Science Cannot Answer The Meaning of Existence | Prof. John Lennox

Join John as he speaks with Oxford Professor John Lennox about the limitations of science and its inability to answer life's most existential questions.
Professor John Lennox is Emeritus Professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford. He has debated and defended Christianity around the world against its critics including Richard Dawkins, Peter Singer, and the late Christopher Hitchens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conversations feature John Anderson, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, interviewing the world's foremost thought leaders about today's pressing social, cultural and political issues.
John believes proper, robust dialogue is necessary if we are to maintain our social strength and cohesion. As he puts it; "You cannot get good public policy out of a bad public debate."
If you value this discussion and want to see more like it, make sure you subscribe to the channel here: / @johnandersonmedia
And stay right up to date with all the conversations by subscribing to the newsletter here: johnanderson.n...
Follow John on Twitter: / johnandersonac
Follow John on Facebook: / johnandersonac
Follow John on Instagram: / johnandersonac
Support the channel: johnanderson.n...
Website: johnanderson.n...
Podcast: johnanderson.n...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ occaoxford
/ profjohnlennox

[@drkcircuitrider]

What a rich and wonderful commentary by this lovely man of faith and science. As one who has been trained in science and still loves it within its proper boundaries, I love God even more who is the One who created those boundaries! My fondest greetings and gratitude. Cliff Kelly, PhD Digital Circuit Rider

[@bobtaylor170]

😚 to you, Brother.

[@tomgreene1843]

Well, you are lucky that you have not chosen to disregard the imponderable!

[@drkcircuitrider]

@@tomgreene1843 Only way to live my friend. The only way to live and learn. DK

[@tomgreene1843]

@@drkcircuitrider At 77 I find it not bad at all!

[@drkcircuitrider]

@@tomgreene1843 At the age of 80, I have never been more excited about the pursuit of truth then ever before. Even though, or perhaps because we are so surrounded by the opposite of truth. DK

[@CorneliusMagnus]

What's worse is that because science cannot answer the meaning of existence it assumes there is non...

[@maddadbricks]

More than anything else, watching John Lennox humbly walk out into the rain after a debate at Sydney Town Hall, convinced me of the depth of his faith and the strength of character and will he has received as a result. I reverted to Catholicism not long after.

[@johndeese4972]

I agree that he is a sweet spirit. That doesn’t make him right.

[@EatRawGarlic]

What does it even mean for existence to have a "meaning"? And why would anyone presuppose there to be one? Why does this channel keep publishing apologetics with an academic varnish?

[@tomgreene1843]

Have you any meaning or purpose in your living?

[@EatRawGarlic]

@@tomgreene1843 I don't understand what people are trying to say when they ask questions like that. We seem to be the progeny of people who tried to sustain their lives and pass on their genes. Those before us who weren't inclined to do so, likely didn't pass on their genes. Consequently, we're by and large also people trying to sustain our lives and pass on our genes like our ancestors. Is that what you mean by purpose?

[@scottbignell]

Ask a theist what is the meaning/purpose behind God's existence and they'll typically scoff and respond with something akin to saying that God doesn't need such a justification, or (if they're more honest) they'll acknowledge that the question becomes meaningless or beyond our abilities to comprehend - like asking what is north of the North Pole, or to imagine a square-circle. We all reach points in our understandings when the usual processes for investigation break down into the unknowable. Non-theists simply arrive at this point a step before postulating the existence of god/s. For me, trying to solve the great mystery of existence with "God" just seems a baseless assertion justified by nothing more than hopeful faith alone.

[@EdwinaTS]

When the question itself is meaningless, of course science cannot answer a meaningless question. I guess 42 is as good as any other answer by the way. 😅

[@williamtaylor9966]

Well said. You beat me to it! The ‘question’ here is totally meaningless of course and I can only echo your comment. Lennox has no answer any more relevant (or accurate) than the Computer’s in HGttG (at least that was a decisive answer!). I would have more respect for Lennox if he simply admitted that his ‘belief/faith’ is of his choosing, as it also is for all ‘believers’ of whatever faith they follow.

[@williamvorkosigan5151]

It isn't the job of the Scientific Method to answer questions about the Meaning of Existence. Believing demonstrably false things about magical beings isn't going to help you much either.

[@FL-by9xz]

If that’s the case then why is Dawkins so involved in the God debate? There’s a whole generation now who only know him as a celebrity atheist, but know little, if anything, about his justly celebrated career as a biologist. As for ‘demonstrably false’, this is not the same as ‘no evidence’. If you’ve done any science at school or beyond you should know this. Regarding your ‘magical beings’ comment, I would refer you to Arthur C Clarke’s comment ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic’ so, snark aside, that’s not a particularly helpful contribution to the debate. Straight out of the Dawkins school of public interaction. I love your absolute certainty though, it’s just like all fundamentalists, you appear to be the same.

[@politenessman3901]

The assumption is that there is meaning. if you start from that assumption you will naturally come to the conclusion that you have come to. But it all rests on that one thin branch.

