Still Unbelievable!

In this special bonus Episode, Andrew and Matthew welcome Eric to talk about the history of Israel. History of Israel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Israel History of Palestine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Palestine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_State_of_Palestine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_name_Palestine British Mandate on Palestine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandate_for_Palestine Gaza is not friendly to the LGBT+ community https://epgn.com/2019/08/22/some-palestinians-don-t-forget-to-kill-the-homosexuals/ Dreyfus Affair https://jewishunpacked.com/what-was-the-dreyfus-affair/ Mahmoud Abbas addresses the UN Sept 21, 2023. https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/09/1141237 Abraham Accords https://www.abraham-accords.uk/ https://georgetownsecuritystudiesreview.org/2020/10/23/the-abraham-accords-a-peace-deal-in-name-only/ https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2023-09-14/debates/7F307569-9A0D-40F0-9863-53806E19349E/AbrahamAccords https://mei.edu/publications/two-pillars-abraham-accords The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative https://israeled.org/resources/documents/2002-arab-peace-initiative/ US ambassador Phillip Lader on BBC question time 2001-09-13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of6fsC9mOyU Animated History of the Israel Palestine conflict https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m19F4IHTVGc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRYZjOuUnlU Animated History of the Jews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIYHMdOr5Aw A Brief History of Palestine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DadVT2Ux_4 A longer History of Palestine (which tells a different perspective to the video above) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUCeQt8zg5o Merneptah Stele https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merneptah_Stele The Origins of the Ancient Israelite States https://vdoc.pub/documents/the-origins-of-the-ancient-israelite-states-jsot-supplement-series-7dm6fak708e0 Tel Dan stele https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Dan_stele Maccabean Revolt https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabean_Revolt Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan Bar Kokhba Revolt https://www.britannica.com/event/Bar-Kokhba-Revolt How Christian Europe created anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/how-christian-europe-created-anti-semitism-in-the-middle-ages/47800164 The Shock of the Black Death https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/persecution-and-toleration/shock-of-the-black-death/F8E3957BC21A02DA40E0DDEB50696D77 Ion Mihai Pacepa, Romanian spy https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2021/02/25/ion-mihai-pacepa-romanian-spy-star-defector-revealed-sordid/ Israel and Gaza maps: How the borders have changed throughout history and where Palestinians live https://inews.co.uk/news/world/israel-gaza-maps-borders-changed-history-where-palestinians-live-2690900 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-54116567 PLO History https://remix.aljazeera.com/aje/PalestineRemix/plo.html http://palestineun.org/about-palestine/palestine-liberation-organization/ Hajj Amin al-Husayni meets Hitler https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/film/hajj-amin-al-husayni-meets-hitler https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/hajj-amin-al-husayni-wartime-propagandist Operation Barbarossa https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-operation-barbarossa The Holocaust as Seen by Its Perpetrators and Bystanders http://www.faculty.umb.edu/lawrence_blum/courses/290h_09/readings/klee_pushed_to_their_psychological_limits.pdf Himmler visits Minsk https://www.holocausthistoricalsociety.org.uk/contents/einsatzgruppen/himmlervisitsminsk.html Allied forces knew about Holocaust two years before discovery of concentration camps https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-history/holocaust-allied-forces-knew-before-concentration-camp-discovery-us-uk-soviets-secret-documents-a7688036.html Ask Project YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@CoreyGilShusterAskProject

