Unbelievable?

The UK Government recently outlined a White Paper that threatens to demote Religious Education to a peripheral subject in the curriculum.  More info on the campaign to have it reinstated here: http://www.reactcampaign.co.uk/ Mark Roques of Reality Bites regularly leads RE workshops for students - he says we need more engaging ways of teaching RE.  He also claims there is a hidden curriculum in education indoctrinating students into an individualistic, secularist worldview. Andrew Copson, CEO of the British Humanist Association also wants good RE teaching but disagrees with Mark's conclusions about hidden agendas in education causing consumerist attitudes among students. They also debate whether an atheist worldview can account for our belief in reason and freewill. For Mark Roques and Worldview RE resources see http://www.realitybites.org.uk  View the Reality Bites paper on secular indoctrination in education http://www.realitybites.org.uk/downloads/RealityBites_Education-Indoctrination-and-God.pdf  For Andrew Copson and the BHA see http://www.humanism.org.uk For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 29 Jan 2011 - Why do we value human life? Subversive Story Teller Mark Roques & atheist Paul Thompson Unbelievable? 2 Aug 2008 - Faith & School - do they mix? Jan Ainsworth & Andrew Copson debate. Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

In an age of religious pluralism it can seem arrogant for Christians to claim they have "the truth" or the only means to salvation.  So when Jesus said "no-one comes to the Father except through me" what did he mean? And what about those who have not heard the Gospel? John Hick is a noted philosopher and theologian who is a proponent of a pluralist view of religion - that there is one light (God) but many lampshades (religious expressions). Chris Sinkinson is a pastor and Bible tutor who has critiqued Hick's work.  He says that pluralism empties Christianity of any content and in its own way disrespects other religions more than his own exclusivist stance. For John Hick see http://www.johnhick.org.uk/ Chris Sinkinson is a tutor at Moorlands Bible College http://www.moorlands.ac.uk/home/about-us/staff-profiles.php For his book "The Universe of Faiths" http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Faiths-C-Sinkinson/dp/1842271067 For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 10 Oct 2009 - Jesus and the God of Israel Is the divinity of Jesus at odds with Jewish Monotheism? Richard Bauckham & James Crossley. Unbelievable? 23 May 2009 Buddhism & Christianity in dialogue Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

400 years on from the publication of the King James Version of the Bible, there is now a proliferation of translations available.  Some Christians maintain that the KJV has never been surpassed for its style, authority and reliability. James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries disputes the idea that the King James Version is the "only and best" version Christians should read.  He says that there are translation problems as well as serious issues regarding the manuscripts the translators based it upon. Revd Kyle Paisley, son of DUP leader Ian Paisley, defends the KJV as the best English version, despite any faults.  He says that modern versions downplay key doctrines of the Christian faith and fail to live up to the prose of the KJV. For James White visit http://www.aomin.org/ For his KJV resources http://www.aomin.org/catalog/index.php?cPath=53 For Kyle Paisley http://www.freepres.org/church.asp?oulton For Kyle's sermons http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=oultonbroad For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 3 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Peter Williams - "Misquoting Jesus: Do we have the original writings of the New Testament?"  Unbelievable? 13 Mar 2010 - "Can we trust the doctrine of the Trinity?" Christian James White debates Unitarian Anthony Buzzard Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Alister McGrath's new book "Why God won't go away" is a critique of the New Atheist Movement spearheaded by Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris & Dennett. He chats with atheist philosopher Stephen Law about aggressive atheism and its online form.  They debate whether religion leads to violence and whether Stephen's "Evil God challenge" is a defeater for belief in a good God. To book a place at the London Book launch on 16 Feb 2011 email publicity@spck.org.uk or phone 0207 5923900 A guaranteed place there and a signed copy of the book for 5 listeners who can answer "What was the name of Alister's 2007 book in response to The God Delusion?" email unbelievable@premier.org.uk  For "Why God Won't Go Away" (SPCK) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-God-Wont-Go-Away/dp/0281063877 For Info on Alister McGrath http://users.ox.ac.uk/~mcgrath/ For Stephen Law http://www.cfilondon.org/ or http://stephenlaw.blogspot.com/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 2 Oct 2010 - The Future of New Atheism - Alister McGrath & Caspar Melville. Unbelievable? 13 Nov 2010 - The Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism - Alvin Plantinga vs Stephen Law Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Off-duty police men in Bogota, Columbia shoot street children because they consider them to be "disposables".  Using stories such as this Mark Roques asks whether value in human life can be found anywhere other than our being made "In the image of God". Atheist Paul Thompson argues that we don't need a supernatural explanation for the value we place on human beings. They discuss the issue of where human value comes from and Mark's "Subversive Questions and storytelling" method of apologetics. For Mark Roques see http://www.realitybites.co.uk For Paul Thompson's profile (Sinbad) on the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/profile/Sinbad For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 20 Nov 2010 - "What Good is God?" Philip Yancey speaking to atheist Paul Thompson Unbelievable? 13 Jun 2009 The Moral Argument For God - Atheist Paul Orton & Christian David Robertson For written resources see: http://www.premierradio.org.uk/shows/saturday/unbelievable/Resources/Atheism.aspx# Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

To mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible Justin Brierley will be presenting a number of programmes looking at issues of Biblical reliability and interpretation in the coming year. This week he asks "Which translation shoud we trust?"  There are now many different English translations of scripture available. Atheist Norman Hansen asks how Christians can base their beliefs on a book that is capable of being translated in so many ways.  Don Horrocks of the Evangelical Alliance responds, arguing that the Bible is "God-breathed" even if people disagree about it stranslation in some areas. They cover issues including the correct translation of the atonement of Jesus, translation of verses regarding homosexuality and disputed sections of scripture from early manuscripts. For The Evangelical Alliance see http://www.eauk.org For BibleFresh see http://www.biblefresh.com/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 3 Jan 2009 Bart Ehrman & Peter Williams - "Misquoting Jesus: Do we have the original writings of the New Testament?" Unbelievable? 18 Oct 2008 Why Should I believe in Jesus? Ex-Christian Norman Hansen vs. Amy Orr-Ewing of the Zacharias Trust Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

Os Guinness is an author, cultural critic and Christian apologist.  He co-founded the Trinity Forum which "seeks to transform society through the transformation of leaders".   Baroness Mary Warnock is a moral philosopher and atheist.  She is a cross bench peer in the House of Lords and an influential voice arguing for liberalisation of euthanasia laws.   Her book "Dishonest to God" argues that religious and theological issues should have no place in issues of public morality, covering euthanasia, assisted suicide, and abortion.   At the time of recording Os Guinness was due to speak at the House of Lords on how Christian religious freedoms should be treated in a pluralistic society as set out in his new book "The Case for Civility".   They discuss how we judge what is moral, euthanasia, gay adoption and more.  The show was recorded in the robing chamber in the House of Lords.   NEXT WEEK: 400 years after the King James Bible - which translation should we trust?   For Os Guinness see:  http://www.osguinness.com/   For "The Case for Civility" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-Civility-Why-Future-Depends/dp/0061353434   For Mary Warnock articles see http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/marywarnock   For "Dishonest to God" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dishonest-God-Keeping-Religion-Politics/dp/1441127127   For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes   If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy   Unbelievable? 25 Apr 2009 Euthanasia - Should it be legalised? Lord Dick Taverne & Dan Boucher   Unbelievable? 18 Apr 2009 - Peter Kerridge, Terry Sanderson and Andrea Williams - "I am A Christian" - are Christians being marginalised in society?   Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

William Lane Craig is a philosopher, author and key defender of the Christian faith in debates around the world. Although atheist Richard Dawkins had publicly said he will not debate Craig, he found himself on the same platform as him in November 2010.  Dawkins was on an atheist team, Craig on a theist team as they debated "Does the Universe have a purpose?" at a Mexico TED-style event. With extracts from the debate, William (Bill) Lane Craig chats to Justin about the circumstances of their encounter and why he believes Dawkins and the atheist team changed their tactics mid way, were ununified and failed to address the arguments that were presented. To watch the full debate http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable/forum/topics/richard-dawkins-just-broke-his For Bill's website http://www.reasonablefaith.org For his article on "The absurdity of Life without God" http://www.premierradio.org.uk/shows/saturday/unbelievable/Resources/Atheism.aspx For his book "Reasonable Faith" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reasonable-Faith-William-Lane-Craig/dp/1433501155 For the Youtube Mix by Peter Byrom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UnEkydeDVQ&feature=related For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy Unbelievable? 19 Jul 2008 American Masters of Apologetics Pt 2: William Lane Craig. Unbelievable? 8 Nov 2008 Richard Dawkins & John Lennox's Oxford debate - a review with interviews and comment. Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable and via Facebook and Twitter

www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable has undergone a major redevelopment and Justin Brierley uses this New Year Programme to take a tour around it. Visit it now to find out more about the new features, interviews, articles and ways to interact with the show that gets christians and non-Christians thinking. We're also on Facebook and Twitter Justin plays snippets of some of the exclusive extra content available including interviews with Wm Paul Young author of "The Shack", Richard Dawkins, Timothy Keller and John Lennox.

A festive edition of the show.  With studio guest Anthony McRoy and a host of phone guests from around the world Justin Brierley looks at various aspects of Christmas. Is Christmas based on Pagan festivals and myths?  What are the Christian roots of Father Christmas and Christmas trees?  Are there other valid narratives of the Christmas story apart from Matthew and Luke?  All these and more questions are discussed by a variety of guests. Anthony McRoy is lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Wales Evangelical School of Theology http://www.west.org.uk/ Roger Morris heads up Faith Interface in Australia http://www.faithinterface.com.au/ Margaret Barker's book "Christmas: The Original Story" http://www.margaretbarker.com/Publications/Christmas.htm Canadian apologist Tony Costa http://www.freewebs.com/tonycosta/ US Apologist William Lane Craig http://www.reasonablefaith.org/ For more Christian/non-Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the MP3 podcast http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes If you enjoyed this programme you may also enjoy: Unbelievable? 22 Dec 2007 -  Did Christians steal Christmas? Unbelievable? 26 Dec 2009 - Are Matthew and Luke's birth narratives at odds with each other? Christian Charles Foster vs. Atheist Robert Stovold Join the discussion at the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable