Lee Strobel's book A Case for Christ is what brought my dad back to God. The book changed his life. My dad is now in heaven and I look forward to seeing him again someday.
@@radscorpion8 you should probably read through my entire comment first before commenting on how wrong Lee is. My dad is already in Heaven. You can tell him when you get there.
Lee Strobel totally lied, I don't get why Christians have any respect for him. I guess y'all don't mind liars as long as they lie in the direction you want them to lie.
This is such a great conversation! You are both so skilled at being clear and easily understood by those of us who don’t have advanced degrees in theology. Thank you for conversations like this and please have Lee on again soon!
@@tommy32408 Lee is genuinely a simpleton! I know this is merely an insult, but seriously he way over simplifies, distorts and inflates the strength of Christian thought. There are infinitely greater Christian thinkers out there. I recommend Randal Rauser.
Thanks so much. Strobel's joy and enthusiasm are infectious. I wrote the book down, definitely my next book. Great interview Sean, great questions. Love and prayers. Hoping you are finding relief from the pain. Thanks for all you do.
Strobel's joy and enthusiasm is proportional to his earning curve. If there was no one out there consuming his products, he would be furiously huddled over his keyboard with a furrowed brow trying to find the formula for his next best-seller.
@@pianogal853 I know about his supposed conversion from "atheism" while he was a reporter in Chicago. He interviewed a slew of apologists without once seeking a contrary opinion. He never once investigated other religions, starting and finishing with his targeted audience's religion. If that sounds believable to you, you'll be buying the Brooklyn Bridge next.
So you're saying he wasn't an atheist to begin with? His own story demonstrates that he has explored and lived both sides of the argument. I have also lived both sides of this worldview issue. If you don't want to truly find the facts, don't waste your time with these illogical arguments.
@@adamcosper3308 Strobel's books are awesome. But the Book of books, the Bible, is the ultimate great book, for those whose hearts and minds have been transformed by Holy Spirit.
How can we convince church leaders of the need for apologetics? So many feel it creates confusion and doubts so they refuse to offer evidence. So frustrating. Looking for help
Pastors often focus on helping you grow spiritually so that you will go out and reach the lost. Tell them apologetics helps equip you when giving the gospel.
1 Peter 3:15 NKJV - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and *always be ready to give a defense to everyone* who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; Remind of that verse.
I had a Chatty Cathy. She came from Jewel Tea Company. She was beautiful. Beige skin with cloth covered speaker. She had freckles, but, beautiful freckles. You did a lousy imitation of her talking, Lee. "I love you." "Will you play with me?" "I hurt myself." "Please brush my hair." "Please change my dress." "I'm hungry." "I'm sleepy." 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊😊😊
They are the lost who refuse to study the other side of the coin. Walking dead. The Shroud of Turin and all it's latest research is their evidence... But they refuse to STUDY.
There’s never been a time in my life where preachers weren’t claiming we were in the midst of a revival. And yet year after after year the numbers do not back their claims. It feels dishonest to say “Americans are increasingly stopping believing in god, being an atheists is twice as common for youth now than when I was a kid” and then follow up with an anecdote about how more young people are coming to Christ than in the previous 18 years combined. You can’t have it both ways Lee.
Sean, you should write a book about people's experience of blessings through tragedies from God. This might help people deal with the bad times of their lives. I know how God has blessed me so many times through all the bad decisions I have made. Hint,hint, He was teaching me something.
You should at the same time write a book about how people received blessings and healings from the other hundreds of religions around the world, including new age, suggesting that the Christian religion is not uniquely validated by these events
@@radscorpion8 Yeah, the spiritual realm is real, and Christianity acknowledges both that God is interacting with those who do not yet believe Him and that there are spiritual forces at work that are not on the side of Jesus Christ. There are two things that other religions do not have, however. 1) Fulfilled prophecy, validating the claim that Christianity is the true message of God. 2) A recognition of the perfect, absolute justice of God and a method to be reconciled to God in light of this absolute justice.
Sean had an excellent question that can be expanded upon from Lee's response. The question was basically saying if all these hundreds of "dials" are all adjusted just right for life, why is most the universe so hostile to life? An example of this is how stars give off harmful radiation and the Earth's magnetosphere is uniquely designed to shield us from it. I know God could design a universe that was safe for us to travel about. He chose not too. Some reasons can be seen, with all the special design features of Earth, we see God's care and detail design at work to provide us with a unique and well thought out home. It gives cause for faith in Him. If our home was a run of the mill and typical planet, people would be less likely see the hand of God and would think it's just they way things are by all natural causes (Romans 1 tells why many today think it's natural causes). Two, if planets like Mars were habitable and nice, a big chunk of humanity would be there already. It's the radiation poisoning during the trip there that keeps us from going in spite of it being a dangerous wasteland. Looking at God's plan for humanity in Revelation (a summary of OT prophecy) we can deduce that He wants us all here and not fragmented throughout the galaxy.
I am from South Africa (same city even) as mentioned at mark 34 of the podcast. Quite interesting that at least the mention vindicates us. Ergo, the notion that we are tribal hold no water as some developed countries would have it. I listen to this since I am a software engineer but all Christian based (the likes of Logos, e-sword etc. but different. Point is I respect that. I mean I tried for years to reach out (not marketing related) to Christian communities in the US... zero replies some of could be a question as per any of those asked in the podcast. But yeah thanks Sean, great show, I watched quite a bit before this (more than 20hrs since the pandemic. Perhaps some countries consider South Africa as mentioned, but may I never do so with other countries. I face many tough questions from unbelievers to use a softer term and intellectual channels... you get the point.
I have, but I fail to see how that has lit anything to do with what I say, I do not need supporting evidence I am a Christian and the Word of God, the Holy Spirit that dwells within me is enough or conversely evidence negating the connection between the shroud and Jesus... what is your point on this? @@eldin14
also, I mean no disrespect, I find it fascinating, but my believe is not predicated on material evidence but faith. I would rather spent my time to share the Gospel. When I relax I will watch what podcasts and hosts who already did the research have to say.@@eldin14
Great talk with Lee! His books have had a huge impact on me over the years and I've given many of his tomes away! (Commenting on 48:30ish) I think atheism is more guilty of the wish fulfillment objection from my analysis. (Just remembering back to how convenient it was for kids to adopt atheism in college.)
It’s convenient to adopt the religion you were indoctrinated into believing but it rarely results in truth. If atheism is wish fulfillment then theism is full blown delusion.
@@radscorpion8 much of his books are based on scholarly research from the experts in their respective fields so a simple debunking would take quite a bit more than the TikTok type debunking you are talking about. Even agnostic scientists agree on fine tuning, improbability of the origin of life, etc. (Lookup James Tour for instance, one of the foremost experts in the origin of life research and firmly convinced that life didn't arise by chance.) The case of the minimal facts of the resurrection are based on agreement from agnostic New Testament scholars so not sure how you would debunk that. Also on the topic of the Kalam argument...many folks smarter than either of us have taken that one up with William Lane Craig and have woefully failed to debunk that argument.
@@kermitzforg James Tour isn’t an origins of life researcher and all actual experts disagree with him. You should also wonder why creationists stopped trying to attack an irrefutable scientific fact like Evolution and instead focus entirely on Abiogenesis. If the minimal facts argument is so great then why are there only 2 historians left who still seriously try to defend the outlandish claim that the resurrection is the best explanation for the historical data? And if the Kalam is such a great argument then why don’t scientists take it seriously? Why is it only popular in the tiny echo chamber of Christian Apologists and rejected by most philosophers?
@@MrAuskiwi101 God is not "tje (sic) sky". God CREATED the sky and everything else. YOU are the one who is living in a delusional fantasy world full of self-contradictions. atheism is silly, toddler-tantrumish nonsense.
I would differ somewhat about everything we can know is provisional meaning subject to change. The Bible says we can know that we have eternal life. Science is knowing. Christianity is knowing the truth. We can know that energy and matter cannot make or direct themselves. This means that we can know that we have a Creator. Only our Creator can perfectly cover for us Himself and remake us again from the inside out by the power of His true word as no one else ever can. I also hear people saying that God is not falsifiable. God can be falsified by showing matter or energy making and directing themselves. Show us magical matter or magical morphing monkeys. Then and only then there would be no need for God.
Love your comments. God would clearly be falsifiable if you could demonstrate the things that you believe had to have happened if God isn't real and if He doesn't exist. WOW, is that a great argument. Thank you so much for the insight.
No more truth to your indoctrinated beliefs than those of 3 billion Muslims and Hindus on the planet today. Yahweh never existed any more than Baal, Asherah, Chemosh, Marduk, Dagon, or any of the other gods mentioned in the Bible. Judaism evolved from Canaanite polytheism. El, the most high god of the Canaanite pantheon was the god worshipped by the Hebrew patriarchs. Yahweh was a later invention.
