Does Christianity matter? Is religion good for society? Ask NT Wright Anything podcast

Why do Christians share their beliefs? Can Christianity offer something unique that's beneficial to our world today? And what about other religions? Tom Wright answers listener questions in today's episode on how to share our faith, why we share our faith and what's so uniquely compelling about the Christian faith throughout history and for our modern world today.
00:00 - Intro
02:18 - What is the best way to share your faith?
06:49 - Dear Tom, have we lost the true meaning of repentance?
09:02 - Is Jesus is the only way to God?
11:43 - Jesus among other religions
13:15 - How to explain the Gospel to a Muslim?
16:06 - Is violence the result of the Church's disobedience?
20:09 - What comes after our 'post-Christian' society?
#apologetics #Christianity #god #evengelism #christian #tomwright #reasonsforgod
SOCIAL LINKS:
Twitter: / unbelievablefe
Facebook: / / premierunbelievable
Instagram: / / premierunbelievable
Tik Tok: / / premier.unbelievable
Ask NT Wright Anything Podcast
The show that connects you to NT (Tom) Wright’s thoughts and theology through your questions. Produced by Premier Unbelievable in partnership with SPCK and NTWrightOnline.
About NT (Tom) Wright: Tom Wright is one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars and the author of numerous books including Surprised by Hope, The Day The Revolution Began, Paul: A Biography and most recently Jesus and the Powers. He will be on the Unbelievable show talking about this very soon. Tom Wright is senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford. Wright is ordained in the Church of England and, among other roles, served as Bishop of Durham between 2003 - 2010. He is much in demand as a lecturer around the world and the author for the bestselling For Everyone commentary series and the New Testament For Everyone Bible translation.
• Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: pod.link/267142101
• Support us: www.premierunbelievable.com/d...

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

Always appreciate N.T Wright.

[@Virginia.Espinosa]

Thank you so much

[@howardhilliard9286]

"The word true itself is slippery as we know." That's not the only thing that's slippery NT Wright.

[@williamoarlock8634]

The whole 'church', 'Jesus Christ', 'God' and Christianity is entirely slippery.

[@cronkitepercussion]

Sibelius 7th, thanks!

[@daneumurian5466]

How about a dynamic view in which one aspect of sin is failure to move forward with God? Here's an excerpt from one of my poems: "...Evolve Me, Jesus, Leave my sin behind. Burst the old wineskins, Splash the new wine!..."

[@jenisebrooks4308]

Build your character to be like the one who loves and sacrificed his life for humanity and is powerful enough to have risen from the dead.

[@ritawing1064]

There are a lot of things I would have liked to ask this chap, who I believe was president of the OICU in my time, but too late, I guess.

[@simonslater9024]

to Kieronseth - pray for them please don’t mock. Please watch the warning or illumination of conscience by Christine Watkins. Then Following Padre Pio. God bless.

[@SouthernFriedPap1st]

The original Christianity (Catholicism and Eastern/Oriental Orthodoxy) are amazing.

[@matthewphilip1977]

Could Judas have resisted betraying Jesus given that God knew Judas would betray Jesus?

[@SouthernFriedPap1st]

@@matthewphilip1977 Free will is real. Calvinism is a 16th century novelty.

[@matthewphilip1977]

@@SouthernFriedPap1st Did God know Judas would betray Jesus?

[@williamoarlock8634]

@@SouthernFriedPap1st 'Free will' is negligible with an omnipotent god and his selfish 'plans'.

[@nickc.44]

Those cinnamon rolls are causing me to stumble 😂

[@tedclemens4093]

With Jesus leading the way, the Gospel starts with, "Your sins are forgiven." Where do we find that in this world?

[@matthewphilip1977]

Why do actions need forgiveness if the 'sinners' couldn't have done otherwise given God's foreknowledge of those 'sins'?

[@Morewecanthink]

​​@@matthewphilip1977- How so? - ‭Romans 6, 16, 23 [16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ... [23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[@matthewphilip1977]

@@Morewecanthink How can a sinner do anything other than that which is foreknown by God?

[@tedclemens4093]

@@matthewphilip1977 Failing to measure up to even our own standards, too often we find outlets in uncontrollable emotions, addictions, and depressions to name a few. You tell me why actions need forgiveness. The biblical God doesn't condemn. That's the job of the standards we've adopted.

