This week’s edition of “Unbelievable” features a debate/dialogue on antinatalism between anti-natalist philosopher David Benatar and Christian philosopher Bruce Blackshaw. Benatar is the world’s leading philosophical defender of antinatalism, a philosophical position that attributes a negative value to the origin of new human life. Thus, on the antinatalist perspective, it would be better, all things […]
Unbelievable
“Unbelievable”: True Crime Redeemed
I’m not one of those people who is prone to binge-watch the latest big series on Netflix. But lo and behold, this past weekend my wife and I were mesmerized by the critically acclaimed new cop-investigation drama Unbelievable. The eight-episode show is based on an extraordinary and awful real-life case of a young woman who, after […]
On Ham-Fisted Young Earth Creationism
Today, I started listening to a new debate on Unbelievable between young-earth creationist Ken Ham and old-earth creationist Jeff Zweerink. Before listening, I tweeted that I was not sure it was still worthwhile to debate the young-earth creationist position. I should have qualified that a bit: if you are going to debate young-earth creationism, at least […]
Don’t Be Meme! A Friendly Debate and Dialogue
My latest (ninth) appearance on Unbelievable, the premier (pun-intended) apologetics radio show and podcast (hosted, as ever, by the ever-affable Justin Brierley) went live today. This time out, I have a friendly debate and dialogue with David Smalley. Smalley is the host of Dogma Debate, a radio and podcast show similar to Unbelievable except that Smalley […]
Some Thoughts on the Bennett/Lee Dialogue on Gay Christianity
These brief ruminations are offered in response to the latest episode of Unbelievable featuring a dialogue between David Bennett and Justin Lee. Bennett and Lee are both gay, but Bennett insists that celibacy is the only morally acceptable option for the gay Christian while Lee insists that the gay Christian can pursue monogamous samesex relationships. […]
Addressing some Unbelievable Fallout
“Fallout” may be too strong, but there definitely is some dissatisfaction being voiced from the atheist guests — David and Andrew — on our recent appearance on Unbelievable. While I heard complaints from David and Andrew after the show was recorded, a fuller picture is provided by a long comment that David posted just today […]
Defending Unbelievable: Brierley and Rauser vs. Johnson and Knight
Last year, Justin Brierley published his book Unbelievable? Why After Ten Years of Talking With Atheists, I’m Still a Christian. At the time, I was invited to give the book an endorsement. I wrote the following: “Over the last decade, I’ve come to recognize “Unbelievable” with Justin Brierley as a show of unparalleled quality. Week by week Brierley facilitates […]
An Unbelievable Illustration of My Problem with Christian Apologetics
I have some significant frustrations with popular Christian apologetics. Perhaps my greatest problem is that Christian apologists often prefer answers that simplify to the point of distortion. Whatever attraction those kinds of answers may have in buoying confidence and rallying the base, they ultimately inhibit Christians from maturing in the faith. A clear example of […]
Can Evangelicalism Be Saved? My Debate with Frank Schaeffer
Last week I appeared again on Unbelievable with Justin Brierley. This time the debate was with renowned author and commentator Frank Schaeffer, son of evangelical legend Francis Schaeffer. The topic? Evangelicalism, and specifically whether evangelicalism is worth saving in the age of Trump. Schaeffer argues that it isn’t while I provide an evangelical defence. I […]
Debriefing the Mormon vs. Christian Debate on Unbelievable
The November 25th show of “Unbelievable” featured a conversational debate between two former Mormons-turned-Christians (Lynn Wilder and Corey Miller) and current Mormon James Holt. While Holt was an amiable bloke, I did not find that he had substantive criticisms to Wilder’s objections. For example, Wilder pointed out that Joseph Smith was an infamous polygamist who […]
An Atheist Defining Theism: The Curious Case of Sean Carroll
This week Unbelievable features a dialogue/debate between atheist Sean Carroll and theist Luke Barnes on whether God or naturalism best explains the universe. I was thirty minutes into the program when I found myself needing to press pause and ask, “Did Sean Carroll really say that?” And the answer is, yes, yes he did. So […]
The Top Five Reasons I didn’t like the Young Earth Creationist on “Unbelievable”
This past week “Unbelievable” with Justin Brierley featured a young earth creationist named John Mackay in debate with theistic evolutionist Keith Fox. Professor Fox was congenial and no doubt is well informed on his topic of genetics. But he was not a great debater. And it became clear very quickly that Mr. Mackay was well […]
Alvin Plantinga’s Surprisingly Deflationary Take on his own Ontological Argument
Living legend Alvin Plantinga was recently a guest on Unbelievable with Justin Brierley. The show was classic Plantinga — clear analysis, dry wit, admirable humility — and surveyed some of the highlights of his impressive career including warrant, proper basicality and Christian belief, the evolutionary argument against naturalism, and the ontological argument. The last choice […]
Let’s Talk About Sex … and Porn
The latest edition of Unbelievable delves into the topic “Is porn harmful to society?” The conversation featured pro-porn advocates Charlotte Rose, a “sexual freedom campaigner,” and Adam Scarborough from “the Campaign Against Censorship.” And speaking against porn we have my friend Matt Fradd, author of the new book The Porn Myth: Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy […]