Lee, God used your book spiritual mismatch in my life to bring me so much peace thru the darkest times in my life. And today my husband is a believer praise God for that!!!! Before I read the book I had a burden because I thought I had to change his heart and thru reading the book I learned that only God can do that and to trust in God not in myself. And that took away a lot of my pain and burden. God is good all the time God is good even throughout our pain and tribulations He is there!!
7:15 not believing in god doesn’t make you sad. Going through a pandemic as a younger person, not being able to pay bills due to inflation, etc etc… that can make you sad lol
QUESTION: The philosophies of Albert Camus & other existentialists / nihilists on the absurdity of life & meaninglessness are what I grapple with the most apologetically. People that believe this worldview are often hard to reason with and as hopeless as this worldview is, it can be really convincing for providing an answer to life’s toughest questions. Here’s my question. What resources are out there to that provide a solid counter to this worldview?
I’ve listened up to 38.32 and so far the latest case for God sounds very much like the old cases for God. Maybe Strobel is saving the new evidence for his book or the remaining 20 minutes of this video. I don’t have time to listen so maybe someone would be kind enough to let me know if anything new is presented.
Hey - I finished it- I would say no, nothing “new” but if you get another 20 minutes, finish it up if you want to hear some good thoughts on why God allows suffering. Otherwise, you’ve heard the gist. Have a great day friend!
@@horridhenry9920 Even as an atheist I can't make any progress with the problem of evil. Because it is answered by the fact that "we don't know God's mind" and "there could be an answer we can't conceive". You can't prove or disprove God past that point so you are forced to give up.
@@radscorpion8anyone who advances the "we can't know the mind of God" defense loses any justification for making any claims about God whatsoever. Claims like "God is good" go right out the window along with all the other things people claim to know about God.
When I first came back to faith I read the Case for Christ. I didn’t need to be assured He was real but Lees journey to faith intrigued me. What would make a grown man who was living the dream life as head of investigative journalism at one of Chicagos top papers suddenlu quit that job ane become a pastor? The Truth Who is Christ is Who and What made him change his path. Shalom
@@tomyossarian7681 surely you can seek. It’s not hard. Super genius scientist Dr. James Tour bears witness to his testing and finding. Same goes for Dr. Hugh Ross, the astrophysicist, astronomer and pastor of a church. Dr. Katherine Hayhoe is an evangelical and a woman who Time Magazine ranked in Top 50 influential scientists in the world one year. Dr. John Polkinghorne taught at Oxford and left Oxford for ministry. His subject was physics. You are aware that lightweights don’t teach at Oxford, are you not? Well, if not, I’m making you aware. Why not read Is Atheism Dead and get back to me about how you’re so sure that God is not real? Shalom
@@kennywong5857 The bottom line is, if you got the wrong god, you are fucked. And since each religious moron takes his religion on faith, faith is obviously not reliable way of finding out which one is true, is it now?
@@radscorpion8 You are wrong, dude, but don't take OUR word for it: you will find out for yourself soon enough! Death is coming like a freight train for ALL of us. Some are ready, some are not.
Why call this the latest case when its the same old apologetics like "whatever began to exist has a cause" and "look at the gospels"? There is nothing new here, its all been addressed to death for decades. The biggest flaw in all these apologetics is that they start with the conclusion they want, then try to make the evidence fit. To answer the question 'Is God real?' The only honest answer is "we don't know", or maybe "we hope so". Can you prove, or provide compelling evidence for people who don't desperately want to believe? Nope, not even close. What this book does is what all apologetics does, give people who have low epistemic bars to reach, and/or who desperately want to justify their beliefs without thinking to much, something to grasp onto and mindlessly regurgitate at critics. To anyone who honestly and openly examines both the claims of the religion, the apologetics and reality, this stuff is a joke... a set of memes. Nothing more, nothing less.
@@tomyossarian7681 Do you think this dude even knows the apologetic answer to this? Zero chance he has looked at the counter-apologetics to his beliefs.
@@justin10292000 Only if you define it that way - and that is worth nothing, unless you demonstrate it to be so. After you have demonstrated that it exists, ofc.
@@midimusicforever "Nice little false dichotomy you got there." Funny, you pretend to know what a logical fallacy is, so why is it you can't provide anything but argument for your imaginary friend?
Lee is correct in that truth is that what most closely conforms to reality. But then he lists 3 worldviews (as if there are only 3...) and then says only theism is livable.... what....? If by truth we mean what is objectively true then what is livable is irrelevant and is completely subjective and therefore a "personal truth". The very thing he was speaking against. What is important is how, and what methods we use, to figure out what conforms to reality. Epistemology. Also scientists are far from agreed that the universr had a begining. By "begining" they mean as far back as we can go at the moment of expansion. Constant expanding and deflating has far from been ruled out but most likely we will never. And in regards to the Kalem why is the best explanation that God is the eternal thing. Why not matter, for example. We know matter exists we dont know God does... why postulate God. Occam's razor
27:20 we don’t know what gravity is how can you make this claim! Fine tuned my ass why does a fine tuner need such a huge universe for earth? It’s as small as can be is a ridiculous statement.
17:30 I think you better double check that statement about scientist saying there was a beginning. Science says all matter was in one point. It does not claim a beginning. May I such you read up on the catholic priest Georges Lemaître and what he told the Pope. Keep inventing things my friend.
I'm disappointed, this is old stuff. Two points . . . Lee puts great stress and reliance on science when he talks about the Kalam and the fine tuning of the Universe, but it would be interesting to know if he places the same degree of reliance on science when it presents the overwhelming truth of evolution. Also, he completely failed to answer the point about people from different religions having spiritual experiences or a personal revelation of God. The point being . . . how can this be when they are each having a personal revelation of different Gods? In response Lee simply reverted to talking about some Christians whose lives have been changed by a personal revelation. I'm sorry, but that's not answering the question. I'm both surprised and disappointed that Sean didn't at least try to get him to address this but just let him avoid doing so.
Coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus is more vastly more important than how many believe in God? Who is the God they say they believe in? What's his name?
It is true that we have periods of time that generate more hopelessness than other periods. We also have statistics that show church attendance up from believers themselves during these rough patches, meaning Christians also suffer from the same bad patches and decide to go back to church on a more regular basis. You also don't mention the statistics of Christians also experiencing anxiety and depression even though they are believers because their God isn't going to stop that. It is true that some people in a bad place will turn to spirituality to see if they can find comfort, some do and some don't. There are people who find comfort in becoming an ex-theist and escaping the religion responsible for their anxiety and depression. We know placebo effects work so there is the matter of whether those who do manage to find comfort in Christianity do so because of this effect.
So, God sat down by his TV, turned it on, fine tuned his plarform, fine tuned his channel, fine tuned his volume and then waited 14.5 BILLION YEARS to watch his show! What a laugh!!! The Earth was formed billions of years before Man even appeared. This is like a puddle being amazed how his hole fits his shape exactly.
Actually all the reasons are very easily debunkable and incorrect. I wrote another comment you can find here explaining why his Kalam argument is deeply flawed, for example
Truth does not shift and is not dependent upon any cultural views and it is not relative to what people think is their truth . Relativism n pluralism are ridiculous movements
Lee: "CDC released a study that 60% of young female students in america experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and 25% made plans for suicide" i wouldn't put too much meaning to this study. this doesn't take into account that past generations had stigmatized mental illness and were far less willing to participate in these kinds of studies or if they did, were far more likely to lie about their true mental state. also, you cannot assume that these statistics were caused by atheism.
@@adamcosper3308 unwise interpretation is not the same as lying but you're right. no one is above lying. however, the burden of proof is on the accuser.
Sean, or anyone willing to answer... I am a Christian, and a budding apologist of sorts... my question is, since you guys brought it up, the kalam argument... it says anything that was created has a purpose/cause... Earth was created so earth has a purpose... Isn't that really circular reasoning since you have not yet to prove point A, that everything created has a purpose/cause? Couldn't an atheist say there is no purpose or cause so that argument falls flat? Can you flush this one out for me?
I'm neither a Christian nor an apologist, but I think you're making a mistake in conflating "cause" with "purpose." The argument isn't about purpose (i.e. "why"), but causality (i.e. "how"). The Kalam, stated most simply, is: (A) Anything that begins to exist has a cause. (B) The universe began to exist. (C) Therefore the universe has a cause. This IS a valid logical statement that isn't circular. That said... it's also not that great of an argument for God. Most atheists will grant (A), and that (C) follows from (A) and (B). However, some will dispute (B). The Big Bang theory and the various observations that support it do make a strong case for a beginning to the _observable_ universe. But whether "the observable universe" and "the universe" should be considered synonyms is debatable. It's possible that some aspect of the universe existed before the Big Bang, which might _not_ have had a beginning but might have caused the Big Bang. I think the quantum foam gets tossed around as one possible candidate? I'm not a physicist, so I couldn't say much more about that. Additionally, many atheists will dispute that (C) says anything about _"God,"_ per se. Maybe the Kalam does show that there's a cause to the universe. But there's nothing in the Kalam that demonstrates that this "cause" is personal or omnipotent or anything like that. You have to use other arguments to add those aspects to the Kalam's "cause," which involves a new set of questions and debates.
