Undeceptions with John Dickson
190 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 270 ratingsEvery week on Undeceptions we’ll explore some aspect of life, faith, history, culture, or ethics that is either much misunderstood or mostly forgotten. With the help of people who know what they’re talking about, we’ll be trying to ‘undeceive ourselves’ and let the truth ‘out’.
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Episodes
American Evangelical
May 26, 2024 19:45 - 1 hour - 188 MBEvangelicalism has always been a politically loaded word - but especially since the turn of the century. This is especially true of American evangelicalism. But if we strip away all the nationalistic and political weight, what is evangelicalism? What makes the American strain of evangelicalism particularly unique? How does it compare to other types of evangelicalism?
Question Answer XI
May 19, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 169 MBJohn faces down some of our most diverse - and controversial - questions yet. What's the deal with circumcision? Why does John hate the term apologetics so much? Is Director Mark sick of John picking on him all the time?
Gospel Contradictions
May 12, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 157 MBIf Christianity is one big conspiracy, we wouldn't find so many mistakes and inconsistencies in the Gospels! Surely if the faith was one big lie, the Gospels would have some uniformity to them, united to deceive readers. Well, that's one side of the argument. Others might point to the Gospel contradictions as proof the entire thing is made up. So, why are there contradictions in the Gospels? Does this undermine their credibility?
Jesus' Biography
May 05, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 170 MBYou can make a pretty good case that the Gospels are the four most influential - and controversial - books of all time. But who were the authors? How do we know who wrote them? And why was it that these four books were selected, and not others?
SINGLE: Bondi Junction
April 28, 2024 19:00 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MBIn this special Undeceptions Single, Stan Grant shares his reflections on God and suffering in the wake of the Bondi Junction attacks that occurred on April 13 in Sydney, Australia.
Christianity's Comeback
April 21, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 168 MBFrom the mid-1990s to the 2010s, 'New Atheism' dominated the intellectual space. A virulent, attacking form of godless evangelism, it saw people like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens top best-seller lists, and draw huge crowds to their lectures. Justin Brierley was in the middle of it all as New Atheism rose - and then collapsed. In its wake, Justin says he is seeing a new openness to theism - but where that might lead is anyone's guess.
The Theologians
April 14, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 189 MBTheology: It's a dry term that conjures images of old academics writing dusty books that will never be read. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. The study of theology is the study of who we are as humans, and how we can make sense of both God and the complexities of the world. So, who are the theologians we should all know about?
True Science
April 07, 2024 19:00 - 1 hour - 161 MBScience is a relatively new term. Chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy - all have only existed as defined, singular fields for the last century and a half. Before that was the mysterious world of natural philosophy - an ancient tradition that saw the natural world as one, combined entity. Our guest, Professor Alister McGrath, argues that this old way is a path to a new kind of appreciation of the world and each other.
Political Jesus
March 31, 2024 18:00 - 1 hour - 181 MBThe Apostle Paul writes that Christians must battle against "powers and principalities". But what are they? What does the Bible say about political power? Special thanks to our season sponsor Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Check out more of N.T. Wright's work - including his writing, and Bible studies - here. A transcript of this episode is available here. Please note, th...
The Resurrection
March 24, 2024 18:45 - 1 hour - 188 MBThere are sophisticated, academic arguments for the resurrection of Jesus. It’s not just a matter of accepting on the basis of faith. The modern industry of Christian apologetics doesn't get us much closer to the historical reality of Jesus' resurrection - but there are solid, investigative ways of examining this seemingly miraculous event.
SINGLE: Holy Virginity
March 17, 2024 19:00 - 29 minutes - 68.2 MBThe pursuit of celibacy is seen as strange, taboo, and repressive in modern society. But that's what David Bennett, a gay man, decided, after becoming a Christian during a night out in Sydney's gay quarter. Since then, he's become a scholar of "holy virginity", and the queerness of his Lord, Jesus. This is his story.
