Unbelievable?
Unbelievable? is a weekly podcast, blog, and video series hosted by Ruth Jackson and a team of thinkers and Christian apologists. It explores questions of faith, reason, and apologetics through interviews and discussions. The show aims to engage with skeptics and believers alike, addressing tough questions about Christianity.
Episodes
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
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, ge
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
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,
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. Joh
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 d
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, m
“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 questi
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 podca
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 surround
The Story of Everything: God, Atheism, Meaning and Reality with William Lane Craig, Jessica Frazier, Philip Goff and Joe Folley
Where did reality come from, where is it heading, and does any of it have meaning? In this live Unbelievable X Theora Media event, Jack Symes hosts a major conversation between four strikingly different thinkers: Christian philosopher William Lane Craig, Hindu scholar Jessica Frazier, philosopher Philip Goff and agnostic thinker Joe Folley. Craig argues that God is the best explanation for the un
Why I am not a Christian Nationalist | Dr Brian Brock on God, War and Human Worth
What does Christianity really offer a world searching for God, meaning and moral clarity?
In this episode of Unbelievable? The Interview, Luke Martin speaks with Dr Brian Brock, Professor of Theology at the University of Aberdeen, about some of the most urgent questions facing Christians today: should Christians seek political power? Is the idea of a “Christian nation” faithful to the gospel, or
Should the Fall be celebrated? | Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter on Pullman/CSLewis hosted by John Nelson
Philip Pullman has called C.S. Lewis’s Narnia stories a “filthy lie” — but is that fair?
In this episode of Unbelievable, John Nelson is joined by Christian writer Caleb Woodbridge and science-fiction critic Damien Walter to explore Narnia, His Dark Materials, myth, imagination and the search for meaning in a secular age.
They discuss Pullman’s critique of Lewis, the “problem of Susan,” whether
What Happens When the West Abandons Christianity? Matt Whiteley vs Mike Jones hosted by John Nelson
Did Christianity build the modern West?
From human rights and equality to science, secularism and democracy, many thinkers now argue that Christianity lies behind much of what modern Western societies value most. Popular historian Tom Holland helped revive this debate with his bestselling book Dominion, but how far can the argument really go?
In this episode of Unbelievable?, John Nelson is join
Is Christianity Making a Comeback? Andy Bannister on Faith, Islam and AI
In this wide-ranging episode of Unbelievable? The Interview, host Luke Martin speaks with Christian apologist, author and Islam specialist Dr Andy Bannister about the big questions shaping our cultural moment. Andy reflects on the renewed curiosity about Christianity among young people, why questions of meaning and beauty may now be more compelling than classic debates about God’s existence, and h
Suffering, hell and the search for God with Dr Joshua Sijuwade and Dr Shaun Stevenson hosted by John Nelson
What happens when a philosopher loses faith in God — and then unexpectedly finds it again?
In this deeply personal and philosophical episode of Unbelievable?, host John Nelson sits down with philosophers Dr Shaun Stevenson and Dr Joshua Sijuwade to explore belief, doubt, suffering and the search for meaning.
Shaun shares how he moved from Christianity into atheism after wrestling with judgment
Can a Loving God Use Evolution? Denis Alexander vs Ed Atkinson hosted by John Nelson
What does evolution mean for Christian faith? In this episode of Unbelievable?, John Nelson hosts a thoughtful dialogue between molecular biologist Dr Denis Alexander and returning guest Ed Atkinson on one of the deepest questions in science and theology. Can evolution be reconciled with the character of God, or do millions of years of suffering count against belief? Denis argues that evolution ca
John Lennox on Dawkins, Meaning, AI and the Return of the Sacred
As Oxford mathematician and Christian apologist John Lennox prepares to appear on The Diary of a CEO, he joins Luke Martin on Unbelievable to reflect on his extraordinary life and the questions that have shaped a generation. From Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Peter Singer to Alex O’Connor, AI, social media, suffering, marriage and Christian hope, Lennox looks back on the rise and fall
Francis Collins and N. T. Wright: Science, Faith, Evolution and the Search for Wisdom
What happens when one of the world’s leading geneticists sits down with one of the world’s most influential Christian theologians?
