Christian Reacts to VIRAL Atheist Tiktoks

[@SeanMcDowell]

Hey guys, I see the comments for the music and will make a note! In terms of longer responses I didn't have too much to say on some of these. They're more geared towards a quick answer not a longer 10-20 minute response!

[@robinolander5533]

Hey Sean! As an atheist I just wanna say that I really appreciate your channel. Even though I obviously disagree with alot of what you say, I've always viewed you as intellectually honest. You challenge my views and I really appreciate that!

[@triciarichardson9511]

I show apologetics videos weekly in the Christian school I teach at. You've done similar videos to this before that the students really enjoyed. Someone else in the comments mentioned going longer. I would say keep them at about this length. Thank you!

[@SeanMcDowell]

Thanks for the comment!

[@alpinegirl]

Agreed! This length resonates with my middle schooler too. There aren’t many Christian channels doing this, but we need it. :)

[@midimusicforever]

TikTok is a cesspool. Kudos for having the energy to go through this, Sean!

[@alpinegirl]

Please keep doing these TikTok reactions! They really resonate with my 12-year-old. He loves them! They get him thinking deeply, but they’re short enough not to be overwhelming.

[@Tristoflex]

I really enjoy these kind of videos. Keep up the great work!

[@Heyitsmoonbeam]

As a Christian who is in a season of doubt I NEED these videos. The way so many atheists keep popping up and saying all these challenges to Christianity is hard to sort through. For every problem I obtain an answer for, there are 5 more in their place. You have no idea how much this helps me!!!! Thank you!

[@multi-milliondollarmike5127]

His arguments are pretty weak honestly and he straight up lied about genesis being the oldest creation myth.

[@emdfilms5785]

That was fire Sean! Keep it up. I think you did an amazing job

[@JordanSchaeffer]

Love this video format Sean! Thanks!

[@enib8545]

Thank you for this! Please could you do more/ similar videos debunking or reacting.

[@babs5630]

Please, please, please remove the music. I want to hear you, but the music is so distracting. Please?

[@SeanMcDowell]

Noted!

[@HollyReynolds]

I felt the same way, it was very distracting :-(

[@azkaria9881]

Soo many blatant lies and falsehoods damn...

[@XfreshcakesX]

You should do a video compiling weak pro-Christian clips and give recommendations on how to strengthen/correct what they’re saying. It seems that for every one of these flippantly arrogant atheism clips, there’s also a short-sided argument for Christianity. This would help strengthen all our minds, from another angle

[@etsbenjamindriver]

Great idea!

[@petersdrue]

I agree with your last point. As a Christian, I've been very disappointed by the synchronism with American politics. From talking with a lot of my co-workers, this is what they tend to view as Christianity.

[@hermanvanveen3903]

I like the irony of Dan Barker quoting a story from the Bible (do not build your house on sand) to prove the Bible is not true. 🧐

[@albinnerentoft1027]

Hey brother, love the concept and your responses! I could do without the music though. And dont be afraid if the video gets a little longer 👍🏻

[@MS-od7je]

We are closer to understanding resurrection science than time travel.

[@samsianturijkt]

This is a great video!

[@DRHoodbyGrace]

Fantastic response.

[@darrenmiller6927]

More like this would be great. I would personally prefere them to be longer, I believe Sean could for sure say more on these topics. Is there a way you could spend a bit more time? A compromise, as I get the idea is to make them short. Encouraging, helpful, and sober and presented with Sean's customary class.

[@dannycampisi1919]

These are great. Very helpful!!!

[@bettytigers]

Good argument batting! (baseball analogy) Maybe have different options for background noise? I.E. none or birdsong! 🙂👍

[@ThinkitThrough-kd4fn]

This is nonsense and flat out lies. Sean is an embarrassment to apologetics. (edit): His explanation of the Doubting Thomas story is bonkers. But I will give him credit for not blocking critical comments like other apologists do.

[@ladillalegos]

Great video

[@thescottishwisp]

Yes to more of this. No to the music!

[@russellmiles2861]

Louder music would make this more interesting One false assertion, heaped on other false assertion Eg, there is no list of 10 Commandments anywhere in the Bible, but Sean spins lyrical that such things are in the Bible. It is like he hasn't even read the good book

[@polynesianwahine]

The music is good because it keeps the younger generations attention.

[@thescottishwisp]

@@polynesianwahine but then might lose the older generation?

[@soniarose1983]

Love this short form apologetic particularly for the younger peeps!

[@russellmiles2861]

@@soniarose1983 the problem being that as young folk can read it won't influence them in the slightest... It is you this grifter is getting money from.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

I love Forest Valaki and he is a great person who gives to things like Doctors without borders and does streaming or broadcasts to make money for those causes. I think his statement is a bit wrong in the sense that Christians developed hospitals in the Americas and Schools and there were other positive outcomes say with Charity that different churches do. Christianity does have some positive contributions that are seen more now that any time in history. Christianity cannot however, ignore the ugly part of it's past either.

[@deshon3523]

Blaming only religion for all things wrong is really played out at this point.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

@@deshon3523 I agree. I don't blame religion for all my problems and you don't know what all my problems are.

[@CynthiaMountainflower]

Is Josh yor father? Miss him speaking glad you are strong like him

[@SeanMcDowell]

Josh McDowell is my dad!

[@FamilyNonsense]

Music is a little loud

[@4TCApologetics]

Sean, don't sweat the 99% of species.. that's based on 3 billion years of evolution and is a stat that utilizes assumed species of the past to fill evolutionary gaps (whether they actually existed or not)!

[@DRHoodbyGrace]

Sean you said to post what I would like to hear. Few years back you did an interview with the late Dr Mike Heiser. A lot of people are going after his work as an heretic now that he has passed and can’t defend his case. Can you give your take away from his work?

[@kirstenharteis3613]

thank you Sean. I like to listen to tik toks like this and quickly identify at least a few questions to ask first. I'd love to hear your questions. What would you ask first if this was a face to face conversation?

[@Danny-xi7ug]

Tiktok should be safely ignored, just like any opinion you find on reddit

[@inukithesavage828]

The real question is why are they so angry. And to answer that, just ask about their childhood.

[@ConservativeMirror]

2:39 "Things can be temporary and have value for those seasons." - That's stunning because many apologists like to say that if something isn't eternal, such as in an afterlife, it doesn't have value, or doesn't have ultimate value. Bill Craig comes to mind who often says this.

[@StageWatcher]

Something temporary can have a purpose that effects eternity, and that is generally what Christians believe about, for example, extinct species. In fact, virtually everything in this world is temporary, but with the purpose of shaping that which will be eternal. It is that eternal state which gives the temporal meaning.

[@Papa-dopoulos]

How are the concepts of extinction on earth and an afterlife incompatible? Where’s the contradiction here? A thing can’t go to heaven because its fellow species members are all gone from earth? I don’t get the problem.

[@AirwavesEnglish]

😂 General science has debunked these ridiculous beliefs hundreds of times over. This is called clutching at straws, people. Lol

[@freedominchrist23]

Hi do you know anything about the Sumerian tablets? My dad has got sucked into believing they are factual and genesis was copied from them. I dont know what to tell him. Hes produced evidence that they are genuine etc

[@abaker4692]

Make sure that he's actually read them and not just regurgitating. They actually don't even have the same story.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

For these miracles ... let's ask a question a lot of Chrisitans ask...Where you there?

[@paulacoyle5685]

Do you believe anything anybody reports on that you hadn’t witnessed yourself?

[@4305051]

Mr. McDowell then claims that the resurrection story of Jesus was unique to him. On this note, I would suggest to you a series of lectures by eminent biblical historian Bart Ehrman. In his opening to one of his courses he says: “I’ve decided that the best place to begin our study is by summarizing the life of a remarkable man who lived nearly 2,000 years ago. Before he was born, his mother was visited by an angel who told her that her son would be divine. His birth was accompanied by miraculous signs and as a child he was religiously precocious. As an adult, he left home to be an itinerant preacher, teaching the good news that people should live for what is spiritual, not the material things of this world. He gathered disciples and performed miracles. He raised the ire of those in power who had him brought up before the Roman authorities. His followers saw him after he died and he ascended into heaven. I am, of course, talking about Apollonius of Tyana” Apollonius of Tyana was indeed a contemporary mystic to Jesus for whom identical resurrection claims were made.

[@seanpierce9386]

Thanks for this. I had been using Aristeus of Proconnesus, which wan’t the greatest comparison.

[@MatthewFearnley]

How much do we know about Apollonius, from accounts that predate Christianity?

[@seanpierce9386]

@@MatthewFearnley It appears that he was a contemporary of Jesus, though like all things historical it’s not certain. Unfortunately, “Life of Apollonius of Tyana” is dated later than the gospels. So while this is a great example with striking similarities to Jesus, we couldn’t say that the ideas in that text influenced the gospels. I actually prefer to use other miracle claims, not just Jesus-like figures around that area. These are more clearly independent and contrary to Christian doctrine. It then becomes easier to point out that Christians rely on special pleading for their miracle claims. I’m not a Jesus mythicist. In the absence of further evidence, I think that Jesus was quite unique, which can be explained by the ideas floating around in Jewish culture at the time.

[@4305051]

Mr. McDowell then claims that Genesis is the oldest religious book. Not to. For a start, it borrows extensively (and very obviously) from other regional mythology. One example is the Epic of Gilgamesh, an earlier Mesopotamian myth about a worldwide flood. But, again, don't take my word for it, just look it up. It clearly predates Genesis.

[@russellmiles2861]

@@4305051 oh Mr McDonald is not bother such petty things as looking things up. I can see that he even reads the Bible much either.

[@4305051]

There are a number of explanations for the story of the resurrection. Prevailing mythology being incorporated into the Gospels through the 40 years of oral tradition before the first written account (Mark) of the resurrection is the most likely. A magic act by a universe-creating god is not even a close second. A worthwhile exercise is to read each account in the four gospels about the women going to the empty tomb. Each story differs greatly on who goes to the tomb, what they find, who they see and interact with there and what happens after. Just read the four accounts for yourself and you will see.

[@clementkeating2311]

Ah but all four gospel accounts agree that it is women that went to the tomb. All four agree they found it empty. And all four have the same conclusion on what happened. So the details vary but the main story is the same.

[@seanpierce9386]

@@clementkeating2311 Those three details are some of the only ones that remain consistent. The story beats, the locations, the identities of those involved-all of the details you would expect from a true story-differ between tellings. Notably, this is the first point in the New Testament where such a profound disagreement occurs, indicating that this is where the myth begins. There might be some truth to it, but would you bet your eternal fate on it? Do you think it’s fair for God to do that?

[@russellmiles2861]

Sure, Mathew and Luke copy Mark. Often word for word. ​@@clementkeating2311

[@andreakohler1391]

​@@seanpierce9386you are using big words trying to make it seem as a myth. But actually it is way more reliable when eyewittness accounts differ in the minor details, but have the important stuff the same.

[@seanpierce9386]

@@andreakohler1391 But they weren’t eyewitness accounts and neither were they independent sources. These ideas had been circulating orally years before the gospels were written in a religiously unstable environment. The destruction of the temple occurred in 70 AD, which is usually dated before Mark was written, since it is mentioned there. Consider this example: If you have three eyewitnesses name completely different people and have them go to different places in different orders, you wouldn’t have much to go on at all. Either these people are wildly mistaken (in which case you can’t trust their testimony) or they were fabricating it. Of course, the analogy fails because we still haven’t accounted for mythical development as was common in this time and place. I apologize if my language isn’t understandable. If you’d like any clarification please say so.

[@Simple.BibleTruth]

Jesus is risen from the dead! That brings incomparable hope for us all! 🙌🏼❤️

[@chriselerick4770]

the video that said the improbability of the resurrection is an argument against its authenticity likely also believes with no incredulity that life as we know it is a series of impossible permutations of evolution. without a creative design, it is unfathomably improbable that any one of the almost infinite number of genetic and systemic mutational probabilities would have successfully occurred in the singularly perfect order and with enough life cycle viability to provide for progeny. to dismiss the resurrection for its improbability yet embrace an impossibly random evolutionary process is disingenuous and fallacious.

[@Simple.BibleTruth]

This was a masterful video with great video editing. The content was super helpful. Thank you for your ministry! Please consider turning the music down though, because it’s very distracting. If you want to repost this video video with quieter music, I have a feeling that would reach a whole lot of people. 40,000+. God bless this channel.

[@celiabradley4413]

What's the purpose of the annoying drum beats all the way through - it just gave me a headache and I couldn't concentrate on what was being said!

[@paulacoyle5685]

OK, Sean, Christopher Hitchens is right to point out the inconsistency of old earth understandings because it does basically say that death came into the world through sin. An old earth does that includes death before sin does not comport with what Jesus taught the creation, what is taught in Romans 5 and 8. “since by man came death.” Etc and “the creation was subject to futility” as a result of man’s fall into sin. You simply cannot use the fossil record *as science interprets it* to interpret scripture. And atheists will not meet you halfway anyway. I wish you would have someone like Jason Lisle on.

[@brando3342]

The background looped music is really obnoxious, guys. I know you’re trying to appeal to the younger generation, but you could tone it down a bit 👍 I still enjoy your content though!

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

Atheism A Mile Wide and an inch deep (at best).

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

You can be married and help others without Christianity. I admit it is like instant friends when you go to Church but, when you don't the "friends" you had drop you like a hot potato. What does that say about Christian friendship and love? You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

Only humans sinned why does he condemn the rest of creation?

[@russellmiles2861]

@@mugglescakesniffer3943 god had a bad hair day, maybe

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

@@russellmiles2861 🤔🤨😗

[@paulacoyle5685]

Paul actually addresses this in Romans, chapter eight, but Sean is being inconsistent with his understanding of scripture regarding the age of the Earth and the origins of life.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

@@paulacoyle5685 I don't think a holy book is the best science book. The original writers and writing style of the time had no concept of a science book they were telling and epic for their believers to communicate some idea or mandate for the Christians at the time. Narrative story telling and parables mostly.

[@4305051]

Mr. Mc Dowell next (Seems to, although he does not say) takes issue with the increasingly fantastic way the early Christians saw Jesus as time passed. Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke) is not god. It is only when we get to John, written around 95 CE, that Jesus has been elevated from being the fabled Jewish Messiah to god. Again, this is a simple historical fact generally accepted by biblical scholars and taught in every divinity school in America.

[@grantbartley483]

The background music is awful, and too loud. Did you find someone deaf to choose it?

[@russellmiles2861]

Budj Bim of the Gunditjmara peoples in what is known western Victoria Australia is a story that has been dated to 26,000 years Sure, you can assert that the story of Genesis is old. But there evidence dates that story to 3500 years ago. If you have evidence that it is older; let's hear it.

[@MariaKneas]

Thank you, Sean. I hope this will also go viral.

[@4305051]

First, his quoting of Isaiah 7:14. Isaiah 7 has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. Just read it. It is all about an army menacing Jerusalem and the prophet assuring the besieged King Ahaz that he will be ok because the invading army will retreat before the child of a pregnant you girl is old enough to know right from wrong. For a start, the original Book of Isaiah says that the "young woman" will give birth. It does NOT call her a virgin. And, as the girl in question in the story in Isaiah 7 is already pregnant in that story, so how in hell could she be a virgin. lol. Unless Christians want to claim another virgin birth. Second, the child is called "Emmanuel", not "Jesus." Third, no Jewish or legitimate Christian biblical scholar gives any credence to the idea that this chapter was talking about Jesus. But, don't take my word for it, just read it yourself. It's all there in black and white.

[@russellmiles2861]

43 please don't let reading of the Bible get in the way of a sermon. I mean, there is no list of 10 Commandments anywhere in the Bible, the Bible doesn't say how many dudes their were from East or if they were men, and the Gospels don't say Joseph was a carpenter... I could on ...I mean there are so many I could go on and on and on. The point is the Bible has scant to do with the Bible any more than talking snakes in ones garden.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

John Allister BA in Theology, University of Oxford (Graduated 2008)5y There’s a big difference between the Resurrection of Jesus and that of Lazarus. The Resurrection of Jesus was, we’re often told, the first of its kind. He has defeated death and cannot die again. It is used repeatedly in Scripture as a prototype for what will happen to those who follow him at the end of this Age. Lazarus was brought back from the dead, but was still mortal. He died again, as did all the other people raised from the dead in Scripture. Here’s a list. The widow of Zarephath’s son (1 Kings 17) The Shunammite’s son (2 Kings 4) A man whose body touched Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:20-21) The son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15) Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:49-55) Lazarus (John 11) Many “saints” at the time of the crucifixion (Matt 27:50-53) Dorcas (Acts 9:36-41) Eutychus (Acts 20:9-10)

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

The bible is good in as far as outside sources mentioned that are in the bible and their location and the time at which it was written can be verified like the Reign of Pharaohs or King Solomon.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

Using the bible to prove the bible is like plugging an Power-strip into istelf.

[@russellmiles2861]

Oh Id disagree - I mean you can use the Bible to disprove what Apologist claim. Eg, there are 13 Tribes of Israel: Levi is a fnuking tribe too!

[@monkkeygawd]

I'm sorry, but... did u just say Genesis/Old Testament is the oldest religion ever? Did I hear that correctly? The Vedas are much older.

[@jhodapp]

Exactly, it’s factually incorrect what Sean mentions here and not even difficult to confirm this.

[@monkkeygawd]

@@jhodapp 100%

[@paulvoit5610]

Yet secular scholarship affirms that monotheism existed before polytheism.

[@monkkeygawd]

@paulvoit5610 and, animism farrrrrr predated monotheism. But, being 1st doesn't make it or any other religion correct.

[@Simple.BibleTruth]

Following the evidence where it leads. ✍️🏼 - STRAIGHT👏🏼 TO👏🏼 JESUS!👏🏼

[@MrYikesSkeletons]

99 percent of Aethiests are not Aethiests, just rebellious believers, intentionaly stubborn. Do Aethiests actually communicate on subjects abstract not relative to anything outside physical reaction?

[@marissanjohn3080]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

I would not condone that everything in the bible that is said is true is false that is just ridiculous. Some things in the bible presented as truth may be false but not all of them.

[@russellmiles2861]

Yes, the talking snake just gotta be true.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

History is not looking for miracles it is looking only at the facts and evidence it can find. Occam's Razor

[@russellmiles2861]

Aside, not a solitary chronicler of the era: Roman, Jewish and Greek, include Nicolaus of Damascus, Justus of Tiberias, Philo of Alexandria, Seneca the Younger, Pliny the Elder and Plutarch made any reference to a Jesus of Nazareth. The earliest writing outside the New Testament is by Clement of Rome; a bishop writing perhaps as early as 60 CE. He composed a letter of 10,000 words to a Church in Corinth. However, this material has no stories about Jesus family or disciples, mission in Galilee, with Jesus’ words taken from the Hebrew Bible. It is almost as if the entire story was invented

[@gregorytoews8316]

@@mugglescakesniffer3943 a typical criticism of christianity is that it doesn't provide "facts and evidence". This seems to imply that if enough facts and evidence were provided, people would believe. Would any good come from this belief? Christianity (and Judaism) has two stories of disobedience and rebellion despite belief, and despite living in a perfect world.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

@@gregorytoews8316 I think people are looking for real facts and real evidence but many sects of Christianity think the evidence is spiritual and that they can "feel" God's presence and therefore that verifies their faith from Hebrews 11:1-6 NKJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. There is no proof empirically that a God made the Earth. No one was there. That is the only empirical observation we can make pretty much regarding this piece of scripture. To the Christian the holy spirit is a kind of sixth sense and is a sense they can use to know God is true spiritually not empirically.

[@inzep7921]

Waste of time, most of those deniers of Christ never touch a Bible…

[@midimusicforever]

Unless it's all and not most, it's not a waste of time.

[@seanpierce9386]

A lot of atheists felt the initial push of doubt by reading their Bible. I know that just before I made the final leap I was reading it more than I ever had in my life because I had to be sure. What I found was that a lot of Christian doctrine wasn’t even present in the Bible, and a lot of the things I had been told not to worry about really were a problem. After going to the apologists, I found that they simply brushed the problems aside, reinterpreted, changed topics, etc. Like this video.

[@russellmiles2861]

Oh I find many Christian s never touch the Bible. Eg, there is no list of 10 Commandments anywhere in the Bible

[@inzep7921]

@@russellmiles2861 Many call themselves Christians and they are not. How can you be a follower of Christ if you are not willing to know his Word?

[@russellmiles2861]

@@inzep7921 many Christians spend a lot of time and effort denigrating other Christians I don't feel that says much about the Faith

[@CiliPB]

Do one on the weakness of the fossil record, the missing transitions of formation to another species. This one is great, short, to th e point, even the music has a quirky fast pace that grabs attention. I bet the youth get a kick out of it.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

You cannot say you didn't borrow from other religions when your whole OT is Jewish.

[@russellmiles2861]

@@mugglescakesniffer3943 bit of a give away, isn't it

[@gregorytoews8316]

I think by "borrow" you mean fulfill, complete.

[@evansjessicae]

The origins are the same. Jesus was prophesied of throughout the OT. The people who recognized Him as their Messiah were saved. Those who didn't are still waiting for a messiah and practicing the rituals of Judaism.

[@mugglescakesniffer3943]

@@evansjessicae If you make the shoe fit it fits there is a Jewish interpretation for every part of the Jewish bible and it is not Christian and it came way before Christianity.

[@russellmiles2861]

@@evansjessicae not really. It is more you take tales from Hebrew Bible and template them onto what you wanted to happen More correctly, the Gospel of Mark is reacting the story of Moses and Joshua - updated for modern audience. There was never any Jesus of Nazareth; just a mythical figure like Adam and Eve

[@s.hicks7213]

No. Truth is that false religions stole from the entire Bible. That’s the insane part about what many atheists believe. Another reason some of them do not believe, nor have they been born again, nor do they have faith or trust in the only absolute truth is because some of them have never read the Bible. Nor have they sought after Christ Jesus. They haven’t knocked nor have some of them even wanted to know Him. Possibly some of them attribute Christ Jesus to the professing Christians that they may have grown up around that jaded their understanding of Him, and contributed to their understanding of who He is. It’s impossible to understand if you’re basing your argument upon imperfect man and attributing your grounds for disbelief on that alone. If they were to go directly to the text with a desire to understand and to learn about Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, and the creation of every living creature-then I believe many would see the truth and believe. Until you accept the truth about yourself that you are a perishing sinner destined to die and will deserve to go to hell without payment for your wretchedness…until you’re ready to accept this truth about yourself then you cannot appreciate anything about the great love and undeserving suffering and death and resurrection that Christ Jesus took upon Himself, because He loved the Father and the Father loved us, therefore, those who believe in Him are gifted to the Son. Many don’t want to even do this. I say this from experience bc I was exactly like these people at one time. The only way that the word of God and His perfect truth could penetrate the fortress of lies that I truly believed was the word of God itself. No person alone could change my beliefs. No culture or institution could. Only the word of God itself could. My grandmother prayed for me for a long time, and she forced me to go to church with her to listen to the Bible being preached-where did she get the instruction to pray for me, her lost granddaughter? The holy word of God. My heart breaks for these people because I used to be just like them. I can only hope that they will knock at the door and seek after Him before it’s too late. Regardless, every single knee will bow; whether they believe so or not, no one is scathing past that fact. No one-not even if you believe in Him or not.

[@StageWatcher]

I've been reading articles by the Armstrong Institute and it's mind blowing how much the world has been influenced by God's work in Israel in every era of history.

[@seanpierce9386]

I’m an ex-Christian purely because of evidence, so in many ways I had the opposite journey to you. Another example is Bart Ehrman, who was once a practicing Christian, though I think some of his more public works are a bit presumptuous now. Also, a reminder that the Bible was written by imperfect people and expanded on by more people. That’s all we have. But God, in His infinite wisdom, entrusted the most important message of all time to fallible humans in the distant past rather than being upfront about His intentions. Consider the possibility that by keeping certain things and rejecting others, you’re just cherry-picking the parts of the Bible and Christian doctrine you like. Apologists like McDowell do this all the time. Often this is obfuscated by offering an interpretation that specifically skirts around the issue, while ignoring the plain reading according to what the authors actually believed. If Christianity is supposed to be the only true religion, why are there so many denominations?

[@StageWatcher]

@@seanpierce9386 According to the Bible, what do you see as being God's purpose with this creation?

[@seanpierce9386]

@@StageWatcher It depends on what book of the Bible you’re reading. In the OT, it’s relatively consistent: To establish a chosen people who would remain faithful and obedient to Him. The criterion changed over time, shifting from cleanliness practices to moral deeds. The former stuck around even when people didn’t remember their purpose. Things get complicated in the NT though. As the Messiah, Jesus himself believed he was to re-establish the kingdom of Israel, but was concerned that immoral people would be cast out of the kingdom. He and his followers also believed that people would be raised from the dead to participate in this ultimate kingdom. He took this a little too far though, possibly when he overturned tables at the temple. After his death, resurrection sightings occurred, causing people to think that the end was near and spreading the rumour faster. But, as years passed, reality set in, and people began to reinterpret. Revelation provides great insight into the minds of a Jewish Christian at the time. Paul, of course, had a totally different idea of what Jesus meant. He assigned a purpose to Jesus’s sacrifice and thought that this salvation plan applied to even the gentiles. This idea was wildly influential because it had a tendency to spread rapidly. It’s likely that Paul’s vision was prompted by the ideas he encountered during his persecution. As Christianity spread, many different sects emerged, all with different ideas of what Jesus meant. You can see this reflected in the gospels, especially John. The most prolific ideas tended to grow, and the worst ones died out. With the help of the Church, these ideas were whittled down to what we now call early Orthodox Christianity. Sorry for the long reply, but the question required that level of detail to answer.

[@StageWatcher]

@@seanpierce9386 Thank you for the detailed response. I think you are getting a little too in the weeds for what I'm asking, though. I wasn't necessarily asking about the purpose of Israel or the purpose of the cross. My question is one step back from that. Biblically speaking, what is God's purpose for creation? Why did He create the world?

[@Howsthat-xq3sn]

🍿📚🧐🧠👍✝️🙏

[@AngkyMac]

I'm glad to see you addressing these challenges. A few critiques that I think would make the presentation better: 1. Cut the noise of the music. (Maybe keep it, but use a gentler modulation and tempo, and keep it nearly unheard.) 2. Respond in somewhat the same way that the TikTok-er addressed you with his challenge. You, Sean, are very well known--even from your under-grad days--to be quite animated, and that is a great part of your appeal, especially in public settings addressing a large group. Here, a calmer (boring?) demeanor might work. You could give your response message to a calm, quiet person and let them read the answer- (this suggestion is something like cutting down on the music. Greatly appreciate your animation, but when you are responding to an interview-ee who is atheist, you are much quieter and have more decorum--seeming to show more respect to the person, and also easier to follow. 3. Again, a matter of hearing. Great treatment, but in a room that is echoing, and some of us very old guys have a bit of trouble hearing what you're saying through the ambient reverberation noises of the echoing room. 4. You are responding to TikTok, so probably all the above doesn't apply! Unless you want it to be universally decipherable. If you want all of us to hear it, re-state the challenger's message, just as you do when you are interviewing. As I said before--very glad to see you responding to these folks. And if your style appeals to them, keep it up! I'm only addressing the presentation technique. So, if it works, use it! (The presentation is a bit difficult for me, though.) Go for it!!! More of this. Also, some of the weak pro-Christian clips as XfreshcakesX posted.

[@polynesianwahine]

The music is good because it keeps the younger generations attention.

[@georgwilliamfriedrichhegel5744]

About the probability thing...I think there's a difference between the objective likelihood of an event and how much I should believe it happened. A good example is if someone tells you they won the lottery. Objectively, you shouldn't believe them as the odds of winning are like 1:300 million. BUT if they are able to show you they have the winning ticket, show you a giant pile of cash, show you their bank account has increased by millions, they start driving a lambo, etc, then it becomes reasonable to believe them because it's the best explanation.

[@garycovington1439]

Why why why do you need annoying ..or ANY flipping noise/"music" competing with your message? It's very annoying

[@undederayda2073]

Same, it's impossible to listen to both the music and the voices. I'm a fan but can't do this episode.

[@soniarose1983]

It’s to appeal to a younger audience which is very necessary. He has others without the music for those who are more mature

[@petersdrue]

Disagree.

[@Kyango]

Because TikTok, lol. I don't mind it, but it could definitely be a little quieter.

[@petersdrue]

@@Kyango Not even because TikTok. Background music is everywhere and complete background silence is normally unnerving.

[@amiramaz]

Who can actually take the Bible seriously at this point?

[@jerpetmokum4946]

It's sad, the people who don't have the holy spirit often misunderstand the gospel

[@mtdouthit1291]

The thing is, Sean, you and your dad grew up in a time where people just naturally accepted what was written, but today we realize it’s actually mythology. So you’re stuck in the past, and it’s embarrassing and quite pitiful to watch.

[@HelloNewman1989]

So we're required to accept testimony which the apostle Thomas himself rejected? I'm not buying that for a minute.

[@JenneMomma]

Thomas exemplifies a person who refuses to believe without direct personal experience. There are so many people alive today like that, and not in regard to Christianity. They don’t believe something unless they experience it for themselves, even if those they trust tell them something. Sounds like a lot of people I know, even myself sometimes, though not in the faith in Jesus dept. Perhaps consider Thomas again, but imagine that person you know (or yourself?) who’s that skeptic that won’t be convinced of anything unless they see it, feel it, do it for themselves. 🤔

[@HelloNewman1989]

​@@JenneMomma The apostle Thomas was not convinced by the eye-witness testimony of ten apostles, but demanded direct physical contact. Why then am I asked to exhibit greater credulity than an apostle. In contrast to Sean, testimony isn't just different evidence; it's also weaker evidence. Thomas was demanding superior evidence.

[@Crich_Leslie]

​​​@@HelloNewman1989 Thomas was rebuked by Jesus for his unwarranted skepticism. That should count for something. If we refuse the testimony of witnesses, and demand a first-hand experience before we believe anything, we wouldnʼt learn much. Most of our education - and all our knowledge of history - would count for nothing.

[@HelloNewman1989]

​@@Crich_Leslie There's no rebuke. There's deference to Thomas, and commendation to those exhibiting greater credulity than Thomas, those willing to believe in weaker evidence. In general, I agree with the sentiment of your second paragraph.

[@seanpierce9386]

It’s also important to consider the nature of the claim: This is a miracle claim, so it’s natural to require more evidence than for something that is part of the public consciousness. There’s also a lot resting on that claim and we cannot jump to conclusions. Consider a different scenario: Eventually, the universe will experience heat death. Would you believe someone who claims to know how to jump between universes? It’s good news, but that should actually make us more skeptical.

[@jayshar659]

Nice video sir. The thing is that you will always have to prove your point. You're not debating with any evidence or proof. Although there are some good things to live by in the bible. But unfortunately, it might be appropriately 10-20% of the bible that is true. The most tragic thing about most church folk, is that they will not critically study/investigate what they claim that they believe in, because if they honestly did, there is a great possibility that he or she would never attend another church service the rest of their life. Although I believe in Source/Creator of all, I do not subscribe to what I believe to be manmade religion which seems to be designed to control the masses. First, when did God Himself hand any of you a bible personally into your hands and told you face to face to follow everything that was in the book carefully? But since the book was given to you by corruptible man then why didn't we question it thoroughly? To find out where all of this came from, you would have to be fearless enough to do critical research all the way back until you have totally exhausted your search, and you should have your answer, and the answers might be very shocking to you. By the way there is no tithe to be given or received in this time and land, plus if there were a tithe to be paid and eligible people to be able to receive them, it would be food from a certain land

[@1derb0y]

I assume you have some real-world concrete peer-reviewable evidence (outside of the bible) to support all the claims you made in this video; along with evidence that proves any gods exist and that YOUR GOD, in particular, exists. I'm glad you like your religion, but there is as much evidence for your god as there is for Thor and Zeus.