SINGLE: Cancel Culture
March 10, 2024 18:45 - 21 minutes - 50.1 MBAt the heart of cancel culture is a desire to combat injustice, and expose flaws within society. This is a good thing ... but as recent history has shown, there is a lack of forgiveness at the heart of the movement. This is where Christianity can help.
French Atheism
January 14, 2024 18:45 - 1 hour - 171 MBFor the final episode of season X, we're taking a deep dive into the global centre of Atheism - France. How did this once-Christian nation become such a lightning rod for the belief that there is no God? And how are the "French" ways of thinking drawing some people back to belief in Christianity?
Question Answer X
January 07, 2024 18:45 - 1 hour - 147 MBAliens, more Old Testament violence, and ... The Devil. Our tenth question-and-answer episode was one of the toughest yet for John. Make sure you head to our website to ask a question yourself if you want to pick Johns brain on air!
12 Objects
December 31, 2023 18:45 - 1 hour - 142 MBThe story of Christianity is full of wonderful highs and terrible lows. It's truly an epic - and it takes an epic round-the-world adventure to tell its story properly. Thankfully, we have a man who's done just that. This is the story of Christianity, from the crucifixion to the modern day, told through 12 key objects.
Jewish Jesus
December 17, 2023 18:45 - 1 hour - 227 MBChristianity wasn't always its own religion - the first Christians were, in fact, Jewish ... because Jesus was Jewish! How do we then understand the Jewishness of Jesus? How was his movement different to other Jewish movements?
Holy Angels
December 10, 2023 18:45 - 54 minutes - 124 MBAngels are everywhere in history. From winged guardians in Sumerian mythology to the messengers of the Gods in Ancient Greece, to new-age guardian angels, humanity has always been fascinated by these celestial beings. But what does the Bible say about them? Our guest on this episode is Graham A. Cole. He was dean emeritus and professor of biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, before his retirement. He formerly worked as the dean of Ridl...
On Tolkien
December 03, 2023 18:45 - 1 hour - 183 MBJ.R.R. Tolkien needs no introduction. The Oxford Philology Professor who would go on to create the world of Middle Earth is rightly hailed as one of the greatest writers of all time. In this episode, we unpack the inspiration behind his work, meet the people who helped him along the way, and examine the faith that drove him to create the world of The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and more.
Medieval Jesus
November 26, 2023 18:00 - 50 minutes - 115 MBThe Middle Ages saw an explosion of literature, art, and thought around the personhood of Jesus. What can we learn from these centuries-old understandings of the central figure of the Bible? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on ...
The Puritans
November 19, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 149 MBThe Puritans: Everything wrong with a Christian society, or much misunderstood forefathers of innovation and social justice? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments...
Cultural Christianity
November 12, 2023 22:49 - 1 hour - 164 MBThis episode, we're visiting some of the ancient Christians to see that they were actually real human beings, with flaws and hang ups … and virtues … that we might recognise in ourselves today.
Growing Older
November 05, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 98.8 MBOur world spends billions of dollars a year on anti-ageing, but nothing will change the simple fact that we are all growing older. Is it time we re-thought our approach to the relentless march of time, and the challenges that come with it?
Violent Faith
October 29, 2023 18:45 - 1 hour - 171 MB"I love Jesus but I hate the God of the Old Testament. He's just so violent." You might have heard this line before or thought it yourself. In this episode, we're tackling this issue head-on. We're taking a deep dive into the violence of the Bible - especially the Old Testament - and asking how is it that this God of judgement and war can be one and the same with the peace-loving Jesus Christ.
Many Gods - Live from Melbourne
October 22, 2023 20:49 - 48 minutes - 112 MBIn this live episode, recorded at the Melbourne leg of the Undeceptions Conference, we ask: What did the first Christians mean when they proclaimed Jesus as God? How did this teacher, healer, and religious revolutionary come to be seen as divine?
The Multiverse
October 15, 2023 18:45 - 51 minutes - 118 MBThe multiverse has become a popular cinema trope, but more and more astrophysicists are taking it seriously. Could there really be parallel universes? If so, does this mean there might be parallel Gods? What does this all mean for Christianity - if it's even real at all?
She Believes
October 08, 2023 21:09 - 1 hour - 138 MBIs the Bible bad news for women? Is Jesus misogynistic? Or - as some claim - were the teachings of Jesus in fact the basis of a revolutionary change in the way women were seen and treated across the ancient world, as Christianity spread? Live from the Sydney leg of the Undeceptions conference comes this special episode, with John Dickson, Rebecca McLaughlin, and an audience of 600 Undeceivers taking a look at Jesus, through the eyes of the women who walked alongside Him.
Deconstructing Faith
October 01, 2023 22:25 - 1 hour - 164 MBTo kick off season 10 of Undeceptions, we're exploring the new "threat" to the Christian faith - deconstruction. Deconstruction has become something of a buzzword in recent years, with many well-known Christians deconstructing their beliefs, and sometimes abandoning Christianity altogether. So what's going on? Can the claims of the Bible be trusted if they seemingly fall apart when we ask questions? Head to undeceptions.com for information on how to become an Undeceiver, get expa...
Single: If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then it would confirm everything
September 28, 2023 02:00 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBIf Jesus was just a teacher who lived and died in first-century Palestine, Christianity would be a waste of time. But what if the miraculous were somehow true? What if this man really did rise from the dead, after being publicly executed on a Roman cross outside the walls of Jerusalem? In the final episode of our 'singles' series, John Dickson brings you the words of his friend Ben Shaw, who invites sceptical listeners to think about the implications of Christianity's most startli...
Single: A compelling answer to the question "What's wrong with the world?"
September 24, 2023 20:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBMost of us can agree that the world is a pretty messed up place. But what’s the problem with humanity? What’s wrong with the world? What’s causing all this crime, suffering, destruction and chaos? John Dickson brings you the words of his dear friend Ben Shaw, who on this special episode challenges us to see that what’s required to make meaningful change is a totally new heart, or, as Jesus taught, to be born again: to become a new person.
Single: Christianity is about life to the full
September 20, 2023 20:00 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MBMany believe Christianity is all about following rules and not having any fun. However, this is a huge misunderstanding; Christianity is actually about living life to the fullest. John Dickson brings you part two of his friend Ben Shaw's work about reconsidering the Christian faith, pointing out that for years, millions of people have misheard the beautiful lyrics of Christianity.
Single: It's worth thinking through what life's all about
September 17, 2023 20:00 - 19 minutes - 27.1 MBLots of people assume that Christianity is a nice story for kids or a niche hobby for weirdos. John Dickson brings you the words of his dear friend Ben Shaw, who invites sceptical readers to think again about the million-dollar question: what is the meaning of this thing we call life?
Decoding Dreams
July 02, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 168 MBThroughout history, humans have looked for hidden meanings behind dreams. But in this modern, scientific age, surely we don't believe dreams could hold spiritual significance anymore? God wouldn't speak to people through a medium as unreliable as dreams ... right? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more con...
Question Answer IX
June 25, 2023 19:00 - 49 minutes - 113 MBIs there a place for pessimism in the Christian life? Is Halloween evil? Does God have 'mothering' characteristics, too? Why won't there be marriage in heaven? Yes, it's this season's Q&A episode, and John is having a crack at a heap of listener questions. This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content, in...
Blind Faith
June 18, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 168 MBIf we can make sense of our faith, is it really faith at all, or just a projection of what we want? Soren Kierkegaard, one of the most celebrated philosophers of the 19th century, asked the same question. With the help of two experts, we'll untangle his "answers" and discover how to take a leap of faith. This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undecept...
Ancient Letters
June 11, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 162 MBThe Bible uses a very "human" way to communicate God's word: letter writing. But how do we know these letters - mostly written by the Apostle Paul - really are God's word? How could it be that the divine would speak through simple mail - and how can we trust it? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more conte...