@@matterhorn731 I suppose my thought is it says (in your formulation) claim a and claim b proves claim c…. All I’m saying is I can see how someone could counter saying the earth, known or unknown, had a beginning, but to say it has a cause…. An atheist, especially a naturalist, would say there was no cause, it’s random chance and a cosmic accident, so if claim a can be argued against, then claim c has no grounds. That’s why I thought it to be circular because claim c requires claim a and claim a require claim c. Of all the evidences and arguments for God, this argument was one I thought never fully made sense especially when used against atheists.
@@AWphotosnv Oh, bro, you have already demonstrated you are bad at logic, so you will fit perfectly in apologetic circles. Kalaam is structurally valid, or we grant it that validity, even though that first premise seems to be constructed specifically to allow for eternal beings to exist without a cause, which is poisoning the well. Or in the least, existence of eternal beings that have no beginning should be demonstrated along with kalaam to offer them as a possible cause. The soundness is the problem. I will argue both premises have not been demonstrated to be true, they are just assertions. You claim that "An atheist, especially a naturalist, would say there was no cause, it’s random chance and a cosmic accident, so if claim a can be argued against, then claim c has no grounds." That is very weak bro: 1. Being an atheist does not necessitate position on anything except not accepting the theistic claim of a god to the extent of claiming god does not exist (in some cases). 2. Naturalist might tell you that he doesn't know if universe has a cause. There is an option of infinite causality too. There is an option of a god who died after causing the universe, or a god that caused the universe and stopped caring about it. There is literally countless number of non-god options you could posit as the cause, even if you demonstrate the cause is required.
@@tomyossarian7681 Geez, here i am trying to Steel-Man your position, yet if you see it as a valid formulation, that's great to hear. All i am saying is i can see the pushback from people saying if the universe was cause-less, or purpose-less as it were, then the first premise of this argument falls flat. But do forgive me for trying to better understand into a mind such as yours...
@@AWphotosnv Sorry, I did not mean to be too harsh - but Kalaam in particular has no issue with circularity. Circular argument is something else entirely. I might have told you you are going to be a bad apologist if you don't learn to ignore the valid responses to arguments such as Kalaam, which is a credit to you as a thinking person atm. Apologist is someone who at the expense of their intellectual honesty keeps their belief alive - that is my impression so far, so I hope you keep your intellectual honesty.. wherever it may lead.
As the world has Secularized, it has gotten neither more humane nor more fulfilling. For that matter, it doesn’t even seem more Scientifically advanced. All of it’s advancements beyond previous genre are a result of research from less Secular times.
We are definitely more Scientifically advanced. It is just that humans need tribes and hope, meaning, and purpose. That is why you see the new religion "Progressiveness" so much. I agree, the Progressive religion is worse for humanity than Christianity.
I've grown weary of trying to convince people of something they've made the decision to not believe, people have hardened their hearts we are living in the last days
The Bible says "do not grow weary of doing good"- sharing the good news is doing good. Don't give up. You are planting the seed, someone else will water, and God will do the saving work. There are MANY testimonies of people who are now believers because someone like you planted a seed. Case in point - Me! And my hubby!
I agree. Fine tuning requires a fine tuner. BUT that does not mean that this fine tuner is described accurately by any of the world’s religions. It can be that some may be closer than others but the rules and marginalization put on people by religion is very, very human and ONLY works to serve _certain_ humans. You just can’t prove that Christianity describes the fine tuner accurately.
Fair point Rhonda. You are right that fine-tuning can’t get us all the way to the Christian God, but it is consistent with the Christian God and rules out others.
@@SeanMcDowell I mean, I guess…maybe? I think that would actually be a good subject to do a video on because I’d like to see how fine tuning points mostly to the Christian God rather than just some God who decided to create and run. I’m not painting Him as some dead beat dad or anything, I’m just saying the creator could be hands off, letting us have authentic experiences, both good and bad and I don’t see how fine tuning rules that possibility out.
@@kartashuvit4971 The term fine tuning is commonly used and understood in the natural sciences, but it doesn’t mean what Christian’s think it does. They simply grab hold of that because they think it implies a “tuner”.
@@biddiemutter3481 I was mostly making a silly jab about them both arguing dishonestly. But in truth, I don’t know Lee’s work well enough to say that. Frank on the other hand has shown his dishonesty time and time again.
I don't know if science could make the idea of a Creator irrelevant, but as science stands today, it can hint that a Creator is unnecessary. We have a history of humans assigning supernatural causes until we learned the natural cause and replaced them. That is where we are today even. The cosmological argument only works if everything "begins" to exist but we already have evidence for things that don't begin to exist such as energy that cannot be created nor destroyed, thus is eternal and uncaused. If we have natural uncaused causes, we don't require a supernatural uncaused cause. This isn't to say a God cannot exist, only that it is unnecessary to have the existence we experience.
Atheists ignore fine tuning arguments, say it's just the conditions in this Universe and doesn't prove anything. I studied biology as an engineer and my employer paid for it. I had to design life support for long-term space travel. They didn't want to hire a biologist. So I volunteered since they were paying for it. Studying Life made me think that if it came about by a natural process we cannot define the process in a way that makes sense. It couldn't happen in small steps because many of Life's substances would breakdown unless something else exists to preserve them. They've found simple carbohydrates like ribose on asteroids frozen, but if not frozen it has a short lifespan before it breaks down. No ribose, no RNA for the DNA-RNA interactome. You never hear Origin of Life researchers ever speak about the interactome of how the functions of DNA can build and sustain even the simplest life-form. The earliest life ever found was a simple blue-green cyanobacteria that could perform photosynthesis 3.5 billion years ago that still exists today. There are claims of finding earlier organisms, but they're questionable. One is a microscopic piece of stretched out Carbon, hard to consider that as definitive evidence for Life. No matter how much one wants there to be no God it is hard to deny that Life is an engineered system. They have never found a true building block of Life like a protein or complex polysaccharide. They've only found the sand, rocks and clay that blocks are made from. Carbon compounds or Organic and some 70+ amino acids and Life only uses 20 of them and they are left-handed, means the Hydrogen is on the left side of the molecule and only recently did they discover the quantum property that the electrons spin in one direction to hook a protein together. Also several amino acids are not synthesized by an organism and must be acquired from the environment. I always found it interesting that phenylalanine found in sugar substitutes is an amino acid the human body doesn't make, so some Sweet & Low in your morning coffee may not be such a bad thing after all.😉
"If you could ask god one question..." Why aren't you revealing yourself in a clear, no-nonsense way for everyone? Why this BS going through prophets, apostles and apologists with their "trust me bruh",? Because I don't see any reason to trust them. None!
God Himself tells us that He reveals Himself in the creation around us. He also revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. If you really want to know, look seriously at these. If you don’t really want to know.. just don’t then.
@@clariceberggren5614 Nope! It's those apostles and prophets who are making the claims about god revealing itself in the creation. Big difference. Because we are right back to their "trust me bruh". I dont trust them and have, so far, no reason to do so. "He also revealed himself in jesus..." Again, that is according to a bunch of "messengers" getting us right back to their "trust me bruh". If god wants to have a relation with me it's up to him to communicate that desire to me in a clear, no-nonsense way. I've spent way too many years looking for him without getting as much as a "howdy" back. So...
It sounds like Lee needs to do a "Case for Noah's Flood" book. Why should people trust Genesis when it portrays such a young earth? Could it really be that it is young?
There's plenty of apologists who don't believe in a young earth, and Genesis makes no attempt to age the earth anyway, that's us reading something into the text that the original author doesn't seem to be trying to portray at all.
I’m a young earth creationist (YEC) and I think there is compelling evidence that leads this way (check out Ken Ham’s The Lie: Evolution for a very simple argument for YEC) but there are, like the other commenter said, lots of people who hold different creation views - even some that believe in evolution w/ an initial Creator (this doesn’t make sense to me but their arguments may bridge a gap for some) this book would be awesome!!! There is evidence for the flood - plenty enough to create a book and outside the faith people could actually understand the scientific evidence to hold the view.
@@PGBigRedWell said and 100% correct. At some level, it doesn't matter; but when kids are taught they have to believe this stuff, and then they arrive at college level science, they end up thinking, "Well if this isn't true, I guess it's all a lie." Many, even most former believers are of this type, give or take. Ergo: it matters a lot. Jesus is the Incarnation and the tomb was empty. These are the essentials of Christian faith. Love God and your neighbor as yourself are the essentials of Christian teaching. We should not push folks to believe anything else, especially if it flies in the face of science, which is nothing but our best method of knowing God's creation. Forgive me the rant! 😂 😂😂😂
@eddyreiter1 Romans 1:20 tells us that the observance of nature tells us of the divine and powerful nature of the Lord. We should be pressing that science confirms God, and stand in awe of His grandeur. Not telling people that those who are way smarter than them are lying about everything in some conspiracy to get rid of God. We don't need conspiracies for people to reject God.
It's unfortunate when someone doesn't reach further in what is spiritual. Seek and ye shall find but if you truly don't understand, you won't be given.
Lord, lunatic or liar.. I read Sean's dad Josh McDowell's, More than a carpenter book, about 30 years ago,, and I'll always remember that phrase.. when people say Jesus was just a good teacher,, or a prophet, this couldn't be so.. does anybody remember that part ?and did Josh get some of that from CS Lewis? 🤔🐦
Sean, this is exactly the opposite. A new paper just came out this week, in fact, further supporting naturalism. Your case only gets weaker and weaker and weaker... But, keep trying, as Christians leave the church in droves, I admire you tenacity to stem the tide.
Frank Turek n the late Norman Geisler nailed it in their classic book - I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist .. That book blows atheist scholars minds n renders their worldview to the level of absolute foolishness
I am an atheist and a biblical historian. How does my position in atheism - to suspend any acknowledgment as to the reality of any particular god until sufficient credible evidence is presented - _foolish?_
As we all know, somebody created the universe. And he did the best he could, but he had no experience. He tested his design, but the test failed and he still hasn't fixed it.
12:14 for the record… every Christian is agnostic. With that said, we don’t have a way to study the supernatural (yet?). So you can’t (without outright lying) say Jesus is the truth. If you do, you are lying.
We live in a world where the concept of God is extremely prevalent so it makes sense that believers and non-believers would question that concept precisely because it is not that apparent. We watch believers become non-believers and non-believers become believers, meaning people can be convinced either way. Even if you become convinced a God must exist, there is still the matter of whether any religions are correct about this God and every religion has it's problems that point towards a man made creation rather than from an actual God should one exist. If you can demonstrate that the bible is indeed purely man made, what about those objective moral values contained within the bible, are they just human subjective moral values asserted to be objective? Yes humans want answers, yes humans want the truth but at every turn we are met with deceptions whether they be intentional or just out of human ignorance. Should a God exist, skeptics have the better case for why that doesn't need to be the case. Maybe one day there will be an actual case for why a God must exist but we are not there yet.
People get pulled into the argument of is Jesus God or is there a God but turn a blind eye to the magic, superstition, mythology in the old and new testament testament and ask other religious scripture for that matter. Sean and other apologists have devoted such a large part of their life to trying to convince people, i believe they have appropriated the sunken cost fallacy.
I think it's interest how he said that we could feed the whole world, if we cared. Because...if God wanted to, he could unilaterally save everyone that has ever lived...by, just forgiving them post mortem. But, he has chosen not to.
Part of God's character is perfect justice. Sin must be paid for. Everyone who has ever lived has died, and this is a direct consequence of God caring. He cares that people are evil. Humanity could feed the whole world if we cared. This is part of God's test for us, to see which of us will act on this and which of us will not. God cares which are which. He cares which people will choose to love righteousness. He cares if people will accept the mercy of Christ's blood or if people will choose to reject it. Sure, God could force the blood of Christ on everyone if He chose to, but that's missing the point of this creation. God cares about having people who choose His ways and bringing them into eternity with Him, and for those who reject His ways, He cares that they receive what they deserve.
@@StageWatcher "Sure, God could force the blood of Christ on everyone if He chose to..." So, he prefers for most people (that He "cares" about) to spend eternity in Hell?
@@jayvansickle7607 If that is what they deserve and they did not seek God's mercy, then so be it. Do you believe that evil should be given a free pass to enter into paradise when it has no desire to be redeemed? Do you believe that those who hate God should be forced to be in His presence for all eternity?
@@StageWatcher If the choice is eternal punishment... or, being forced to be redeemed and transformed by God, to then be in heaven forever? Yes, force redemption on everyone by the blood/sacrifice of Jesus.
@@jayvansickle7607 Okay, well, God, who has a far greater understanding of all the stakes, all the implications, all the evils, and all the goods, has determined that eternal punishment for those who reject righteousness in this life is the better approach. I'll defer to His judgment on the matter of free will.
I have gone down the rabbit hole of the Shroud of Turin. and I just don't see how that image could of been made other than a miraculous radiation event. Think of it 3 D image that is a negative on Linen that is not normally a material that can have photographic properties. The Shroud was a big part of my conversion.
@@tomyossarian7681what an idiotic comment in light of the latest REAL SCIENCE that is all over social media on the Shroud and that proven false radio carbon date. You are just a troll who does no research b4 spewing lies.
The Shroud is absolutely the most talked about proof of Christ out there right now. I spoke to a Nuclear Physicist out of Seattle who is going to Israel to test all the tombs of Christ for a nuclear event on the walls. He says the event that left the image would have left traceable nuclear change on the walls of the tomb it occured in. Can't wait for his results.
Lee Strobel's book A Case for Christ is what brought my dad back to God. The book changed his life. My dad is now in heaven and I look forward to seeing him again someday.
You should tell your dad to read my comment above and see the ways in which Strobel's arguments are deeply wrong
@@radscorpion8 you should probably read through my entire comment first before commenting on how wrong Lee is. My dad is already in Heaven. You can tell him when you get there.
@@sharonrussell1560 They don’t have high speed internet in heaven? 🤭
Lee Strobel totally lied, I don't get why Christians have any respect for him.
I guess y'all don't mind liars as long as they lie in the direction you want them to lie.
@@tomyossarian7681 😂
The reporting in the Bible is much better than anything we are receiving today in our media! Thank you Jesus!
This is such a great conversation! You are both so skilled at being clear and easily understood by those of us who don’t have advanced degrees in theology. Thank you for conversations like this and please have Lee on again soon!
Lee almost makes it simple enough for me to understand. Really good conversation.
@@tommy32408 Lee is genuinely a simpleton! I know this is merely an insult, but seriously he way over simplifies, distorts and inflates the strength of Christian thought. There are infinitely greater Christian thinkers out there. I recommend Randal Rauser.
Thanks, I'll check him out..@@BigIdeaSeeker
Thanks so much. Strobel's joy and enthusiasm are infectious. I wrote the book down, definitely my next book. Great interview Sean, great questions. Love and prayers. Hoping you are finding relief from the pain. Thanks for all you do.
Strobel's joy and enthusiasm is proportional to his earning curve. If there was no one out there consuming his products, he would be furiously huddled over his keyboard with a furrowed brow trying to find the formula for his next best-seller.
@Simon.the.Likeable apparently you don't know Lee's history. That's a standard Satan-Job attack
@@pianogal853 I know about his supposed conversion from "atheism" while he was a reporter in Chicago. He interviewed a slew of apologists without once seeking a contrary opinion. He never once investigated other religions, starting and finishing with his targeted audience's religion. If that sounds believable to you, you'll be buying the Brooklyn Bridge next.
@@Simon.the.Likeable well said Simon :)
So you're saying he wasn't an atheist to begin with? His own story demonstrates that he has explored and lived both sides of the argument.
I have also lived both sides of this worldview issue.
If you don't want to truly find the facts, don't waste your time with these illogical arguments.
Glad to see you up and about Sean. Hope you are feeling better!
Thank you-getting there!
@SeanMcDowell may I ask what happened? Out of the loop
SPOILER: Yes
Bro, spoiler alert!!!
Why should I even watch it now!?!?
(I’m kidding btw)
That made me laugh 😂
😁😂
Spoiler: No
Yes, it only exists in your head
I love Lee and have read most , if not all, his books! Always so glad when you have him on your show Sean!!!
I'm sorry. Hopefully you'll get to read a good book some day.
@@adamcosper3308 Strobel's books are awesome. But the Book of books, the Bible, is the ultimate great book, for those whose hearts and minds have been transformed by Holy Spirit.
How can we convince church leaders of the need for apologetics? So many feel it creates confusion and doubts so they refuse to offer evidence. So frustrating. Looking for help
Pastors often focus on helping you grow spiritually so that you will go out and reach the lost. Tell them apologetics helps equip you when giving the gospel.
1 Peter 3:15 NKJV - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and *always be ready to give a defense to everyone* who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Remind of that verse.
You have to remember that church is about making money. Let your pastor know that you are willing to pay for apologetics.
@adamcosper3308 LOL what? What church are you going to 🫣
@@adamcosper3308 clearly the response of a troll and it is very naive as well.
Great interview. I'm looking forward to reading the book.
Praying for you Sean. Stay strong and healthy brother.
I had a Chatty Cathy. She came from Jewel Tea Company. She was beautiful. Beige skin with cloth covered speaker. She had freckles, but, beautiful freckles. You did a lousy imitation of her talking, Lee.
