Unbelievable?

Premier Unbelievable?

Unbelievable? offers a weekly podcast, blog, and video series hosted by Ruth Jackson and a team of thinkers and Christian apologists.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

1,262 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes1262

Newest first

February 19 · 47 min
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, upbringing, or neuroscience quietly steer our decisions? Are we “puppets” of biology, or genuinely authors of our actions? The conversation ranges from courtroom judgment and temptation to mental health, personhood, and whether AI and “philosophical zombies” help or hinder the case for human agency. Expect sharp definitions, real-world examples, and brilliant student questions starting @33:34 mins in. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
February 17 · 1 hr 28 min
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 Christianity' course: http://www.premier.org.uk/courseierchristianradio.com/... • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
February 12 · 1 hr 16 min
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 sometimes feel silent in suffering? They unpack J.L. Schellenberg’s formulation, debate deductive vs evidential versions, and explore whether cultural demographics, religious diversity, and tragedy point towards naturalism or theism. Dan argues Christianity has ancient resources for hiddenness; Joe presses the evidential weight of silence. Listen for Pascal, conscience, and the cross, and share where you land in the comments. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
February 10 · 1 hr 17 min
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 Honest Look at the Bible , and tackles the seven toughest topics readers stumble over: credibility, Genesis and science, Old Testament violence, slavery, and alleged sexism. With clarity and warmth, he argues for reading Scripture “in context, in Christ, and in community” and why faith isn’t trust in a text alone, but in a person. If you’re curious, sceptical, or stuck, this conversation will help you lean in, not shut the book. For Luke Martin: follow on X https://x.com/luke_s_martin SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
February 5 · 1 hr 14 min
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 agents accountable to God, and defends a vision he calls “theocratic libertarianism”—limited government, but explicitly Christian moral foundations. Dr. Michael Bird, biblical scholar and Anglican priest, agrees politics is never neutral—but warns that certain models of Christian nationalism risk disenfranchising minorities, repeating Europe’s religious conflicts, and undermining the freedom required for genuine faith. From immigration and pluralism to abortion, marriage, and religious liberty, this conversation asks: Can secularism actually protect Christian society?Who gets full civic rights in a “Christian republic”?Is Christian nationalism a renewal of moral order—or a road to coercion?How should Jesus’ model of leadership reshape political ambition?Join us as we dive into one of the most contested questions in public Christianity today. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
February 3 · 1 hr 3 min
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 Joshua Swamidass, author of ‘The Genealogical Adam & Eve’. At the end of the show, Ruth Jackson talks to Tim Moyler about the evangelistic resource ‘Living & Telling’. First Aired: 13 August 2021 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
January 29 · 1 hr 20 min
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 faster than politics. Boreing addresses the seductions of influence, the “grift” economy, and the danger of Christianity being reduced to a tribal marker in the culture wars. The discussion ranges from Trump and evangelicalism to conspiracy thinking, antisemitism, and the rise of illiberal “Christ is King” rhetoric. Finally, Boreing explains why he stepped back from leadership and reveals his passion project: Rise of the Merlin an ambitious adaptation of Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
January 27 · 1 hr 8 min
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 life, asking what happens when adult fulfilment is prioritised over the rights and needs of the young. The show explores the differences between men and women, why mothers and fathers matter in distinct ways, and how feminism, divorce, and church leadership shape children’s lives. Luke and Katy do not shy away here from today’s most controversial issues - gay marriage, surrogacy, IVF, sperm and egg donation, and the claim that “love makes a family.” Drawing on natural law, social science, and lived experience, Katy makes a powerful case that marriage and family are first matters of justice for children. Her book Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement (Post Hill Press, 2021), co-authored with Stacy Manning, expands this argument in depth. For Luke Martin: follow on X https://x.com/luke_s_martin Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
January 22 · 1 hr 14 min
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 too quick to platform non-experts as authorities. Joining him are Northern Irish apologist and civil servant Gareth Black, OCCA speaker and war studies postgraduate Sara Stevenson, and US-based YouTuber Mike Jones (Inspiring Philosophy). Together they wrestle with expertise, overreach, and epistemic humility—alongside the promise of friendship, local church discipleship, and better science communication. Is the “conflict” narrative between science and faith finally fading? And what might a more relational, Bible-shaped apologetics look like in 2026? 0:00 – Apologetics After New Atheism 0:46 – Meet the Panel (Science + Faith) 4:06 – Science Problem in Christian Apologetics 5:12 – Genetics & Biology Revolution (CRISPR, AlphaFold) 7:43 – Creationism vs Science: Why It Hurts Faith 8:33 – Why Students Leave Church (Science vs Faith) 9:44 – Faraday Institute: Elite Christian Scientists 11:10 – Stop Platforming Non-Experts 13:16 – Genesis 1: Literalism vs Context 15:47 – Science vs Religion “War” Myth 18:45 – Social Media Apologetics: Pros & Cons 21:18 – Flat Earth Theology & Conspiracy Drift 28:02 – C.S. Lewis: “Christianity Latent” 31:06 – Apologetics Echo Chamber (Same Arguments) 35:41 – Elite Apologists vs Everyday Christians 39:49 – Christianity Built Civilization (Sociology) 46:40 – Friendship Model Apologetics (Community) 52:54 – Debates, Revival & Future Strategy SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
January 20 · 1 hr 6 min
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 theologian and ethicist, brings his nuanced understanding of just war theory, exploring the conditions under which Christians might find themselves compelled to engage in warfare. Stanley Hauerwas, also a leading voice in Christian ethics, advocates for a radical alternative: pacifism. Hauerwas challenges listeners to reconsider conventional notions of power and violence, urging a transformative approach rooted in love and nonviolence. This episode originally aired on: 8 November 2014 • Subscribe to Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 on your preferred platform to never miss an episode, and join the conversation as we explore the nuances of belief, skepticism, and the evolving landscape of modern thought. • Rate and review this podcast in your podcast provider to help others discover the podcast • Get in touch with us to share your questions for upcoming shows! • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