Keller's Legacy
June 04, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 173 MBIn memory of Timothy James Keller (1950-2023). This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments/feedback: [email protected] Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Und...
Saving Nature
May 28, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 148 MBIs nature inherently valuable if there is no God? According to one scientist, without faith, that's an almost impossible question to answer. But if there is a design to it all? That changes everything - including how we should treat the natural world. This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content, includi...
Overcoming Apathy
May 21, 2023 19:00 - 59 minutes - 136 MBApathy has seeped into every part of society. We've become a "Seinfeldian culture"; alive to the trivial, and numb to the meaningful. How can we find ways to care more, and how might Christianity's history of grappling with apathy help us, whatever we believe? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content...
Dorothy L. Sayers
May 14, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 142 MBDorothy L. Sayers was much more than a celebrated detective novelist - she was a Christian playwright and author who brought the message of the Gospels to millions of people in everyday, easy-to-understand language. A true Undeceiver, it's high time we knew more about her. This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for...
The Apocalypse
May 07, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 151 MBThere aren’t many parts of the Bible that excite the imagination more than its thrilling climax in the book of Revelation. Amidst the imagery, fantasy and controversy, how do we sort truth from fiction? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow ...
Medical Miracles
April 30, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 151 MBIs there room for the supernatural and the advancing world of medicine? According to some scientists - absolutely! This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments/feedback:...
With Beth
April 23, 2023 19:00 - 59 minutes - 137 MBAn hour with acclaimed speaker and church leader Beth Moore. This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: [email protected] Undeceptions is the fla...
Venerable Bede
April 16, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 178 MBIntroducing The Venerable Bede: Father of English history and the most brilliant polymath you've never heard of. This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedb...
The Crucifixion
April 06, 2023 02:49 - 1 hour - 169 MBWhy did Jesus have to die? Why did it have to be such a violent death? And what on earth does the death of Jesus on a cross such a long time ago have to do with us today? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitte...
The Reformation II
April 02, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 176 MBIs there still something to celebrate about the Reformation, or is it, as many claim, the root of Christian division and conflict? This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video courses and exclusive samples of their books at zondervanacademic.com/undeceptions Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Email the show with yo...
The Reformation I
March 26, 2023 22:55 - 1 hour - 159 MBThe Reformation: one of the greatest ruptures in European history, a rupture that permanently split the church, triggered wars, created new city-states, and even led, in the opinion of many experts, to the Enlightenment, Science, and the secularization of the West. It's such a big deal we’re going to take two whole episodes to examine it—and still only scratch the surface. How did one man go from a pious local friar in an obscure backwater town to the leader of a global movement ...
Ahistoric Age
March 20, 2023 18:00 - 9 minutes - 21.1 MB"We know less than ever about history and are losing the ability to grapple with the ethical complexities of the past - the entwining of good and evil - in the same historical figure, or empire."
Jesus Quests
January 15, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 156 MBThis episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's Masterlectures. Get 50% off your first three month subscription with the code 'Undeceptions50'. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Email the show with your comments / feedback: [email protected] Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com: Letting the truth out. Theme music: JS Bach's Ce...
Question Answer VIII
January 08, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 142 MBThis episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's Masterlectures. Get 50% off your first three month subscription with the code 'Undeceptions50'. QUESTIONS Why did Jesus come during the Ancient period? I get why Jesus came (to fulfill God’s promises and save the world etc.) but why the specific time period and place? Why didn’t Jesus come in say, the medieval era? Or the 1900s? Why was it ancient Rome? In ‘The Flood’ episode, you talk of the story of the flood as...
Beautiful Science
January 01, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 182 MBThe more we learn about the world, the more we see how it operates under elegant laws. There is an order to the universe that betrays the randomness you so often hear about. This episode of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic's Masterlectures. Get 50% off your first three month subscription with the code 'Undeceptions50'. Visit the undeceptions.com for more content, including the full show notes for this episode. Follow the show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Em...