The Peter S. Williams Podcast

Part five of a five part video series introducing the transcendental values of truth, goodness and beauty. Created for NLA University College, Norway, in September 2025. See my YouTube Playlist, "Introducing the Transcendentals: Exploring Truth, Goodness, and Beauty." https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQhh3qcwVEWgKmNMPUP-dv2HF6rFsfx0p

Audio from a video I made in August 2025 as introductory material for the NLA University College UK Study Tour. The video is available on YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkiqxw3xOhk&t=1s

This interview is re-hosted with permission from Snakk om Tro (Talking about truth), a podcast from Damaris Norway. Professor Lars Dahle talks to philosopher Peter S. Williams and producer Børge Bentsen about their recently released podcast series, The Question of God, a fictional dialogue about philosophy, science and belief in God, which was recorded using AI. In this first of two episodes on the project, Lars and his guests dive into the origins of the podcast series, its dialogue format, and its key themes. Listen to a trailer to the podcast series here: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wefyg-19113b8 Or the whole podcast series here: https://borgebentsen.podbean.com The Question of God Podcast (2025). A fictional, 12-episode podcast series featuring students with different views discussing philosophy, science and belief in God, hosted by Sophie Minerva, Professor of Philosophy at NLA University College in Norway. All voices performed by A.I. The podcast is made by Peter S. Williams and Børge Elliot Bentsen, and is adapted from parts of Peter’s bookOutgrowing 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. All rights reserved.

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. The Question of God Podcast is a fictional, 12-episode podcast featuring students with different views discussing philosophy, science and belief in God. Podcasts hosted by Sophie Minerva, Professor of Philosophy at NLA University College in Norway. All voices performed by A.I. The podcast-series is made by Peter S. Williams and Børge Elliot Bentsen and is 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. All rights reserved. Here is a pdf of recommended resources for each episode The music composed for the series by Peter S. Williams is available on YouTube & on Soundcloud

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. The Question of God Podcast is a fictional, 12-episode podcast featuring students with different views discussing philosophy, science and belief in God. Podcasts hosted by Sophie Minerva, Professor of Philosophy at NLA University College in Norway. All voices performed by A.I. The podcast-series is made by Peter S. Williams and Børge Elliot Bentsen and is 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. All rights reserved. Here is a pdf of recommended resources for each episode The music composed for the series by Peter S. Williams is available on YouTube & on Soundcloud

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. The Question of God Podcast is a fictional, 12-episode podcast featuring students with different views discussing philosophy, science and belief in God. Podcasts hosted by Sophie Minerva, Professor of Philosophy at NLA University College in Norway. All voices performed by A.I. The podcast-series is made by Peter S. Williams and Børge Elliot Bentsen and is 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. All rights reserved. Here is a pdf of recommended resources for each episode The music composed for the series by Peter S. Williams is available on YouTube & on Soundcloud

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. The Question of God Podcast is a fictional, 12-episode podcast featuring students with different views discussing philosophy, science and belief in God. Podcasts hosted by Sophie Minerva, Professor of Philosophy at NLA University College in Norway. All voices performed by A.I. The podcast-series is made by Peter S. Williams and Børge Elliot Bentsen and is 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. All rights reserved. Here is a pdf of recommended resources for each episode The music composed for the series by Peter S. Williams is available on YouTube & on Soundcloud

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? The Question of God Podcast is a fictional, 12-episode podcast featuring students with different views discussing philosophy, science and belief in God. Podcasts hosted by Sophie Minerva, Professor of Philosophy at NLA University College in Norway. All voices performed by A.I. The podcast-series is made by Peter S. Williams and Børge Elliot Bentsen and is 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. All rights reserved. Here is a pdf of recommended resources for each episode The music composed for the series by Peter S. Williams is available on YouTube & on Soundcloud