[@matthewphilip1977]

@@tedclemens4093 Did God know you were going to post that reply?

[@AndyMangele]

Leaving Christianity (and religion in general) was the best decision I ever made.

[@markaurelius61]

I guess it's not for everyone. I hope you haven't become negative toward Christianity. The antichristian propaganda is just propaganda. Christianity gave us the modern value of the individual, which we take for granted, and the scientific culture.

[@AndyMangele]

@@markaurelius61 I'm actually indifferent towards Christianity even though I could be hateful due to my experience with it.

[@Morewecanthink]

@AndyMangele - In respect of what do you want to determine that? - *'Religion'* = people's ideas about G(g)od(s) and the universe, which includes a-theistic ones as well as 'revelation' within a naturalistic worldview (occultism) = man wants to determine truth. *God's word, the Bible* = truth, God's thoughts about His creation, revealed to us Human creatures = God's word is truth (John 17, 17). Jer 2,13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. John 10, 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 4, 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Ps 36,9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. Proverbs 13,14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14,27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Revelation 21,6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

[@markaong]

Out of curiosity, why did you leave Christianity?

[@AndyMangele]

@@markaong For several reasons.

[@simonslater9024]

to morewecanthink - and Jesus said upon this Rock ie Peter I will build my Church ……. Jesus never said churches does this answer your question. The Bible as I’ve just quoted condemns protestantism and orthodoxy

[@rickfilmmaker3934]

The Eucharist is the New Covenant.

[@williamoarlock8634]

Bread and wine as the flesh and blood of the dying-rising god is a pagan practice.

[@rickfilmmaker3934]

Watch "How to be Christian - what does eat my flesh mean?" Then get back to me.

[@williamoarlock8634]

@@rickfilmmaker3934 I've better things to do than watch over ninety minutes of Christian propaganda.

[@simonslater9024]

to electroman - so your an expert now? Watch the warning or illumination of conscience by Christine Watkins. Then Following Padre Pio who show’s the true beauty of Catholicism which is everyone’s true home! If a person wilfully rejects the holy Catholic Church they are damned - it’s as simple as that. Most soul’s in HELL didn’t believe in HELL when alive - they do now!! Padre Pio could tell you what you had forgotten!

[@rogersacco4624]

Bad Jesus by Hector Avalos

[@simonslater9024]

What a blasphemous thing to say. Now please read my other comment. May Jesus who is God bless and forgive you.

[@ritawing1064]

​@@simonslater9024Hector Avalos was a great man: an academic with a passion for truth. Read his books or even just watch his videos on KZbin - a life devoted to freeing humans from the chains of research-denying "religious" ideas.

[@StudentDad-mc3pu]

@@simonslater9024 No such thing as blasphemy - only other ideas and opinions.

[@StudentDad-mc3pu]

Like most human institutions religions have good and bad sown into them. The problem with Christianity specifically is that certain dogmas do more harm than good - proscriptions on same-sex relationships are both arbitrary and pointless and have done centuries of harm to a sizeable minority.

[@simonslater9024]

Please read my comment. God bless.

[@StudentDad-mc3pu]

@@simonslater9024 Where?

[@simonslater9024]

You’ll need to look again my comment is there. God bless.

[@simonslater9024]

to student dad - so your an expert in this areas? Read the 10 commandments to know you are wrong.

[@Morewecanthink]

Not man decides / determines 'truth'. God's Word, the Bible, is Truth (John 17, 17). It's about bringing dead people living according to their adamic sin-nature through the death, burial and resurection of Jesus Christ to Life to become partakers of HIS resurrection life. 2 Corinthians 5, 15-21

[@Alien1375]

The Bible is written by man though...

[@Morewecanthink]

@@Alien1375 - And?! ‭1 Peter 1, 22-25 [22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: [23] being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [24] For All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: [25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. ‭2 Peter 1, 19-21 [19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

[@ALLmasked]

idk where you got that but the greek text never mentioned the bible. just the word of god.

[@Morewecanthink]

​@@ALLmasked - The Bible are the according to the Holy Spirit worked collected texts of God's revelation to HIS human creatures. Without its Truth you couldn't know anything. ‭‭Proverbs 1, [7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction. ‭Colossians 2, [3] Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ‭Luke 24, 25-27. 44-48 [25] Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [26] ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? [27] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. ... [44] And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. [45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, [46] and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these things. ‭Hebrews 1, 1-3 [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; ‭Revelation 1:1 KJV‬ [1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: [2] who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. ‭Revelation 22, 18-21 KJV‬ [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. [20] He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. [21] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

[@kennorthunder2428]

Fact 1 Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. John 17:17 Sanctify them in Your Truth; Your Word is Truth. John 17:17 Fact 2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. John 1:1-5 is speaking of Jesus. Fact 3 Jesus identified himself as: I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 Fact 4 A preincarnate Christ was part of the omnipresent God: ....that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:27-28 Conclusion, truth is there all around us. It's for us to detect and be in sync with. So in that sense, you're right: No man decides/determines "truth". It's to be discovered, preceived, sense, and be in sync with. The remarkable thing is that truth is a thing, spirit and a person. Truth might get crushed and killed, but it rises again. 2 Corinthians 5:15 This very idea brings "dead" people to life.

[@mr.c2485]

I’m willing to bet that this fella thinks that an hour with Jesus at Starbucks over coffee is the same as an hour of prayer and Bible reading. 😮. I call B.S. !

[@rickfilmmaker3934]

Watch "how to be Christian - what does eat my flesh mean?" Then get back to me.

[@StraightWhiteGuy33]

Damn that was a lot of non answers

[@stephenbailey9969]

'Religion' in this age is under the purview of broken men, and so can be used for either good or evil. Christ didn't come to bring more religion. He came to bring a new existence.

[@williamoarlock8634]

This 'new existence' is just another religion.

[@stephenbailey9969]

@@williamoarlock8634 It's only with our broken minds that we separate religion, politics, economics, entertainment, etc., into categories that can be bandied about. But it's all just living. Jesus came to bring a new that.

[@williamoarlock8634]

@@stephenbailey9969 What about your broken god whose 'most loving and selfless act' is masturbating through a crucifixion-resurrection fetish and idol of hypocrisy?

[@williamoarlock8634]

@@stephenbailey9969 This broken idol of hypocrisy 'Jesus' brought 'new' whited sepulchres of 'the church'.

[@stephenbailey9969]

@@williamoarlock8634 The 'church' is really the people (ekklesia, Greek: congregation, assembly). Most of them tried to follow Jesus' teachings. But there have always been some in this world who are lured by power. Thus came the official church hierarchy with its ties to the political ruling classes. The state churches. The best thing to happen to Jesus' community is the separation of church and state. (Today in much of the world, political ideologies have become the substitute for priests and their imprimatur of legitimacy.) The focus returns to Jesus, what he did for us and what he is still doing for us, where it has always been among the vast majority of the laity.

[@mtcstyle]

I would want to tighten up the question, "Is religion good for society?" When I speak with my friends about Christianity, they immediately draw on the caricature of an angry tyrant in the sky waiting to send people to hell. Is that kind of religion good for society? Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe some people need the threat of spiritual violence to maintain a civil society. I would maybe change the question to be, "Does this type of religion entice people into a close relationship with the Divine?" To that question, I would say no. Any belief system that promotes fear of the other party cannot be good in establishing a loving, trusting relationship. To that end, is Christianity as it's commonly portrayed good for relating to God? I would say, no, that view is not helpful.

[@derkkeijzer6874]

Spiritual and violance don't fit together i would say. A spiritual life how it should be, is good for both the person and society.

[@richardbarton2709]

It is all bull you know.

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

You're very sad.

[@kieronseth]

A Papal one?

[@simonslater9024]

So your an expert I assume? Please read my other comment. God bless you all the same.

[@simonslater9024]

@@user-kf8wb2cq4fplease read my comment. God bless

[@simonslater9024]

@@kieronsethplease read my comment. Ps when you attack the sacred Papacy you also attack Jesus.

[@wet-read]

Nobody needs the dogmas of Christianity.

[@helderet4756]

You don't need the dogma but wanna live in its environment, what a nonsense

[@rokytomy8165]

What about freedoms in atheistic countries such as China, North Korea, and formerly the Soviet Union? I tell you, the alternative to Christianity in the West is not atheism, but rather Islam. Then drink freedoms.

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

@wet read... Your bitterness is sad.

[@Morewecanthink]

And how do you want to know by any means what somenone needs?

[@virginiaweir-hj1rt]

I do! I'm a sinner.