Unbelievable

Jesus was a Jew.  Christianity owes its birth to Judaism.  But did Jesus represent the fulfilment of Jewish Messianic hopes and prophecy? Jonathan Romain is Rabbi of a Reform Synagogue in Maidenhead and was recently named as one of the most influential Jews in the UK. He believes that whatever Jesus was, he was not the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. Stephen Pacht is a Messianic Jew.  He believes Jesus is the Messiah the Jews were promised, but has not been recognised yet by many fellow Jews. For Rabbi Jonathan Romain www.maidenheadsynagogue.org.uk For Stephen Pacht www.jewsforjesus.org.uk For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy Unbelievable? 24 May 2008 Jesus & Jewishness: are they compatible? Rabbi Shmuley Boteach & Michael Brown debate Discuss this programme at the Premier Community

Steven Carr has a prolific presence on the internet as an atheist blogger and debater.  He contends that  the early Christians did not believe in Jesus' resurrection and that the Biblical views of resurrection are contradictory. Canon Michael Cole is a veteran defender of Christian faith and responds to Steven's criticisms of the resurrection. For Steven Carr see http://stevencarrwork.blogspot.com/ For Canon Michael Cole see http://www.nationwidechristiantrust.com For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast If you enjoyed this you may also wish to listen to Unbelievable? 10 Jun 2007 Dead or Alive: the Truth of the Resurrection Unbelievable? 8 Mar 2008 Can we trust the Gospels? Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Premier is inviting Christians to sign the "I am a Christian" declaration at www.iamachristian.org.uk and stand up for their Christian faith. It's in response to the fact that over 100,000 have downloaded the National Secular Society's "Debaptism" certificate, renouncing childhood baptismal vows. There have been a number of stories that suggest Christians are being restricted form being open about their Christian faith in the public arena, and now the National Secular Society is urging that hospital chaplains should not be funded by the NHS. Premier's CEO Peter Kerridge explains why he believes the campaign will encourage Christian to be bold in their faith. Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society explains why they want to take Christian influence out of the public sphere, while Andrea Williams of Christian Concern for Our Nation explains why she believes the rights of Christians are being challenged. Sign the declaration at www.iamachristian.org.uk For Terry Sanderson see www.secularism.org.uk For Andrea Williams see www.ccfon.org For more Christian/non-Christian debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast If you enjoyed this programme you may want to listen to Unbelievable? 2 Aug 2008 - Faith & School - do they mix? Jan Ainsworth & Andrew Copson debate. Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Did Jesus rise from the dead?  What if he never actually died on the cross? As Easter approaches we hear from one of the best respected Muslim scholars in the world - Shabir Ally.  He explains why he does not believe Jesus rose from the dead, namely because he never actually died upon the cross - he merely 'swooned'. Christian Apologist Tony Costa presents his case for the resurrection of Christ and critiques Ally's belief that Jesus did not die. For Shabir Ally visit www.islaminfo.com For Tony Costa visit www.freewebs.com/tonycosta/ Click here for the "Unbelievable?" TV debate between Michael Bird and James Crossley on Christian Origins and the Resurrection. To hear more Christian/non-Christian debates visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast If you enjoyed this programme you may wish to hear: Unbelievable? 26 Apr 2008 Proof for the Resurrection - Evangelist Tony Costa & Atheist Ken Humphreys debate. Unbelievable? 15 Nov 2008 Does the Trinity lead to polytheism? James White of Alpha & Omega ministries debates Abdullah Al Andalusi Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Church minister David Robertson authored a series of Open Letters to Richard Dawkins after the publication of "The God Delusion" that sought to expose the flaws in his argument and the "atheist myths" that he was guilty of. Those missives became a book called "The Dawkins Letters: Challenging atheist myths" and has propelled David into the spotlight as he addresses sceptical audiences on whether Christian belief makes sense. He debates with student Adrian Hayter also known as the "atheist blogger" online. Adrian disagrees with David's conclusions. They debate "the myth of Atheist rationality and tolerance" & "the myth of the inherent evil of religion" Tune in next week for round 2... To buy "The Dawkins Letters" go to www.premier.org.uk/shopping For David Robertson see: www.stpeters-dundee.org.uk For Adrian Hayter see: http://atheistblogger.com/ For more Christian and non-Christian discussion visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable and get the podcast You may be interested to hear the Show of 27 Dec 08 - "Bits & Bobs end of year special" featuring David Robertson Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Are atheists guilty of misunderstanding morality and the Bible?  David Robertson is a Free Church Minister in Scotland and author of the best selling book "The Dawkins letters - Challenging atheist myths".  He meets "atheist blogger" Adrian Hayter again to discuss the "myths" of Godless morality, the cruel Old Testament God and the Immoral Bible. Read Richard Morgan's testimony here (mentioned during feedback at the start of the programme) To buy "The Dawkins Letters" go to www.premier.org.uk/shopping For David Robertson see: www.stpeters-dundee.org.uk For Adrian Hayter see: http://atheistblogger.com/ For more Christian and non-Christian discussion visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable and get the podcast You may also be interested in the following programmes: Unbelievable? 6 Sep 2008 Christianity on trial pt 1: Can I trust the Bible? Atheist lawyer Ed Turner vs Theologian Andy Bannister Unbelievable? 5 Apr 2008 Why I became an atheist - John W Loftus in discussion with Peter May

Timothy Keller started Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York in 1989. It now attracts several thousand members to worship every week. His book "The Reason for God" answers the questions he is commonly asked by sceptical New Yorkers. He engages with Atheist Norman Bacrac editor of the "Ethical Record" - a Humanist publication. They debate whether Christianity's exclusive claims are arrogant, and whether people alone can be the best judge of what is right and wrong. For Tim Keller see www.redeemer.com and www.thereasonforgod.com Order "The Reason for God" at www.premier.org.uk/shopping You can hear more Christian/Non Christian debates at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable and subscribe to the podcast If you enjoyed this progamme you may want to listen to Unbelievable? 27 Dec 2008 - Bits & Bobs end of year special: featuring Bishop Tom Wright, Timothy Keller & David Robertson Unbelievable? 26 Jan 2008 - Morality - do we need God to be Good? Gavin McGrath and Marilyn Mason Discuss this debate at the Premier Community www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

The most recent scientific evidence shows that the universe had to be incredibly "fine tuned" in its fundamental constants to allow life.  Is this the ultimate proof of a designer God?  Nicholas Beale believes so.  He is the co-author of "Questions of truth" (WJK) with Christian physicist John Polkinghorne.  Atheist Julian Baggini argues against Nicholas' conclusion. To order "Questions of Truth" go to www.premier.org.uk/shopping For Nicholas Beale see: www.questionsoftruth.org For Julian Baggini see: http://julianbaggini.blogspot.com/ For more Christian/Non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable where you can also get the podcast Join the discussion at the Premier Community

Could the DNA that makes up the building blocks of life of every living thing on the earth be the clue to a cosmic designer? That's the view of Christian guest Perry Marshall. An electrical engineer by background, he is now a leading authority on information systems and the internet. He says that anybody who comes at the topic of how life originated from an engineering background will see that DNA is a code that needs a designer to create the information it transmits. Peter Hearty is an atheist biologist. He says that science does not work when you dispense with the search for a naturalistic explanation for the origin of DNA. Hear them both and let us have your views by email: unbelievable@premier.org.uk For Perry Marshall's site: www.cosmicfingerprints.com For Christians who disagree with intelligent design see: www.cis.org.uk To hear more Christian/non-Christian debates see www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or pod cast Join in the debate at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

In 19th Century America Joseph Smith claimed to have been given a new revelation of God and Jesus Christ. Almost 200 years later, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints numbers more than 13 million members. Justin explores the key differences in belief between Mormons and Christians as he meets two men breaking the mould of interfaith dialogue. Robert Millet is a Mormon and professor at Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City, Utah. Greg Johnson is a Baptist pastor in the city who founded "Standing together" - an organisation aimed at building bridges of dialogue between Mormons and evangelical Christians. Listen to more Christian/Non-Christian debates at www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or subscribe via the podcast If you enjoyed this programme you may also want to listen to: Unbelievable? 8 September 2007 - Mormonism & Christianity You can visit Greg's ministry "Standing Together" at www.standingtogether.org Join the discussion in the "Unbelievable?" Group at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable

"The Atheist's Bible" (Duckworth & Co) has been a bestseller in the USA. It brings together a mass of quotes from atheists, agnostics and more. Its compiler Joan Konner speaks to Justin Brierley about why she put it together and her own thoughts on atheism. She interacts with Christian apologist Peter Williams whose own book "The Sceptic's Guide to Atheism" (Paternoster) has just been published. Joan and Peter debate whether atheism has some fundamental faith assumptions of its own, as Peter argues that atheistic naturalism is a self-defeating notion. Joan argues that Christianity is arrogant in its exclusive claims. For Joan Konner see: http://joanwkonner.com/ For Peter Williams see: http://www.arn.org/authors/williams.html Check out the "Unbelievable?" web page to listen to more programmes and get the podcast www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable For more Christian/atheist interactions check out - 25 Aug 2007 "Deluded by Dawkins?"; 3 Nov 2007 "The New Atheism"; 26 Jan 2008 "Do we need God to be good?" To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable. Join the discussion on the Premier Community www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable.

As the world marks Darwin's bicentenary, Nick Spencer of Christian thinktank Theos and author of the book "Darwin & God" explains where Darwin actually stood in relation to belief in God. Although Darwin lost his Christian faith he was never an atheist. Atheist biologist Robert Stovold argues that Darwin's "Big Idea" paves the way to atheism. Denis Alexander of the Faraday Institute also contributes arguing that belief in God and Evolution are complementary. Order " Darwin and God" (SPCK) by Nick Spencer For more christian/non-Christian debate visit www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast If you enjoyed this programme you may also want to listen to: 29 Nov 2008 - Creation or Evolution - Do we have to choose? 21 Jun 2008 - Keith Ward on "The Big Questions in Science and Religion": Why Christians CAN believe in evolution. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable. Join the discussion on the Premier Community www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable.

On this week's show (17 Jan 09) two New Testament scholars go head to head. Michael Bird is a believer, James Crossley is not. They have different conclusions about how the Christian faith began and have written a dialogue in their new book "How Did Christianity Begin - a believer and non-Believer examine the evidence". In today's programme they debate whether Jesus himself beliived he was God, as revealed in the Gospels. They go onto discuss whether the bodily resurrection of Jesus is a plausible explanation for the birth of the early church. "How did Christianity begin? A believer and non-believer examine the Evidence" is published by SPCK" Order it online at www.premier.org.uk/shopping To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable. Join the discussion on the Premier Community www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable.

Justin is joined for the seond time by New Testament scholars Michael F Bird And James G Crossley.  Their book "How Did Christianity begin? A believer and non-believer examine the evidence" gives rival accounts of the cause of Christianity and its beliefs.  This week they debate whether Paul believed Jesus was God and whether we can trust the Gospel portrayals of him. Order the book at www.premier.org.uk/shopping For Bird see http://euangelizomai.blogspot.com/ For Crossley see http://earliestchristianhistory.blogspot.com/ To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable. Join the discussion on the Premier Community www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable.

On the surface Christadelphians look very similar to Christians - they read the same Bible, go to church, believe Jesus died for our sins and rose again. So what's the difference between a Christian and a Christadelphian? Justin finds out from Christadelphian Andrew Bramhill and Baptist pastor Ken Brownell. Find out why Christadelphians don't believe in the Trinity or Jesus as the Son of God in the same way that Christians do, and why they believe that baptism is a necessary part of being saved. Interested in discussion between Christians and those of other sects? Check out 8 Sep 2007 - Mormonism & Christianity; 9 Feb 2008 - Bahai faith & Christianity. To hear more discussions between Christians and non-Christians go to www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable. Join the discussion on the Premier Community www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable.