An Ivy-League Scientist Becomes a Christian

Tom Rudelius was immersed in his physics studies at Cornell and never thought much about God until his brother, a new convert to Christianity, challenged him to explore faith. He had science and an Ivy League pedigree-why did he need God? He reluctantly began exploring the Bible and the life of Jesus. Seeking proof of God’s existence, he found himself in a world of uncertainty, faced with plenty of reasons for both faith and doubt. While Tom never found absolute proof of God or Christianity, he ultimately concluded that the existing evidence for both is compelling and compatible with science.
Chasing Proof, Finding Faith (by Tom Rudelius): a.co/d/57jyBLd
*Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (bit.ly/3LdNqKf)
*USE Discount Code [SMDCERTDISC] for $100 off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (bit.ly/3AzfPFM)
*See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (bit.ly/448STKK)
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: / sean_mcdowell
TikTok: @sean_mcdowell
Instagram: / seanmcdowell
Website: seanmcdowell.org

[@mac9869]

Thank u so much for a look at the Christian testimony of a young scientist. This interview gives me great hope that young scientists can still hear the voice of God! Praise God for this young man!!

[@darrenmiller6927]

Thanks so much. I'm in a period of transition and have had rough spots lately. I really found encouragement in your discussion today. There was a tone of take it easy weaved throughout for me. We hear what we want to hear? This is one of my favorite pod casts and I haven't watched in a bit so it's a great time to be back today. Thanks for your gentleness and spending some time on struggles people, and he, have had. Great guest, a gentle and modest guy. Sometimes God gives us comfort from different places. Much love, and admiration, always.

[@SeanMcDowell]

Thx for coming back Darren!

[@darrellanderson6650]

I agree. I think this is one of my favorite discussions. The overall feel was special.

[@scottboor1390]

Vulnerability, Transparency, and supportive community to walk with you are important elements of doubt. It's part of the process of maturing one's faith to shed faulty ideas or perceptions. Our culture can burden us with the idea we need to always be in control or have it all together, but life - especially life in Christ, dos not work that way.

[@user-jx7xb1sw3b]

kmm

[@Jamessetches]

Each 3zs 0.​@@SeanMcDowell

[@TrevorJamesMusic]

Wow, great interview - really enjoyed listening to Tom. His story about the polygraph test and thinking "well I'm a pretty good person" was POWERFULLY relatable. God bless you guys.

[@jaggedstarrPI]

Funny thing. On a polygraph I would be expecting the opposite, thinking of how much I know the evil in my heart. I like that he alluded to the test picking up what he felt guilty about. Yikes. I would be sunk...🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@johnny.musician]

Who hasn’t had doubts? I reckon it’s part of being a human in this world to ‘doubt’…if I met someone who says they have never doubted faith I’d find them hard to believe. Not out of cynicism, but out of my observations and experiences. I’ve never ‘seen’ Jesus but my belief in Him remains undiminished. Excellent and ‘real’ episode.

[@downenout8705]

Try reading your post, but substitute "Jesus" with Allah or one of the Hindu god. Not convinced, now you understand how vacuous you sound to an atheist.

[@downenout8705]

@@HaroldZwingley Don't be so silly, if you want to know what Christian "faith" is, all anyone needs to do is read Hebrews 11:1. I understand that many Christians want to prevert the word of their god, but I say that is their problem not mine. Oh, your no true Scotsman fallacy made me chuckle.

[@breakout4347]

Our doubt can lead us to Christ.

[@jaggedstarrPI]

I'm hardly the first to point this out but faith, quite literally requires an element of doubt to be faith at all. If there is no doubt, none at all, that is knowledge on a factual, proved basis. God, in His wisdom has not offered us certain, proven knowledge of Him, only faith. We're asked to trust Him. To act in faith when we DON'T know for certain. That's not only okay, it's beautiful and clearly His design. I've never understood the wrestling many seem to do on this topic.

[@kimpreslar303]

I really enjoyed and appreciated this interview with Tom. As a Christian from a young age who grew up under Christian teachings and parents in church, it was super helpful to hear about the honest journey to faith of Tom and his twin who did not grow up with those Christian influences and as adults went to universities and studied in a field that tend to hold a more secular worldview. It underscored how the Holy Spirit is powerfully at work drawing people to Himself that we may believe are too far out of reach and it helped me better understand what presuppositions and objections others may have. Thank you both!

[@w4rsh1p]

Secular people join all sorts of religions. What we learn from this is that religious belief is natural and doesn't require a God's intervention.

[@fatstrategist]

@@w4rsh1pAlmost as if we naturally seek a Creator

[@hopee7386]

It’s so wonderful seeing the story of someone searching out the truth. I liked that he did not want to lose his twin in something he wasn’t part of. I loved that. ❤

[@Myke_thehuman]

Um no. You're happy that he decided to agree with you. My search for truth led me in a very different direction. And I guarantee that you're not happy about my search for truth. No truth doesn't matter, it's being religious that matters to you.

[@DetVen]

​@Cats-jp3el In your search for truth, did you reach out to Jesus with a wide open heart ready and willing to take what the Holy Spirit will give you? If not, you'll need to revisit that for discovery.

[@brookerichards9037]

The most important thing for me was breaking from organized religion and studying the teachings/words of Jesus Christ. I am a follower and believer in Christ. When my intellectual curiosity lead me to looking at quantum physics, it was through that filter that the Bible became alive for me.

[@philscott3759]

Searching for truth never leads to religion, how can it?

[@brookerichards9037]

Historically and archaeological based truths can indeed lead to religious truths. You may want to think through your comment a bit further @@philscott3759

[@alejandrogarcia6187]

I can so relate with this gradual shifting to faith that Tom speaks about. Thanks for the video!

[@kevinlandgrebe8294]

I love this interview. I identify with Tom. I too have suffered at times with severe doubt, and those times have come when I’m not focused on a project. OCD is a factor in my doubting. I appreciate Tom’s candor in discussing his faith and doubts.

[@SusansRoadLessTraveled]

The meaning of life….Eccles 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

[@TheLookingGlassAU]

If you are struggling with doubt, Gary Habermas is the doubt explainer. He does a really great presentation on doubt and can really help.

[@timandmonica]

I'm curious, how would you summarize Habermas' main thesis about doubt for Christians?

[@w4rsh1p]

Yet he did a poor job of struggling with doubt when talking to @PineCreek

[@michaellatham1971]

@@timandmonica 5 proximal historical events within the first 36 months of Jesus resurrection that are thoroughly documented by scholars of all stripes including atheists.

[@timandmonica]

@@michaellatham1971 I have read his "Dealing with Doubt" and "The Thomas Factor." These are the only books I am aware of where he directly deals with doubt. My question was "How would you summarize Habermas' main thesis about doubt for Christians," not "What is his thesis of minimal facts?" Are you answering my question or another? I'm seriously asking, not being a jerk!

[@terraloft]

He came to God because he was drawn by God, his soul precious to His Creator .

[@robbieg.3462]

Love you and your content Sean but I do wish at times that you would respond more or provide an explanation to the guest if they bring up something they are struggling with such as violence in the OT. I know you wanna let the guest talk which is good, but I’m sure you could provide more insight on certain things to provide a sufficient answer for the guest but also the viewer.

[@rogermills2467]

What sufficient answer is there for Moses, in numbers, killing male children and mothers and fathers but keeping 32,000 female virgins for his soldiers to rape? God said too? Eve ate a fruit?!? Cancer for millions of babies is a good and holy reaction.

[@diananickel3086]

DTBM Dr. Barnett talking about Abraham and the sacrifice of Issac said ALL the gods were asking for the sacrifice of children. Our God showed through stopping Abraham how He was different than all the other small g gods that most everyone was worshipping. As Dr. Michael Heiser said, we have to read the scriptures with the mind of the people at the time.

[@rogermills2467]

@@diananickel3086 How in the world could you have the perceptions of a desert tribesmen 1400 BCE? Most of Christendom can't even put themselves in the shoes of living parents dealing with children with gender issues. Also, much of the OT was written around 400 BCE at the earliest. It tries to give an origin story to the desert cult that worships yaweh.

[@Ejaezy]

​@@diananickel3086So what was the point of allowing Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter?

[@diananickel3086]

@@Ejaezy The point? God didn't tell him to in the first place.