January 15 · 1 hr 17 min
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, they explore the cost of discipleship, why suffering still matters (from Solzhenitsyn to Bonhoeffer), and how “therapeutic” Christianity leaves believers unprepared for pressure and loss. Dreher also reflects on meeting Nick Cave, the search for transcendence, and why many young adults are moving from scepticism to spirituality sometimes via the occult. He concludes by introducing themes from his new book Living in Wonder, calling Christians to recover beauty, liturgy, prayer, and a hopeful (not naïve) vision for the future. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
January 13 · 1 hr 18 min
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? And what happens to a culture when “reason” becomes narrow, utilitarian, and disenchanted? Guite engages the modern hunger for beauty, tradition, and meaning, arguing we don’t need to “re-enchant” the world so much as un-disenchant ourselves. He also shares what he’s writing next: an epic poetic retelling of the Arthurian cycle Galahad and the Grail: Merlin’s Isle (Volume 1), out in March 2026 - a retelling restoring the Christian bedrock of the Arthurian legend and the Holy Grail, inspired by the Inklings. For Luke Martin: follow on X https://x.com/luke_s_martin SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
January 8 · 1 hr 16 min
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 everything”. Emily explains why she is an atheist who rejects New Atheism, while Sam reflects on why Christianity remains the most coherent model of reality for him as a scientist. The discussion then moves into deeper territory—time, salvation, incarnation, and even the theological implications of alien life—raising profound questions about human uniqueness, divine action, and cosmic hope. A thoughtful, warm, and often surprising conversation for anyone curious about science, philosophy, and faith. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
January 6 · 1 hr 21 min
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 spiritual transformation is possible in a post-religious age. Along the way, they challenge one another on the logos, consciousness, and the enduring power of the Book of Revelation. Lennox draws from his new book, God, AI and the End of History, to argue for a Christian vision of wisdom and hope. Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
January 1 · 57 min
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 credibility of the first Christmas at risk? In this classic Unbelievable? discussion, theology lecturer Alistair McKitterick of Moorlands College explains why Matthew’s use of Isaiah is deliberate and theologically grounded, not a mistake. Challenging him is atheist sceptic Robert Stovold, who argues that the nativity story is a later invention by the gospel writers rather than a historical event. Is Christmas built on a mistranslation—or a deeper reading of Scripture? SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
Dec 30, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
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 planned it” clichés, and how viewing God through Jesus—rather than a meticulous blueprint—helped her grieve without blaming God. In the second half, apologist Sarah Foster from the Pfander Centre discusses engaging Muslims in London, the questions young Christians face, and why churches should equip youth to respond with truth and love. A moving, candid conversation about suffering, faith, and witness today. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate
Dec 24, 2025 · 15 min
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 misleading? Recorded during Advent in London, this conversation explores which carols richly express the biblical meaning of Christmas and which may drift into sentimentality, confusion, or even quiet heresy. From the beauty of O Come All Ye Faithful to the problems lurking in Away in a Manger, Tom explains why words matter and how hymns shape what Christians believe about incarnation, salvation, and the future hope of God’s new creation. A festive and surprising Christmas treat, rather like Christmas pudding! SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
Dec 23, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
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. Towards the end of the show Justin also asks NT Wright whether we can trust the Christmas stories in Matthew and Luke as historical. For Gillian Straine: http://www.gillianstraine.com/ For Mark Kidger’s blogs on the Star of Bethlehem: https://openspacescience.blog/2017/12/01/star-of-bethlehem-reflections/ For a previous show on the Star of Bethlehem: https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Episodes/Unbelievable-The-Star-of-Bethlehem-Fact-or-Fiction-Colin-Nicholl-Aaron-Adair-Mark-Kidger For the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast: http://www.askntwright.com 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast a www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Social Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable
Dec 18, 2025 · 43 min
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 comfort. Is “ultimate meaning” even a coherent idea? If morality evolved, can we still say some values are better than others? This episode asks whether our deepest experiences of love, beauty, justice and purpose are just products of nature, or signposts to a transcendent source of meaning. Can atheism justify calling some values “better” or “more humane”? Does Christian belief offer real contact with ultimate reality, or just a comforting story? If you’re interested in atheism vs Christianity, meaning of life, and where morality comes from, this conversation is for you. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://www.premier.plus/unbelievable • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate
Dec 16, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
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 discuss his controversial work on colonialism and reparations, the rise of cancel culture and threats to academic freedom, and why he believes free speech is essential to a humane civilisation. Biggar also reflects on assisted dying legislation, Christian engagement in politics, the culture wars, and whether the West is facing civilisational decline. An unflinching but unmissable interview with one of Britain’s leading ethicists on truth, courage, and public life. Key Books: Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning https://amzn.to/3MMdr7I Reparations Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt https://amzn.to/3L24SVW X: @NigelBiggar Substack:https://www.nigelbiggar.co.uk/ For Luke Martin: follow on X https://x.com/luke_s_martin 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcasts at www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Social Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable