Good God? Faith and Reason in the Face of Suffering | John Lennox at Rice University

[@joerosendale7889]

I am drawn to Dr. Lennox’s final comments. As someone recently facing some health concerns and coming back to God, I thought I’d wait until some healing took place to give a testimony of how Jesus impacted my life. Listening to the final few minutes of this lecture, I realize that I need to now be thankful and offer my testimony of trust, faith and thanks in Jesus for where I’m at today, and the mercy He has shown me even to bring me to this point. Thanks be to God in the highest.

[@frogtheprincediaz510]

Amen ❤

[@elainehoward7472]

Yes, Amen.

[@petermathieson5692]

Was that Dr Lennox at his best? Could there possibly be better? Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

[@TheElderBrotherPodcast]

This Man is a preacher!!! 🔥🔥🔥 Fantastic sermon!!!

[@jackieann5494]

I've endured terribly traumatic events and situations ...His Grace has been there . Since receiving Christ , His grace has been there every single time .

[@marvinhesler6002]

We are witnessing one of the greatest speakers of our time... BRAVO 👏

[@GodSoLoved.Yeshua]

It's my first time listening to him and I simply want to give glory to God for opening his eyes to the Truth.

[@interactive1178]

❤

[@Feynman235]

I have been watching Mr. Lennox on KZbin for the last month or so, daily, and still cant get enough! I really enjoy listening to him speak!

[@johnjaso385]

CRAIG LEE interesting to hear you say what you commented! I have the same exact feelings. I wonder whom else listens or listened for at least a month straight as i.?

[@Zarcon2008]

I'll pray for your awakening... because you are truly lost.

[@edwardcorry9598]

@@Zarcon2008 oh the irony

[@dangerboy808]

@@Zarcon2008 explain what doesn't makes sense about John lennox, I'll wait...

[@luiecordero8970]

&&

[@antonipavlakos2285]

,I don’t know enough wonderful words to comment on Professor John Lennox. He is beautiful with his raw edges. In the name of Jesus, may he continue to speak in good spirits in the glory of God 😊🙏✝️❤️

[@BSwitzerland]

Dr. Lennox, a true man of God who has the intellect, love, and good character to bring us closer to God

[@a.k.davies3902]

Amen to that ❤️

[@denmart9842]

Agree

[@harleydavidson1014]

He is just so pleasant to listen to I have to share a comical metaphor I heard about him. Someone once stated he was like a snowman that came to life and it stays with me because I think its great.

[@rhinorawkjocktorderky3006]

It blows my mind how willingly you can believe anything as long as your parents tell you it's true

[@tylertullier4846]

@@rhinorawkjocktorderky3006 what is truth?

[@bakhop]

I've seen many of John's lectures on KZbin, and this one at Rice is one of the best. I feel very grateful for his testimony and way of clarifying and simplifying the Gospel. I've been a Christian for some time, but he helps me understand my walk better. I wish I had his eloquence and patience. When I hear the arrogance and hatefulness of some atheists, it's hard not to get angry. He never does but does a great job of answering their points with good humor and grace.

[@barbkitts759]

I used to get angry, but at this point, as close as we are to the end, I am very sad for them, and fearful for them, knowing their end if they continue to reject God's provision for them. :-(

[@godeeper6894]

perfect said. Thanks!

[@polly1030]

Yes, as stated by G. Black, it is the emotion control this man has, coupled with his erudite intellect - skilled delivery - absolute conviction in the face of gargantuan opposition that endears him to my vulnerable and fearful heart.

[@nickg5010]

@@barbkitts759 I don't think God will destroy them on a point of principle, if their beliefs are sincerely held.

[@J3k50n]

@@barbkitts759 🔥🔥kb 🔥k 🔥k 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. 🔥 N. 🔥🔥ñnn 🔥o 🔥N 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥.

[@azebok]

Just listening His wisdom and understanding is enough evidence to believe there’s God!! Thank you Dr.Lenox I learned a lot from your lectures! May God bless you! To God be all the glory 🙏🏾

[@chavellaminerva]

I really wish I can meet up with him in person. 😢😢😢😢😢😢 He's really a fatherly figure who teaches me to be much more closer to God.

[@annbrucepineda8093]

I hope you can meet Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. I think Dr. Lennox considers himself a guide to Jesus, who will draw you much closer to God.

[@jesuslovesyou1881]

You will

[@olamidedosumu9067]

@@annbrucepineda8093 oo

[@dorislater4826]

If God let persons in heaven that refused to believe He could cure our wrongs and pay our judgement for wrongs then heaven would be no better than earth.

[@humbertothebeliever2443]

Study scripture and pray for discernment. We have God's holy spirit as teacher and guide.

[@TherealTenmanI]

"My God My God! Why have you forsaken me?" He even knew what it was to be abandoned by God. Yet he doesn't abandon us. Praise the Lord. He loves us so.

[@GlenMcGlone]

He speaks in prose. He unfolds an essay in real time off the top of his mind. It’s like watching Charlie Parker, or Art Tatum, or Bill Evans. It’s just an explosion of tightly organised creativity, originality and truth.

[@mrmcgowan]

Amazing that this man's faith, philosophy & demeanor are not in the least bit affected by the contempt of skeptics.

[@lealeandre1063]

+MichaelDisciple That's the power of God's Holy Spirit and the confidence a person has in knowing the truth. I completely agree. It is an amazing thing to behold.

[@LarJgrip]

We actually don’t know how much he is or isn’t affected…I highly doubt if asked that he would say he is not affected in the least. He’s definitely stalwart though.

[@heidibrown997]

​@@LarJgripYes, definitely. But only love would compel anyone to debate the God haters.

[@vhawk1951kl]

Because he is a bigot

[@issamelias1747]

God bless you dear Professor Dr. Lennox. May you enjoy health & strength in pursuing your quest in propagating God‘s word. Christ is risen,- HE is risen indeed. Medizinalrat Mag.phil. Dr. Med Issam Elias / Austria ❤️By the way, my son Johannes once heard one of your lectures live in one of your visits to Austria & was simply stunned by the power of your speech. 🇦🇹

[@Cristina_Pavel]

I could listen to dr Lennox for hours. This was an amazing talk, thank you!

[@praveenliverpool]

John lennox is a breath of fresh air. His talks are very well presented.

[@cecilialiebenfelss8827]

It is amazing how Prof.John Lennox helped really me to realize the reality about the Lord Jesus Christ!

[@gospeldigitalnetworks4880]

It is refreshing to listen to Mr. Lennox, thank you, you gave me confidence to face my friends who do not believe in God.

[@justin01144]

His speech brought tears to my eyes. God gave this man the gift to be able to articulate this stuff in a powerful way. I'm sure he has brought many to open their heart to God.

[@eroceanos]

What a nice man. Friendly, but passionate and intelligent. A good teacher.

[@billmason2785]

What a beautiful man....filled with the love of God 🙏

[@katcorona3553]

WOW, powerfully articulated; yet, so sweet and simple. YES 👍♥️

[@rusty383]

Gods word is Simply ! Jesus Summed up to be Very Simple Yet today! Love your Nabiors as yourself. Think about it! If we Love our Nabiors! We don't want to harm them! We don't want to Steal From him ! We don't want to take his Wife. Or anything else. Not Complicated is it. God Gave the choice of loving Him or Evil which is the Great Lie

[@abishaiabyssinians8791]

God bless you, Mr. Lennox 🙏❤️ Love your speaches

[@Jordan-li7fx]

"There can't be love without suffering." Never considered that.

[@rizdekd3912]

So, there won't be love in heaven? Or will there be suffering in heaven?

[@Zanna55158]

Without God Our world is ridiculous! I pray for all atheists around the globe 🙏

[@TherealTenmanI]

The world with God is also ridiculous. Praise be He has a sense of humour.

[@grandmasstories3418]

God bless you, Dr. Lennox! Thank you for standing up for your convictions, for standing up for the good and for Jesus!

[@built4speed101]

This is truly a blessing to hear in this Postmodernistic world we live in today. Mr. Lennox reminds me of Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer.

[@vhawk1951kl]

"Postmodernistic" meaning?..... .... You have not the faintest idea since it is no more than a cognate of it-doesn't- like- it.

[@ForeverInFaith]

God bless you John Lennox, I pray that your input might help my father see and understand that Science and God are not mutually exclusive… he is also a mathematician yet argues the opposing view to you. I won’t stop praying for him and I pray he reads your book and doesn’t get angry when I buy it for him.

[@drintx5734]

The good thing about suffering is that God is with us and never leaves us. He brings eternal fruit from it. We must draw close to Him.

[@sanctuary70]

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " Hebrews11:1

[@mskwan4253]

This should be reposted on KZbin every now and then. Right on spreading the love and knowledge of God by Dr Lennox. ❤❤❤

[@85Aheadstix]

Lennox is a GENIUS!.

[@Bubuzabear]

I was born in another culture... Taiwan. It is predominantly Buddhist, along with a host of others like ancestor worship. My grandmother was a Buddhist for most of her life. When my dad was born, the doctor said he is going to die soon. My grandma went to the temples to pray, and sought after many religions. She tried everything except for Christianity. Nothing worked. My dad's body was left for dead on banana leaf. Finally she decided she must also give Jesus a try.

[@allinoneal4540]

EXCELLENT !!!❤

[@normaquirolgico1257]

Thank you, Sir Prof. John Lennox for the inspiration !!!

[@rusty383]

Only God could fix this world! So He Came Himself

[@MagicalFlowers4u]

I like Mr. Lennox! I'll be learning more about him.

[@rpireland6131]

I tried to watch him everyday because his message is so relevant to our post-modern society today.

[@kim09031957]

A truly gifted man of God.

[@rpireland6131]

I just sighed a "WOW" surely "he has the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

[@margarethuss9091]

Give me Jesus

[@Steph-dz9jb]

Excellent talk. Worth listening to twice even. Thank you Dr Lennox.

[@GoCanucks2011]

24 Passages of Scripture Regarding Your Heavenly Father • He is the living, concerned Father who is interested in the intimate details of our lives (Matt. 6:25-34). • He is the Father who never gives up on us (Luke 15:3-32). • He is the God who sent His Son to die for us though we were undeserving (Rom. 5:8). • He stands with us in good and bad circumstances (Heb. 13:5). • He is the ever-active Creator of our universe. He died to heal our sickness, pain and grief (Isa. 53:3-6). • He has broken the power of death (Luke 24:6-7). • He gives all races and sexes equal status (Gal. 3:28). • He is available to us through prayer (John 14:13-14). • He is aware of our needs (Isa. 65:24). • He created us for an eternal relationship with Him (John 3:16). • He values us (Luke 7:28). • He doesn’t condemn us (Rom. 8:1) • God values and causes our growth (1Cor. 3:7). • He comforts us (2 Cor. 1:3-5). • He strengthens us through His Spirit (Eph. 3:16). • He cleanses us from sin (Heb. 10:17-22). • He is for us (Rom. 8:31). • He is always available to us (Rom. 8:38-39). • He is a God of hope (Rom. 15:13). • He helps us in temptation (Heb. 2:17-18). • He provides a way to escape temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). • He is at work in us (Phil 2:13). • He wants us to be free (Gal. 5:1). • He is the Lord of time and eternity (Rev. 1:8).

[@GoCanucks2011]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

[@TherealTenmanI]

​@@GoCanucks2011 be not mislead, the words matter, their repetition not so. Say them as often as they are true. Glory to God and thanks to Christ Jesus.

[@love_is_sacrifice9414]

If you are an non believer watching this, God bless you and wish you all the best.

[@johnkeating4221]

Could listen to this man all day and the truth is as simple as he tells it.

[@phoenixginny62442]

My philosophy professor once said, “If you knew what God knows, and if you loved what God loves, you would make the same choices He does.”

[@TherealTenmanI]

Having been shown a tiny glimpse, yes. Absolutely. One of the funniest things about our reality is that "the ends justify the means" is the best and worst truth and falsehood. Its only true for the blameless, aka God.

[@rosetorres7701]

To say that John Lennox is an outstanding speaker is an understatement. His genius lies in presenting the TRUTH with such simplicity and clarity. He concluded that Christianity is not performance-based. Jesus will never be impressed with our good deeds. Salvation is a gift. It’s free.

[@lepidoptera9337]

Say, why are you calling a horrible grifter a good speaker? ;-)

[@garyglover1273]

Me too. He speaks with such pathos. It is so obvious he really loves God.

[@wtulel]

Jesus is God and he loves you all

[@dr.rickmarshall6697]

And if you don't worship him he will send you to burn and choke and suffer for eternity. I would hate to see what he would do if he didn't love you.

[@usdollar999]

"If we could see right now what God has done with those children that suffered innocently... we'd have no more questions."

[@tomfoolish5202]

You are a disgust to Humanity!!. So this is some kind of poker game your God is playing with us??. Use your head dumb ass.

[@tomfoolish5202]

@john oboczky It would be something if it wasn't fantasies.. You can fantasize all you want, That won't make it true.!!. A kind, Loving, faithful, honest God, don't you think he would have allowed someone who died to come back and explain to doubting Thomasses if it is real??. Why go through all the trouble of Sacrificing his only Son, (What a silly way to save the world??. Human Sacrifices??), for the lost sheep, but go through all the extent to be mysterious and hidden to the lost sheep??.

[@a6m3reisen8]

@@tomfoolish5202 You are indeed a foolish little man child shaking your tiny fist at god. Tell me how you would make beings that Have meaning or value, that are morally capable. That can do both evil and good and whose love would have meaning only because they are truly capable of evil . How would you forge Beings of any worth, if god was among us and we could not deny him. What would our love be worth to him or us, We would just be acknowledging reality, we would not be free to choose to accept god. That same can be said by suffering and pain in the world. If we lived existences free from all the suffering, pain and evil. We could not realize and value what is good and love. We would be little better then pets to god. Assuming god is real then it is he who gives you life and sustains it with everything you need. Yes you will eventually die and you will suffer through that life. But it is so that you can grow and mature, you can come to truly desire god. God wouldve of given you a free being with moral agency the choice of rejecting him or accepting him . You say suffering and pain and such is evil but you really without god have no cause or reason to say so. You make to mistakes here. first you say why woould god allow someone who has died to come back and explain it all. Well if you know anything of christian doctrine and belief. JESUS DID IN FACT DO JUST THAT, he did in fact come back after he died. And you ask why would god need to sacrificing his son (( His son is god as well in human form, Jesus is god in human form which is not the same as god the father but equal to him )) That shows god came down to suffer with his creations to feel the misery and pain and suffering. To die a death we deserve for being so morally bankrupt and sinful, to show us he suffers as well with us. And through Jesus suffering on the cross, he shows his mercy and forgiveness for our rebellion. But more then that he shows he suffers with us his creation. And that he even allowed his creations to do that to him and cause him such suffering. It brings us closer to god in more then just god forgiving us of our sins but allows us to forgive ourselves as well. We are no longer running from god trying to hide from him. But he showed us his forgiveness and the lengths he is willing to go to get you back, You and I are his creations, we are his property. And to see what sort of creation we would be our creator step back and so we would not be able to see him. So we would act according to our own hearts and natures. We would choose between living for him or for ourselves. God is also perfectly just and demands punishment for our sins. But he so loved us that he could not give us what we truly are deserving of, he gave us a another way. A way where he takes our punishment we deserve because we accept his lordship over us. We come back to him and lay in his palm instead of thinking we can keep running from him To see and witness evil, pain and suffering, you can truly value the opposite. It is not taken for granted anymor god's love or mercy, not taken for granted all the good things he has done for you. You truly learn to value the goodness he has bestowed on you. We were not created to be lovers of ourselves and selfish beings. But beings who love our creator imperfectly as our creator loves us perfectly. We need to have our faith in him challenged by pain and suffering to show that our faith and love have and worth. What is your faith and love worth to god the only things you can truly ever even think are gifts to good. If you are always standing in his prescene and can not deny him or his goodness. If me and you were in the same room. you would not be able to deny my existence as easily as you can when its over the internet on youtube. So your belief that I'm really has more value when its over the internet then if we were talking in person.

[@jonhiggins2012]

@@tomfoolish5202 Don't kid yourself. You are atheist purely for emotional reasons, not logical ones. Studies show the majority of atheists are the same way.

[@lauraowen8142]

@@tomfoolish5202 You know NOT of which you speak so disrespectfully.

[@Bubuzabear]

After praying to Jesus with tears, my dad's body recovered. To her, it was a miracle, and henceforth, she committed herself to Christ. Listen.., I'm not claiming my faith is right and theirs is wrong. I'm simply choosing to believe what makes most sense to me. To each his own, I will respect that.

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

The fact that the Books of the Bible were written over a span of 1500 years by 40 different authors and YET carries an amazing cohesiveness and synergy within, while irrefutably predicting the birth, ministry and crucifixion of the Messiah - THROUGHOUT the OT mind you - is absolute proof of supreme design.

[@gloriaazamar940]

All I have to say to God is Thank You.

[@alexhuffvn]

Wow! What an amazing lecture!

[@Peace-wm7vc]

This man has a way of teaching that makes me wish I was his maths student, I would have definitely come out with flying colours. May God Almighty continue to use Him for His Kingdom

[@josephthistle7026]

John lennox is awsome when ever i need advice i look for his speeches. I love god and love you all lets kerp voicing gods word amen

[@chan51944a]

What he said made a lot of sense.

[@peterrenner5427]

not in my universe

[@peterrenner5427]

Ely Ioannou well that´s what I said, didn´t I. He obviously lives in his own universe. Poor deluded fatass...

[@Shikunisai]

peter renner Grow up. You don't have to agree with what he says, but at least have respect for his point of view.

[@peterrenner5427]

Shikunisai no, I respect him as a human being and I fight for his right to openly state his opinion. But I certainly don´t respect his opinion or his point of view since it is antiquated and nonsensical.

[@Shikunisai]

peter renner 'Poor deluded fatass...'

[@albertpurification985]

It is my great pleasure,watching and listening this video clips

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

Alan Sandage (winner of the Crawford prize in astronomy): "I find it quite improbable that such order came out of chaos. There has to be some organizing principle. God to me is a mystery but is the explanation for the miracle of existence, why there is something instead of nothing."

[@mackdmara]

This was a great talk for you John. God had his eye on you & you care a great deal. In the questions & your answers, there was loads covered. One day we will all face god. On that day, we will stand for our sins or Christ will. I know to much about what I have done to solo that one, how about you?

[@andrejayc3464]

Simply have to thank God for People.like John Lennox and Ravi Zacharias ,who show us that the greatest commandment Jesus stated "to Love your God with all your Heart, all your Mind And all your Soul" truly is the way to the truth that we all seek.

[@rpireland6131]

"God incarnate and He died on the Cross. God so loved me, and He gave Himself for me!" Wonderful presentation Dr Lennox.

[@Bubuzabear]

Pg#4. The chapter speaks of Ethan the Ezrahite who at one point loved God. Later on he laments what seemed like God's lack of remembrance of his promises. But finally at the end he once again thanked God for his goodness. When I read this, I just could not stop myself from weeping, because it speaks exactly of the very struggle I was going through with God for the past year. I felt that God did not remember me anymore, yet even with the passing away of my son, I now see that God was....

[@HarryNicNicholas]

great story. just a story though.

[@heidibrown997]

Thank you for sharing here. Suffering without God Almighty i cannot face. Seeing those we love suffer, i could not countenance without God's mercy. He too knows suffering beyond any we face. And yes, we go through it in hope of a purpose even in suffering. And of an end of all suffering.

[@thecggames]

"God created Hell, therefor he is a torturer." There is a large reason why this argument is NOT used at the professional level. Suppose I created a device to bring justice to those whom were guilty of the law. Let's say, a prison. In this prison, if you break the law, you are sent there for the rest of your life. Now, lets say I give people a choice. I realize that to be morally true, I would need to offer a way out of the prison. So I offer myself. As long as people give me a form of declaration, detailing that they recognize my sacrifice. They will get to walk free, without going into prison. In other words, I am satisfying justice perfectly, while letting people go at the same time. (hopefully I haven't lost you yet) Now, suppose that there are groups of people who CHOOSE to ignore the sacrifice laid out before them. By default, they are sent to the prison for the rest of their life. Why? Because justice needed to be satisfied perfectly. If I offer a way out of the prison, AND a decision to go there or not. Then how am I the torturer? I simply built the prison, and gave people the decision. Accept my form of salvation, or go to prison. If they choose the prison route, then THEY are the torturer. You cannot blame the prison builder for the choice of the people. Period. Without a hell, you cannot satisfy the law. God HAS to have a place like this exist. Without it, he would not be perfectly GOOD or JUST.

[@DataWaveTaGo]

The system you have described is exactly how the seriously misanthropic view existence and that is why they are often selected for religious leadership roles.

[@johnlove2954]

+DataWaveTaGo So you have to forgo your sense of right and wrong to be atheist. That is what I called "deal with the Devil".

[@BSwitzerland]

God didnt really creat hell. Hell is a place where is a total absence of God (therefore absence of mercy, love, light, warmth, respect, peace, grace, compassion, goodness, and anything else that God is) thats hell! Is like darkness is the absence of light. Who doesnt want to know God during the lifetime will go to a place where God is not present

[@treclark8556]

Then why does Jesus describe Hell as a place of everlasting fire if there is no warmth?

[@honawikeepa5813]

Going to hell, is a free choice. Only the fallen Angel's have no choice.

[@chrisharney1778]

What an excellent speaker, god bless

[@elwiramendezs1144]

Thank you very much Dr John and Veritas ❤

[@JosiahFickinger]

Why blame God for the suffering now, when you can thank him later for an eternity of peace and comfort?

[@dangerboy808]

Absolutely brilliant

[@Bubuzabear]

Pg#3. After the passing of my son, I am immediately reminded of the subtleties of the story and how it applies to my situation. The main clincher came when I was anxious about my son's name "Ethan". I did a Google search and for the first time realized that Ethan is a name from the Bible, and that he is only recorded to have penned on chapter. That chapter is Psalm 89. I became anxious and started reading this...

[@nelsondelapena4394]

Dr Lenox, you are very right. God gave us life to dealt with. When we say Life, everything is there. Everything!!! and humans gradually knew what are these things like the whole science, it is from God! Life has ups and downs that if there is no downs its not life anymore. Where there is pleasure there is sufferings, all has opposite.

[@albertpurification985]

Very deep idea,yes you are another hero in Christian faith

[@jacoboramada114]

Wisdom from our Lord with him Jonh Lennox

[@lepidoptera9337]

Wisdom is when you stop believing in Adult Santa. John Lennox is merely a grifting business. :-)

[@agustinespinosa4096]

@27:27 - If that's God... (This part is the key to everything, I suddenly started to feel an uncontrollable need to cry, I think my tears of love to Jesus)

[@Bubuzabear]

Pg #6. What I have shared is only one of many other encounters of which I believe defies the chances of coincidence and is not irrational to believe there is a God behind this. The many times when I have cried out "sincerely" to God, and to witness events that speak exactly to my situation adds more reason. If it were a one time ordeal, or even a couple, I might be tempted to call it off. But having experienced these encounters with consistency, it would irrational for me not to believe.

[@vhawk1951kl]

Fair enough but what exactly do you suppose(whatever you mean by but have not the faintest idea) god to be. Your problem is that you are an idolater and the injunction against images is not restrictd to graven images. Perfectly rational and reasonable toposit or suppose god *if you have some idea of what you are*calling* god, but, as you are about to demonstrate...... ........ ..... You don't.

[@lynprayerfulvigilantdiscer6923]

The brilliance of Professor Lennox is so obviously Divinely inspired. “Righteousness by faith... We surrender, repent, confess and by faith claim Christ as our Saviour. In that very instant we are accepted as a child of God. Our sin is remitted; we are accounted righteous; we are justified before God. This is righteousness by faith... the ONLY war that is won by surrender.” Truth, absolute truth exists; it even speaks to us. What matters is whether we will listen to what it is saying.

[@rep10101]

John Lennox is great

[@RenaWith]

Amazing speaker wow....love it❤️

[@mrmaat]

This magnificent speaker has mastered the art of sophistry.

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

Paul Davies(British astrophysicist): "The laws [of physics] ... seem to be the product of exceedingly ingenious design... The universe must have a purpose"

[@rpireland6131]

Absolutely, the purpose for the universe is to "know the Creator of the Universe."

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

Yea, real academic and authoritative material there. I'm very impressed.

[@rpireland6131]

Absolutely, academic, authoritative, personal and spiritual.

[@Bubuzabear]

There are many people who have experienced some of the most horrible experiences of pain, and what one might consider bad luck, but still have come to embrace and love God. For example Nick Vujicic who was born without arms or legs, and Joni Earekson Tata who was paralyzed from the shoulders down. If pain and suffering is proof that God if existing is terrible, then these folks certainly have more qualification to state that fact. But on the other hand they thank God despite these tragedies

[@armandito9735]

I have not seen God, I have not seen Jesus ,...but....I love Them ,Pray to Them and believe in Them.........................................THAT IS THE POWER TO BELIEVE.

[@bluefishactcl1464]

Superb Thank you John is an inspiration

[@Bubuzabear]

Listen.. you are free to believe that. That is your right, and I will respect that. Perhaps, ultimately you are right?..., I do not authoritatively claim that my way has to be the way. However, at this point in my life, evidence in my life is pointing me in a different direction, that there is a father God who loves me, who leads, and has a plan for me. I find me rest in that.

[@kwabenaagyapong-kodua2028]

My mentor

[@garyglover1273]

I kept putting off watching this one because I knew -- thought I knew -- he would just say the same ol' company line. Wrong. He really spoke to me.

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 8 "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

[@herbreannapinder1122]

Powerful and relevant.

[@friend2866]

I believe that God created us with free will because he wanted to be loved freely and not forcefully. I think that anyone with any light in them would understand and want the same thing.

[@majmage]

It feels so dishonest when theists act like they don't think morality/good/bad exist at all without a god. * Morality means, _"principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior."_ * People _do_ have those principles, and that's what we mean when we say morality exists. * Good/bad are thus words that describe an act as obeying or violating those principles. ( _Exactly_ like how calling a movie bad indicates it's bad relative to your movie preferences, calling an act bad means it's bad relative to your behavior preferences.) So while the main reason not to believe in any gods is our lack of evidence of them, the "problem of evil" is a real contradiction between (A) reality and (B) religions which claim an all-powerful, all-knowing, _good_ god exists who cares about humans. So while the problem of evil doesn't debunk all religions, it certainly debunks any religion that claims a god exists with those specific attributes. So it's more about internal consistency: you look at this religion and how _it_ defines good (do unto others, etc) and you see that reality _is not a reality where a god is acting according to that morality,_ (does God give children cancer because he wishes we did that to God?) and so it's an example of internal inconsistency. But again, while this is an issue commonly mentioned as the reason for someone abandoning their religion, I personally find the Problem fo Evil to be a weak argument -- in part because it doesn't apply universally to every god. So what matters more is _knowledge requires evidence,_ and we don't have strong, logical evidence of any gods existing. That means _if we care about truth,_ we shouldn't believe we know any gods exist (because we don't) -- we shouldn't believe in gods.

[@Bubuzabear]

Pg#9. At the end of the day, each of us will believe in what we feel makes most sense. I respect that. My hope is that we all seek to find truth in an honest, loving, and respectful way. My hope is for your ultimate happiness wherever that may be found. For me, and at this point in my life, I believe this is found establishing a sincere relationship with God through the teachings of Jesus.

[@dannymars7623]

Suffering creates empathy. We suffer so that we learn to share in suffering.

[@dannymars7623]

If we could not feel pain. Then we could morally decline.

[@B2BCreditandCollection]

+Danny Mars this is nonsensical word salad. We learn to share in suffering. Do you make this shit up as you go along??

[@lealeandre1063]

+Danny Mars Suffering does not create empathy. Where did you get this from? Why would we have bullies even in schools if suffering creates empathy? Do you honestly think that bullies don't know that they are hurting their victims? Do you honestly believe that they don't enjoy seeing their victims cower in fear in their presence? That is a completely false statement, not at all grounded in reality.

[@dannymars7623]

Its not the bully who Iis suffering.. and after being bullied the victim will have a stronger urge to end bullying.. after experiencing and knowing the pain of being bullied.. you will have something to relate to when someone else is being bullied.. but when you see someone going through the same thing you went through you might be able to help them or at least talk them through it.

[@dannymars7623]

Not so sure empathy is what I should have said.

[@jjhot254]

Just LOVE Mr. Lennox!!

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

...We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient, too proud to pray to the God that made us. Abraham Lincoln 1863

[@delicious_crepes]

When you think whether God intervenes into our lives today or not, think about this speech. God was there while Dr. Lennox was writing it.

[@lepidoptera9337]

Which one? We invented so many of them. ;-)

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

Frank Tipler (Professor of Mathematical Physics): "When I began my career as a cosmologist, I was a convinced atheist. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that one day I would be writing a book purporting to show that the central claims of Judeo-Christian theology are in fact true, that these claims are straightforward deductions of the laws of physics as we now understand them. I have been forced into these conclusions by the inexorable logic of my own special branch of physics."

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

Arno Penzias (Nobel prize in physics): "Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life, and one which has an underlying (one might say 'supernatural') plan."

[@lindawheatley4263]

I’d disagree on this aspect: the universe was created out of “ substance”- the Word. “ And God said….” Jesus informed us that the words He speaks are spirit ( substance) and life. 😌

[@LarJgrip]

@@lindawheatley4263 You missed the point Linda, the quote makes reference to astronomy not the New Testament. Arno acknowledges creation but before God spoke the word time/space & matter in fact did not exist.

[@lindawheatley4263]

@@LarJgrip , got it! Thanx for clarity.

[@MR-yx8hj]

I’m still confused and baffled as to how anyone can still defend a god that allows suffering. I’m not saying God doesn’t exist- I’m more of a deist than anything; however, I do question a good god. I like John Lennox, but he still is defending the actions of a tyrant.

[@dr.rickmarshall6697]

Christianity and Islam Are nothing more than death cults waiting for their fictional God to destroy the earth with an apocalypse, why should they care about making the earth a nice place and peaceful place to live when it’s all going to come to an end sending all of the unbelievers to the lake of fire ,and only the ones that believe in their fictional God will be saved. And what does this have to do with an all powerful all loving God that created everything ? It has everything to do with a brainwashing cult That poisons the mind of its believers to believe in such nonsense.

[@TheElderBrotherPodcast]

🔥🔥🔥 yep buying the book!!

[@juanbanegas1935]

God came to this world to speak the truth

[@SonsOfThunderApologetics]

John O'Keefe (astronomer at NASA): "We are, by astronomical standards, a pampered, cosseted, cherished group of creatures.. .. If the Universe had not been made with the most exacting precision we could never have come into existence. It is my view that these circumstances indicate the universe was created for man to live in."

[@friend2866]

Thank you

[@pete546]

excellent