[@Lillaloppan]

Thank you from Sweden 😊💛

[@kirsimarjanykanen3993]

Greetings from Finland💙🤍

[@Danybella]

Hej!

[@pamelaalphonso6292]

Beautiful and amazing! Welcome to the family of God Tom.. blessings from Toronto!

[@kflybye]

I loved this interview! Tom is so endearing, and incredible honest. Many blessings to him!

[@markmorris8410]

Thank you, Sean, for having another interesting guest and discussion. Like, Tom, many people have issues with some difficult passages in the Old Testament. Interestingly, the people that question why a loving God would allow evil to exist, are the same people who take issue with God when He actually brings judgement against the evil that they claim to hate.

[@People-will-surprise-you]

People often think faith is just believing. But the bible tells us faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen and thus means to be sure, you need proof therefore faith comes with prove

[@Liketreeswalking556]

I can relate a lot to his testimony in many ways. Awesome to hear someone much smarter than me also had a similar experience. Great interview guys! God bless!

[@javabradley7521]

Enjoyed this conversation. Seeing “regular” people from a variety of backgrounds working living out and working through their faith is helpful as I try to do the same. Thank you, Sean.

[@MonteFleming]

When Isaac asked, Abraham said "God will privide himself a lamb," and the punchline of the story is "Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." Given the cultural context, it seems reasonable that God would want to really drive home the point that he does NOT require human sacrifice.

[@Herbertl_Lee]

Even more, there is a very interesting clue in the text that leads us to believe that all is not what it seems. In verse 19, near the end of this chapter, we read, “So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.” Where did Isaac go? It's not just a test for Abraham. It's also a test for Issac 😊

[@angietorok8389]

Wow. This is the best interview I've heard in a long, long time. I have often said that scientists are supposed to be seekers of truth and that, therefore, the work of any TRUE scientist would tend toward affirming the existence of God. I love what he says here. "Science isn't in the business of proving whether or not supernatural intervention is possible in the first place. It shows us how the world works in the absence of supernatural intervention." BRILLIANT! "

[@cheryldavis6011]

Loved this interview! Hoping to share it with a couple of scientifically minded loved ones who seem to be struggling in their quest for truth. ❤🙏🏻

[@deion312]

Woohoo! More videos like these!

[@cecilleolea1563]

Wonderful interview

[@nl2766]

I like the view that God, through Jesus, was bringing restoration. I will borrow that, praise God.

[@gracelan06]

There were Christians in the scientific sphere, i.e., Blaise Pascal, Isaacs Newton, John Maxwell, etc. Unfortunately, their belief and testimonies were overshadowed by enlightenment in 18 century. Scientists might mention them but barely talk about their faith.

[@bryant475]

Dr. Hugh Ross is one of my favorite current ones!

[@scottfranson4215]

Chasing Proof, Finding Faith . I found this under More. it`s the name of Tom`s Book. That's a Good title to Me .After listen to Tom and You talk Sean . Father GOD Greatest Blessings.

[@brieannatyler6055]

I am LOVING this conversation. Thank you so so much for this!!! The scientist-apologist approach is refreshing and very compelling. Love you both. God bless you!

[@EveryDayWalkingWithChrist]

God Bless You Tom and thanks so much for your witness. I look forward to reading your book. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner. Awesome interview Sean!

[@TheDanEdwards]

This is the _HERE IS A VERY SMART PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS SO YOU'RE NOT STUPID TO DO SO ALSO_ fallacy. Works often, as one can see in some of the other comments. But the guest avoids all sorts of tough questions (about the Bible, Jesus, Christianity, God, etc.) He's a young guy who needed a community and found one. That has nothing to do with the validity or morality of Sean's own belief system.

[@thefriesens1071]

Maybe that wasn't the point of the video. That doesn't mean he hasn't thought about tough questions or that he doesn't have any answers to them. People like you seem to think that Christians are dumb and never think through anything, but just take a leap of faith. While some certainly are like that, most Christians think just as deeply about these things as you do.

[@adeniranm7647]

Chasing Proof, Finding Faith pre-ordered on Audible! Thanks for a great interview, Sean.

[@nena200able]

Love your content. Discovered it this morning and can't get enough of it. Thank you!! You're making a big and awesome dent in this world by sharing these testimonies, in a time in which there is so much narcissistic attitude and such little humility.

[@marisolvasquez5670]

I was born in a Christian family, and yet, I had the very same questions about the old testament violence, for many years I prayed about these events, and in time God has given me many answers, through, other people's preaching of why these events occurred. First I learned that, God had a purpose for his people, that would not be reached, or realized if they remained amongst these other nations. 2nd, just like the Israelites where consecrated to Jehova, the other nations where consecrated to pagan deities, making them enemies of the one true God. Lastly, a lot of the DNA lineage of the other nations were corrupted with Nephilims DNA, there fore not part of God's original creation, and not part of humanity, therefore not eligible for salvation. And these are some of the important answered I have discovered throughout my lifetime, of why God wanted these people deleted.

[@downenout8705]

So correct me if I am wrong, but from what you wrote you consider it to be an all loving act of moral perfection to burn the living flesh off babies, to put babies to the sword and to drown babies. Wtf have you sacrificed your humanity on a deity that casually slaughters countless babies and the unborn, are you truly that fearful of that man made unevidenced imaginary concept called hell? Do you really rejoice in singing Psalm 137.9 in the praise of your god? Sick beyond belief.

[@bigboy9983]

Your just fishing for excuses for all the horrible things written in the bible. It’s putting lipstick on a pig. Trying to explain it away does not mean it is gone.

[@mahthil]

All powerful God had no other option than to destroy like a toddler. Weak, petty God.

[@Papa-dopoulos]

@@bigboy9983None of your responses came even close to directly refuting the points that this person made. I could just say “you’re making that up” or “so what” to your response, but do you see how that’s less relevant and intellectually satisfying then pointing out that you didn’t address anything directly? There is no meaningful discussion if you can’t even talk about a single point

[@Zandman26]

So a few things to maybe look at your research of OT again. Is the God you worship omniscient (knows all that have happen and will happen)? If the awnser was yes, why would God create humans who he knows will end up opposing (it)? Regarding the Nefilim tainted DNA, was the species wiped out by the flood? If so, how come we still haven't found any Nefilm DNA on earth? Just trying to help you maybe think of these questions in a more scientific way.

[@romans1229]

“ Even if this is not God, I’d like God to be like this” Dropping Truth! That says it all.

[@timandmonica]

Does it also seem like that would equally apply to anyone and their interaction with any God or religion if it's something that they like?

[@shivli6088]

@@timandmonicaNo because there is only one true creator of all things seen and unseen and that creator is GOD JESUS. Not buddha. Not mohammad or allah. Not bahaiollah, not brahma or krishna or any other counterfeit gods that satan created to occupy and distract our minds and thoughts and distance people away from God

[@angietorok8389]

Wow! And the idea of miracles as a restoration of how the world is supposed to be rather than a breaking down of it. Intriguing!

[@clivenicholson6965]

Thank you for this inspiring interview. Sean, you ask the right intelligent questions. Tom's answers add brilliance from a scientific physics background. Most enlightening and faith-building. Sean, your dad's books Evidence that Demands a Verdict was largely influential on my accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. Praise God!

[@8zero90]

So this request must be meant to be ide like to ask @SeanMcDowell and your community to flood Physics Girl latest video with prayers like laying hands but the KZbinr version shes had long COVID since 2022 and doesn't seem to be getting better, I know she's a scientist but ive been praying for God to heal her in a way she will know it was him ever since i found out last year and I believe this is the way. Her channel is Physics Girl her name is Dianna Cowern.

[@WontonDisciple]

Can't wait to read Tom's book! Thank you for this outstanding interview.

[@dawnwatson9410]

Doubt means you need to dig in and find answers to your questions and don’t give up until you find them. Also, write down your evidence for God, both scientifically and experientially. How has God shown himself in your life? Seek tangible experiences with Holy Spirit so even in times of doubt, you remember those times that you can’t deny

[@lurlenejones456]

I think there is maybe more hostility in the life science fields vs the physical science fields.

[@kevinbolton9315]

Ehrman is not an historian but a textural critic. For this reason Ehrman needs to be taken lightly when he speaks out of his professed context.

