Unbelievable?

Until his death from cancer over four years ago, Christopher Hitchens was one of the preeminent figures of new atheism: a prolific writer who was eloquent, witty and in great demand for his speaking and debating. Justin is joined by Christopher's brother Peter Hitchens who is a columnist for the Mail On Sunday, atheist blogger Ed Turner, and Peter Harris, a Christian apologist writing a PhD on Hitchens. In this show we assess some of his arguments against religion, including the claim that "religion poisons everything" and belief in God is like believing in a celestial North Korean dictator. For Unbelievable? The Conference 2016: http://www.premierchristianradio.com/unbelievable2016" For Peter Hitchens: http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/ For Peter Harris: http://www.bethinking.org/author/peter-harris/page/all For Ed Turner: https://edthemanicstreetpreacher.wordpress.com For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Luke Griffiss-Williams has an interesting faith journey. Having been an evangelical Christian, doubts about the deity of Jesus led him to convert to Judaism. But further doubts about the historicity of the Old Testament led him to become an atheist. Richard Harvey, senior researcher with Jews for Jesus responds to Luke’s story as well as telling his own of how, as a Jew, he came to believe in Jesus as Messiah. For Luke Griffiss-Williams: https://myspace.com/hatterarts For Richard Harvey: http://www.mappingmessianicjewishtheology.eu/ For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

The latest survey from the UK Office of National Statistics shows that religious people are happier than atheists. Hindus came first in terms of reported happiness and Christians second. Christian researcher and author Ann Morisy discusses with atheist blogger and author Craig James why people of faith consistently report higher levels of wellbeing in surveys than atheists. What other factors may account for the results and does it have any bearing on the truth of religious claims? For Ann Morisy: http://www.stpancraschurch.org/index.php?id=126 For Craig A James: http://www.thereligionvirus.com/ For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Dominic Johnson’s new book ‘God is Watching You: How the fear of God makes us human’ makes the claim that belief in divine punishment has arisen because of the evolutionary advantage it brings in creating cooperative, moral societies. Christian philosopher Peter S Williams interacts with Dominic on questions over whether his research explains away religious belief, and whether Christianity is a religion of punishment and rewards. For ‘God is Watching You’ https://global.oup.com/academic/product/god-is-watching-you-9780199895632?cc=gb〈=en& For Peter S Williams: http://www.peterswilliams.com For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

It’s sometimes said that the best way to understands your opponent’s position is to put yourself in their shoes. Justin hosts an unusual edition of the show, in which his Christian and atheist guests swap roles. Atheist philosopher Michael Ruse defends what he believes are the best arguments for believing in God, while Christian theologian Randal Rauser defends atheism. They discuss the problem of suffering, why there is something rather than nothing, and other evidences for and against Christianity. For Michael Ruse http://philosophy.fsu.edu/content/view/full/35805 For Randal Rauser: http://randalrauser.com/ For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

As gay marriage is legalised in countries around the world, some studies claim to show that rearing children in same sex families can be harmful. Bobby Lopez was raised by two lesbian mothers but today campaigns for the right of children to be raised by a biological mother and father. Debating Lopez are James Croft, humanist leader and gay rights campaigner, and Jacob Clark who has been fostered for the past two years by a gay clergy couple. For Bobby Lopez http://englishmanif.blogspot.co.uk For James Croft: http://ethicalstl.org/ For more faith debates visit http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Justin is joined by Palestinian Christian Salim Munayer and Jewish Christian believer Lisa Loden, authors of 'Through My Enemy's Eyes', as they discuss the prospects for peace in Israel. They are also joined by Andrew Sibley author of 'Understanding Israel'. For Through My Enemy's Eyes http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00J25R7E6 For Andrew Sibley http://zions-new-name.blogspot.co.uk/ For more faith debates http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Perry Marshall is an online marketing strategist with a background in computer engineering. His new book 'Evolution 2.0: Breaking the deadlock between Darwin and Design' claims to show a 'third way' which proves evolutionary changes are neither random not accidental but are targeted, adaptive and aware. PZ Myers is well known as an evolutionary biologist and strident atheist blogger. He believes Marshall's book is flawed. They debate the mechanics of the cell, how information arises and whether Marshall's analogies from computer engineering are suitable in the field of biology. For Perry Marshall http://cosmicfingerprints.com For PZ Myers http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/ For more faith debates http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

Justin is joined by a glittering array of guests for a Boxing Day edition of the show. Colin Nicholl author of 'The Great Christ Comet' discusses why he believes the Bethlehem star was a comet. Phil Vischer (creator of VeggieTales) and Ruth Jackson of Premier Childrenswork magazine debate whether we should encourage children's belief in Father Christmas. Agnostic radio host Nick Pandolfi explains why he loves church at Christmas even though he's not a believer. And Justin speaks to David Suchet (TV's Poirot) about his mammoth audio Bible project and Christmas as an adult convert to Christianity. For 'The Great Christ Comet' http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Great-Christ-Comet-Revealing/dp/1433542137 For Phil Vischer http://www.philvischer.com For Premier ChildrensWork magazine http://www.premierchildrenswork.com For Nick Pandolfi http://www.nicholaspandolfi.co.uk For more faith debates http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes

A recent report on faith and public life in the UK recommended cutting back the role of Christianity to make space for other faiths and humanist points of view. Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens says the report's recommendations further undercut the Christian heritage that has allowed the UK to flourish. Terry Sanderson says the report does not go far enough in banishing religious privilege. They debate whether the UK should hold on to its Christian heritage. For Peter Hitchens http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2015/12/goodbye-christianity-hello-multicultural-wasteland.html For Terry Sanderson http://www.secularism.org.uk/ For more faith debates http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable Join the conversation: Facebook and Twitter Get the MP3 Podcast of Unbelievable? Via RSS or Via Itunes