Undeceptions with John Dickson
Religion & Spirituality
About
Every week on Undeceptions we’ll explore some aspect of life, faith, history, culture, or ethics that is either much misunderstood or mostly forgotten. With the help of people who know what they’re talking about, we’ll be trying to ‘undeceive ourselves’ and let the truth ‘out’.
Episodes
- 177. Wes Huff
Wes Huff, known for presenting the historical case for Christianity on popular podcasts, explores the recent surge in interest surrounding the faith. He considers whether this trend signifies a deeper cultural moment for Christianity.
- 176. Question Answer XVI
In this Q&A episode of Undeceptions, host John Dickson addresses listener questions regarding Christians listening to secular music, the significance of Jesus' baptism, and the biblical teachings on money.
- 175. Literary Bible
This episode of Undeceptions examines the Bible from a literary perspective. Host John Dickson explores how viewing the collection of texts as a cohesive literary work can offer new insights into how the Bible's narrative functions.
- 174. God's Image
This episode of Undeceptions examines the historical origins of the concept that all human beings possess equal dignity and rights. John Dickson explores why the Bible is a unique source for the logic behind the Universal Declaration of Hu…
- 173. Good Friday
In this episode of Undeceptions with John Dickson, the host examines the historical Jesus by focusing on the events of his final days. The episode aims to distinguish the historical figure from modern cultural and political projections.
- 172. Reading Classics
This episode explores why Greek and Roman classic texts remain significant today, despite the challenges of reading them and modern criticisms regarding their cultural legacy. Host John Dickson discusses the intellectual tradition shaped b…
- First Hymn US / UK Release
The documentary The First Hymn is being released in cinemas across the US and the UK. Ticket information is available for viewers interested in seeing the film.
- 171. Without God
This episode of Undeceptions examines the potential societal impact of a world without God, exploring the concept of 'Cultural Christians' and the implications of a post-Christian reality.
- 170. Evolution Revolution?
This episode of Undeceptions examines recent scientific debates concerning evolutionary theory, specifically exploring academic discussions around potential patterns or agency in the evolutionary process. Host John Dickson considers how th…
- 169. Against Coercion
This episode of Undeceptions examines the historical narrative surrounding Emperor Constantine and the introduction of religious freedom. John Dickson discusses how Lactantius, a Christian advisor to Constantine, influenced the development…
- 168. Virtue / Vice
John Dickson explores the concepts of virtue and vice, discussing their roles in culture and life. The episode examines the philosophical roots of virtue, including Aristotelian perspectives, and the value of pursuing the good.
- REWIND: The Reformation
This episode of Undeceptions revisits key discussions and highlights from the show's two-part series on the Reformation and its historical impact on the church and global society.
- SINGLE: Concert Hymn
In this special episode of Undeceptions with John Dickson, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding discuss the world premiere of The First Hymn and share the story behind gifting this 1800-year-old song back to the world.
- SINGLE: Christmas Peace
This episode of Undeceptions examines the meaning of the holiday season and explores why the traditional Christmas narrative remains relevant today. Host John Dickson discusses themes of happiness, peace, and the significance of Jesus.
- 167. Nicene Creed
This episode explores the history and significance of the Nicene Creed, focusing on the 4th-century Council of Nicaea and the debate over the nature of Jesus. John Dickson discusses the context, key figures, and theology behind the documen…
- 166. Jesus Proof?
This episode of Undeceptions with John Dickson examines the historical account of Jesus provided by the first-century historian Flavius Josephus. The discussion explores new scholarly evidence regarding the authenticity and potential embel…
- 165. Question Answer XV
Host John Dickson answers listener questions on topics including the Old Testament law, the nature of hell, and the origins of the Golden Rule. This episode also explores the history of the early church and biblical narratives regarding Be…
- 164. After Christendom
This episode of Undeceptions examines the changing cultural influence of Christianity and explores historical and contemporary examples of how Christians engage with their societies. Host John Dickson discusses what Christianity might look…
- REWIND: Post Christian
In this episode, John Dickson revisits a 2020 conversation with author and journalist Greg Sheridan regarding the status and future of Christianity in Australia and the West. The discussion explores the challenges facing the faith and Sher…
- 163. Divine Comedy
This episode explores Dante's Divine Comedy, discussing how the epic poem serves as a reflection on contemporary life rather than a literal depiction of the afterlife. The program examines the lasting influence and significance of this cla…
- 162. Persecution Complex
John Dickson explores the history and complexity of Christian persecution, examining both ancient and modern perspectives on the subject. The episode covers early church history through the Great Persecution and discusses the nature of con…
- 161. Jane Austen
This episode of Undeceptions examines the life, beliefs, and literary work of Jane Austen, exploring her views on society, ethics, romance, and faith. Host John Dickson discusses Austen’s legacy, her relationship with the church, and the t…
- 160. Deep Learning
This episode explores how a Christian tradition of learning can foster a teachable spirit and humility in a divided world. It examines the relationship between faith and critical thinking, as well as the importance of learning from diverse…
- 159. African Jesus
This episode examines the history and growth of Christianity in Africa, exploring how the region has influenced the faith since its beginnings. The discussion covers theological perspectives, the importance of cultural lenses in interpreti…
- 158. Faith Factor
This episode explores the societal implications of declining church attendance and examines the historical impact of Christian faith on humanitarianism and community well-being. Discussion topics include the role of faith in politics, resp…
- REWIND: Mental Health
This REWIND episode explores research regarding the positive impact of religion and faith communities on mental wellbeing. It serves as a lead-up to the upcoming fifteenth season of Undeceptions.