[@libbylife7161]

Faith is not about belief, it is about hope and trust. 🙏

[@danielforderer968]

Tom tells that he still struggles with the story of god telling abraham to sacrifice his son isaac. I too struggled with that for a ling time until I better understood the historical context. Before Judaism human sacrifice was common in all cultures. People thought that the gods exspected that from them in certain situations. By demanding from Abraham to kill Isaac and then preventing Abraham from doing it, god demonstrated once and for all that he was a good god who didn‘t expect child sacrifice from us. This story, the subsequent introduction of the mosaic law and afterwards the teachings of jesus transformed our views so deeply, that we paradoxicaly don‘ t even understand this isaac story which started this transformation.

[@SPQR2755]

This is a great interview

[@tryme3969]

Weren't all the Ivy Leagues started by Christians?

[@dherichsen]

One of the most exciting developments in the last 50 years is how the naturalists' insistence that science was antithetical to religion has essentially fallen apart-- from the fact that the universe has a beginning, from the fine tuning of the universe from the outset to the present day, to the explosion of new life forms in the Cambrian Era, and, perhaps most astounding, from the unbelievably complex machinery in the living cell. Naturalism/Neo-Darwinism has no explanatory power with regard to these discoveries-- despite the strident, but evidence lacking protestations of the New Atheists (they have gotten kind of quiet these days). And imo, the gold standard books on this reversal of the naturalist narrative-- and the arguments in support of the explanatory power of theism-- is Dr. Stephen C. Meyer's Signature in the Cell, Darwin's Doubt and Return of the God Hypothesis.

[@therick363]

It’s not a fact the universe had a beginning. The fine tuning argument doesn’t work for a creator The Cambrian era was a huge time frame So because naturalism doesn’t have answers it has to be god? No.

[@jangohemmes352]

You just watched a Christian scientist explain to you how we don't know the universe had a beginning, and yet here you are still claiming that

[@curiousgeorge555]

Loved the interview. Looking fwd to his thoughts on the problem of evil.

[@blackbeardsghost6588]

Great interview! As for "certainty" versus "faith" . . . If you get on an airliner, you can't truly profess "certainty" that it will not crash and burn on takeoff. But every person on board has sufficient faith that they are willing to bet their life on it. Certainty would be really nice, but faith should be sufficient, one way or another. There are things we know, but there are also things we don't know but feel very confident about.

[@scottboor1390]

Matthew Bates book is excellent. Anyone who has not yet read "Salvation By Allegiance Alone" and his follow up works certainly should. It was a huge help to me when I was questioning a lot of what I was raised in.

[@claubit32]

Amazing!!✝️😊

[@randibass7558]

So, did he pass the polygraph test?? Very intelligent fellow.

[@cecilleolea1563]

Thank you.dr Sean mcdowell

[@Gerschwin]

I loved the bit about his polygraph confession experience... while I don't do this with a polygraph.. confession on Saturdays at my parish has me feeling the same way... it's freeing and humbling at the same time

[@Jesusandmentalhealth]

So good and so encouraging in regards to our doubts!

[@mahthil]

"I followed my brother into the church" "When someone was being bullied I just kinda followed the crowd" Has he thought for himself?

[@Papa-dopoulos]

Considering Christians are called to follow Christ’s example, I’d see it as a sign of humility and wisdom that he decided not to think for himself in this context. I know it’s in stark contrast to our hyper-individualist obsession with doing everything ourselves, thinking for ourselves, etc., but how exactly could a person limited by the parameters of this creation (3 dimensions, our 5 sense, etc.) possibly conceive of anything outside of it on their own? Would you chastise a blind person for holding someone else’s arm to cross the street?

[@thefriesens1071]

Did you watch the whole video? The whole video is explaining through his own reasoning and experience how he came to Christ. His brother's conversion just got him curious. It didn't bring him the whole way.

[@MrBowser2012]

He said he had challenges in the OT. It seems his challenges begin in Genesis 1.

[@scottguitar8168]

Tom sounded similar to me growing up. I was also raised by a non-religious, loving family. I also had no thoughts about Gods or afterlives, nor did I see any need to ponder that in my youth. While I understand Tom's journey to becoming a Christian, there are many parts that I consider assumptions that he was willing to make that lent to his journey towards Christianity.

[@hunterlee3226]

The thumbnail is a little confusing because it makes it seem like you can't be a scientist and have faith in God. I love stories like this though. I'm glad that more academics are being vocal about their faith. We need more bold Christians in academia.

[@bryant475]

You'll love Dr. Hugh Ross!

[@veritas4freedom]

great discussion ! thanks

[@mweber5459]

Enjoyed this interview! The teachings of Bible scholar Dr. Andy Woods has really helped me with a lot of my questions. It would be cool to see you interview him. ❤ starting with his Genesis series.

[@robertlaabs5066]

Beautiful Testimony! Thank You for Sharing!!!

[@tinfacesful]

Thankyou for such an intellegent discussion very helpful aspecially how doubt is discussed

[@dougemd1]

I was hoping to/expecting to find a link to his blog, in your show notes. Can you provide that?

[@BusyBodyVisa]

Can't wait for his book to come out!

[@nl2766]

Wow, God uses any natural and supernatural means.

[@wedream2]

The most disturbing texts in the Old Testament have to do with genocide and war rape. Many scholars have studied these and the best explanation I have come across is William Webb's notion of incremental redemptive ethic within the context of the ancient war culture of the time. I highly recommend his book, "Bloody, Brutal, and Barbaric?: Wrestling with Troubling War Texts." We judge the apparent moral failures in the OT by our current cultural standards, not realizing that the restrictions God placed on Israel with regard to war represented a tremendous ethical advance over the atrocities normalized by Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, etc.

[@maric.3977]

If he reads the book of Enoch, which was once included in the Bible and still is in the Ethiopian Bible, and was also found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, I believe, then he will understand some of that violence in the O.T.

[@br.m]

1 Enoch is a cartoon though and Peter and Jude did not quote from it.

[@Ordinal_Yoda]

Even if ignoring the book of Enoch. The Laws of Motion explains enough.

[@MatthewMurraycogswoth]

The book of Enoch was not considered as biblically inspired scripture by Jews, so we shouldn't include extra biblical sources in the old testament, simple reasoning but quite important

[@foobarusrex6291]

The book of Enoch was considered scripture by some Jews, particularly the Jews of the diaspora in Ethopia. What became old testament scripture in the Christian communities was simply what was read in the synagogues at those locales. If it was read in the synagogue, it was scripture. It is wrong to infer from the rabbinic Judaism of the Ashkenazi or Sephardic varieties the practices of the first century Jews who became the first Christians in the Roman world. Those later Jews were responding to the challenge of Jews who worshiped Jesus as messiah. Their solution was to expel those people from the synagogues, exposing them to the Imperial requirements to worship the emperor, which Jews were exempt from, leading to massive persecution, and to expunge from the synagogue scriptures that aligned too closely with what the Christian Jews believed. But to get a sense of what earlier Jews of the Levant viewed as scripture, see which scrolls were included in the Greek translation (LXX). Enoch was not included in this, but the Book of Wisdom was, as were 1 and 2 Maccabees. These books teach about the immortality of the soul, its destiny being meant to be with God, the bodily resurrection, the value of prayers of the dead who rest with God, the value of sacrifice - all very supportive of the message of Jesus, and thus dangerous to rabbinic Judaism.

[@br.m]

@@foobarusrex6291 1 Enoch is fan fiction. 2 and 3 Enoch are not worth mentioning. Enoch is not scripture and that should be obvious when reading it. It reads like something Joseph Smith or Mohammed would concoct. Do you really think that if Noah was as described in 1 Enoch that anyone would have doubted him? If Noah glowed in the dark and had been speaking since birth. Surely everyone would worship him and have built the ark for him.

[@Zandman26]

If someone struggles with mental problems I hope they seek help for it because it's dangerous. If you in this process happen to pick up a religion, and it helps. All the best to you. But it's true that miracles can't be verified by science, however accepting miracles requires you to form a framework on how to analyse miracles. Because if you do not have this, you need to accept all miracles no matter the religion. So how is the framework built to accept certain miracles but not others? (And saying things like, because only Jesus can do them is a cop out. Because it does not add a independent value that is shared among miracles that can be used to determine their validity) The evidence of the empty tomb is very flaky, especially for someone crucified as that would defeat the purpose of crucifixion.

[@HJM0409]

I loved that he was willing to say he couldn’t wrap his mind around time theory.. a phD in string theory! I don’t feel so bad😂

[@johnnyyang740]

Thanks for sharing Dr Tom. Have your parents and other relatives come to Christ?

[@emalee8366]

When I came out as a non-Christian, I was worried, and rightfully so. People ghosted me without saying goodbye. People who never usually reached out to me started calling me, but to understand where I was coming from, but to convert me back with arguments I already dealt with in my journey. Atheists generally don't care if people are Christians as long as they're kind to people. Among evangelicals, it's asymmetrical.

[@valeried7210]

I chuckled when the theoretical physicist said he was confused. His humility is refreshing. 🙂 I think a few things in the OT are hard to explain. I think sometimes we or athiests dont understand how the Bible is condemning things we're uncomfortable with - like in judges. I love embracing doubt. We'd probably have to get rid of a quarter of the Bible if we cut out all mentions of doubt.

[@nl2766]

Min 34. I was there I was just there!.

[@meggy8868]

Great show. Another smart guy who punctuates his speech with “ likes”

[@MarkAJohnsonEDLDFall]

Thank you for providing the podcast. The Holy Spirit teaches in Mark 10:13-16 that Jesus and the little children's story teach me (everyone) that the Father's love and wisdom shine in his glory and become available for everyone who responds to Him. The heart of a child connects and opens doors to build a relationship with Him that starts at salvation and leads towards sanctification.

[@catholicbeth2371]

Why in heck would you think there was any opposition between being an Ivy League scientist and Christianity? Look up some of these on internet - Nicholas Steno, Georges Lemaitre, Gregor Mendel, Stanley Jaki, Jerome LeJeune, John Polkinthorne. In speaking about the laws of nature Johannes Kepler said "God want us to recognise them by creating them after his image so we could share in his own thoughts." Studying God's creation is a way of learning about God....

[@davidjohn85]

Well I became a devout Christian when HRH decided to visit me in my bedroom at 4 am in the morning.I was most surprised considering I am. a sinner and HRH is HOLY.This happened when I was 20 years old.I am now 70 years old and HERO WORSHIP HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE CHRIST.Yours sincerely David from London,England.

[@jimmoore9490]

Everyone that can relate to what he is saying about anxiety I have a recommendation that helped myself. Go to a Naturopath or somewhere to get a simple blood test and check for food allergies. There are things in the foods nowadays that trigger your body to react. Once you find out what foods you're sensitive to eliminate them for a couple of weeks and you will be amazed that the anxieties will be greatly reduced or go away. Especially if you are alder like myself. I'm almost 60. I never had these issues when I was younger so that's why I think it's in the foods of today.

[@dominiqueubersfeld2282]

This is a case of early neurodegenerative disease. I feel sad for him.

[@TestimonyPony]

Yale Medial School Residency graduate Dr. Chauncey Crandall has an interesting testimony. He was a leg grow out. Please interview him

[@angelbianchi4786]

Love hearing the testimonies of "common" people.

[@amberc8481]

When he talked about checking for mental illness when you have major doubts it made me think of a conversation I had with my therapist. I see a Christian therapist and she is very interested in the spiritual world and how it pertains to psychology. We were working on my OCD and she gave me some reading material on OCD and it talks about OCD like a being outside of you. This was none Christian stuff and I mentioned it to her. She said that in the psychology community as a whole they speak about OCD and other metal health struggles and an entity outside of the person who struggles with it. I told her in light of this I believe that certain demons specialize in ways of tripping us up and I think one area of this is mental illness. OCD for me is fixating on things having to be done "right". Making things "right" is an all consuming need. I believe a demon causes it as a way to keep me focused on anything other than Jesus. Having this knowledge when I hear the voice in my head say that the number the AC is at is "wrong", or any other inconsequential little thing, now I can ignore it and tell the demon it has no power here anymore. I will not fix it to make the voice satisfied. I hope anyone who takes the time to read this paragraph learns something about their own mental struggles and realizes that the origin of the problem may not be themselves. It is just a different tactic the enemy can uses to keep us distracted and worried about things that don't matter.