In this special live episode of Unbelievable?, recorded at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in partnership with the Oxford Pastorate and BioLogos, Dr Francis Collins and N. T. Wright explore some of life’s biggest questions: Can science and faith truly
Do We Have Free Will? Joe Folley and Nathan Hawkins Debate Determinism, Choice and Moral Responsibility
Do we truly have free will, or are our choices determined by biology, upbringing and brain chemistry? In this episode of Unbelievable?, John Nelson hosts a lively philosophical dialogue between Joe Folley, host of Unsolicited Advice, and Dr Nathan Hawkins, a Christian philosopher who teaches at Cambridge. Together they explore libertarian free will, compatibilism and determinism, asking whether ne
Can Philosophy Prove God Exists? Joshua Sijuwade on Evil, Trinity & Atonement
Dr Joshua Sijuwade, teaching fellow in philosophy at the University of Birmingham, joins Luke Martin for a wide-ranging conversation on God, evil, the Trinity and the atonement. Joshua begins by explaining why he thinks the existence of God is the best explanation for a contingent, non-fundamental universe, and why he favours a fundamentality argument over some popular versions of the Kalam cosmol
Alex O’Connor vs William Lane Craig: Does God Exist? The Ultimate God Debate
Filmed before a packed live audience at London’s Royal Institution in May 2026, this Unbelievable? x Panpsycast x Theora co-production brings William Lane Craig face-to-face with Unbelievable? regular Alex O’Connor for a gripping conversation on God, cosmology and suffering.
Craig makes the case for Christian theism, drawing on the Kalam cosmological argument, fine-tuning, moral values and the re
Is Politics Dividing the Church? Tom Wright & Preston Sprinkle on Jesus, Empire and Christian Identity
In this timely classic edition of the Unbelievable podcast Billy Hallowell hosts theologians Tom Wright and Preston Sprinkle for a timely conversation on faith, politics and the church’s public witness. For more Tom Wright subscribe to the new YouTube Channel for the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast.
Drawing fromJesus and the Powers and Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire, they ask what i
Did the universe have a beginning? William Lane Craig vs Alex Malpass
William Lane Craig and Alex Malpass debate the Kalam cosmological argument: everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; therefore, the universe has a cause.
Hosted by John Nelson, the discussion explores whether causation applies to the universe, whether an actual infinite can exist, Hilbert’s Hotel, successive addition, the Grim Reaper paradox, and whether the un
A devil named Lucifer - is the devil a cultural myth? | Jared Brock
What if much of what Christians think they know about the devil is wrong? In this fascinating conversation, Luke Martin speaks with author and filmmaker Jared Brock about his provocative book
A Devil Named Lucifer. Jared argues that “Lucifer” is not actually the devil’s proper name, explores what Scripture really says about Satan, demons and spiritual warfare, and challenges popular myths shaped
What would it take for Alex O'Connor to believe Jesus rose from the dead? Trent Horn v Alex O'Connor
Did Jesus really rise from the dead, or is the resurrection best explained another way? In this gripping debate, Alex O'Connor and Trent Horn go head-to-head on one of history’s most controversial claims.
Trent argues that the resurrection offers the best explanation for the historical evidence: the empty tomb, the transformation of the disciples, and early eyewitness testimony. Alex pushes back,
AI and the Future of Humanity | Nigel Crook vs Andy Bannister hosted by Sam McKee
Live from Sir Henry Floyd Grammar school in Aylesbury, Nigel Crook and Andy Bannister discuss the promise and peril of artificial intelligence and what it could mean for the future of humanity.
Hosted by biologist Sam McKee, and filmed in front of a live audience of teenagers in Aylesbury, UK, this conversation asks the big questions young people are already wrestling with. As AI systems grow m
When I consider the heavens - A doctors reasoning for God | Dr Antony Latham
What if the more we learn about the universe, the harder it is to explain without God? In this conversation, Dr Antony Latham, retired GP, former hospital doctor in East Africa, and Chair of the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics, joins Luke Martin to discuss his new book, When I Consider Your Heavens: How Science and Philosophy Lead Us to God. We explore how a life in medicine led him into big q
Evil, Pain, and the case against God: Atheist vs Theist | Alanzo Paul v Harry Amos hosted by Sam McKee
Why do we suffer, and what, if anything, can make sense of it?
Live from John Colet School in Wendover, Unbelievable? hosts a compelling debate on one of the hardest questions in philosophy and faith: the problem of suffering.
Joining the conversation are Alonzo Paul, a philosopher of religion based in Oxford researching horrendous and seemingly meaningless suffering, and Harry Amos, an ex-Chris
Classic: When Leaders Fail with Karen Swallow Prior & R.C. Sproul Jnr
In recent years, numerous high-profile Christian leaders have resigned following revelations of moral failure, including Carl Lentz, Jerry Falwell Jr., and Bill Hybels. Others have posthumously been subject to allegations of sexual misconduct, including Jean Vanier and Ravi Zacharias (an independent investigation is ongoing).
Karen Swallow Prior, who resigned her position at Liberty University ov
The Meaning Crisis Explained...Is Modernity Killing Meaning? John Vervaeke and Malcolm Guite hosted by John Nelson
In this Unbelievable conversation, host John Nelson tackles the “meaning crisis” that’s been bubbling up across the internet: the rise in loneliness, anxiety, addiction and a sense of cultural fragmentation and the growing hunger for depth, belonging and transcendence.
John Vervaeke (University of Toronto) argues that modern life suffers from a “propositional tyranny”, over-privileging facts and
Can You Rewire Your Brain? Neurosurgeon Dr Lee Warren on PTSD, Trauma, Faith & “Self Brain Surgery”
Luke Martin is joined by neurosurgeon, war veteran and author Dr Lee Warren for a powerful and deeply personal conversation on trauma, grief, the brain, and whether we can truly change how we think and live.
After performing over 200 brain surgeries in a warzone in Iraq, Lee returned home carrying the unseen wounds of PTSD. Years later, following the devastating loss of his son, he found himself
Did Jesus really rise from the dead? The Resurrection Debate | Mike Licona vs Dale Allison hosted by John Nelson
In this conversation, we’re exploring one of the central claims of Christianity: the resurrection of Jesus. Joining us are two of the world’s leading New Testament scholars who approach the evidence from different angles. Dale Allison, former Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, is widely respected for his historical work on Jesus and early Christian be
Classic: From Chaos to Code: Do we need a new theory of Life? Paul Davis vs Jeremy England
Physicists Paul Davies and Jeremy England tackle one of science’s hardest puzzles: how did lifeless matter spark into life? In this classic Big Conversation from Unbelievable podcast the question is whether we need a new theory for the origin of life in the universe. Davies argues that “software” (information) is as crucial as chemistry, hinting at undiscovered laws that bind hardware to code. Eng
Does God Ground Morality? Christian vs Atheist Objectivist Debate with Caleb Woodbridge and Samuel Walker Werth hosted by John Nelson
Can morality be objective without God? In this thought-provoking episode of Unbelievable, host John Nelson brings together Christian writer Caleb Woodbridge and Objectivist thinker Thomas Walker-Werth for a deep clash over reason, self-interest, human dignity and the basis of right and wrong. Is morality grounded in God’s nature, or can human reason alone discover universal moral truths? Drawing o
Iain McGilchrist on faith, meaning and the crisis of modern culture
In this episode, Luke Martin speaks to psychiatrist, neuroscientist and bestselling author Iain McGilchrist about the ideas that have made him one of the most influential thinkers of our age.
Rod Dreher has said McGilchrist’s The Matter With Things “will come to be regarded as one of the seminal texts of the century”. In this conversation, McGilchrist explores the divided brain, the crisis of mea
Unbelievable special: 'My father was murdered…a sponsor saved my life' - Richmond Wandera Interviewed by John Nelson
In this special episode of Unbelievable?, John Nelson speaks with Pastor Richmond Wandera in Kampala, Uganda. After his father was murdered, Richmond grew up in a slum community before his life was transformed through Compassion child sponsorship.
Now leading New Life Baptist Church and equipping thousands of pastors across East Africa, Richmond shares what’s changed for vulnerable children since
Classic: Is our mind really more than mere matter? Keith Ward and David Papinaeu
In this replay we bring together Christian Philosopher & Theologian Keith Ward and atheist Professor of Philosophy from King's College London, David Papinaeu to unpack the question "Is our mind more than matter"? Ward believes that the brain is accompanied by an immaterial mind, while Papinaeu believes the brain and the mind to be one in the same - with nothing immaterial about it. What do you thi
Can Christians believe in Evolution? God vs Darwinian Evolution debate | Prof. Denis Alexander vs John Catt hosted Andy Kind
On Darwin Day, marking the birthday of Charles Darwin, we ask a question that continues to divide believers and sceptics alike: Does evolution point us toward God… or away from Him?
In this special episode of Premier Unbelievable? hosted by Andy Kind, molecular biologist and theologian Dr Denis Alexander joins philosopher and sceptical thinker John Catt for a thoughtful and robust conversation on
Are Gen Z becoming more open to Christianity? Glen Scrivener on meaning, identity & the search for faith
Luke Martin's special guest this week is Glen Scrivener talking about the surprising new openness to Christianity in Britain and beyond. Drawing on themes from his book The Air We Breathe. Glen explores why younger generations may be less gripped by old atheism debates and more drawn to questions of meaning, identity, masculinity, community and cultural roots. The conversation looks at whether the
Can Logic Prove Christianity? Joshua Sijuwade v Amos Wollen hosted By John Nelson
In this episode of Unbelievable?, host John Nelson is joined by philosophers Amos Wallen (Oxford) and Dr Joshua Sijuwade to debate whether Christianity can be supported by a priori reasoning - arguments based purely on logic rather than historical evidence.
Dr Sijuwade argues that philosophical reflection on God’s nature may lead to surprising conclusions, including the incarnation and even the T
Classic: From Atheist to Catholic with Leah Libresco and Hemant Mehta
In this Classic Replay of Unbelievable? Podcast, we delve into the fascinating journey of Leah Libresco, once a prominent atheist blogger who made headlines by converting to Catholicism. Her story gained attention across both religious and secular spheres, including a feature on CNN.
Leah sits down with Hemant Mehta, widely known as the Friendly Atheist, for a topical discussion about the moral
Is Intelligent Design Actually Science? A Live Debate Prof Keith Fox vs Peter S. Williams hosted by Andy Kind
In this Unbelievable? debate shot in front of a live audience at Leicester Secular Hall, Andy Kind hosts two Christian thinkers who still manage to clash sharply: Professor Keith Fox (Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Biological Sciences at Southampton University, where he led research on DNA recognition and structure) argues that theistic evolution best explains life’s diversit
Are We More Than Our Brains? Dr Sharon Dirckx on Mind, Meaning & the Mystery of Being Human
Luke Martin is joined by Dr Sharon Dirckx, Cambridge-trained brain-imaging scientist and some time Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics speaker, for a wide-ranging conversation on the mind, meaning and what makes us human. Sharon reflects on her journey from biochemistry into fMRI research, including work on addiction, and explains why consciousness remains a “hard problem” for purely material
Free Will And Responsibility | Amna Whiston v Matthew Su hosted by Sam McKee
Recorded at Aylesbury High School, Sam McKee hosts a lively Unbelievable? Podcast schools debate on one of life’s biggest questions: are we really free? Cambridge PhD researcher Matthew Su and Oxford philosopher of mind Amna Whiston go head-to-head on libertarian free will, determinism, and compatibilism and why it matters for moral responsibility, justice, and everyday choices. Can hunger, habit,
Classic: Richard Dawkins & Rowan Williams debate the question of Human Nature and our ultimate origins
In February 2012 Sofia Europa sponsored a discussion between Richard Dawkins and Rowan Williams, the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, on the question of Human Nature and Our Ultimate Origins. The discussion was chaired by agnostic Prof Sir Anthony Kenny. It is broadcast here in full.
For the full discussion watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bow4nnh1Wv0
• Get our 'Confident
When You Pray and Hear Nothing: Does God Exist?
Why isn’t God more obvious? In this episode of Premier Unbelievable, host John Nelson is joined by Dan Paterson (Questioning Christianity) and Joe Schmid (agnostic philosopher; Princeton doctoral researcher and youtuber at Majesty of Reason) to tackle the argument from divine hiddenness. If a perfectly loving God exists, why are there sincere seekers who still can’t believe, and why does God somet
From Jordan Peterson to Bible Sales: What’s Behind the New Interest in Christianity?
Christianity is back in the conversation, and Dr Andrew Ollerton thinks it’s more than a moment. In this episode of Premier Unbelievable? The Interview, Luke Martin sits down with the Bible Society theologian, pastor, and creator of The Bible Course to explore the “Quiet Revival” and why Gen Z (and big-name podcasters) are re-opening the Bible.
Andrew introduces his new book, God’s Book: An Hone
Christian Nationalism: Biblical or Dangerous? Doug Wilson vs Mike Bird
What does Christian political witness look like in a plural, polarized democracy and should Christians ever aim for a “Christian nation”?
In this episode of Premier Unbelievable?, John Nelson hosts a frank and high-stakes conversation on Christian nationalism, secularism, and the future of liberal democracy.
Doug Wilson, pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, argues that nations are moral age
Classic: Did Adam & Eve exist? William Lane Craig and Joshua Swamidass
From the Archives: How should Christians understand the Adam & Eve story in Genesis? Is it scientifically plausible that humanity can be traced back to a first human couple? What does it mean for the concept of ‘Original Sin’?
These and more questions are discussed by Christian philosopher William Lane Craig, author of the new book ‘In Quest of the Historical Adam’, and computational biologist Jo
Why The West Can't Escape Christianity
Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing joins John Nelson for a wide-ranging conversation about media, power and faith in a post-Christian West. Boreing describes how Hollywood sharpened his convictions and why The Daily Wire was designed as a digital counterweight to legacy media. They unpack how culture shapes belief beneath the level of argument, and why entertainment can move public morality fast
Katy Faust: Why Kids Need a Mum and Dad
What if the biggest debates about marriage, gender, and family have been framed around the wrong people?
In this eye-opening conversation, Luke Martin is joined by Katy Faust, Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement arguing that children not adults should be at the centre of family policy and cultural change. Katy challenges some of the most deeply held assumptions of modern
Christian Apologetics Has a Problem
Premier Unbelievable host John Nelson gathers a lively roundtable to ask a timely question: what’s the current state of Christian apologetics—and where should it go next? Scientist and historian of science Sam McKee (University of Reading / Manchester Metropolitan) argues that apologetics often lags decades behind today’s life sciences, too easily dominated by creationist “marketing machines”, and
Classic: War and Peace: Is War ever justified or should Christians embrace Pacifism? Nigel Biggar and Stanley Hauerwas
In a world riddled with conflict, where headlines scream of violence and unrest, the age-old question resurfaces: Is war ever justified, or should Christians wholeheartedly embrace pacifism? Join esteemed scholars Nigel Biggar and Stanley Hauerwas as they delve into the moral complexities of war and peace from a Christian perspective in this classic replay episode.
Nigel Biggar, renowned theolo
Rod Dreher on Soft Totalitarianism and the Cost of Comfort
Recorded in Premier’s new London studios, John Nelson welcomes Rod Dreher for a wide-ranging conversation about freedom, faith, and the West’s growing spiritual hunger.
Drawing on his bestselling book Live Not By Lies, Dreher argues that today’s greatest threat is not Orwell-style tyranny but Huxley’s “soft totalitarianism” a culture that trades liberty for comfort, safety, and approval. Together
The World Isn’t Disenchanted - We Are | Malcolm Guite
Malcolm Guite joins Luke Martin for a wide-ranging Unbelievable: The Interview conversation on poetry, faith, and the power of imagination. Known as a poet, priest, and academic (and former chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge), Guite reflects on the writers who shaped him from Augustine to Coleridge, and especially C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Why does imagination matter for truth, not just feelings?
Decoding the Cosmos: Atheist Philosopher vs Christian Scientist on Fine-Tuning, Time, Incarnation & Alien Life Emily Qureshi-Hurst vs Sam McKee hosted by Andy Kind
Can Christian faith survive a scientific age—or even thrive in it?
Andy Kind explores physics, faith, and meaning with Cambridge philosopher Dr Emily Qureshi-Hurst and scientist Sam McKee.
Drawing on Emily’s new book Decoding the Cosmos, the conversation tackles cosmic fine-tuning, design arguments, the multiverse, the limits of physics, and whether science could ever deliver a true “theory of e
Classic: Professor John Lennox and Dr John Vervaeke debate the future of AI - Will the AI God's rule us? Is AI the Antichrist?
Rewind to this hot debate! What does it mean to be truly human in an age of artificial intelligence, declining religious belief, and rising spiritual hunger?
Oxford mathematician and Christian apologist Professor John Lennox and cognitive scientist Dr John Vervaeke of the University of Toronto explore whether AI threatens or reveals our uniqueness, if meaning can exist without God, and whether sp
Classic: Virgin or “Young Woman”? Did Matthew Misquote Isaiah?
Every Christmas we hear the familiar words read in church. Matthew chapter 1, quoting the prophet Isaiah: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel.” But critics argue there’s a serious problem. They say Isaiah wasn’t talking about a virgin at all—and that Matthew misused the prophecy. If that’s true, does it undermine the virgin birth? And does it put the c
Classic: Against All Odds - How I Lost My Child But Retained My Faith
In this New Year’s classic edition of Unbelievable? author Jessica Kelly discusses the story behind her book Lord Willing: Wrestling with God’s Role in My Child’s Death. Jessica recounts the gradual onset of symptoms, the shock of an aggressive brain tumour diagnosis in her four-year-old son Henry, and the decision to bring him home with hospice care. She explains why she could not accept “God pla
What’s Wrong with “Away in a Manger”? Unbelievable Christmas Bonus with N. T. Wright
Bad theology, great tunes - who cares? We bring you the truth about Christmas carols in this festive bonus from Ask NT Wright Anything, theologian Tom Wright and host Mike Bird take a playful yet thoughtful look at our favourite (and not-so-favourite) Christmas hymns. Many people love singing carols even if they’re unsure what they believe, but are some beloved hymns actually theologically mislea
Classic: The science behind Christmas: Mark Kidger & Gillian Straine and NT Wright
In a replay Christmas special Justin Brierley is joined by priest and physicist Revd Gillian Straine and agnostic astronomer Mark Kidger of the European Space Agency. They discuss the scientific theories for the star of Bethlehem, who the Magi were and how scientists reconcile the miracles of Christmas with science. And… cute kids alert! We hear the Christmas story retold by 6 and 7yr olds.
Tow
Is life meaningless without God? A live school debate between Atheism UK and Christian apologist
In this live edition of Premier Unbelievable? from Aylesbury High School in the UK, stand-in host Sam McKee moderates a thought-provoking dialogue between:
Caleb Woodbridge – Christian writer, editor and cultural apologist
John Richards – President of Atheism UK
Together they wrestle with questions of meaning, value, morality, evolution, human rights, animal ethics, suffering and religion as
Nigel Biggar on Christianity, Politics, Free Speech & the Future of the West
Lord Nigel Biggar joins Premier Unbelievable? – The Interview host Luke Martin for a wide-ranging conversation on Christianity, politics, and the moral foundations of Western society. A priest in the Church of England, Emeritus Regius Professor of Moral Theology at Oxford, and now a Conservative peer in the House of Lords, Biggar has become one of the UK’s most prominent public intellectuals.
We
Did Jesus fulfil Scriptural Prophecy? Jonathan Rowlands vs Rabbi Marc B Shapiro
As Advent approaches, John Nelson hosts Dr Jonny Rowlands (St Mellitus College, UK) and Rabbi Prof Marc Shapiro (University of Scranton, USA) to ask: did Jesus fulfil scriptural prophecy? They explore what ‘fulfilment’ means, challenge checklist claims, and show how Second Temple Judaism held diverse Messianic hopes. Topics include Bethlehem and Micah 5, Isaiah 7:14 (alma vs parthenos), typology v
Classic: Was the cosmos made for us? Sabine Hossenfelder vs Luke Barnes
- The fine-tuning of the Universe: Big Conversation - Episode 4 | Season 3. Many physicists have pointed out the extraordinary ‘fine tuning’ of the physical laws of the universe that have allowed life to develop within the cosmos.