Episode 146 - Suicide and the Communion of Saints. In this episode of Still Unbelievable! Matthew is joined by wife Sarah to talk with priest and author Rhonda Mawhood Lee. She writes compassionately about suicide in her book, Suicide and the Communion of Saints see the show notes for further information, where there are additional mental health and suicide resources.If you wish to send feedback on this collaboration contact us at reasonpress@gmail.com.1) Suicide and the Communion of Saintshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Suicide-Communion-Saints-Rhonda-Mawhood/dp/0802884717https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/theology-books/liberation-theology/suicide-and-the-communion-of-saints/2) more about Rhondahttps://faithandleadership.com/authors/rhonda-mawhood-leehttps://www.eerdmans.com/author/rhonda-mawhood-lee/https://thrivinginministry.org/authors/3) Alexander Murray - Suicide in the Middle Ages: Volume 2: The Curse on Self-Murderhttps://books.google.co.uk/books?id=trene_8DY10C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttps://academic.oup.com/book/17114) the catholic view on suicide and why it changedhttps://christianfaithguide.com/what-is-the-catholic-churchs-view-on-suicide-the-catholic-position-on-suicide/5) suicide by proxyhttps://daily.jstor.org/suicide-by-proxy/6) Elizabeth Antushttps://gufaculty360.georgetown.edu/s/contact/003Hp00002jNaqrIAC/elizabeth-antushttps://www.ncpd.org/events/where-god-when-somebody-dies-suicide-updated-consideration-divine-mercy-and-justicehttps://www.bc.edu/bc-web/centers/boisi-center/events/archive/spring-2019/Elizabeth-Antus.htmlhttps://theologicalstudies.net/articles/the-silence-of-the-dead-remembering-suicide-victims-and-reimagining-the-communion-of-saints/https://philpapers.org/s/Elizabeth%20L.%20Antus7) biblical references and thoughtsAhithophel’s suicide - 2 Samuel 17:23.Samson’s death - Judges 16:30Hagar going into the wilderness known death would come - Genesis 21:16did Paul consider suicide?8) Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1 — Laertes at Ophelia’s funeralhttps://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/hamlet/read/5/1/9) suicide and mental health resourcesUK:Samaritans- 24/7 phone: 116 123- Email: jo@samaritans.orgNHS 111 (Option 2 in some regions)- Phone: 111Shout Crisis Text Line- Text: “SHOUT” to 85258Childline- Phone: 0800 1111- Website: childline.org.ukYoungMinds Crisis Messenger- Text: “YM” to 85258Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline- Phone: 0300 330 0630Papyrus (for under 35s)- HOPELINE247: 0800 068 4141- Text: 07860 039967USA:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline- Call: 988- Text: 988- Chat: 988lifeline.orgCrisis Text Line- Text: “HOME” to 741741The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth)- Call: 1‑866‑488‑7386- Text: “START” to 678678- Chat: thetrevorproject.orgTrans Lifeline- US: 877‑565‑8860Mental Health America- Website: mhanational.orgCanada:988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada)- Call or Text: 988Talk Suicide Canada- Call: 1‑833‑456‑4566- Text: 45645 (evenings)Kids Help Phone- Call: 1‑800‑668‑6868- Text: “CONNECT” to 686868Trans Lifeline (Canada)- Canada: 877‑330‑6366Australia:Lifeline Australia- Call: 13 11 14- Text: 0477 13 11 14- Chat: lifeline.org.auSuicide Call Back Service- Call: 1300 659 46713YARN (for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples)- Call: 13 92 76Kids Helpline- Call: 1800 55 1800- Chat: kidshelpline.com.auQLife- Call: 1800 184 527- Chat: qlife.org.auStill Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1CwApostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYxTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 145 Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentials.In this episode of Still Unbelievable Matthew is in conversation with Michelle Van Loon, a writer with a Jewish upbringing who converted to evangelical Christianity as a teen. She gives her perspective on both traditions. Hear what drew her towards Christianity, what she carried from Judaism, and what she thinks people often misunderstand about Jewish identity and practice.They discuss:- her experiences inside evangelicalism, including patterns of spiritual abuse. Are these isolated situations or symptoms of deeper issues around evangelism and revival culture, that protect harmful behaviour. - religious trauma, what led Michelle to seek counselling, and how others might identify and recover from similar experiences.- What churches might need to let go of, how “downsizing” can compliment deconstruction and how a downsized community might look.- And of course her favourite bible character1) Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentialshttps://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884626/downsizing/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224465982-downsizinghttps://bobonbooks.com/2025/09/15/review-downsizing/https://amzn.eu/d/6VE2CxW2) Follow Michellehttps://michellevanloon.substack.com/https://thesageforum.com/about-us3) Michelle's other bookshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/list/383322.Michelle_Van_Loon4) Deconversion Anonymoushttps://www.facebook.com/groups/deconversion5) Religious Traumahttps://www.empathyparadigm.com/religioustraumahttps://therapist.com/trauma/religious-trauma/https://resilientmindcounseling.com/10-signs-you-may-be-experiencing-religious-trauma/6) Jewish Chosennesshttps://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-quot-chosen-people-quotStill Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1CwApostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYxTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 144 - Angela J. Herrington - Embracing the Old Witch in the WoodsIn this episode of still Unbelievable! Matthew interviews Angela Herrington author of Embracing the Old witch in the woods. Angela has written another book, Deconstruct your faith without losing yourself. She is a beautiful human being who puts enormous effort and thought into affirming others and guiding them into being validated versions of themselves. We found her book thought provoking and challenging as well as heart warming and helpful. When you've listened to this, please support her by buying her books. Links below.Angela, is the first of several author conversations that we will publish in 2026. This year is going to be a busy year here at Still Unbelievable!1) Embracing the Old Witch in the Woodshttps://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889835233/Embracing-the-Old-Witch-in-the-Woods2) Angela's websitehttps://angelajherrington.com/about/https://angelajherrington.com/press/https://angelajherrington.com/books-by-angela-j-herrington/3) The Relentless Indigenous Womanhttps://relentlessindigenouswoman.ca/https://relentlessindigenouswoman.ca/pages/podcast4) intersectionality explainedhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/intersectionality5) perpetual virginity of maryhttps://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/how-to-explain-the-perpetual-virginity-of-mary6) Mary did not have consenthttps://blakehereth.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/127509046/w_mary_did_you_consent_.pdf7) Wilda Gafneyhttps://www.holytroublemakers.com/revgafneyhttps://www.wilgafney.com/8) Wounds into Wisdom by Tirzah Firestone https://amzn.eu/d/8GeBkgphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirzah_Firestone9) other trauma healing resourcesIt Didn’t Start with You - https://amzn.eu/d/3kL8uaZMy Grandmother’s Hands - https://amzn.eu/d/3Y6C8FCThe Body Keeps the Score - https://amzn.eu/d/iS56mLXHealing Collective Trauma - https://amzn.eu/d/85L1mM6Break the Cycle - https://amzn.eu/d/bVJObFTSurvivor Café - https://amzn.eu/d/8iYALqBhttps://www.balancedmindstherapy.com/blog/healing-intergenerational-traumahttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-flourishing-family/202107/breaking-the-chains-generational-traumahttps://thepsychologycompany.co.uk/unraveling-the-threads-understanding-and-healing-intergenerational-trauma/Still Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1CwApostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYxTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of still unbelievable, Matthew reviews an episode of the Unbelievable? podcast. It's an episode that features Stephen Law and Michael Jones in conversation. He'll mostly focus on the things that Michael Jones says, because through his channel, Inspiring Philosophy, he says things about Christianity which are Unbelievable!, at least to the listener who is prepared to fact check things. Which sadly, most christians are not, so let us do that job for you so we can all see how Christianity always was, and is Still, Unbelievable!1) original episodehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UOwOCGIPzQhttps://www.premierunbelievable.com/unbelievable/does-humanism-or-christianity-offer-the-world-a-better-future-mike-jones-inspiring-philosophy-vs-stephen-law/19875.article?fbclid=IwY2xjawMFQvhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHn10xC1NvdZ0kJ4DK7W0wbeHoLbQEzThrFMsbk6TOJmSPwV_cM7ThYeErj5m_aem_DpmX3nw7Y91-weiovn7nqw2) Dr Stephen Lawhttps://lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/profiles/stephen-law3) Michael Joneshttps://www.inspiringphilosophy.com/team4) 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”5) Foundations of Modern Science in the Middle Ages, Edward Granthttps://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YyvmEyX6rZgC&pg=PA223&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false6) The Byzantine Empirehttps://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Government/7) Forced Conversionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_conversion8) Human rightshttps://www.un.org/en/about-us/udhr/history-of-the-declaration9) Life Unwasted Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/4z1czHu4yiCPXGU4gauvkM10) Robert Woodberry and the Benefits of Protestant Missionshttps://tifwe.org/robert-woodberry-and-the-benefits-of-protestant-missions/11) Critique of Robert Woodberryhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/abs/conversionary-protestants-do-not-cause-democracy/89D4552E3CEED18F62E94E4ABEF322F612) National context, religiosity, and volunteering: Results from 53 countrieshttps://research-portal.uu.nl/en/publications/national-context-religiosity-and-volunteering-results-from-53-cou13) Community