"I love you." "Will you play with me?" "I hurt myself." "Please brush my hair." "Please change my dress."
"I'm hungry." "I'm sleepy."
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊😊😊
I really love how Lee Strobel uses math to show that God's intellect and complexity requires a fine tuner. Great self own bud.
Increased percentage of people CHOOSING to not Believe in God🙏
They are the lost who refuse to study the other side of the coin. Walking dead. The Shroud of Turin and all it's latest research is their evidence... But they refuse to STUDY.
There is hope for our country. Hope those numbers keep trending the right way.
I love these videos, often the questions we take for granted have a greater depth to them than we might have considered. God Bless
There’s never been a time in my life where preachers weren’t claiming we were in the midst of a revival. And yet year after after year the numbers do not back their claims.
It feels dishonest to say “Americans are increasingly stopping believing in god, being an atheists is twice as common for youth now than when I was a kid” and then follow up with an anecdote about how more young people are coming to Christ than in the previous 18 years combined.
You can’t have it both ways Lee.
Does Lee address animal suffering in the book?
Thank you for this interview.
Sean, you should write a book about people's experience of blessings through tragedies from God. This might help people deal with the bad times of their lives. I know how God has blessed me so many times through all the bad decisions I have made. Hint,hint, He was teaching me something.
Good idea!
You should at the same time write a book about how people received blessings and healings from the other hundreds of religions around the world, including new age, suggesting that the Christian religion is not uniquely validated by these events
@@radscorpion8 Yeah, the spiritual realm is real, and Christianity acknowledges both that God is interacting with those who do not yet believe Him and that there are spiritual forces at work that are not on the side of Jesus Christ. There are two things that other religions do not have, however.
1) Fulfilled prophecy, validating the claim that Christianity is the true message of God.
2) A recognition of the perfect, absolute justice of God and a method to be reconciled to God in light of this absolute justice.
@@radscorpion8 👊😉😉
Is this a joke?
Sean had an excellent question that can be expanded upon from Lee's response. The question was basically saying if all these hundreds of "dials" are all adjusted just right for life, why is most the universe so hostile to life? An example of this is how stars give off harmful radiation and the Earth's magnetosphere is uniquely designed to shield us from it. I know God could design a universe that was safe for us to travel about. He chose not too. Some reasons can be seen, with all the special design features of Earth, we see God's care and detail design at work to provide us with a unique and well thought out home. It gives cause for faith in Him. If our home was a run of the mill and typical planet, people would be less likely see the hand of God and would think it's just they way things are by all natural causes (Romans 1 tells why many today think it's natural causes). Two, if planets like Mars were habitable and nice, a big chunk of humanity would be there already. It's the radiation poisoning during the trip there that keeps us from going in spite of it being a dangerous wasteland. Looking at God's plan for humanity in Revelation (a summary of OT prophecy) we can deduce that He wants us all here and not fragmented throughout the galaxy.
I’m fascinated by Lee Strobel’s accent. In particular, the way he pronounces all his “o”s as “u”s... “Gud, ductor, Uccam’s Razor, cusmulogy…”
I am from South Africa (same city even) as mentioned at mark 34 of the podcast. Quite interesting that at least the mention vindicates us. Ergo, the notion that we are tribal hold no water as some developed countries would have it. I listen to this since I am a software engineer but all Christian based (the likes of Logos, e-sword etc. but different. Point is I respect that. I mean I tried for years to reach out (not marketing related) to Christian communities in the US... zero replies some of could be a question as per any of those asked in the podcast. But yeah thanks Sean, great show, I watched quite a bit before this (more than 20hrs since the pandemic. Perhaps some countries consider South Africa as mentioned, but may I never do so with other countries. I face many tough questions from unbelievers to use a softer term and intellectual channels... you get the point.
Study the latest science on the Shroud of Turin.
I have, but I fail to see how that has lit anything to do with what I say, I do not need supporting evidence I am a Christian and the Word of God, the Holy Spirit that dwells within me is enough or conversely evidence negating the connection between the shroud and Jesus... what is your point on this? @@eldin14
also, I mean no disrespect, I find it fascinating, but my believe is not predicated on material evidence but faith. I would rather spent my time to share the Gospel. When I relax I will watch what podcasts and hosts who already did the research have to say.@@eldin14
Thanks for the wonderful insights into apologetics
Please please pray for me if you tread this, for extreme healing
Great talk with Lee! His books have had a huge impact on me over the years and I've given many of his tomes away! (Commenting on 48:30ish) I think atheism is more guilty of the wish fulfillment objection from my analysis. (Just remembering back to how convenient it was for kids to adopt atheism in college.)
It’s convenient to adopt the religion you were indoctrinated into believing but it rarely results in truth. If atheism is wish fulfillment then theism is full blown delusion.
Actually his books are very easily debunkable and incorrect. I wrote a comment above explaining why his Kalam argument is deeply wrong, for example
@@radscorpion8 much of his books are based on scholarly research from the experts in their respective fields so a simple debunking would take quite a bit more than the TikTok type debunking you are talking about. Even agnostic scientists agree on fine tuning, improbability of the origin of life, etc. (Lookup James Tour for instance, one of the foremost experts in the origin of life research and firmly convinced that life didn't arise by chance.) The case of the minimal facts of the resurrection are based on agreement from agnostic New Testament scholars so not sure how you would debunk that. Also on the topic of the Kalam argument...many folks smarter than either of us have taken that one up with William Lane Craig and have woefully failed to debunk that argument.
@@kermitzforgYour apologists are lying to you.
@@kermitzforg
James Tour isn’t an origins of life researcher and all actual experts disagree with him.
You should also wonder why creationists stopped trying to attack an irrefutable scientific fact like Evolution and instead focus entirely on Abiogenesis.
If the minimal facts argument is so great then why are there only 2 historians left who still seriously try to defend the outlandish claim that the resurrection is the best explanation for the historical data?
And if the Kalam is such a great argument then why don’t scientists take it seriously?
Why is it only popular in the tiny echo chamber of Christian Apologists and rejected by most philosophers?
Great interview, thanks for sharing during this Holy season.✝️
I have watched a couple of Lee’s documentaries on Tubi. They are really good.
Correlation does not equal causation
Wow, I didn't know that Mr. Strobel was still alive. I have enjoyed his books.
Even if he dies we can just pretend he’s still alive. Works with Jesus.
@@w4rsh1pyou haven’t actually read Lee’s book, have you?
@@ryankelly9032 lord no, my time is better spent on reality.
@@w4rsh1p his book provides the evidence for the proof of the resurrection. It’s definitely worth your time.
This is always my first ask: Demonstrate that the universe is the effect of any cause.
I'm grateful to watch this topic.
Yes he is real.
6:32 but correlation ≠ causation...
Praying for a fast recovery Sean! God bless!
Talking to tje sky and pretending your helping.
@@MrAuskiwi101 God is not "tje (sic) sky". God CREATED the sky and everything else. YOU are the one who is living in a delusional fantasy world full of self-contradictions. atheism is silly, toddler-tantrumish nonsense.
I would differ somewhat about everything we can know is provisional meaning subject to change. The Bible says we can know that we have eternal life. Science is knowing. Christianity is knowing the truth. We can know that energy and matter cannot make or direct themselves. This means that we can know that we have a Creator. Only our Creator can perfectly cover for us Himself and remake us again from the inside out by the power of His true word as no one else ever can.
I also hear people saying that God is not falsifiable. God can be falsified by showing matter or energy making and directing themselves. Show us magical matter or magical morphing monkeys. Then and only then there would be no need for God.
Love your comments. God would clearly be falsifiable if you could demonstrate the things that you believe had to have happened if God isn't real and if He doesn't exist. WOW, is that a great argument. Thank you so much for the insight.
No more truth to your indoctrinated beliefs than those of 3 billion Muslims and Hindus on the planet today. Yahweh never existed any more than Baal, Asherah, Chemosh, Marduk, Dagon, or any of the other gods mentioned in the Bible. Judaism evolved from Canaanite polytheism. El, the most high god of the Canaanite pantheon was the god worshipped by the Hebrew patriarchs. Yahweh was a later invention.
Lee, God used your book spiritual mismatch in my life to bring me so much peace thru the darkest times in my life. And today my husband is a believer praise God for that!!!! Before I read the book I had a burden because I thought I had to change his heart and thru reading the book I learned that only God can do that and to trust in God not in myself. And that took away a lot of my pain and burden. God is good all the time God is good even throughout our pain and tribulations He is there!!
Thanks for the interview, I appreciate Lee Strobel, and that story about Evel Knievel was awesome too 🎉
7:15 not believing in god doesn’t make you sad. Going through a pandemic as a younger person, not being able to pay bills due to inflation, etc etc… that can make you sad lol
Would it be possible to add the names of the other books you mentioned in the programme notes?