Luke Barnes believes it gives evidence for a designer behind the cosmos, whereas Sabine Hossenfelder disagrees, questioning whether we can even speak of ‘fine tuning’
The Sanity Of Belief - Can God Explain Everything?
Is belief in God rational, or is it something no reasonable person should accept?
In this live Unbelievable? school debate recorded in Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury, Andy Kind hosts philosopher Dr Joshua Sijuwade (University of Birmingham) and physician-educator Julius Weinberg (Trustee, National Secular Society) for a rigorous and fiery exchange on the sanity of belief.
They tackl
Is Patriarchy Actually Biblical? Medieval Historian Beth Allison Barr Responds
Luke Martin sits down with medieval historian and pastor’s wife Prof Beth Allison Barr (Baylor University) to explore how her research on women in late medieval England reshaped her views on “biblical womanhood”. Beth shares her journey from committed complementarian to outspoken critic, the personal cost of her husband losing his church job over a woman teaching Sunday school, and the backlash th
Who Was Jesus REALLY? Islam vs Christianity Debate | Joe Boot vs Hafsa Satar
Christian thinker Joe Boot and Muslim scholar Hafsar debate what Christianity and Islam each teach about the identity of Jesus — from His birth and miracles to the crucifixion, resurrection, and second coming.
They discuss:
• Jesus in the Qur’an vs the New Testament
• Tawhid and the oneness of God
• The Trinity and divine nature
• Whether Jesus was crucified or taken up to heaven
• Salvation
Classic: Do We Still Need Christianity? Douglas Murray vs N. T. Wright
Revisiting another classic show from 2021, and asking has the ‘sea of faith’ ebbed for good, and what might replace it—new atheism, ‘woke’ moralism, or a rediscovery of Christianity’s story? Douglas Murray and N.T. Wright discuss identity, myth and meaning in a post-Christian West. Murray, an “uncomfortable agnostic,” values the Christian inheritance yet laments a church that echoes the culture ra
Pacifism vs Just War: Should Christians Ever Fight? Brian Zahnd & Andrew Hronich
Can a Christian ever support war? In this episode, host Dr. John Nelson brings together pastor and peace advocate Brian Zahnd (A Farewell to Mars) and theologian Andrew Hronich (Once Loved, Always Loved) for a challenging and profound conversation about pacifism, just war theory, and Christian discipleship in a world at war.
From the Sermon on the Mount to the streets of Gaza, this debate probes
Kathy Keller on Tim Keller, Sin and the World’s Deepest Problem
In this intimate and wide-ranging conversation, Kathy Keller speaks with Luke Martin about life, faith, and the theological vision she shared with her late husband, Tim Keller. Kathy revisits her teenage correspondence with C.S. Lewis, the formative influences that shaped Tim’s preaching, and why “contextualisation” has been so widely misunderstood. She introduces Tim’s new posthumous book, What I
Happiness, humanity, ethics, evolution... what really is the meaning of life? Sam McKee vs Stephen Law hosted by Andy Kind
Can we really know whether God exists... or is belief just a product of evolution and psychology?
In this powerful Unbelievable? debate filmed at a UK school, Andy Kind hosts philosopher and atheist Dr Stephen Law and Christian biologist Sam McKee for a fascinating and heartfelt conversation about belief, meaning, and the human search for truth.
From the problem of evil and the evolution of beli
Classic: Nick Bostrom & Rosalind Picard: God, AI, Consciousness & the Future of Humanity
In this classic Unbelievable? from The Big Conversation, Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom (Future of Humanity Institute; Superintelligence) and MIT pioneer Rosalind Picard (Affective Computing) discuss God, AI and the future of humanity—could technology be the key to immortality? They weigh near-term benefits and risks, from alignment and governance to the temptation of power. Do machines feel or b
Beyond Naturalism: What’s Real? Dr. Alex Carter vs Dr. Zachary Ardern - Hosted by Sam McKee
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This one w
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