All Shows articles – Page 11
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #189 Holly Ordway: What did Christmas mean to JRR Tolkien?
How integral was the incarnation for JRR Tolkien? Does Christmas feature in The Lord of the Rings legendarium? How did the Tolkien family celebrate Christmas? Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith, shares her thoughts on what Christmas meant to Tolkien and explores a recently discovered poem of his, Noel, which is one of his most overtly Christian works.
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ShowsThe powers of the age: Spiritual warfare, evil and technology in the 21st century
Many evangelical Christians remain uncomfortable about engaging with the Biblical narrative, in both Old and New Testaments, around evil, Satan, spiritual forces and demonic power. And even more so in trying to identify their malign hand behind modern trends. But in this episode we reconsider what scripture says – and doesn’t say – about the nature of evil and ungodly spiritual forces, the powers and principalities of our world.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #188 Jem Bloomfield: Christmas in Narnia
Dr Jem Bloomfield, assistant professor of literature at the University of Nottingham and author of Paths in the Snow, unpacks the Christmas references as well as key elements, such as the stone table and the titles of the Pevensie children, within The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
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Shows#236 Icons, praying to saints & dividing over sexuality (Classic)
From the archives: Tom answers listener questions about whether shrines are pagan, whether infant baptism is biblical, and how we can live in unity despite theological differences around sexuality.
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ShowsThe future of gender medicine and transgender children, with Dr Julie Maxwell
This week’s episode picks up on our last conversation with paediatrician Julie Maxwell from 2023, and in particular the sweeping changes made to how gender-questioning children are treated in Britain in the last year.
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ShowsWhat’s the Point of Existence? God, Atheism, and the Meaning of Life 🌍
Join an electrifying debate exploring life’s ultimate questions: What’s the purpose of existence? How do God and atheism shape our understanding of the cosmos, consciousness, and meaning?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #187 Jem Bloomfield: Paths in the snow
As Christmas approaches, we unpack some of the key elements in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe with Dr Jem Bloomfield, assistant professor of literature at the University of Nottingham and author of Paths in the Snow.
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ShowsGod vs Science Debate with Peter Atkins and Keith Fox
Ruth Jackson returned to school to host this lively debate between Peter Atkins, renowned atheist and scientist, and Keith Fox, Christian biologist and theologian. In front of a live young audience, they explore one of the most profound questions: Is religion, just wishful thinking? Atkins and Fox tackle the big questions at the intersection of science, faith, and ethics, including: Are we just matter? Can science explain everything, or are there questions beyond its scope? Will further advancements in technology—like space exploration, genetic modification, and AI override any need or belief in God? From the accusation of “playing God” in genetic engineering to the nature of consciousness in artificial intelligence, this conversation challenges assumptions about what it means to be human and the role of faith in a scientific world.
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Shows#235 The New Testament in its World with special guest and co-author Mike Bird (Classic)
Today’s episode features a special guest - renowned Australian Bible scholar, co-authored and friend of Tom’s, Mike Bird. Together, they delve into their groundbreaking collaborative work, “The New Testament in its World: An introduction to the history, literature, and theology of the first Christians” which both combines and unpacks years of Tom’s major study into this seminal volume.
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ShowsThe assisted suicide bill has been passed by parliament. What comes next?
In this episode we discuss what the bill proposes, the campaign that built up to the debate, how MPs discussed and voted on the bill, and what happens now.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #186 Dan Barker and Carolyn Weber: Can atheists appreciate CS Lewis?
Does Lewis’ moral argument carry any weight? Is CS Lewis still relevant? If so, is that only for Christians? Are the big questions he raises pertinent today? Is faith rational? Former pastor-turned atheist, Dan Barker and literature professor, Dr Carolyn Weber, discuss Lewis’ work and his talents as a writer.
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ShowsCatholic vs Protestant debate - “Should Christians pray to Mary?” Trent Horn v Leonardo De Chirico hosted by Andy Kind
What divides Catholics and Protestants theologically? How does the role of Mary and the authority of scripture shape the faith journeys of believers in these traditions?
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ShowsShould Christians abandon contraception?
While most Protestant Christians have been at ease with using contraception for generations, there is a growing movement to re-examine the ethics of this, with more and more evangelicals asking if perhaps their Catholic brothers and sisters may have a point.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #185 Dr. Chris Pipkin: Friendship
November 29th, CS Lewis’ birthday, marks CS Lewis Reading Day and the theme this year is friendship. To celebrate, we spoke to Dr Chris Pipkin, a professor of English at Emmanuel College in Georgia and host of The Inklings Variety Hour podcast.
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ShowsShould We Have the Right to Die? The Assisted Dying Debate in the UK Neil McKain vs Prof Keith Brown
As the UK prepares for a crucial parliamentary debate on the Assisted Dying Bill, the Unbelievable? podcast delves into this emotionally charged issue. Unlike in countries such as the USA, Canada, and the Netherlands, assisted dying remains illegal in the UK—but that could soon change.
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ShowsEarthquakes and cancer: Why is God’s good world so full of suffering? with Sharon Dirckx
Christians normally explain away human-caused suffering by pointing to God giving us free will, and our sinful natures using that to harm ourselves and each other. But what about all the things entirely out of our control which cause so much sadness, from natural disasters to genetic diseases?
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Shows#234 Is the Bible anti-women? Does God hear the prayers of agnostics? (Classic)
Tom offers advice to a listener who is moving away from Christianity because she believes the Bible seems to treat women as second class citizens. Another is an agnostic who has been praying for the war in Ukraine. Will God hear my prayers if I’m not even sure I believe?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #184 Dan Barker and Carolyn Weber: Are Lewis’ arguments flawed?
In the second part of Dan Barker and Dr Carolyn Weber’s discussion about CS Lewis’ relevance, Dan points out some of the holes he perceives in Lewis’ beliefs. On the opposite side of the debate, Carolyn shares how she became a Christian, highlighting elements of her story that echo Lewis’ own and looking at how Lewis’ writing greatly influenced her decision.
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ShowsThe Divine Debate: Is Morality Rooted in God? Atheist Stephen Law vs Matthew Su hosted by Ruth Jackson
Is faith necessary for a moral life? Is belief in God essential for a meaningful moral framework, or can secular philosophy provide all the answers? This week on Unbelievable?, host Ruth Jackson welcomes two dynamic thinkers to explore the profound debate of God’s role in our moral universe.
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Shows#233 Free Will and the Problem of Evil (Classic)
Tackling one of the biggest questions of all time, the problem of evil and suffering, in today’s episode an atheist listener asks a question about free will and the problem of evil. Will it be possible for there to be another ‘fall’ in the new creation? And the hosts of the Libertarian Christian Podcast have some questions for Tom about living as Christians in today’s world.