QUESTION:
The philosophies of Albert Camus & other existentialists / nihilists on the absurdity of life & meaninglessness are what I grapple with the most apologetically. People that believe this worldview are often hard to reason with and as hopeless as this worldview is, it can be really convincing for providing an answer to life’s toughest questions. Here’s my question. What resources are out there to that provide a solid counter to this worldview?
I’m with you on this! 😊
Belief is a powerful thing. So I'm being very mindful about it.
I’ve listened up to 38.32 and so far the latest case for God sounds very much like the old cases for God. Maybe Strobel is saving the new evidence for his book or the remaining 20 minutes of this video. I don’t have time to listen so maybe someone would be kind enough to let me know if anything new is presented.
Hey - I finished it- I would say no, nothing “new” but if you get another 20 minutes, finish it up if you want to hear some good thoughts on why God allows suffering. Otherwise, you’ve heard the gist. Have a great day friend!
Because God causes suffering and ordered people to make other people suffer?@@hbenny5752
@@hbenny5752 Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will finish it. The problem of evil/ suffering is a major concern of mine.
@@horridhenry9920 Even as an atheist I can't make any progress with the problem of evil. Because it is answered by the fact that "we don't know God's mind" and "there could be an answer we can't conceive". You can't prove or disprove God past that point so you are forced to give up.
@@radscorpion8anyone who advances the "we can't know the mind of God" defense loses any justification for making any claims about God whatsoever. Claims like "God is good" go right out the window along with all the other things people claim to know about God.
I hope the HISTORIANS will PUBLISH the MOTIVATION of the RESSURECTION of CHRIST before it will be TOO LATE. TO GOD BE THE GLORY SIR STROBEL❤❤❤
When I first came back to faith I read the Case for Christ. I didn’t need to be assured He was real but Lees journey to faith intrigued me. What would make a grown man who was living the dream life as head of investigative journalism at one of Chicagos top papers suddenlu quit that job ane become a pastor? The Truth Who is Christ is Who and What made him change his path. Shalom
If He is really real, SURELY you can DEMONSTRATE it. Please do, become the first human who managed to do that.
@@tomyossarian7681 surely you can seek. It’s not hard. Super genius scientist Dr. James Tour bears witness to his testing and finding. Same goes for Dr. Hugh Ross, the astrophysicist, astronomer and pastor of a church. Dr. Katherine Hayhoe is an evangelical and a woman who Time Magazine ranked in Top 50 influential scientists in the world one year. Dr. John Polkinghorne taught at Oxford and left Oxford for ministry. His subject was physics. You are aware that lightweights don’t teach at Oxford, are you not? Well, if not, I’m making you aware. Why not read Is Atheism Dead and get back to me about how you’re so sure that God is not real? Shalom
@@tomyossarian7681 The bottom line is, if God is demonstrated to you then how can you be saved by faith.
@@kennywong5857 The bottom line is, if you got the wrong god, you are fucked. And since each religious moron takes his religion on faith, faith is obviously not reliable way of finding out which one is true, is it now?
Lee is an obvious fraud.
Awesome Interview!!! ✝️👍🤙✌️
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
@@SeanMcDowell responding only to the positive comments tsk tsk :P
@@radscorpion8 You are wrong, dude, but don't take OUR word for it: you will find out for yourself soon enough! Death is coming like a freight train for ALL of us. Some are ready, some are not.
Why call this the latest case when its the same old apologetics like "whatever began to exist has a cause" and "look at the gospels"? There is nothing new here, its all been addressed to death for decades. The biggest flaw in all these apologetics is that they start with the conclusion they want, then try to make the evidence fit.
To answer the question 'Is God real?' The only honest answer is "we don't know", or maybe "we hope so". Can you prove, or provide compelling evidence for people who don't desperately want to believe? Nope, not even close.
What this book does is what all apologetics does, give people who have low epistemic bars to reach, and/or who desperately want to justify their beliefs without thinking to much, something to grasp onto and mindlessly regurgitate at critics. To anyone who honestly and openly examines both the claims of the religion, the apologetics and reality, this stuff is a joke... a set of memes. Nothing more, nothing less.
There is no real science or logic that supports the idea that everything made itself... therefore, God.
There is no real science or logic that claims the idea that everything made itself
Was everything made by something else? If true, that includes god, doesn't it?
If not true, why do we need an extra step beyond Universe itself?
@@tomyossarian7681 Do you think this dude even knows the apologetic answer to this? Zero chance he has looked at the counter-apologetics to his beliefs.
@@tomyossarian7681"gods" are created. GOD is self-existent and uncaused, by definition.
@@justin10292000 Only if you define it that way - and that is worth nothing, unless you demonstrate it to be so. After you have demonstrated that it exists, ofc.
It's a strong case!
"It's a strong case!" Not how science works. Are you slow or uninformed?
@@frosted1030 Nice little false dichotomy you got there.
@@midimusicforever "Nice little false dichotomy you got there." Funny, you pretend to know what a logical fallacy is, so why is it you can't provide anything but argument for your imaginary friend?
@@frosted1030 "pretend" 😅
There's actually good historical evidence for that Jesus rose from the dead, for one.
@@midimusicforever "There's actually good historical evidence" No such thing. But do go on. Where's your model?
GREAT VIDEO, Very Informative.
If you call logical fallacies information, well - VERY informative indeed.
Human suffering is inevitable due to the fall, we still will have psychological distress,
Human suffering is inevitable because god created
So it’s our fault that there are earthquakes?
Lee is correct in that truth is that what most closely conforms to reality. But then he lists 3 worldviews (as if there are only 3...) and then says only theism is livable.... what....? If by truth we mean what is objectively true then what is livable is irrelevant and is completely subjective and therefore a "personal truth". The very thing he was speaking against.
What is important is how, and what methods we use, to figure out what conforms to reality. Epistemology.
Also scientists are far from agreed that the universr had a begining. By "begining" they mean as far back as we can go at the moment of expansion. Constant expanding and deflating has far from been ruled out but most likely we will never.
And in regards to the Kalem why is the best explanation that God is the eternal thing. Why not matter, for example. We know matter exists we dont know God does... why postulate God. Occam's razor
27:20 we don’t know what gravity is how can you make this claim! Fine tuned my ass why does a fine tuner need such a huge universe for earth? It’s as small as can be is a ridiculous statement.
Of course He is. He's amazing!
17:30 I think you better double check that statement about scientist saying there was a beginning. Science says all matter was in one point. It does not claim a beginning. May I such you read up on the catholic priest Georges Lemaître and what he told the Pope.
Keep inventing things my friend.
So goooooooooood
Much thanks to you both for what you have done 🙏
9:16 praying (evidence shows) does not work.
I'm disappointed, this is old stuff. Two points . . . Lee puts great stress and reliance on science when he talks about the Kalam and the fine tuning of the Universe, but it would be interesting to know if he places the same degree of reliance on science when it presents the overwhelming truth of evolution.
Also, he completely failed to answer the point about people from different religions having spiritual experiences or a personal revelation of God. The point being . . . how can this be when they are each having a personal revelation of different Gods? In response Lee simply reverted to talking about some Christians whose lives have been changed by a personal revelation. I'm sorry, but that's not answering the question. I'm both surprised and disappointed that Sean didn't at least try to get him to address this but just let him avoid doing so.
Yes
God has proven He Is, simply by virtue of His Wonderful Creation. ✝️❤️👍👍
Coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus is more vastly more important than how many believe in God? Who is the God they say they believe in? What's his name?
Pretty cool!
It is true that we have periods of time that generate more hopelessness than other periods. We also have statistics that show church attendance up from believers themselves during these rough patches, meaning Christians also suffer from the same bad patches and decide to go back to church on a more regular basis. You also don't mention the statistics of Christians also experiencing anxiety and depression even though they are believers because their God isn't going to stop that. It is true that some people in a bad place will turn to spirituality to see if they can find comfort, some do and some don't. There are people who find comfort in becoming an ex-theist and escaping the religion responsible for their anxiety and depression. We know placebo effects work so there is the matter of whether those who do manage to find comfort in Christianity do so because of this effect.
So, God sat down by his TV, turned it on, fine tuned his plarform, fine tuned his channel, fine tuned his volume and then waited 14.5 BILLION YEARS to watch his show!
What a laugh!!!
The Earth was formed billions of years before Man even appeared.
This is like a puddle being amazed how his hole fits his shape exactly.
Amazing interview! There are so many convincing reasons to believe! Thank you both !
*(AlsoPraying for your healing , Sean.)
Actually all the reasons are very easily debunkable and incorrect. I wrote another comment you can find here explaining why his Kalam argument is deeply flawed, for example
You have very low standards. Please never do jury duty, thanks.
Truth does not shift and is not dependent upon any cultural views and it is not relative to what people think is their truth . Relativism n pluralism are ridiculous movements
Lee: "CDC released a study that 60% of young female students in america experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness and 25% made plans for suicide"
i wouldn't put too much meaning to this study. this doesn't take into account that past generations had stigmatized mental illness and were far less willing to participate in these kinds of studies or if they did, were far more likely to lie about their true mental state. also, you cannot assume that these statistics were caused by atheism.
We've seen an alarming jump in suicides and attempted suicides. It's very real. No, atheism isn't the cause.
Lee isn't above lying.
@@adamcosper3308 unwise interpretation is not the same as lying but you're right. no one is above lying. however, the burden of proof is on the accuser.
I tell a lot of PEOPLE about THE CASE FOR CHRIST . YOU DON’t KNOW ME! For me was the apex of that awesome Movie !
Why is the earth so small in such a large universe
Uhhh... Who cares why.
72 years old? Thought he was like 60 at most.
Sean, or anyone willing to answer... I am a Christian, and a budding apologist of sorts... my question is, since you guys brought it up, the kalam argument... it says anything that was created has a purpose/cause... Earth was created so earth has a purpose... Isn't that really circular reasoning since you have not yet to prove point A, that everything created has a purpose/cause? Couldn't an atheist say there is no purpose or cause so that argument falls flat? Can you flush this one out for me?
I'm neither a Christian nor an apologist, but I think you're making a mistake in conflating "cause" with "purpose." The argument isn't about purpose (i.e. "why"), but causality (i.e. "how").
The Kalam, stated most simply, is: (A) Anything that begins to exist has a cause. (B) The universe began to exist. (C) Therefore the universe has a cause.
This IS a valid logical statement that isn't circular. That said... it's also not that great of an argument for God. Most atheists will grant (A), and that (C) follows from (A) and (B). However, some will dispute (B). The Big Bang theory and the various observations that support it do make a strong case for a beginning to the _observable_ universe. But whether "the observable universe" and "the universe" should be considered synonyms is debatable. It's possible that some aspect of the universe existed before the Big Bang, which might _not_ have had a beginning but might have caused the Big Bang. I think the quantum foam gets tossed around as one possible candidate? I'm not a physicist, so I couldn't say much more about that.
Additionally, many atheists will dispute that (C) says anything about _"God,"_ per se. Maybe the Kalam does show that there's a cause to the universe. But there's nothing in the Kalam that demonstrates that this "cause" is personal or omnipotent or anything like that. You have to use other arguments to add those aspects to the Kalam's "cause," which involves a new set of questions and debates.
@@matterhorn731 I suppose my thought is it says (in your formulation) claim a and claim b proves claim c…. All I’m saying is I can see how someone could counter saying the earth, known or unknown, had a beginning, but to say it has a cause…. An atheist, especially a naturalist, would say there was no cause, it’s random chance and a cosmic accident, so if claim a can be argued against, then claim c has no grounds. That’s why I thought it to be circular because claim c requires claim a and claim a require claim c. Of all the evidences and arguments for God, this argument was one I thought never fully made sense especially when used against atheists.
@@AWphotosnv Oh, bro, you have already demonstrated you are bad at logic, so you will fit perfectly in apologetic circles.
Kalaam is structurally valid, or we grant it that validity, even though that first premise seems to be constructed specifically to allow for eternal beings to exist without a cause, which is poisoning the well. Or in the least, existence of eternal beings that have no beginning should be demonstrated along with kalaam to offer them as a possible cause.
The soundness is the problem. I will argue both premises have not been demonstrated to be true, they are just assertions.
You claim that "An atheist, especially a naturalist, would say there was no cause, it’s random chance and a cosmic accident, so if claim a can be argued against, then claim c has no grounds."
That is very weak bro:
1. Being an atheist does not necessitate position on anything except not accepting the theistic claim of a god to the extent of claiming god does not exist (in some cases).
2. Naturalist might tell you that he doesn't know if universe has a cause. There is an option of infinite causality too. There is an option of a god who died after causing the universe, or a god that caused the universe and stopped caring about it.
There is literally countless number of non-god options you could posit as the cause, even if you demonstrate the cause is required.
@@tomyossarian7681 Geez, here i am trying to Steel-Man your position, yet if you see it as a valid formulation, that's great to hear. All i am saying is i can see the pushback from people saying if the universe was cause-less, or purpose-less as it were, then the first premise of this argument falls flat. But do forgive me for trying to better understand into a mind such as yours...
@@AWphotosnv Sorry, I did not mean to be too harsh - but Kalaam in particular has no issue with circularity. Circular argument is something else entirely.
I might have told you you are going to be a bad apologist if you don't learn to ignore the valid responses to arguments such as Kalaam, which is a credit to you as a thinking person atm.
Apologist is someone who at the expense of their intellectual honesty keeps their belief alive - that is my impression so far, so I hope you keep your intellectual honesty.. wherever it may lead.
As the world has Secularized, it has gotten neither more humane nor more fulfilling.
For that matter, it doesn’t even seem more Scientifically advanced. All of it’s advancements beyond previous genre are a result of research from less Secular times.
We are definitely more Scientifically advanced. It is just that humans need tribes and hope, meaning, and purpose. That is why you see the new religion "Progressiveness" so much. I agree, the Progressive religion is worse for humanity than Christianity.
@@ubersheizer5398 there's no evidence that it is a religion. It is just a movement, like any other
@@radscorpion8 ahh> Dictionary: 1a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance. 2 a particular system of faith and worship.
Oh blah blah blah. You sound like a real mental case. Get a therapist, stop dumping your frumpiness on us.
@@ubersheizer5398not smart.
I've grown weary of trying to convince people of something they've made the decision to not believe, people have hardened their hearts we are living in the last days
The Bible says "do not grow weary of doing good"- sharing the good news is doing good. Don't give up. You are planting the seed, someone else will water, and God will do the saving work. There are MANY testimonies of people who are now believers because someone like you planted a seed. Case in point - Me! And my hubby!
How do you try to convince people? Is it something more tangible than your personal experience?
I agree. Fine tuning requires a fine tuner. BUT that does not mean that this fine tuner is described accurately by any of the world’s religions. It can be that some may be closer than others but the rules and marginalization put on people by religion is very, very human and ONLY works to serve _certain_ humans. You just can’t prove that Christianity describes the fine tuner accurately.
Fair point Rhonda. You are right that fine-tuning can’t get us all the way to the Christian God, but it is consistent with the Christian God and rules out others.
@@SeanMcDowell I mean, I guess…maybe?
I think that would actually be a good subject to do a video on because I’d like to see how fine tuning points mostly to the Christian God rather than just some God who decided to create and run. I’m not painting Him as some dead beat dad or anything, I’m just saying the creator could be hands off, letting us have authentic experiences, both good and bad and I don’t see how fine tuning rules that possibility out.
What is fine tuned about our universe exactly?
@@kartashuvit4971 The term fine tuning is commonly used and understood in the natural sciences, but it doesn’t mean what Christian’s think it does. They simply grab hold of that because they think it implies a “tuner”.
Lee sounds a lot like Dr. Frank Turek! They must use the same sources :)
Dishonesty?
@@JesseDriftwood. If two people are talking about the same subject there will be similarities.
@@biddiemutter3481 I was mostly making a silly jab about them both arguing dishonestly. But in truth, I don’t know Lee’s work well enough to say that. Frank on the other hand has shown his dishonesty time and time again.
Jesus is the true God ❤thank thank you
"Jesus is the true God" So.. we can kill your imaginary friend, right? Your imaginary friend can bleed, right?
I don't know if science could make the idea of a Creator irrelevant, but as science stands today, it can hint that a Creator is unnecessary. We have a history of humans assigning supernatural causes until we learned the natural cause and replaced them. That is where we are today even. The cosmological argument only works if everything "begins" to exist but we already have evidence for things that don't begin to exist such as energy that cannot be created nor destroyed, thus is eternal and uncaused. If we have natural uncaused causes, we don't require a supernatural uncaused cause. This isn't to say a God cannot exist, only that it is unnecessary to have the existence we experience.
Atheists ignore fine tuning arguments, say it's just the conditions in this Universe and doesn't prove anything. I studied biology as an engineer and my employer paid for it. I had to design life support for long-term space travel. They didn't want to hire a biologist. So I volunteered since they were paying for it. Studying Life made me think that if it came about by a natural process we cannot define the process in a way that makes sense. It couldn't happen in small steps because many of Life's substances would breakdown unless something else exists to preserve them.
They've found simple carbohydrates like ribose on asteroids frozen, but if not frozen it has a short lifespan before it breaks down. No ribose, no RNA for the DNA-RNA interactome. You never hear Origin of Life researchers ever speak about the interactome of how the functions of DNA can build and sustain even the simplest life-form. The earliest life ever found was a simple blue-green cyanobacteria that could perform photosynthesis 3.5 billion years ago that still exists today. There are claims of finding earlier organisms, but they're questionable. One is a microscopic piece of stretched out Carbon, hard to consider that as definitive evidence for Life. No matter how much one wants there to be no God it is hard to deny that Life is an engineered system.
They have never found a true building block of Life like a protein or complex polysaccharide. They've only found the sand, rocks and clay that blocks are made from. Carbon compounds or Organic and some 70+ amino acids and Life only uses 20 of them and they are left-handed, means the Hydrogen is on the left side of the molecule and only recently did they discover the quantum property that the electrons spin in one direction to hook a protein together. Also several amino acids are not synthesized by an organism and must be acquired from the environment. I always found it interesting that phenylalanine found in sugar substitutes is an amino acid the human body doesn't make, so some Sweet & Low in your morning coffee may not be such a bad thing after all.😉
"If you could ask god one question..."
Why aren't you revealing yourself in a clear, no-nonsense way for everyone? Why this BS going through prophets, apostles and apologists with their "trust me bruh",? Because I don't see any reason to trust them. None!
God Himself tells us that He reveals Himself in the creation around us. He also revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. If you really want to know, look seriously at these. If you don’t really want to know.. just don’t then.
@@clariceberggren5614 Nope! It's those apostles and prophets who are making the claims about god revealing itself in the creation. Big difference. Because we are right back to their "trust me bruh". I dont trust them and have, so far, no reason to do so.
"He also revealed himself in jesus..."
Again, that is according to a bunch of "messengers" getting us right back to their "trust me bruh".
If god wants to have a relation with me it's up to him to communicate that desire to me in a clear, no-nonsense way. I've spent way too many years looking for him without getting as much as a "howdy" back. So...
@@clariceberggren5614 Naah! Of course there's no reply...
Cut the power to the front wheels and steer it with drone blades at the front
It sounds like Lee needs to do a "Case for Noah's Flood" book. Why should people trust Genesis when it portrays such a young earth? Could it really be that it is young?
Yes!
There's plenty of apologists who don't believe in a young earth, and Genesis makes no attempt to age the earth anyway, that's us reading something into the text that the original author doesn't seem to be trying to portray at all.
I’m a young earth creationist (YEC) and I think there is compelling evidence that leads this way (check out Ken Ham’s The Lie: Evolution for a very simple argument for YEC) but there are, like the other commenter said, lots of people who hold different creation views - even some that believe in evolution w/ an initial Creator (this doesn’t make sense to me but their arguments may bridge a gap for some) this book would be awesome!!! There is evidence for the flood - plenty enough to create a book and outside the faith people could actually understand the scientific evidence to hold the view.
@@PGBigRedWell said and 100% correct.
At some level, it doesn't matter; but when kids are taught they have to believe this stuff, and then they arrive at college level science, they end up thinking, "Well if this isn't true, I guess it's all a lie."
Many, even most former believers are of this type, give or take.
Ergo: it matters a lot.
Jesus is the Incarnation and the tomb was empty. These are the essentials of Christian faith. Love God and your neighbor as yourself are the essentials of Christian teaching.
We should not push folks to believe anything else, especially if it flies in the face of science, which is nothing but our best method of knowing God's creation.
Forgive me the rant!
😂
😂😂😂
@eddyreiter1 Romans 1:20 tells us that the observance of nature tells us of the divine and powerful nature of the Lord. We should be pressing that science confirms God, and stand in awe of His grandeur. Not telling people that those who are way smarter than them are lying about everything in some conspiracy to get rid of God. We don't need conspiracies for people to reject God.
Spoiler: it only exists in your head, nowhere else
It's unfortunate when someone doesn't reach further in what is spiritual. Seek and ye shall find but if you truly don't understand, you won't be given.
amen
Lord, lunatic or liar.. I read Sean's dad Josh McDowell's, More than a carpenter book, about 30 years ago,, and I'll always remember that phrase.. when people say Jesus was just a good teacher,, or a prophet, this couldn't be so.. does anybody remember that part ?and did Josh get some of that from CS Lewis? 🤔🐦
It’s possible to be all three- look at Trump
strobel has lost some serious weight - good for him
The actual answer to your question is "One may suppose, but NO ONE really knows."
Sean, this is exactly the opposite. A new paper just came out this week, in fact, further supporting naturalism.
Your case only gets weaker and weaker and weaker...
But, keep trying, as Christians leave the church in droves, I admire you tenacity to stem the tide.
It will never matter what anyone says I will always believe in God. Every argument against God I have heard was just opinions and no facts.
10:30 Christmas is a pagan holiday
Frank Turek n the late Norman Geisler nailed it in their classic book - I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist .. That book blows atheist scholars minds n renders their worldview to the level of absolute foolishness
I am an atheist and a biblical historian. How does my position in atheism - to suspend any acknowledgment as to the reality of any particular god until sufficient credible evidence is presented - _foolish?_
As we all know, somebody created the universe.
And he did the best he could, but he had no experience.
He tested his design, but the test failed and he still hasn't fixed it.
The Reason God chose women to find the Empty tomb was to ensure the story spread like wildfire
Which one ?? Real like Harry Potter or Spider-Man Yes .
12:14 for the record… every Christian is agnostic. With that said, we don’t have a way to study the supernatural (yet?). So you can’t (without outright lying) say Jesus is the truth. If you do, you are lying.
❤❤❤
We live in a world where the concept of God is extremely prevalent so it makes sense that believers and non-believers would question that concept precisely because it is not that apparent. We watch believers become non-believers and non-believers become believers, meaning people can be convinced either way. Even if you become convinced a God must exist, there is still the matter of whether any religions are correct about this God and every religion has it's problems that point towards a man made creation rather than from an actual God should one exist. If you can demonstrate that the bible is indeed purely man made, what about those objective moral values contained within the bible, are they just human subjective moral values asserted to be objective? Yes humans want answers, yes humans want the truth but at every turn we are met with deceptions whether they be intentional or just out of human ignorance. Should a God exist, skeptics have the better case for why that doesn't need to be the case. Maybe one day there will be an actual case for why a God must exist but we are not there yet.
People get pulled into the argument of is Jesus God or is there a God but turn a blind eye to the magic, superstition, mythology in the old and new testament testament and ask other religious scripture for that matter.
Sean and other apologists have devoted such a large part of their life to trying to convince people, i believe they have appropriated the sunken cost fallacy.
10:47 if there was a question I would ask your god, it would be… why are you a mean god… that is, if he were real.
I think it's interest how he said that we could feed the whole world, if we cared. Because...if God wanted to, he could unilaterally save everyone that has ever lived...by, just forgiving them post mortem. But, he has chosen not to.
Part of God's character is perfect justice. Sin must be paid for. Everyone who has ever lived has died, and this is a direct consequence of God caring. He cares that people are evil. Humanity could feed the whole world if we cared. This is part of God's test for us, to see which of us will act on this and which of us will not. God cares which are which. He cares which people will choose to love righteousness. He cares if people will accept the mercy of Christ's blood or if people will choose to reject it. Sure, God could force the blood of Christ on everyone if He chose to, but that's missing the point of this creation. God cares about having people who choose His ways and bringing them into eternity with Him, and for those who reject His ways, He cares that they receive what they deserve.
@@StageWatcher
"Sure, God could force the blood of Christ on everyone if He chose to..."
So, he prefers for most people (that He "cares" about) to spend eternity in Hell?
@@jayvansickle7607 If that is what they deserve and they did not seek God's mercy, then so be it. Do you believe that evil should be given a free pass to enter into paradise when it has no desire to be redeemed? Do you believe that those who hate God should be forced to be in His presence for all eternity?
@@StageWatcher If the choice is eternal punishment... or, being forced to be redeemed and transformed by God, to then be in heaven forever? Yes, force redemption on everyone by the blood/sacrifice of Jesus.
@@jayvansickle7607 Okay, well, God, who has a far greater understanding of all the stakes, all the implications, all the evils, and all the goods, has determined that eternal punishment for those who reject righteousness in this life is the better approach. I'll defer to His judgment on the matter of free will.
I have gone down the rabbit hole of the Shroud of Turin. and I just don't see how that image could of been made other than a miraculous radiation event. Think of it 3 D image that is a negative on Linen that is not normally a material that can have photographic properties. The Shroud was a big part of my conversion.
Sooo... You just ignored the radiocarbon dating of the material? How very Christian of you.
@@tomyossarian7681what an idiotic comment in light of the latest REAL SCIENCE that is all over social media on the Shroud and that proven false radio carbon date. You are just a troll who does no research b4 spewing lies.
The Shroud is absolutely the most talked about proof of Christ out there right now. I spoke to a Nuclear Physicist out of Seattle who is going to Israel to test all the tombs of Christ for a nuclear event on the walls. He says the event that left the image would have left traceable nuclear change on the walls of the tomb it occured in. Can't wait for his results.
Wow. If only I knew you, it'd be so easy to trick you out of all your money. Stay gullible.
Sadly Lee’s movie about heaven sighted more words of man than scripture. And those words are in direct opposition to scripture.
Do you mean 'cited'? Auto text comes up with unintended comedy! Unless of course you were watching subtitles!