43:T4d1,God is dead and man has no need of the myths and false consolation that religion offers. That’s the battle-cry of Richard Dawkins and other tough-minded critics of religion. And yet millions cling to their faith, finding value and meaning in the concepts and rituals they adhere to. But is this dichotomy all we have to choose from – prostration or denigration? Some would argue that there’s another way, that it’s possible to remain an atheist and still make use of certain ideas and practices of religion that secular society has failed to engender – the promotion of morality and a spirit of community, for example, and the ability to cope with loss, failure and our own mortality. But is this “religion for atheists” something that would ever catch on? Without belief in the numinous and some form of authority wouldn’t it all fall apart? And do atheists really need sermons and reminders to be good? Arguing against this motion in this debate from January 2012 were philosopher and author Alain de Botton and... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices44:T430,Dissident Dialogues is a place for dangerous ideas. Buy your tickets now at https://dissidentdialogues.org/ and be part of the conversation. Head to http://factormeals.com/reality50 and use code REALITY50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box. I had an intriguing conversation with Bishop Richard Holloway, former Head of the Church of Scotland. He is a most intelligent, interesting and pleasant man. Join us as we explore the human lust to be good to others, and the impulse to give. We navigate the delicate balance between belief and scepticism, with Holloway confessing that he's “between gods” and me reflecting on being, technically, an agnostic. Throughout our conversation, we critically examine the poetic value of religious myth and its impact on human culture. We confront the age-old question of whether religion offers consoling fiction or genuine comfort in the face of life’s uncertainties. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.45:T509,

What are the essential truths of the Christian faith? How do we know they are true, and how do we live them out in relationships? In this episode, Scott interviews Sean about his recent book 12 Crucial Truths of the Christian Faith. They discuss the core issues of Christianity, how we know they are true, and why they matter for our relationship with God and others.

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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.

Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.
Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video.

To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

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Nicolas C. Day joins Blake to talk about discovering the wonder of discovering a God you've always denied and how we can share that wonder with our children. Listen in as they have an authentic conversation about Nic's shift from atheism to Christianity and his new fiction novel bringing that story to light for children.

Nicolas C. Day is an author, his debut novel Into the Great Marinara, is a spaghetti-filled middle-grade fantasy set to release in May 20

Unbelievable? 2 Apr 2011 - Is it best to...