisting that claims about design need observable evidence, not philosophical speculation. Along the way, the conversation opens up bigger questions about what counts as evidence, whether metaphysics can explain reality, and how far arguments from design can really take us. A thoughtful exchange on cosmology, reason, and the limits of explanation. Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Jul 30
1 hr 15 min
Os Guinness: Can Christianity Renew the West?
Os Guinness joins Luke Martin to discuss why he believes the West is facing a profound civiliational moment. Speaking during his visit to London for ARC, Guinness reflects on his childhood in China, the death of his brothers during famine, his memories of Communist terror, and how C S Lewis and Francis Schaeffer shaped his Christian faith and public thought. He argues that Western freedom, human dignity and self-government cannot survive without their biblical foundations, but also warns against coercion, Christian nationalism and the corruption of power. From soft authoritarianism and secular ideologies to forgiveness, confession and cultural renewal, Guinness asks whether the gospel can still tame our barbarism and offer hope beyond decline. A wide-ranging conversation on faith, freedom, politics and the future of the West. For Luke Martin: follow on X: https://x.com/luke_s_martin Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Jul 28
1 hr 20 min
The Battle for Reality: Does God Exist? Craig, Williams, Hossenfelder and Žižek
Does God exist, or is belief in God an unnecessary addition to our understanding of reality? In this special live event at the Royal Institution, philosopher William Lane Craig, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, physicist Sabine Hossenfelder and philosopher Slavoj Žižek debate the biggest question of all. Craig makes the case for God from the beginning of the universe, fine-tuning, morality and the resurrection of Jesus. Hossenfelder challenges whether science can ever justify such conclusions. Williams reflects on faith, humanity, suffering and religious practice, while Žižek offers his provocative vision of “Christian atheism” and the death of God. Hosted by Jack Symes, this wide-ranging conversation explores science, philosophy, history, evil, revelation, belief and why the question of God still matters. Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Jul 23
1 hr 32 min
“Is Jesus the only God?” Andy Bannister & Imam Ali-Hanafi
Christians and Muslims both honour Jesus... but they disagree profoundly about who He really is. Was Jesus simply one of God's greatest prophets, as Islam teaches? Or is He God incarnate, whose death and resurrection changed history forever? In this thoughtful and respectful conversation, Imam Yasser Al Hanafi and Christian philosopher Dr Andy Bannister explore the biggest theological questions dividing Islam and Christianity. Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Jul 16
46 min
From Hindu monk to Christian: Rahil Patel on karma, grace and finding Jesus
Rahil Patel spent 20 years as a Hindu monk, pursuing God through prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and strict spiritual discipline. But beneath his success as a respected teacher, troubling questions remained. Then, after a series of unexpected encounters with Christianity, Rahil walked into a London church and experienced the moment that changed his life. He joins Luke Martin on the Unbelievable podcast to share his remarkable journey from Hindu monasticism to faith in Jesus, and why moving from karma and striving to grace proved so difficult. They also explore what Christians misunderstand about Hinduism, whether all religions are different paths to the same God, and Rahil’s provocative perspective on Christianity, British colonialism and modern India. A fascinating conversation about spiritual longing, religious pluralism, grace, history and the search for God. More on Rahil Patel Author / Speaker / Consultant / Coach  Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Jul 14
1 hr 15 min
Should we be scared? How AI is changing morality, meaning and human identity! With Theologian Dr Brian R Brock and AI Expert Prof Nigel Crook
Artificial intelligence is changing far more than the way we work. Is it quietly changing what it means to be human? As AI becomes our therapist, our teacher, our creative partner, even our romantic companion, are we handing over something uniquely human? Professor Nigel Crook, one of the UK's leading AI researchers, and theologian Brian Brock go head-to-head over the biggest questions surrounding artificial intelligence. In this conversation: Could AI ever become conscious? Are AI girlfriends replacing real relationships? Is Silicon Valley creating a new religion? Why are Christians uniquely equipped to resist the attention economy? Will AI make us wiser... or slowly erode what makes us human? For Dr Brian Brock: Professor Brian Brock | The University of Aberdeen Brian Brock - Wikipedia Brian's latest book: Joining Creation's Praise – Baker Publishing Group For Prof Nigel Crook: LinkedIn: nigelcrook Facebook: nigel.crook.79 X: @NigelCrook Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast at   www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Jul 9
1 hr 17 min
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