pod.link/1478239058
pod.link copied!
Undeceptions with John Dickson
Undeceptions with John Dickson
Undeceptions Ltd

Every week on Undeceptions we’ll explore some aspect of life, faith, history, culture, or ethics that is either much misunderstood or mostly... more

Listen now on

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
Podcast Addict
Pocket Casts
Castbox
Podbean
iHeartRadio
Player FM
Podcast Republic
Castro
RSS

Episodes

REWIND: Global Christianity

The 21st century has seen—and will continue to see—the rise of Christianity in the ‘Global South’, with surging conversion numbers... more

23 Oct 2024 · 11 minutes
REWIND: Christian Revolution

We interviewed Tom Holland, historian and co-host of the extraordinarily popular podcast The Rest is History, back in 2021 for... more

15 Oct 2024 · 26 minutes
Van Gogh

Artists have used their tools not just to capture beauty and transcendence, but also the essence of what it means... more

15 Sep 2024 · 58 minutes
Bible Unlocked

Is there a "right" way to read The Bible?Millennia of Ink has been split trying to answer that question.Surely if... more

08 Sep 2024 · 1 hour, 1 minute
Question Answer XII

Why did God make the tree of knowledge of good and evil? Can Christians smoke weed? Why does God allow... more

01 Sep 2024 · 57 minutes
Intelligible Universe

Famed Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once (well, several times actually) claimed Christianity was irreconcilable with the science of the Universe. But... more

25 Aug 2024 · 1 hour, 8 minutes
History Wars

Is history under threat? Increasingly, the modern, individualistic global West is coming to see history as a discipline that's irrelevant, harmful,... more

18 Aug 2024 · 1 hour, 9 minutes
Why Trust?

Trust is everywhere. It underpins our institutions, our health, and our relationships. However, experts are worried that the world is... more

11 Aug 2024 · 1 hour, 3 minutes
True Crime

True Crime is one of the most popular genres of film, podcasting, literature, and TV worldwide. We are obsessed with tales... more

04 Aug 2024 · 41 minutes
English Language

Half a billion people alive today speak English as their first language. But how you speak English depends on where... more

28 Jul 2024 · 58 minutes
On Augustine

There's a reason our guests have mentioned Augustine more than any other theologian or philosopher. St Augustine of Hippo was... more

21 Jul 2024 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
SINGLE: On Persuasion

Reasoning can take us to almost any conclusion we want. We ask "Can I believe?" if we want to believe,... more

14 Jul 2024 · 9 minutes
SINGLE: Jazz Church

Jazz is a genre of music steeped in tradition, culture, and most importantly, improvisation. According to some, the church can... more

07 Jul 2024 · 26 minutes
American Evangelical

Evangelicalism has always been a politically loaded word - but especially since the turn of the century. This is especially true... more

26 May 2024 · 1 hour, 20 minutes
Question Answer XI

John faces down some of our most diverse - and controversial - questions yet. What's the deal with circumcision? Why... more

19 May 2024 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
Gospel Contradictions

If Christianity is one big conspiracy, we wouldn't find so many mistakes and inconsistencies in the Gospels! Surely if the... more

12 May 2024 · 1 hour, 6 minutes
Jesus' Biography

You can make a pretty good case that the Gospels are the four most influential - and controversial - books... more

05 May 2024 · 1 hour, 12 minutes
SINGLE: Bondi Junction

In this special Undeceptions Single, Stan Grant shares his reflections on God and suffering in the wake of the Bondi... more

28 Apr 2024 · 19 minutes
Christianity's Comeback

From the mid-1990s to the 2010s, 'New Atheism' dominated the intellectual space. A virulent, attacking form of godless evangelism, it... more

21 Apr 2024 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
The Theologians

Theology: It's a dry term that conjures images of old academics writing dusty books that will never be read. However, this... more

14 Apr 2024 · 1 hour, 20 minutes
True Science

Science is a relatively new term. Chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy - all have only existed as defined, singular fields for... more

07 Apr 2024 · 1 hour, 8 minutes
Political Jesus

The Apostle Paul writes that Christians must battle against "powers and principalities". But what are they? What does the Bible... more

31 Mar 2024 · 1 hour, 17 minutes
The Resurrection

There are sophisticated, academic arguments for the resurrection of Jesus. It’s not just a matter of accepting on the basis... more

24 Mar 2024 · 1 hour, 20 minutes
SINGLE: Holy Virginity

The pursuit of celibacy is seen as strange, taboo, and repressive in modern society. But that's what David Bennett, a... more

17 Mar 2024 · 29 minutes
SINGLE: Cancel Culture

At the heart of cancel culture is a desire to combat injustice, and expose flaws within society. This is a... more

10 Mar 2024 · 21 minutes
French Atheism

For the final episode of season X, we're taking a deep dive into the global centre of Atheism - France.... more

14 Jan 2024 · 1 hour, 13 minutes
Question Answer X

Aliens, more Old Testament violence, and ... The Devil. Our tenth question-and-answer episode was one of the toughest yet for John. Make... more

07 Jan 2024 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
12 Objects

The story of Christianity is full of wonderful highs and terrible lows. It's truly an epic - and it takes... more

31 Dec 2023 · 1 hour,
Jewish Jesus

Christianity wasn't always its own religion - the first Christians were, in fact, Jewish ...  because Jesus was Jewish! How... more

17 Dec 2023 · 1 hour, 37 minutes
Holy Angels

Angels are everywhere in history. From winged guardians in Sumerian mythology to the messengers of the Gods in Ancient Greece,... more

10 Dec 2023 · 52 minutes
On Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien needs no introduction. The Oxford Philology Professor who would go on to create the world of Middle Earth... more

03 Dec 2023 · 1 hour, 17 minutes
Medieval Jesus

The Middle Ages saw an explosion of literature, art, and thought around the personhood of Jesus. What can we learn... more

26 Nov 2023 · 48 minutes
The Puritans

The Puritans: Everything wrong with a Christian society, or much misunderstood forefathers of innovation and social justice?This season of Undeceptions... more

19 Nov 2023 · 1 hour, 3 minutes
Cultural Christianity

This episode, we're visiting some of the ancient Christians to see that they were actually real human beings, with flaws... more

12 Nov 2023 · 1 hour, 9 minutes
Growing Older

Our world spends billions of dollars a year on anti-ageing, but nothing will change the simple fact that we are... more

05 Nov 2023 · 1 hour, 10 minutes
Violent Faith

"I love Jesus but I hate the God of the Old Testament. He's just so violent."You might have heard this... more

29 Oct 2023 · 1 hour, 12 minutes
Many Gods - Live from Melbourne

In this live episode, recorded at the Melbourne leg of the Undeceptions Conference, we ask: What did the first Christians... more

22 Oct 2023 · 47 minutes
The Multiverse

The multiverse has become a popular cinema trope, but more and more astrophysicists are taking it seriously. Could there really... more

15 Oct 2023 · 49 minutes
She Believes

Is the Bible bad news for women? Is Jesus misogynistic?Or - as some claim - were the teachings of Jesus... more

08 Oct 2023 · 58 minutes
Deconstructing Faith

To kick off season 10 of Undeceptions, we're exploring the new "threat" to the Christian faith -  deconstruction.Deconstruction has become... more

01 Oct 2023 · 1 hour, 9 minutes
Single: If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then it would confirm everything

If Jesus was just a teacher who lived and died in first-century Palestine, Christianity would be a waste of time.But... more

28 Sep 2023 · 18 minutes
Single: A compelling answer to the question "What's wrong with the world?"

Most of us can agree that the world is a pretty messed up place.But what’s the problem with humanity? What’s... more

24 Sep 2023 · 20 minutes
Single: Christianity is about life to the full

Many believe Christianity is all about following rules and not having any fun.However, this is a huge misunderstanding; Christianity is... more

20 Sep 2023 · 18 minutes
Single: It's worth thinking through what life's all about

Lots of people assume that Christianity is a nice story for kids or a niche hobby for weirdos.John Dickson brings... more

17 Sep 2023 · 19 minutes
Decoding Dreams

Throughout history, humans have looked for hidden meanings behind dreams. But in this modern, scientific age, surely we don't believe... more

02 Jul 2023 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
Question Answer IX

Is there a place for pessimism in the Christian life? Is Halloween evil? Does God have 'mothering' characteristics, too? Why... more

25 Jun 2023 · 47 minutes
Blind Faith

If we can make sense of our faith, is it really faith at all, or just a projection of what... more

18 Jun 2023 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
Ancient Letters

The Bible uses a very "human" way to communicate God's word: letter writing. But how do we know these letters... more

11 Jun 2023 · 1 hour, 8 minutes
Keller's Legacy

In memory of Timothy James Keller (1950-2023).This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts on MasterLectures video... more

04 Jun 2023 · 1 hour, 13 minutes
Saving Nature

Is nature inherently valuable if there is no God? According to one scientist, without faith, that's an almost impossible question... more

28 May 2023 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
Overcoming Apathy

Apathy has seeped into every part of society. We've become a "Seinfeldian culture"; alive to the trivial, and numb to... more

21 May 2023 · 57 minutes
Dorothy L. Sayers

Dorothy L. Sayers was much more than a celebrated detective novelist - she was a Christian playwright and author who... more

14 May 2023 · 1 hour,
The Apocalypse

There aren’t many parts of the Bible that excite the imagination more than its thrilling climax in the book of... more

07 May 2023 · 1 hour, 3 minutes
Medical Miracles

Is there room for the supernatural and the advancing world of medicine? According to some scientists - absolutely!This season of... more

30 Apr 2023 · 1 hour, 4 minutes
With Beth

An hour with acclaimed speaker and church leader Beth Moore.This season of Undeceptions is sponsored by Zondervan Academic. Get discounts... more

23 Apr 2023 · 58 minutes
Venerable Bede

Introducing The Venerable Bede: Father of English history and the most brilliant polymath you've never heard of.This season of Undeceptions... more

16 Apr 2023 · 1 hour, 15 minutes
The Crucifixion

Why did Jesus have to die? Why did it have to be such a violent death? And what on earth... more

06 Apr 2023 · 1 hour, 12 minutes
The Reformation II

Is there still something to celebrate about the Reformation, or is it, as many claim, the root of Christian division... more

02 Apr 2023 · 1 hour, 15 minutes
The Reformation I

The Reformation: one of the greatest ruptures in European history, a rupture that permanently split the church, triggered wars, created... more

26 Mar 2023 · 1 hour, 7 minutes
Ahistoric Age

"We know less than ever about history and are losing the ability to grapple with the ethical complexities of the... more

20 Mar 2023 · 9 minutes
Jesus Quests

What have scholars throughout history thought about who Jesus was and what did they conclude about his significance in their... more

15 Jan 2023 · 1 hour, 6 minutes
Question Answer VIII

This is our seasonal Q&A episode, and our first question is all about why Jesus came to earth when he... more

08 Jan 2023 · 1 hour,
Beautiful Science

The more we learn about the world, the more we see how it operates under elegant laws. There is an... more

01 Jan 2023 · 1 hour, 17 minutes
Old Christ

There’s no such thing as a “New Testament Christian”. While the popular scepticism about parts of the Old Testament is... more

25 Dec 2022 · 58 minutes
First Noel (second time around)

‘Tis the podcast before Christmas, so we’re diving into the fairy lights and tinsel to uncover some of the myths... more

18 Dec 2022 · 46 minutes
Lewis' Narnia

You might think the Chronicles of Narnia are just for kids. But scholars have discovered some amazing historical, literary, and... more

11 Dec 2022 · 1 hour, 11 minutes
Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine capital, Constantinople, was famously fortified with an impenetrable three-wall network, which preserved it from foreign conquest for centuries.... more

04 Dec 2022 · 1 hour, 17 minutes
Time Matters

How we think about time, the value we give to the three parts of time (past, present, and future) really... more

27 Nov 2022 · 1 hour, 12 minutes
On Animals

We’re talking all things animals in this episode, starting with why God would create a world that seems to embed... more

20 Nov 2022 · 1 hour, 18 minutes
Lewis' Oxford

There's much more to C.S. Lewis than the (wonderful) Chronicles of Narnia. Join John Dickson as he tours Oxford -... more

13 Nov 2022 · 1 hour, 19 minutes
Really Old? Single

With so much riding on such small fragments of our past, how do we know our old stuff is actually... more

06 Nov 2022 · 15 minutes
In Christ single

One of the surprises when we turn the pages of the New Testament is how little the word “Christian” actually... more

30 Oct 2022 · 10 minutes
Critical Theory

The Bible has its own way of exposing the flaws of our culture, and, of course, pointing to the Good.

04 Sep 2022 · 1 hour, 6 minutes
Question Answer VII

It's our seasonal Q&A episode and there are actually quite a few curly questions about the future of the universe,... more

28 Aug 2022 · 45 minutes
Scientific Imagination

It may just be that science is an imaginative, creative, and emotive enterprise, just as it is obviously a rational,... more

21 Aug 2022 · 1 hour, 4 minutes
Bookish Religion?

We take a closer look at 15 words that are often misunderstood, or sometimes forgotten. And my guest today reckons... more

14 Aug 2022 · 1 hour, 7 minutes
Against Euthanasia

We’re laying out the best arguments for and against legalising euthanasia.

07 Aug 2022 · 1 hour, 25 minutes
Global Christianity

The death of religion was the conventional wisdom in the social sciences during most of the twentieth century. Turns out, they... more

31 Jul 2022 · 1 hour, 1 minute
Medieval Science

Right in the so called ‘Dark Ages’, it wasn’t all flat-earthers and biblical literalists. In fact, there were very few... more

24 Jul 2022 · 1 hour, 5 minutes
On Buddhism

Buddhism probably takes the prize today for World’s Most Lovable Religion. But is this widespread appreciation of Buddhism matched by... more

17 Jul 2022 · 1 hour, 13 minutes
The Flood

In some ways, the biblical story of Noah and his ark has been a focus over centuries for debates about... more

10 Jul 2022 · 58 minutes
Emotional Intelligence

Some think we might not be too far away from Artificial Intelligence actually having feelings. If it does happen, what... more

03 Jul 2022 · 1 hour,
Ben's Song

Four weeks before John's mate Ben Shaw died of cancer, a group of friends got together to record Ben playing... more

16 Jun 2022 · 16 minutes
The Artist

The question: ‘What is beauty’ has been of interest since the earliest ancient philosophers began asking questions. It’s often considered... more

22 May 2022 · 1 hour, 7 minutes
Trans Gender

Is there a Christian way to think about and engage with people who identify as something other than their birth... more

15 May 2022 · 1 hour, 22 minutes
Question Answer VI

It’s Season 6’s Q&A episode – and you guys really didn't hold back. There are some TOUGH questions this time... more

08 May 2022 · 57 minutes
On Suffering

We’re asking one of the most frequent - and fraught - questions I come across as someone who talks about... more

01 May 2022 · 1 hour, 13 minutes
The Vikings II

In Part Two of our in-depth look at the Vikings, we meet the greatest Viking of the era: the man... more

24 Apr 2022 · 59 minutes
The Vikings I

An epic episode about The Vikings - their origins, exploits, culture, religion and - perhaps the best-kept Viking secret -... more

17 Apr 2022 · 1 hour, 17 minutes
Kingdom Come

What is heaven, really? If there is life after death, is the heavenly cliche of harps and angels and clouds... more

10 Apr 2022 · 1 hour, 4 minutes
Introducing: Small Wonders with Laurel Moffatt

Take a trip with Laurel Moffatt, host of 'Small Wonders', a new podcast in the Undeceptions Network, to Joshua Tree... more

07 Apr 2022 · 16 minutes
With Keller

An in-depth discussion with Tim Keller who is something of a Christian prophet for our secularizing 21st century.

03 Apr 2022 · 1 hour, 4 minutes
Become an Undeceiver

This season, we’re launching Undeceptions Plus which offers exclusive bonus content to members, our 'Undeceivers'.

31 Mar 2022 · 1 minute
Science Wars

The perceived conflict between science and religion would seem to be alive and well - and maybe even growing! But if... more

27 Mar 2022 · 1 hour, 8 minutes
Emperor Constantine

When the Roman Emperor Constantine claimed he had converted to Christianity, it changed the world forever. But was that change... more

20 Mar 2022 · 1 hour, 17 minutes
No Coward single

Foreign affairs journalist Greg Sheridan nails his colours to the mast and shares why he thinks Christianity should make perfect... more

13 Mar 2022 · 26 minutes
Transforming Tales single

The With All Due Respect team join the Undeceptions Network and introduce our listeners to the transforming power of stories.

27 Feb 2022 · 16 minutes
Life's Variations single

In our first single for season 6, guest writer Laurel Moffatt shares life lessons learned from listening to Johann Sebastian... more

13 Feb 2022 · 11 minutes
The Log In Our Eye

In this final episode of the Bullies And Saints super-series, John Dickson reflects on Jesus' instruction to His disciples to... more

06 Feb 2022 · 13 minutes
The Not-So-Dark Ages

In this episode, John up-ends a four-hundred-year-old fallacy that has been promoted since the Enlightenment: the Christian faith is a... more

30 Jan 2022 · 11 minutes
Knights of Christ

In this edition, John Dickson introduces us to two characters that display all that’s been good and bad about the... more

23 Jan 2022 · 11 minutes
Christian Jihad

In this edition, John investigates the accusation that Christianity is a faith that was propagated by the sword rather than... more

16 Jan 2022 · 14 minutes
The Birth of Charity

In this episode, John Dickson gives us an insight into the invention of charity, and just how revolutionary the Christian... more

09 Jan 2022 · 14 minutes
Good Losers

In this edition, John uncovers the character of the earliest Christians, how it contrasted with the world around them, and... more

02 Jan 2022 · 12 minutes
Peter The Hermit

In this episode, John Dickson takes us to the Crusades and introduces one of the most infamous crusaders of all:... more

26 Dec 2021 · 13 minutes
Resting Well

What if we rededicated ourselves to the ancient wisdom of rest. “Rest” not understood as the mere absence of work,... more

19 Dec 2021 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
The Refugee

Christianity is clear: providing refuge for the downtrodden foreigner isn’t politics. It reflects one of the most basic ideas of... more

12 Dec 2021 · 1 hour, 6 minutes
Christmas Star single

It's Christmas time and traditionally the season when critics of the nativity story take shots at some of its more... more

08 Dec 2021 · 22 minutes
Question Answer V

It's out Q&A episode! Whats with all the violence in the Bible? Can men and women ever just be friends?... more

05 Dec 2021 · 1 hour, 6 minutes
Jesus Philosopher

The cliche is: ‘faith’ is the antithesis of knowledge … of wisdom. And therefore “Christian philosophy” is an oxymoron, right? Our... more

28 Nov 2021 · 1 hour,
Paulos Apostolos

After Jesus himself, Paul is considered by many to be the most important person in the history of Christianity. And according... more

21 Nov 2021 · 1 hour, 2 minutes
Just War

War is a horror – can there really be any place for it in a civilized society?

14 Nov 2021 · 1 hour, 1 minute
Between Testaments

The period between the Old and New Testaments - often called the 'intertestamental period' - has also been called a... more

07 Nov 2021 · 1 hour, 14 minutes
Outer Space

Some would say that an ancient faith like Christianity won’t survive outer space -- especially as we explore further than... more

31 Oct 2021 · 48 minutes
On Friendship

Friendship has been a central relationship in almost every culture that we know of. But these days, friendship is on... more

24 Oct 2021 · 53 minutes
Chinese Jesus

Christianity is a ‘western’ religion and a religion of individual freedom, right? Eastern traditions emphasise family and community above the individual.... more

17 Oct 2021 · 1 hour,
Good Life

We are now more able than ever to consider whether we are living a happy life. But one of our guests... more

10 Oct 2021 · 59 minutes
Outback Christ

This Henry Lawson poem, though written in the Australian outback in the 19th Century, still captures what a lot of... more

03 Oct 2021 · 6 minutes
Afghan Refugee

Shabnam Safa was just 15 years old when she arrived in Australia as a refugee. As a young child, her... more

26 Sep 2021 · 20 minutes
Intersectional Jesus

Author and highly sought-after speaker Sam Allberry talks us through 'intersectionality' and ponders the wisdom and boundaries of this way... more

19 Sep 2021 · 10 minutes
Undeceptions with John Dickson
Between Testaments
Undeceptions with John Dickson
0:00
-0:00

Listen now on

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Overcast
Podcast Addict
Pocket Casts
Castbox
Podbean
iHeartRadio
Player FM
Podcast Republic
Castro
RSS

Description

The period between the Old and New Testaments - often called the 'intertestamental period' - has also been called a period of... more