Uncommon Ground with Justin Brierley – Details, episodes & analysis

Justin Brierley is back in the moderator's chair hosting conversations between Christians, atheists, skeptics and seekers in this new podcast and video show. 'Uncommon Ground' features leading figures from the world of atheism, psychology, science, culture, literature and theology. Recorded in the beautiful setting of Yarnton Manor, Oxford, they’ll be debating purpose in the universe, meaning in life, faith, atheism and the deepest questions of existence.  But this isn't just another debate-fest. 'Uncommon Ground' asks each guest to spell out the other's position. Connecting before correcting. Disagreeing well by understanding each other better. Season 1 will feature:- Richard, Dawkins & Rowan Williams - on God & science.- Alex O Connor & Glen Scrivener - on whether Christianity gave us our morality.- Anil Seth & Iain McGilchrist - on consciousness and the brain.- Jonathan Pageau & Joe Folley - on whether art and beauty points to God. - Paul Davies & Emily Qureshi-Hurst - on whether the universe has a purpose. - Elizabeth Oldfield & James Marriott - on whether there’s purpose in life.- Stephen Meyer & Phil Halper - big bang cosmology and the fine tuning of the universe.  - Philip Pullman and Francis Spufford - on literature, meaning, imagination and religion. ...and more to be announced.  Get access to every episode TWO WEEKS early when you support: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ Stay up to date - and get free chapters from both my books - by subscribing to my newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world's most famous atheist, Richard Dawkins, sits down to talk with the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in the very first episode of Uncommon Ground, hosted by Justin Brierley. In a wide-ranging conversation on atheism, faith, poetry, music, meaning, love, complexity, suffering, evolution and survival, they discuss whether God or science makes best sense of 'the poetry of reality'. Subscribe now to hear conversations that move beyond the echo chambers and into the deeper questions we all share—Uncommon Ground: conversations that matter. Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Richard Dawkins' 'The God Delusion': https://amzn.eu/d/0je7xxeBRowan Williams' 'Discovering Christianity': https://amzn.eu/d/0dwMwQq1 A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Atheist thinker Alex O'Connor goes toe-to-toe with Christian thinker Glen Scrivener on whether Christianity gave us our belief in kindness, equality, freedom and consent. Across 2.5 hours of intense conversation moderated by Justin Brierley, they debate whether or not hospitals, welfare, charity, emancipation, gender equality, human rights and consent hinge on Christian influence. Subscribe now to hear conversations that move beyond the echo chambers and into the deeper questions we all share—Uncommon Ground: conversations that matter. Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith For Alex O'Connor: https://www.alexoconnor.com/For Glen Scrivener: https://speaklife.org.uk/ A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Orthodox thinker Jonathan Pageau and atheist philosopher Joe Folley sit down with Justin Brierley to discuss whether art, culture and human experience point to God. In a deep and rich conversation ranging across consciousness, science, religion, the incarnation and the resurrection they debate whether a Divine Logos or natural forces explain the reality we all encounter. Subscribe now to hear conversations that move beyond the echo chambers and into the deeper questions we all share—Uncommon Ground: conversations that matter. Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ For Jonathan Pageau: https://www.youtube.com/c/jonathanpageauFor Joe Folley: https://www.youtube.com/@unsolicitedadvice9198 A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renowned philosopher Iain McGilchrist and eminent neuroscientist Anil Seth sit down with Justin Brierley to discuss whether consciousness is a product of brain chemistry or points to God. They discuss left and right brain hemispheres, panpsychism, theories of consciousness and how meditation and prayer affect our psychology. Seth also describes his atheist-agnostic worldview, and McGilchrist explains his recent embrace of Christian faith.Subscribe now to hear conversations that move beyond the echo chambers and into the deeper questions we all share—Uncommon Ground: conversations that matter. Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ For Iain McGilchrist: https://channelmcgilchrist.com/home/For Anil Seth: https://www.anilseth.com/A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is there a purpose to the largest thing of all - The Universe? And does the weird world of the smallest things - Quantum Physics - tell us anything about it?Atheist theologian Emily Qureshi-Hurst believes the evidence points to a purely physical reality. However, astrophysicist Paul Davies says there's a deeper meaning to the 'directionality' of our cosmos. In this mind-expanding conversation, they join Justin to explain the science they agree on... and work out where they differ. Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ For Emily Qureshi-Hurst: https://www.emilyqureshihurst.com/For Paul Davies: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/457920/quantum-20-by-davies-paul/9780241655801A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elizabeth Oldfield, host of the Sacred Podcast, and James Marriott, literary critic and Times columnist, join Justin on Uncommon Ground to discuss whether we can find meaning in life without God. Elizabeth tells of her own search for meaning in Christian faith, while James explains why, as an atheist nihilist, he still loves art and literature. They discuss the search for purpose, and signs of a new interest in faith among young people. For Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/For James Marriott: https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/full-fat-faith-the-young-christian-converts-filling-our-churches-x69pd289k?PS Since this show was recorded the 'Quiet Revival' report has been withdrawn. You can read Justin's response article here: https://justinbrierley.beehiiv.com/p/the-quiet-revival-has-been-withdrawn-but-the-rebirth-isn-t-dead Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did the Universe have a 'beginning'? Is the Cosmos 'finely-tuned' for life? And do these phenomena point to God?Stephen C Meyer, author of 'Return of the God Hypothesis' debates Phil Halper, co-author of 'Battle of the Big Bang' in a lively 3 hour conversation hosted by Justin Brierley. Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ For Stephen C Meyer: https://stephencmeyer.org/For Phil Halper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Big-Bang-Cosmic-Origins/dp/0226830470Phil's Copenhagen survey including physicist's attitudes to fine-tuning: https://arxiv.org/html/2503.15776v2 A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over 250,000 pregnancies are terminated in the UK every year. Is access to abortion a woman's right or the taking of an innocent life? Pro-life campaigner Lois McLatchie Miller engages Ann Furedi, the former head of BPAS - the UK’s leading abortion provider. They join Justin Brierley to discuss when life begins, bodily rights and baby rights, and why despite their deep disagreements, they have become friends. Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ Lois McLatchie Miller: https://tradical.substack.com/Ann Furedi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_FurediA production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin is joined by Christian philosopher William Lane Craig and atheist theologian Emily Qureshi-Hurst to discuss the question: 'Is Christian theism compatible with our best understanding of the nature of time?'Craig defends the 'A-Theory' - that time flows from past, to present, to future. Qureshi-Hurst defends the 'B-Theory' - that all times exist at once. In a mind-expanding conversation, they discuss the implications of their different views for the nature of God and the doctrine of salvation in Christian faith, and how we should interpret the physics of spacetime! Find out more: https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/ Get early access and more when you become a supporter: https://justinbrierley.com/support-me/ Keep up to date, and receive free chapters from my books, by subscribing to the newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/get-justins-newsletter/ What did you think? Let me know by emailing: feedback@think.faith Watch this show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3rZ-nZe04d8G6kwNOMpuI8vQ4Qx3rVEQ For William Lane Craig: https://www.reasonablefaith.org/For Emily Qureshi-Hurst: https://www.emilyqureshihurst.com/A production of Think Faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices