In a world that seems addicted to polarisation, rediscovering the art of respectful conversation has never been more important. It is all too tempting to stay in our own tribes, to preach to the choir, to sound off in our own echo chambers. It’s easier to engage in ‘either/or’ and ‘us-and-them’ thinking, and to cancel, misrepresent, or demonise ‘the other side.’ In this kind of culture, learning to dialogue with people who don’t believe the same as you, to be able to disagree without being disagreeable, is of vital importance.

Given this cultural context of recent years, it is very encouraging that the Christian radio programme and podcast, Unbelievable from Premier Christian Radio, has proved to be so popular. It seems that Christians, at least some Christians, are leading the way in building bridges through respectful conversation. It began as a radio programme in 2005 in which Christians debated with atheists or agnostics. It then evolved into a podcast and its offshoot podcasts (The Big Conversation, Unapologetic etc.), a You Tube channel, and annual Big Conversation conference. It now includes an impressive range of thinkers, including atheists, sceptics and Christians. Some of the best Christian theologians and apologists now appear on the platform.

If you are struggling with aspects of your faith, or facing challenges to it from friends and family members, this is a really helpful resource. You will likely find an episode on any area of faith you are challenged on. All the big questions are faced head on – the evidence for the resurrection, the reliability of the Bible, Jesus’s claims to be God, is it rational to believe in God? why does God allow suffering? Episodes show intelligent and reflective Christians engaging in debate with atheists and humanists. Mainstream media sometimes gives the impression that all the clever people are atheists or agnostics, and that to have faith we have to abandon intelligent reason. This has never been true. But Unbelievable demonstrates this in a popular and accessible way.

While I have listened to and enjoyed some of the debates with atheists, I have used the platform even more for listening to conversations between Christians who hold different views on different areas of Christian belief. It teaches us a very important lesson, as Christians, that there is a spectrum of different convictions and opinions on doctrine across the Church. It is good for us to be challenged in our beliefs and to listen to other points of view without feeling the need to ‘take sides’ while we work out our own perspective. Let healthy disagreement and conversation begin in the house of the Lord! I have recently enjoyed episodes on Universalism, Christians and Politics, and Violence in the Old Testament.

The founder and original host of the radio programme, Justin Brierley, has done the body of Christ, and the wider culture, a great service in pursuing his vision for such a platform for honest and open conversation, and establishing such an outstanding resource. He was especially skilful at helping his academic guests make their points in a clear and accessible way. Brierley has now moved on to other podcasts – The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God (and has written a book of the same name), and the Re-Enchanting podcast (I am hoping to review each of these soon). The choice was to replace Brierley with a series of guest hosts. Time will tell whether it will maintain the winsome and accessible tone that he brought to it, but the signs are good.

If you wanted to know something about the background to this very popular resource, Brierley writes about it in the first chapter of his book, Unbelievable? Why After Ten Years of Talking To Atheists I am Still A Christian. The rest of the chapters are his reflections on key areas of debate between Christians and atheists. I especially liked his aim to get Christians out of the ‘Christian bubble’ to engage in serious dialogue, and his belief that we can have confidence in the truth of the Christian faith. We need not be anxious about engaging with the arguments of atheists. It is a great approach to apologetics and one which makes it accessible to most Christians while not providing predictable, pat Christian answers. It shows that we can hold our own in the cut and thrust of argument and debate. It helps us to have confidence in our faith. According to Brierley it also led to sceptics and atheists sincerely listening to the Christian arguments.

The Unbelievable radio programme/podcast/YouTube channel is one of my top five resources from the last 5-10 years. I recommend it.