May 20, 2019

What Would You Say to an Atheist?

Listen Later

13 minutes

Pastor J.D. shares four questions that are helpful to start a conversation with our atheist friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

A glimpse inside this episode:

Atheists have many questions for Christians. But they have to answer a lot of questions, too. For instance:

Blow the roof off approach (Francis Schaeffer)

What about origins?

Dawkins says, “Darwin’s theory works for biology, but not for cosmology (or, ultimate origins).”

In God Delusion, Dawkins admits this is a problem. He says, “Cosmology is waiting on its Darwin.”

In other words, he thinks that while they have explained how life took shape on the earth, he admits they still have no idea where life itself, or the materials that produced life, came from.

We need a theory, he says, as to why anything exists.

Because it is self-evident that nothing times nobody can’t equal everything.

Then he says, but don’t worry. We’ll figure it out eventually. That’s what we call a blind faith leap!

What about design?

Goldilocks principle (Our world is ideally designed to sustain life, “not too hot, not too cold, just right”.)

CO2

Tilt of the earth

Water molecule

What about evil?

If we are only biology and chemistry, there’s no such thing as true justice, only useful strategies for preserving our kind.

For atheists, a statement like, “You really ought to” or “ought not to” doesn’t really have any meaning.

(This doesn’t mean they can’t be moral, just that their morality lacks a consistent intellectual foundation.)

The only way we can say that something is unjust is if we appeal to a higher vision of how it ought to be.

Big deal when it comes to justice?

What about personhood and personality?

Christopher Hitchens example

Steve Jobs example

What about Jesus?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

...more

View all episodes

View all episodes

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

Ask the Pastor with J.D. Greear

By J.D. Greear

4.8

624624 ratings

May 20, 2019

What Would You Say to an Atheist?

Listen Later

13 minutes

Pastor J.D. shares four questions that are helpful to start a conversation with our atheist friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

A glimpse inside this episode:

Atheists have many questions for Christians. But they have to answer a lot of questions, too. For instance:

Blow the roof off approach (Francis Schaeffer)

What about origins?

Dawkins says, “Darwin’s theory works for biology, but not for cosmology (or, ultimate origins).”

In God Delusion, Dawkins admits this is a problem. He says, “Cosmology is waiting on its Darwin.”

In other words, he thinks that while they have explained how life took shape on the earth, he admits they still have no idea where life itself, or the materials that produced life, came from.

We need a theory, he says, as to why anything exists.

Because it is self-evident that nothing times nobody can’t equal everything.

Then he says, but don’t worry. We’ll figure it out eventually. That’s what we call a blind faith leap!

What about design?

Goldilocks principle (Our world is ideally designed to sustain life, “not too hot, not too cold, just right”.)

CO2

Tilt of the earth

Water molecule

What about evil?

If we are only biology and chemistry, there’s no such thing as true justice, only useful strategies for preserving our kind.

For atheists, a statement like, “You really ought to” or “ought not to” doesn’t really have any meaning.

(This doesn’t mean they can’t be moral, just that their morality lacks a consistent intellectual foundation.)

The only way we can say that something is unjust is if we appeal to a higher vision of how it ought to be.

Big deal when it comes to justice?

What about personhood and personality?

Christopher Hitchens example

Steve Jobs example

What about Jesus?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

...more

More shows like Ask the Pastor with J.D. Greear

Ask Pastor John by Desiring God

Ask Pastor John

3,958 Listeners

David Platt Messages by David Platt

David Platt Messages

1,448 Listeners

Light + Truth by Desiring God

Light + Truth

1,469 Listeners

Focus on the Family with Jim Daly by Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family with Jim Daly

4,794 Listeners

The Summit Church by The Summit Church

The Summit Church

526 Listeners

Summit Life with J.D. Greear by J.D. Greear Ministries

Summit Life with J.D. Greear

1,293 Listeners

Pray the Word with David Platt by David Platt

Pray the Word with David Platt

1,416 Listeners

I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST by Dr. Frank Turek

I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST

5,464 Listeners

Lakepointe Church with Josh Howerton by Lakepointe Church

Lakepointe Church with Josh Howerton

755 Listeners

The Paul Tripp Podcast by Paul David Tripp

The Paul Tripp Podcast

773 Listeners

Allen Jackson Ministries by Pastor Allen Jackson of World Outreach Church

Allen Jackson Ministries

1,603 Listeners

The Pour Over: Politically Neutral, Christ-First News by The Pour Over

The Pour Over: Politically Neutral, Christ-First News

4,390 Listeners

Live Free with Josh Howerton by Lakepointe Church

Live Free with Josh Howerton

1,739 Listeners

Between Sundays with The Chandlers by Matt Chandler & Lauren Chandler

Between Sundays with The Chandlers

336 Listeners

Everyday Radical by Radical

Everyday Radical

79 Listeners