My new faith discussion show, bringing together guests with opposing views on God, atheism, science, art and culture, has launched on YouTube and Podcast.
The first episode of Uncommon Ground sees atheist biologist Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The God Delusion’, sit down with Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, to debate ‘God & Science: Which makes best sense of the poetry of reality?’
The two thinkers last met for two contentious debates at Oxford and Cambridge Universities over a decade ago. This time however, their conversation began very differently. Uncommon Ground seeks to encourage mutual understanding by asking each guest to attempt to summarise their opponent's view as charitably as possible, before the discussion proceeds.
Watch now, or listen on your favourite podcast platform!
Dr Williams summarised Richard Dawkins’ perspective on God and science saying, “Science provides a system of explanation that is elegant and coherent… Religion (wrongly, in your view) introduces an extra level that spoils it. The poetry of reality is undermined if we have to bring in something else from outside the system to make full sense of it. Why not let it be itself?”
Prof Dawkins responded: “Absolutely spot on. That is exactly what I feel. Thank you very much for putting it much better than I could put it!”
When invited to summarise Rowan Williams’ perspective, Dawkins confessed that he was ‘baffled’ by the former Archbishop’s belief in God, saying, “A very common thing that theologians do is to make no easy distinction between what is true and what is allegorical.”
Their conversation went on to cover questions of evolution, survival, meaning and consciousness.
A key part of their discussion concerned Dawkins’ objection that God is an unsatisfactory explanation for the Universe. The scientist insisted that a supernatural being who can ‘listen to all the prayers of all the people in the world’ cannot be ‘simple’ but is a ‘complex’ explanation which in turn needs to be explained.
Williams responded: “The word ‘simple’ works in more than one way. It’s meant to push back against the idea that God could be a ’compound’ of some kind or the result of any process. God simply is the ‘Actus Purus’ - the activation of Divine Life.”
Despite their disagreements, Williams and Dawkins bonded over their love of poetry. Williams, himself a published poet, spoke of the way poetry points to a ‘resonance’ and ‘connectedness’. “What is immediately in front of me is not the whole story”. Meanwhile, Dawkins admitted that he is often ‘moved to tears’ by the works of Shakespeare and WB Yeats, saying, “I find myself unable to read great poetry aloud because I choke up. But I can’t explain what that is.
Filmed on location at Yarnton Manor, a 16th Century manor house near Oxford, Uncommon Ground will see significant philosophers, scientists, theologians, authors and activists debate meaning, purpose, and the deepest questions of human existence.
The first 10-episode Season will also feature conversations between:
Alex O’Connor & Glen Scrivener - ‘Did Christianity give us our morality?’
Jonathan Pageau & Joe Folley - ‘Does art, culture and human experience point to God?’
Iain McGilchrist & Anil Seth - ‘Minds, brains and consciousness’
Elizabeth Oldfield & James Marriott - ‘Is there a purpose to life?’
Emily Qureshi-Hurst & Paul Davies - ‘Is there a purpose to the Universe?’
Stephen C Meyer & Phil Halper - ‘Cosmology and the case for God’
Philip Pullman & Francis Spufford - ‘Literature, imagination and religion’
Ann Furedi & Lois Mclatchie - ‘The case for and against abortion’
William Lane Craig & Emily Qureshi-Hurst ‘God, time and eternity’
Online culture is full of algorithmically-driven echo chambers. We desperately need better conversations. I’m thrilled to return to moderating discussions between thinkers of opposing views, debating the most important questions of existence.
But Uncommon Ground is much more than just a debate. We want our guests to ‘connect before they correct’, by truly understanding each other’s positions. I’ve discovered it’s a very effective way of creating conversations that open up space for genuine empathy and curiosity. And that’s some thing we desperately need right now.
Make sure you subscribe to the Podcast or watch the new show via our YouTube channel. Or get access to new shows up to 2 weeks early when you become a supporter 👇
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 they debate whether or not hospitals, welfare, charity, emancipation, gender equality, human rights and consent hinge on Christian influence.
This episode will release to the public on 23 February, but regular Silver and Gold level supporters can watch it RIGHT NOW!
“I have received so much from your podcast- it's been thought-provoking and spiritually encouraging. It's a wonderful platform that you provide for people to express different views and the listeners, like myself, to be challenged by.”
Taria, New Zealand
Best wishes!
Justin Brierley
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