involvement and mental healthhttps://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/england/node/9466https://www.jstor.org/stable/3003898514) Secularism and Fertility Worldwidehttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2378023121103132015) Is the Earth really overpopulated?https://mahb.stanford.edu/library-item/is-the-earth-really-overpopulated/16) Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, By Eric Kaufmannhttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/shall-the-religious-inherit-the-earth-by-eric-kaufmann-1939316.html17) Human Rightshttps://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol10-issue3/Ser-2/B10030812.pdfhttps://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/human-rights-explained-human-rights-originshttps://polsci.institute/comparative-politics/human-rights-evolution/https://lawbhoomi.com/evolution-and-historical-development-of-human-rights/18) Children in Antiquity and Early Christianity: Research History and Central Issueshttps://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/50604571.pdf19) Ancient Marriage in Myth and Realityhttps://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-4438-2261-9-sample.pdf20) John W. Comptonhttps://academic.oup.com/book/32101https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywrobxq-h7UStill Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1CwApostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYxTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable!, Matthew reviews an episode of J Warner Wallace's Cold Case Christianity podcast where he tries to make a case for objective morality being explained by his preferred god. J Warner Wallace is infamous for his cold case Christianity book, which allegedly claims to be his story of discovery by investigating god like a detective. His podcast is not a good example of honest detective work and in this review of his case for objective morality, we'll see why. Word of warning, there is so much to comment on in this episode that we have added more interjections than any other other episode. if this is too much for you as a lister, please do let me know. Feedback on what is good and bad is always useful, and on that note, please do add a review of still unbelievable to wherever you get your podcasts, it helps others and it certainly helps us.1) the original episodehttps://coldcasechristianity.com/podcasts/podcasts-about-gods-existence/why-objective-moral-truth-is-best-explained-by-the-existence-of-god-podcast/2) Barna Poll : Survey Reveals Significant Shifts in Faith Allegiance and Growing Confusion about Moral Truthhttps://georgebarna.com/2025/05/confusion-about-moral-truth/3) Human Huntinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human-hunting#cite_note-11Still Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1CwApostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYxTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Matthew is joined by David from Skeptics and Seekers to answer Braxton Hunter's 5 questions for atheists 2025.Join us for answers, spattered with laughing and swearing!1) original youtube videohttps://youtu.be/gsma6UT3rwk?si=2jdJVDlqIMjuuFxy2) Robin Collinshttps://www.messiah.edu/homepage/1662/robin_collinshttps://www.messiah.edu/info/20003/faith_and_values/5/statements_of_faithhttps://rintintin.colorado.edu/~vancecd/phil201/Collins.pdf (1999) source of the freemon dyson quotehttps://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=0d385016fc615624829568172ae73c5ac695155ahttps://spot.colorado.edu/~heathwoo/Phil383/collins.htm#N_1_3) Freeman Dyson Quote - (1979). Disturbing the Universehttps://archive.org/details/disturbinguniver0000dyso/page/250/mode/2up?q=%22water+could+not+exist+as+a+liquid%22https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article-abstract/32/12/51/432255/Disturbing-the-UniverseFreeman Dyson went on to say:"I conclude from the existence of these accidents ... that the universe is ... unexpectedly hospitable .... I do not claim that the architecture of the universe proves the existence of god. I claim only that the architecture of the universe is consistent with the hypothesis that mind plays an essential role in its functioning."4) Science Proves There are More than Two Human Sexeshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT0HJkr1jj45) How evolution gave us free willhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=how+evolution+gave+us+free+will&adgrpid=1175379657968595&hvadid=73461428254687&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=69110&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73461487665568%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=24459_2219459&mcid=8a9d1f3c3e333d79aab99d6d9ab3256d&msclkid=bb7d0886990714ed0e9660e7a6a19fad&tag=mh0a9-21&ref=pd_sl_2myqx3bdnv_eStill Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1CwApostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYxTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable!, Matthew reviews Sean McDowell and William Lane Craig being shitty about Rhett's deconversion. When Christian apologists review the deconversion of a high profile Christian, it's a given that they will miss the point on the things they say and misdirect their adoring Christian fans on the negative aspects of Christianity that cause the person to leave. This conversation is no exception and we're going to have fun highlighting all the predictable and unsurprising ways that Sean and WLC achieve this. Link 1 takes you to the Sean McDowell interview with WLC and Link 2 going to the Alex O'Connor interview with Rhett. It is very interesting that Sean does not provide a link to Alex's show in his YouTube notes. What is he afraid of?1) original Sean McDowell conversationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75gT-lEgRRw2) The original interview between Rhett and Alex O'Connor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9wjVLKy8Xk3) The Web of Belief - By W. V. Quine, J. S. Ullianhttps://emilkirkegaard.dk/en/wp-content/uploads/W.-V.-Quine-J.-S.-Ullian-The-Web-of-Belief.pdf4) Biola statements of faith and evolutionhttps://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2017/should-christians-evolve-on-evolutionhttps://archive.chosenpeople.com/pdf/Doctrinal-Statement.pdfhttps://www.biola.edu/about/theological-positions5) secular scholars on the history of christianityhttps://www.worldhistory.org/user/rdenova/https://www.religiousstudies.pitt.edu/people/rebecca-denovahttps://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Origins+of+Christianity+and+the+New+Testament-p-9781119759621https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Pagelshttps://www.elaine-pagels.com/books/https://censamm.org/about/people/crossleyhttps://www.librarything.com/work/1968245/book/109224996) Still Unbelievable! bonus episodes on the progression of the resurrection narrativehttps://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ucNqgubkpUbhttps://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/s97AttbkpUbhttps://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/B77lFsbkpUbStill Unbelievable! book: https://amzn.eu/d/fmsN1CwApostate book: https://amzn.eu/d/9RIUZYxTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode Matthew reviews a conversation that Lee Strobel had with Justin Brierley in April 2022. In that discussion Lee tried very hard to make a case for heaven, and Matthew examines the points he makes and revealing why his case is utter bunk. It literally is wishful thinking gone wild.The original you tube video of the conversation is at link 1, it's not long, about 20 minutes. Lee's Case for heaven movie is at link 2. It's longer at almost 2 hours.1) Original conversation between Lee and Justinhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Oeh8L-87U2) case for heaven moviehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbkwdT3Tq403) hyponatraemiahttps://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hyponatraemia/https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hyponatraemia/background-information/complications/4) Being Close to Death can Transform Your Life.https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/understanding-grief/202411/can-being-close-to-death-transform-your-life?msockid=312d907b5d7169080dc782295cba68f75) Sharon Dirckxhttps://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/17-february/features/interviews/interview-sharon-dirckx-christian-apologisthttps://www.solas-cpc.org/book-am-i-just-my-brain-by-sharon-dirckx/6) the Lancethttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(01)07100-8/abstract7) Failure to Elicit Near-Death Experiences in Induced Cardiac Arresthttps://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/360/2017/01/NDE47.pdf8) the maria storyhttps://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2019/07/the-shoe-on-the-ledge.htmlhttps://www.is-there-a-god.info/blog/life/whatever-happened-to-my-tennis-shoean-nde-story/9) Blind Vicky NDEhttps://ndestories.org/vicki-noratuk/10) Psychology today article on apparent evidence for a soulhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/biocentrism/201112/does-the-soul-exist-evidence-says-yes11) Pam Reynoldshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Reynolds_caseBBC report on the casehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osfIY4B3y1U12) science articleshttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/peace-of-mind-near-death/https://sciencebasedlife.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/near-death-experiences-science-after-all/13) Howard storm traumatic NDEhttps://thepurposeoflife-nde.com/howard-storm/https://near-death.com/howard-storm/To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 138 - Gavin Ortlund takes 5 minutes to Shoot Christianity in the foot.This episode is the audio only of a video review that is available on the Still Unbelievable! YouTube channel. See show notes for a link.the originalhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QWcKjIKf0kdid the universe begin?https://youtu.be/4Ps9-u0KfG4?si=1ew1M2-TI8rODbkqapparent fine tuning does not mean a god did ithttps://youtu.be/jJ-fj3lqJ6M?si=CRVg4At1mXpK-qd6consciousnesshttps://youtu.be/MASBIB7zPo4?si=6JK-no1XeIdj1k9oprayer does not workhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-31-sci-prayer31-story.htmlTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

1) Anna Clark Miller - services, podcast, and bookhttps://www.empathyparadigm.com/martyrshewrotehttps://www.empathyparadigm.com/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Religious-Trauma-Survival-Guide-Professionals/dp/B0CHL5FGBM2) Beyond Belief: the Coercive Power of High Control Religionshttps://www.questioninglds.com/lds-articles/g6m1k7bpggn42irn5oyoirpwb16wll3) Reclamation Collectivehttps://www.reclamationcollective.com/4) Anna on the Life Unwasted Podcasthttps://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/life-unwasted/anna-Y5IWraHvF9i/5) What's the Relationship Between Neurodiversity and Trauma?https://welldoing.org/article/whats-the-relationship-neurodiveristy-trauma6) Matthew on the Life Unwasted Podcasthttps://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/life-unwasted/matthew-C4ZD9NcP_6T/To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 136 - Transhumanism - with Revd Dr Stephen Goundrey-SmithIn this episode of Still Unbelievable!, Matthew chats with an old friend about Transhumanism. Stephen and Matthew have known each other since they were in a church 18+ group more than 30 years ago. Stephen trained as a pharmacist and then as a minister for the church if England and now combines them both in his work at Ripon College Cuddesdon. We raise several topics in this conversation, so please as always check the show notes for essential links. And if you have any thoughts Steve and Matthew are both happy to receive them, reasonpress@gmail.com.1) Revd Dr Stephen Goundrey-Smith - items and bookshttps://www.rcc.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/revd-dr-stephen-goundrey-smithhttps://www.ethicsandmedicine.com/ethical-evaluation-of-new-biomedical-technologies-using-past-case-studies-in-pharmaceutical-medicine/https://amzn.eu/d/8lW8qvM2) Transhumanismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism3) CRISPRhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR4) Upload TV_serieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upload_(TV_series)5) Humanity +https://www.humanityplus.org/6) Co-creation spiritualityhttps://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/co-creation-spirituality7) Brent Waters - Bioethicisthttps://www.cbhd.org/people/brent-watershttps://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/this-mortal-flesh/2896018) Leon Casshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Kass9) Michael Sandelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sandel10) Anti-Natalismhttps://www.thecollector.com/what-is-anti-natalism/11) Lynn White - The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisishttps://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/energy-government-and-defense-magazines/historical-roots-our-ecological-crisis12) The Voluntary Human Extinction Movementhttps://www.vhemt.org/13) Alasdair MacIntyre - After Virtuehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Virtue14) Bernard WIlliams - The Makropulos casehttps://www3.nd.edu/~pweithma/Readings/Williams/Williams%20on%20Immortality.pdfTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 135 - Allan Chapman - The Victorians and the Holy LandIn this episode of Still Unbelievable! Matthew chats with Allan Chapman, who teaches history of science at Oxford University, and has written extensively on history and science, including the relationship between the two. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a founder member of the Society for the History of Astronomy. He is the author of several books, including the one we will be discussing this episode. If you have any interest in the history of Christianity, then we recommend this book as an enjoyable read. As always, see the show notes to for links to the book and topics that are referenced in the book. There are items in the links that we do not specifically cover in this conversation, so please to check them out for a taste of what the book covers.1) The Victorians and the Holy Land: Adventurers, Tourists, and Archaeologists in the Lands of the Biblehttps://amzn.eu/d/j7QAYC52) Ozymandias By Percy Bysshe Shelley - referenced in Chapter 2https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/ozymandias3) A description of the East, and some other countries ... / By Richard Pococke - referenced in Chapter 2https://wellcomecollection.org/works/me6h66jf/items4) Petra by John William Burgon - referenced in chapter 2http://www.poetryatlas.com/poetry/poem/3771/petra.html5) Johann Ludwig Burckhardt - explorer(includes links to his published works)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Ludwig_Burckhardt6) Lady Amytis, wife of Nebuchadnezzarhttps://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/amytis-of-babylon/amytis-of-babylon-the-queens-hanging-gardens-of-babylon/7) Remarkably preserved shrines recovered at Assyrian temple of Ninurta in Nimrud, Iraqhttps://archaeologymag.com/2024/12/remarkably-preserved-shrines-recovered-in-nimrud/8) Biblical Researches - by Edward Robinson & Eli Smith - referenced in chapter 7https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearc01smitgoog9) Sinai & Palestine - by AP Stanley - referenced in chapter 7https://archive.org/details/sinaipalestinei00stan/page/n9/mode/2up10) A thousand miles up the Nile by Amelia B. Edwards - referenced in chapter 13https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70565To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

Episode 132 - How to Kill God the easy WayIn this episode of Still Unbelievable!, Matthew chats with Alan Bondar about his provocatively titled book, How to Kill God the Easy Way. We enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who is seeking to engage with a critical review of Christian apologetics. If you have any sympathies for Christianity and it's proponents, then this book will challenge those thoughts. If you have doubts about Christianity, then this book will help you to focus your thoughts and put words to those doubts.We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we did recording it.1) Contact Alan:https://howtokillgod.com/alan@howtokillgod.com/2) Buy the Book - How to Kill God the Easy Wayhttps://a.co/d/6BC6C243) Other books by Alanhttps://a.co/d/3vNyo3shttps://a.co/d/cppZcPQ4) Apostate: Stories of Deconversionhttps://youtu.be/_hKSjwfnfms?si=yK6mbvfHUqWJVTMn5) Alan on Jen Fishbourne's YouTube channelpart 1: https://youtu.be/Pq3zh5Od55I?si=5JombE2Iofgsv9rIpart 2: https://youtu.be/PyYUQk9vLKU?si=73HfowMH_QZSVGMoTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In December 2024 Matthew asked Amy and Greg who made them experts on what makes someone a Christian. They answered.In this episode Matthew takes their answer and explains why he's unimpressed. Especially because of the way their comments negatively affect LGBTQ+ people and those who want abortion to be a valid choice.1) The Jan 2025 episode being responded tohttps://www.str.org/w/-strask-who-made-you-the-experts-on-what-makes-someone-a-christian-2) the Dec 2024 episode that prompted Matthew's questionhttps://www.str.org/w/-strask-how-can-so-many-professing-christians-support-things-that-are-anti-christian-3) When the ‘Biblical View’ for Evangelicals Was That Life Begins at Birthhttps://religiondispatches.org/when-the-biblical-view-for-evangelicals-was-that-life-begins-at-birth/4) EP105 Answering the STR challengehttps://open.spotify.com/episode/54nXmumqLbErTTXE4PtYWD?si=glUJty8XTVadUfNvJwWW7g5) Godwin's Lawhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law6) Gay Men under the Nazi Regimehttps://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/gay-men-under-the-nazi-regime7) Trump curtails protections around diversity, LGBTQ rightshttps://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-sign-orders-ending-diversity-programs-proclaiming-there-are-only-two-sexes-2025-01-20/To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable! Matthew reviews another conversion story. This one features Daniel, who is known as Darwin to Jesus on that hive of shitiness formally known as Twitter. Daniel's takes on matters of religion and atheism are bad, so bad that there are many who actually think he's a troll parodying the worst of religion. Our confidence that he is a real Christian is about 90%, the 10% in reserve is because there are times we wonder if he is a very clever troll. The main reason is because a troll couldn't keep it up for as long as he has. Which makes the things he says worthy of Matthew's special brand of sarcastic retort, which will be employed by the bucket in this episode, because the things Daniel says are genuinely pathetic and any christian who gives his stupidity a platform deserves ridicule.The episode being responded to is link 1 and is from the podcast, Ex-skeptic. Yes, there really is a podcast called ex-skeptic, featuring versions of Christianity that actually celebrate turning away from skeptical thought. It's as though they are no longer ashamed of unreasonable credulity. If we weren't so busy rolling our eyes, we'd actually find time to pity those fools.And with that done, let's get on with the shit show.1) Original episodehttps://exskeptic.org/podcast/dismantling-atheism-daniels-story/2) Ben Affleck, Sam Harris and Bill Maherhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vln9D81eO603) The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religionhttps://amzn.eu/d/7dzrycN4) How Morality Has the Objectivity that Matters—Without Godhttps://secularhumanism.org/2014/07/cont-how-morality-has-the-objectivity-that-matterswithout-god/To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable, Matthew interviews Tim, who is a fellow contributor to the book Apostate.See the below for links to the book, other podcasts and items mentioned in this discussion.1) Buy Apostatehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPNBSCBG2) Matthew on the Graceful Atheisthttps://gracefulatheist.com/2019/06/20/matthew-taylor-confessions-of-a-young-earth-creationist/https://gracefulatheist.com/2023/12/30/matthew-taylor-why-we-podcast/3) Genetically Modified Skeptichttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG1uayRlzz3ahT8ISRdyw7Q4) Gutsick Gibbonhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNcAH2yzV3VAMYIGxCZ8_w5) NonStampCollectorhttps://www.youtube.com/@NonStampCollectorTo contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable, Matthew welcoms back friend of the podcast, Clint Heacock to talk about Clint's book, Not so Shiny not so Happy People and Apostate and the process of writing and publishing. See the show notes for links to the books and to Clint's podcast, dismantling doctrine. 1) buy Not So Shiny Not So Happy People https://amzn.eu/d/eKzA4se 2) Buy Apostate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPNBSCBG 3) buy Still Unbelievable! https://amzn.eu/d/5zaoHzh 4) Dismantling Doctrine Podcast https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=dismantling%20doctrine%20podcast To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.com our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901 Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below: https://hollykirstensongs.com/ https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable, Matthew chats with Liz Charlotte Grant. Liz's book, Knock at the Sky is recommended for anyone who considers themself a doubter, questioner or deconstructor. It is a book that will bring a new perspective to female characters in genesis. We appreciated Liz's book and found her witty and engaging to converse with. We have no doubt you will enjoy this conversation. As always, links to topics we raise are in the show notes, including links to Liz's website and where to buy her book. 1) Liz Charlotte Grant https://lizcharlotte.com/about 2) Pre order the book https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knock-at-the-sky-liz-charlotte-grant/1146133120 3) Almost Heretical Listen to Liz on almost Heretical podcast https://almostheretical.com/liz-charlotte-grant/ 4) Abraham's Excellent Adventure An alternative version of the Abraham and Issac story, not the one mentioned by Matthew in the episode, but still an interesting retelling. https://www.patreon.com/posts/abrahams-2735409 5) Toxic Empathy https://www.wikihow.com/Toxic-Empathy 6) The Empathy List https://www.thempathylist.com/ 7) The Binding of Isaac https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-binding-of-isaac/ 8) Why the Midrash Has Abraham Thrown into Nimrod’s Furnace https://www.thetorah.com/article/why-the-midrash-has-abraham-thrown-into-nimrods-furnace 9) nimrod vs abraham https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112333/jewish/Nimrod-and-Abraham.htm 10) Abrahams birth and back story https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/246612/jewish/Abraham.htm To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.com our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901 Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below: https://hollykirstensongs.com/ https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Still Unbelievable, Matthew interviews Sarah Bacaller. This is an exciting episode because it is the first official episode celebrating the launch of the book Apostate. Sarah has organised 21 different people who each recount some of their recovery from Christianity. There will be more episodes that discuss the book, including interviews with contributors. To buy the book, see link 1 in the show notes, Sarah's book, Fault Lines, that she mentions, is link 2. 1) Apostate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPNBSCBG 2) Sarah's Book - The Fault Lines Founding Liberty https://www.perlego.com/book/1977416/the-fault-lines-founding-liberty-pdf?campaignid=436530068&adgroupid=1353500616599525&msclkid=cff54170bda812b8672e26162d4c6361 3) The Stacie's Mom Podcast - Apostate: Deconversion Stories with Sarah & Phil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5e6HJq2W-0 To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.com our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901 Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below: https://hollykirstensongs.com/ https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/