A new fictional, 12-episode podcast series featuring students with different views discussing philosophy, science and belief in God.
The podcast series is hosted by Sophie Minerva, a fictional Professor of Philosophy at NLA University College in Norway. Four fictional students with different worldviews feature in the series – Douglas from US, Hiromi from Japan, Thomas from Sweden, and Astrid from Norway. All voices are performed by A.I.
The series was made by philosopher Peter S. Williams and producer Børge Elliot Bentsen. It was adapted from parts of Peter’s book Outgrowing God? A Beginner’s Guide to Richard Dawkins and the God Debate (Cascade 2020). The series is produced and published by BioCosmos in cooperation with Damaris Norge.
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Trailer: Why You Should Listen to This Podcast Series.
Trailer: Why You Should Listen to This Podcast Series. | The Question of God
As Douglas says in this promo – there are actually a lot of things we can know about reality. Astrid agrees. And she says the question of God is for absolutely everybody. Thomas from Sweden likes to tease Douglas, and Hiromi from Japan came into the discussion group as an agnostic. Did the study-group change her thinking? Sophie Minerva, the likeable philosophy professor, keeps the coffee shop discussions going with grace and elegance.
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1 – Words and Concepts When Talking About God.
1 – Words and Concepts When Talking About God. | The Question of God
This podcast series is about «The Question of God – Has Our Civilization Outgrown God?» The title refers to British atheist Richard Dawkins’ 2019 book Outgrowing God. The title suggests the book’s main message, namely that our modern world has outgrown belief in God. Is it true? Four students are discussing the book together with philosophy professor Sophie Minerva in a coffee shop. This first episode is about vocabulary and definitions when talking about God.
2 – Basic Positions on the Question of God.
2 – Basic Positions on the Question of God. | The Question of God
Socrates said that every meaningful discussion begins with the definition of words. In this episode the students will discuss more about words and belief positions on the question of God. There are really only three possible basic positions to take, and the students represent all three of them. Thomas is shocked to hear Douglas’ blatant dismissal of deeper meaning in life, even if he is an atheist himself.
3 – What Is Really Real?
3 – What Is Really Real? | The Question of God
Dawkins says we should think carefully about how we understand reality. Instead of blindly believing what we have inherited or heard from our family or culture, we should think for ourselves. Thomas totally agrees with this. Hiromi agrees but points out that Dawkins in his book is not following his own rule very well.
4 – How Can We Know Anything?
4 – How Can We Know Anything? | The Question of God
This time the students are discussing the topic called epistemology, the study of knowledge. How can we gain knowledge about something? Is true knowledge even possible? Douglas points out that Dawkins is promoting a specific philosophical view called scientism. Hiromi agrees, but Thomas thinks Douglas is too harsh. Astrid mentions several things people need to believe in order to reason at all – things that cannot be proven scientifically. Knowledge and beliefs seem to be intertwined.
5 – Beliefs And Faith Related to Knowledge.
5 – Beliefs And Faith Related to Knowledge. | The Question of God
What exactly are faith and belief? Are they the opposite of knowledge? What is meant by the terms «basic faith», «blind faith» or «enlightened faith»? Dawkins makes a distinction between blind faith and evidence-based faith or beliefs. Thomas likes that. But then Astrid asks about the faith in logic and reason, is that a blind faith? It seems there’s a lot of beliefs we cannot do without. Hiromi also need to believe in true love. Thomas notices that.
6 – Critical Thinking.
6 – Critical Thinking. | The Question of God
This time the students are discussing what it means to think critically, and how is critical thinking practised in Dawkins’ book. There are different views. Douglas says that critical thinking means analysing, evaluating and reflecting on things that are being said. There is a big difference between claims and arguments. Critical thinking also means to discover logical contradictions. Self-contradictions can never be true. Thomas thinks the concept of an almighty God is self-contradictory, but Astrid disagrees.
7 – Paradoxes And Contradictions: Which Is Which?
7 – Paradoxes And Contradictions: Which Is Which? | The Question of God
What do the concepts of paradoxes and contradictions mean? What is the difference? This relates to the question of God. Astrid is giving a summarised version of the five arguments for God given by the famous medieval philosopher Thomas Aquinas, which almost gives Thomas a brain-meltdown. Almost. By the way, Astrid thinks Dawkins is making a category-mistake by comparing polytheistic gods with the Creator God of monotheism. Hiromi discovers the true meaning of worship. She also wants to know if the concept of the Trinity is a paradox or a contradiction. Thomas thinks it’s a contradiction, but Douglas and Astrid disagree.
8 – Science And Faith: Different Paths to Knowledge?
8 – Science And Faith: Different Paths to Knowledge? | The Question of God
The students discuss the concepts of science and faith, and the relationship between them. Professor Sophie asks if we can say that science and faith are different paths to knowledge? Does science provide more «certain» knowledge than faith does? Dawkins seems to think so. Hiromi thinks Dawkins reveals a bias against religion. Douglas points out that scientific beliefs are built upon other beliefs, so the «different path» idea is a misunderstanding, he thinks. Douglas thinks the state must be neutral in religious matters. Astrid is not so sure that is possible. Are human rights issues neutral?
9 – Evolution: What Is It?
9 – Evolution: What Is It? | The Question of God
What is the concept of evolution about? What is the evidence for it? Dawkins claims in his book that although the world looks designed, it really isn’t. He argues for this by pointing to what he considers flaws in the design of biological organisms. Thomas tries to defend this view, but the other students are sceptical. Even Douglas, his fellow atheist, is picking apart this argument. Sophie reminds the students to be aware of the different meanings of the word evolution. Hiromi even introduces a new word to the group: devolution. What on Earth is that?
10 – Evolution and design: How Do They Relate?
10 – Evolution and design: How Do They Relate? | The Question of God
How do we recognise design? And how might design relate to evolution? Douglas starts by giving a summary of what Dawkins says about this. Does evidence in the natural world point to design? Douglas and Thomas don’t think so, but they back different arguments against the design hypothesis. Hiromi’s scepticism against the no design hypothesis is growing. She is interested in biology and brings a lot of information to the discussion, including the concept of irreducible complexity.
11 – Does Science Point to Atheism?
11 – Does Science Point to Atheism? | The Question of God
The topic in this episode is whether science points to atheism or naturalism as the best explanation of the universe. The students touch on the phenomenon of the Big Bang, cosmic fine-tuning, and the idea of a multiverse. Astrid argues that the probability of a life-permitting universe is astronomically low, to put it mildly. What is the difference between a universe coming from nothing and a universe created from nothing? If God created the universe, asks Thomas, where does God come from?
12 – Have We Outgrown God, Or Dawkins?
12 – Have We Outgrown God, Or Dawkins? | The Question of God
The four students and their professor have come to their twelfth and last meeting in the coffee shop discussing Richard Dawkins’ book Outgrowing God. The topic this time is Dawkins’ response to cosmic fine-tuning, and whether the claim in his book is correct – has our civilisation really outgrown God? Or have we rather outgrown Dawkins’ views? Has atheistic naturalism as a worldview become more questionable in the recent years as science discovers more about the cosmos? Thomas, Astrid, Douglas and Hiromi summarize their views after studying Dawkins’ book.