[@pablovalentine8976]

The meaning of existence to me is to grow to thrive and to produce . It is basically simple and everything that is living including trees grass and everything does it or tries to .

[@delinquentinparadise]

At this time.

[@connorduke4619]

Answer: you come from God, you are going back to God and the meaning of life is to expand your consciousness such that you increasingly better know your unique self as an immortal child of God. Your progress in this goal can be measured by the Hawkins Level of Consciousness. All humans start at 0 on this scale and after many lifetimes reach 500 - enlightenment - and no longer reincarnate on Earth. I'm at 467, where are y'all at?

[@kforest2745]

There is no meaning in science it’s a bunch of chemistry fkn around out there in space. Life has to make that on its own as its extension but without its contract.

[@MicMc539]

Give us a chance. We've still got the God-botherers holding us back! Peace.

[@Pacdoc-oz]

If you have the IQ, read Kurt Godel and his incompleteness theorem and weep.

[@MicMc539]

@@FidiosFioFan If I can't fight it, f*ck it or eat it - it doesn't matter ........ Me. Peace.

[@beemer2869]

Athiests cannot separate natural from supernatural. Their spirits arent awake and they have difficulty turning their minds to our magnificent Creator. They call our God the God of the Gaps, but I truly believe that they are human beings with gaps in their minds and souls. The good news is that these gaps can be filled with the Holy Spirit, if they let Him in. Oh how they would change then.❤❤❤

[@bertybertface1914]

Religion is even more so. It is based on faith. Science is the practice of teying to find the answers, whereas religion(s) claims it already has them. I choose Science.

[@carolynnunes3922]

Robert Jastrow: “At this moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.”

[@stevelenovo5774]

Many people choose science not because it is the best option but because they don't like the alternatives.

[@KevinSolway]

@@carolynnunes3922 Jastrow is speaking opposite of truth. The theologians have no idea what they're talking about. Not one of them has any idea about the "God" they profess. Not one of them can tell you what it is they believe in.

[@sigiloXXX]

@@stevelenovo5774 Science as religion.

[@tomgreene1843]

@@stevelenovo5774 Well, science and some scientists, and philosophers, do not deal well with the imponderables and have gone to considerable rounds to obviate reflection in these areas eg blind watchmakers, word salads, multiverses, having no purpose, having delusions, being an illusion, lack of scientific proofs (where none may be possible) , sky gods ...up to 18,000!, being cultural christians .......more ??

[@RobinShull]

Christ is King.

[@EatRawGarlic]

Chris Rock? Chris Christie?

[@TomEdwardi]

I recently sold some of my long-term position and currently sitting on about 250k, do you think Nvidia is a good buy right now or I have I missed out on a crucial buy period, any good stock recommendation on great performing stocks or Crypto will be appreciated.

[@DerickSams]

As a beginner investor, it’s essential for you to have a mentor to keep you accountable. Kristine Lynn Weber is my trade analyst, she has guided me to identify key market trends, pinpointed strategic entry points, and provided risk assessments, ensuring my trades decisions align with market dynamics for optimal returns.

[@FederickLeo]

I managed to grow a nest egg of around 120k to over a Million. I'm especially grateful to Adviser Kristine Lynn Weber, for her expertise and exposure to different areas of the market.

[@DerickSams]

I don't really blame people who panic. Lack of information can be a big hurdle. I've been making more than $100k passively by just investing through an advisor, and I don't have to do much work. Inflation or no inflation, my finances remain secure. So I really don't blame people who panic.

[@FederickLeo]

Without a doubt! Kristine Lynn Weber is a trader who goes above and beyond. she has an exceptional skill for analyzing market movements and spotting profitable opportunities. Her strategies are meticulously crafted based on thorough research and years of practical experience.

[@FederickLeo]

look up her name on the web for her website.

[@pfrohwein]

Human Science cannot answer this. But Divine Science CAN and DOES !!! Divine Science by another name; Christian Science.

[@KevinSolway]

Religion can't answer those questions either. At least science has reason on its side.

[@Wereontoyouss]

Why should we trust science? Because it doesn’t trust itself.

[@scottbignell]

Exactly. Science knows and concedes what it doesn't know. Religion fills in the blanks with hopeful assertions which are asked to be taken on faith.

[@fadzanuar4962]

What you mean?....Islam has the answer. We know our purpose in this life.

[@KevinSolway]

@@fadzanuar4962 What is your purpose, and why is that your purpose?

[@margaretcampbell2681]

Of course the meaning of life is answered by religion

[@MarshallLore]

neither can religion

[@theverylovelychannel4498]

Empiricism is empty. The philosophers have known this for 250 years. Kant was a theist. Most scientists are philosophical babies - Dawkins, Krauss, Atkins.

[@robertholland7558]

There are no answers to those question, and God definitely is NOT the answer.

[@assignmentuot7963]

T 0:12