- REWIND: Decoding Dreams
In this episode of Undeceptions, John Dickson explores the historical perspective on dreams and whether they contain messages or warnings, revisiting content from episode 105.
- 157. Why Believe?
In this episode, John Dickson explores the persistence of divine experiences in a secular age and discusses why embracing a formal belief system may be a rational choice. The episode includes an interview with Ross Douthat and features per…
- 156. Question Answer XIV
In this Q&A episode of Undeceptions with John Dickson, John answers listener questions regarding Sunday church attendance, biblical perspectives on self-defense, and the nature of Hell.
- 155. Good Pope
John Dickson explores the history of the papacy and the qualities of a good pope by examining the life and leadership of Pope Gregory I. The episode discusses the origins of the office, the responsibilities of a pope, and the importance of…
- REWIND: Emotional Intelligence
This episode explores the possibility of artificial intelligence having feelings and discusses the implications for humanity. It revisits the topic of emotional intelligence and whether humans are essentially machines.
- 154. Boy Jesus
This episode explores the childhood of Jesus by examining the historical and social context of the world he grew up in, beyond what is recorded in the Gospels. The discussion considers how his background as a refugee in occupied territory…
- 153. The Chemists
This episode explores the historical links between alchemy and modern chemistry, examining why chemistry has the highest number of theists among scientific disciplines. It discusses how the order found in the natural world leads some chemi…
- 152. God Laments
This episode explores the biblical practice of lament as a tool for processing disappointment. John Dickson discusses how the Bible provides a framework for expressing grief and highlights the concept of a God who shares in human sorrow.
- 151. Mary Magdalene
This episode examines the various historical and cultural portrayals of Mary Magdalene. Host John Dickson explores the factual evidence surrounding her role as a devoted follower of Jesus compared to the many myths attributed to her.
- 150. Jesus' Trials
Leading up to Easter, this episode examines the historical and legal aspects of the trial of Jesus. It explores what is known about the proceedings and whether the process was fair.
- 149. Our Hymn
Host John Dickson explores the creative process behind modernizing an 1800-year-old hymn with songwriters Ben Fielding and Chris Tomlin. This episode tracks the development of 'The First Hymn' from its ancient origins to its contemporary r…
- 148. The Anthropologists
This episode of Undeceptions with John Dickson examines the relationship between anthropology and religion. The discussion explores the historical "godless" reputation of the field, the perspectives of key figures like Edward Tylor and Jam…
- REWIND: Jesus Philosopher
In this rewind episode of Undeceptions, two Christian philosophers discuss the relationship between faith and philosophy, addressing the common view that they are contradictory. The episode invites listeners to hear the full discussion fro…
- REWIND: Danger - Proselytising
This episode of Undeceptions revisits a discussion on proselytizing, examining why Christians share their faith and how to do so respectfully. It features a look back at the topics covered in episode 33.
- Introducing Small Wonders season 4
Laurel Moffatt returns with the fourth season of the podcast Small Wonders, which explores life lessons through quiet observations and rich audio storytelling. This podcast is now part of the Undeceptions network.
- 147. On Hell
This episode explores the concept of hell in Christian belief, examining why Jesus frequently referred to it and what his teachings suggest about its meaning and significance.
- REWIND: Kingdom Come
In this rebroadcast of episode 64, the podcast examines what the Bible says about Heaven in anticipation of an upcoming episode regarding Hell.
- 146. Question Answer XIII
In this Q&A episode, John Dickson discusses various topics including missionary work, Anglicanism, resurrection, Jesus' genealogies, and the relationship between Christianity and fertility cults. He also addresses themes of Christian patri…
- 145. Second Act
This episode examines the Book of Acts as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, exploring its genre, historical context, and the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. John Dickson covers key figures and themes, including the early…
- 144. Into Wine
This episode examines the history and cultural significance of wine within the Bible and the Christian tradition. The discussion covers biblical references to wine, historical perspectives on drinking, and how the church has engaged with a…
- 143. Virgin Mary
John Dickson explores the historical, theological, and cultural significance of the Virgin Mary, covering her role in the New Testament, the doctrine of the Incarnation, and her ongoing place in modern Christian thought.
- 142. First Hymn
John Dickson explores the history of a 3rd-century Christian hymn discovered in Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, and collaborates with songwriters to reconstruct the piece. This episode launches a three-part series on The First Hymn Project, documentin…
- 141. Bible Genres
John Dickson discusses how understanding literary genres can help clarify the Bible, which consists of 66 books written over thousands of years.
- 140. Disenchanted Age
Journalist Stan Grant joins John Dickson for a live recording of Undeceptions to discuss the consequences of the Enlightenment and the complexities of our current, disenchanted age. The conversation covers topics including Australian ident…