Uncommon Ground with Justin Brierley

Phil Halper, Royal Astronomical Society fellow and critic of cosmological design claims, and Stephen C. Meyer, philosopher of science and advocate of intelligent design, debate beginnings, cosmic fine-tuning and multiverse ideas. They trade sharp critiques on whether the Big Bang implies a beginning, whether narrow life-friendly constants point to design, and how competing scientific models stack up.

James Marriott, a Times literary critic who writes on culture and religion, and Elizabeth Oldfield, writer and host of the Sacred podcast who practices communal Christian life, discuss whether life can have meaning without God. They talk about young people returning to faith, art and literature as sources of purpose, rituals and communal practices, psychedelics and transcendence, and whether nihilism can be lived with practically.

Emily Qureshi-Hurst, a Cambridge philosopher of religion who links physics and theology. Paul Davies, a cosmologist and astrobiologist exploring time, meaning and quantum puzzles. They unpack quantum weirdness, measurement and entanglement. They debate whether cosmic directionality or multiverses point to purpose, and speculate on consciousness, quantum minds and ultimate origins.

Anil Seth, a neuroscientist studying perception and consciousness as a controlled hallucination. Iain McGilchrist, a psychiatrist-philosopher exploring brain hemispheres, value and the God question. They debate brain vs. mind, hemispheric ways of knowing, panpsychism and emergence, meditation, prayer and nature’s role, and how science and spirituality can meet.

Jonathan Pageau, an Orthodox thinker and icon carver who reads symbolism and tradition, and Joe Folley, an atheist philosopher and YouTuber versed in Cambridge philosophy, discuss whether art, culture and human experience point beyond nature. They debate patterns, emergence, top-down meaning, Genesis as symbolic description, and what kind of resurrection or evidence might change minds.

Glen Scrivener, Christian thinker who argues Christianity shaped Western moral institutions. Alex O'Connor, atheist YouTuber and podcaster challenging religious claims with philosophy. They debate whether kindness, equality, freedom and consent stem from Christian ideas. Short, sharp exchanges cover hospitals, abolition, Genesis, gender equality and whether secular forces could have produced the same outcomes.

Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury and poet-theologian, meets Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and author. They spar over whether science or God better explains the poetry of reality. Short, probing exchanges cover poetry and music, consciousness, emergence and AI, suffering and theology, and whether theological simplicity or scientific explanation best frames meaning.

Justin Brierley is back in the moderator's chair hosting conversations between Christians, atheists, skeptics and seekers in this new podcast and video show. 'Uncommon Ground' features leading figures from the world of atheism, psychology, science, culture, literature and theology. Recorded in the beautiful setting of Yarnton Manor, Oxford, they’ll be debating purpose in the universe, meaning in life, faith, atheism and the deepest questions of existence.  But this isn't just another debate-fest. 'Uncommon Ground' asks each guest to spell out the other's position. Connecting before correcting. Disagreeing well by understanding each other better. Season 1 will feature:- Richard, Dawkins & Rowan Williams - on God & science.- Alex O Connor & Glen Scrivener - on whether Christianity gave us our morality.- Anil Seth & Iain McGilchrist - on consciousness and the brain.- Jonathan Pageau & Joe Folley - on whether art and beauty points to God. - Paul Davies & Emily Qureshi-Hurst - on whether the universe has a purpose. - Elizabeth Oldfield & James Marriott - on whether there’s purpose in life.- Stephen Meyer & Phil Halper - big bang cosmology and the fine tuning of the universe.  - Philip Pullman and Francis Spufford - on literature, meaning, imagination and religion. ...and more to be announced.  Get access to every episode TWO WEEKS early when you support: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ Stay up to date - and get free chapters from both my books - by subscribing to my newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices