Johannes Hartl: Prayer, Phones & the Quiet Revival of Faith in Europe

What if hell isn't eternal torment? And what if Christians have misunderstood what Jesus actually taught? Christian thinker and Questioning Christianity host Dan Paterson joins John Nelson for a searching conversation about three of Christianity's most difficult questions: hell, divine hiddenness and the problem of evil. Dan explains why he changed his mind about eternal conscious punishment, explores whether everyone could ultimately be saved, and asks why a loving God sometimes seems absent from those who genuinely seek him. From C.S. Lewis and the teachings of Jesus to the suffering of innocent children and animals, this conversation confronts the deepest objections to Christian faith without avoiding the difficult answers. Can we still trust that God is good?

In a culture of outrage, division and cancel culture, Dr Amy Orr-Ewing believes forgiveness may be one of the most radical ideas we have. But what happens when forgiveness is used to silence victims, excuse abuse or avoid justice? Joining Luke Martin on Unbelievable? The Interview, the bestselling author and public theologian discusses her new book, Forgiveness: Reclaiming Its Power in a Culture of Outrage and Fear. From the extraordinary story of a mother who forgave her daughter's murderer to the hardest questions about suffering, biblical violence and whether we can really trust the Gospels, Amy makes a compelling case for taking Christianity seriously. And as Gen Z rediscovers faith, could Christianity offer something our increasingly divided culture desperately needs?

What happens to those who never believe in Jesus? Could everyone eventually be saved — even after death? Dan Paterson and Matt Whiteley join John Nelson to explore Christian universalism, eternal judgment and whether salvation is possible without explicit faith in Christ. A thoughtful debate about the Bible, the justice of God and the ultimate fate of those we love.

The birth narratives of Jesus contain some of the most famous stories in Christianity: the virgin birth, angels and shepherds, the Magi, the star of Bethlehem and Herod’s massacre of the innocents. But did Matthew and Luke actually intend their readers to believe these events happened? Dr Caleb Friedeman joins John Nelson to challenge a widespread assumption in historical Jesus scholarship: that the infancy narratives can largely be sidelined because they belong more to the world of legend and theological storytelling than history. Drawing on his new book, Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography: Reopening a Closed Case, Friedeman compares Matthew and Luke with ancient biographers including Plutarch, Suetonius and Philo. He argues that supposedly “legendary” ancient birth stories often show clear signs of historical intent — including the use and evaluation of sources — and asks whether scholars have been applying the wrong assumptions to the Gospels. But historical intent doesn’t automatically mean historical accuracy. So what about the difficult questions? Did Luke get the census of Quirinius wrong? Is there any evidence for Herod’s massacre of the innocents? Did Luke really get his information from Mary? And can the apparently different birth stories in Matthew and Luke actually be reconciled? Can we take the Christmas story seriously as history?

Pat Allerton joins Luke Martin to explore the growing openness to Christianity, the search for meaning and why faith may be returning to the cultural conversation. From science and the resurrection to anxiety, healing and his own dramatic conversion, Pat makes the case for why Christianity still speaks to a searching generation.