1.0Sgwrs Tei Bowhttps://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cyClarke Robertshttps://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/author/clarke-roberts/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="YaehRzSAbS"><a href="https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/2015/04/13/appearance-on-bbcs-the-big-questions/">Ymddangosiad ar raglen The Big Questions ar y BBC</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/cy/2015/04/13/appearance-on-bbcs-the-big-questions/embed/#?secret=YaehRzSAbS" width="600" height="338" title="“Appearance on BBC’s The Big Questions” — Bow Tie Talks" data-secret="YaehRzSAbS" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.clarkeroberts.co.uk/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script>As those of you who follow my Twitter feed will know, I was asked to appear as a guest panelist for the BBC’s flagship religious, ethical and political debate show, The Big Questions. The questions posed in the debate was ‘Do we have free will?’, a topic I have written about in the past, but haven’t dedicated too much time to. I was joined by a number of guests including: Peter D. Williams – Catholic commentator Julian Baggini – Philosopher Owen Jones –Journalist Mark Mullins – Evangelical pastor & lawyer Catherine Heseltine – Muslim Public Affairs Committee Ani Rinchen Khandro – Buddhist nun Anil Seth – Neuroscientist Mike Pettit – Calvinist Jonathan MS Pearce – Philosopher Deirdre Bounds – Entrepreneur Trevor Little – Satanist (Thanks to Jonathan MS Pearce for the list of names: http://www.skepticink.com/tippling/2015/04/12/my-appearance-on-bbc-1s-the-big-questions-today/ accessed 13/04/15) As I signed a disclaimer stating that I was not allowed to discuss the contents of the debate (or at least I think that’s what it meant), I shan’t. What I can talk about, is my experience. I was extremely excited to have been personally invited by the production team after they found The Word and one of my pieces to do with determinism and free will. It is my ambition to become a well-recognised theologian and this seemed like a better platform than most to begin what I hope is a long and successful career. When my fiance and I arrived, we were taken to the green room where I had the chance to speak to the other panelists appearing for this debate. I was asked to check what I would be referred to as when my name came up on screen, and it indeed said “Clarke Roberts, Theologian – York St John University”. Very exciting stuff! I was told that Nicky Campbell, the host, would be making his rounds to talk to the panelists in order to get a sense of their position in the debate. He seemed to spend a long time with the Calvinist guest and indeed Owen Jones, journalist for the Guardian. I didn’t really clock how long he spent with the others as I was trying to get my points together in my head, but when it came to me, I didn’t feel like I was given all that long to explain my point. I like Nicky Campbell, but I found when he was asking me about my views, he tended to use very loaded terminology in his questions. For example, when I described my belief in God and determinism he instantly termed it “God’s plan”. When I attempted to refute this – not very articulately I must say – it seemed as though it was disregarded, and I felt like Nicky didn’t really feel I was going to be a helpful contributor. Anyway, when the debate started it was great. I kept myself quiet, listening to the other points being made by the panelists. When it came to my turn, the first thing I said received an applause – […]