[@chichirodriguez7125]

Really enjoyed and appreciated this conversation. Actually gained a fresh perspective on our Lord (how he exemplified God’s good and perfect nature and Lordship over Evil, death, natural destruction and sin.. showing he had the power to correct by his miracles). Christs life and perfect Love being a powerful attraction and something we ALL desire if there was a living God. Appreciated Tom’s honesty as well. Good stuff. Thanks gents

[@AlloBruxelles]

According to some rabbis, the reason why G-d asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, was to show posterity how faithful to G-d Abraham was.

[@rgmrtn]

I wish this book was out now.

[@FatherSonSpirit1]

I think- Another WIN for the team- team Jesus Christ- there is always sides in life... one cannot be neutral as agnostics say or athiests. I recently learned that.

[@timandmonica]

I may be confused, but isn't an agnostic by definition someone who hasn't chosen a team because they don't know which team to choose?

[@therick363]

So the only neutral people are theists?

[@xxxfairyyxxx]

Fr. Stephen deYoung is a good apologist for the old testament. He has a book (God is a man of war) specifically on the problem of violence in the old testament and cohosts the Lord of Spirits podcast which often deals in depth with the old testament. The book is not comprehensive but it is pretty helpful. In my opinion, a lot of the issues with the old testament come due to problems in interpreting it. If you are protestant you are not coming at it with traditional interpretations from the church, church fathers etc and it is going to be difficult unless you study a lot the history, old jewish and church fathers writings, ancient languages and culture etc. I can only speak for my own experience but my protestant church's teaching on old testament missed theophanies, missed places where Jesus appears (eg the Angel of the Lord) etc. And i know protestant people who are almost like marcianists and want to just throw out the old testament because God is too mean or because other protestant sects like to use it to justify obvious heresies. Anyway if you have a problem with something in the old testament, I beg you to entertain the possibility that you may be missing something and interpreting it wrong. And be patient and humble and pray for wisdom. And avoid immediately jumping to conclusions like it is unreliable or unprofitable or shouldnt be in the bible.

[@kimmaclennan3591]

I encourage all who are looking into the origin of creation / the cosmos, to listen to astrophysicist Hugh Ross.

[@christian-ns8ji]

Interesting conversation, I liked the phrase your guest used, with regard to the course he took with Bart Ehrman and his unwillingness to "die on the hill" for a particular belief, which brings me to a question I always ask when I comment on a video , and it is what is their (Sean &Tom's) personal Faith based on, or in other words what are they willing to 'die on the hill' for. Personally these would be 'God created the heavens and the earth', 'the Bible is inspired of God' and ' Jesus was Resurrected from the dead. Based on my knowledge of the Bible there are beliefs I strongly believe in and others I reject. The point I would like to make is that some beliefs (the ones I mentioned) should 'hold the table up' and other beliefs can be 'on the table' open for discussion. For example the heavens and earth was created in six literall days , and the Trinity doctrine (both beliefs I reject) .I realise eyebrows will be raised regarding the Trinity but as Sean states in one of his debates 'the Trinity isn't explicitly mentioned ' (referring to the bible). Bart Ehrman has already been mentioned, but also (Professor) James Tabor's video's are worth looking at. Finally something else to think about in view of Sean's guest is, should Intelligent Design be taught in School's and University's?, I don't have to say much about the reaction you would get from the ' Science Establishment ' now flip the coin, when I mention the Trinity (should it be openly disscussed) what would be the reaction of the ' Christian Church Establishment ' yes think about it.

[@-wk9yg]

Can someone put the tiles of the book for me , I would like to read them . Thanks

[@merrym72veetee12]

Lovely testimony. Would be interested though if he is firm on biblical creation of the world and life, or still entertaining evolutionary thinking of the origins of the world. If the latter, then it contradicts & nullifies the message of the gospel with regards origin of death: the fall (sin due to rebellion against God) or the evolution process? I do have hope for the former, since he mentioned right at the end about fine-tune theory. Will check out his blog. I pray for him for greater revelation from the Lord in his Christian walk.

[@cipherklosenuf9242]

Wow …at 55:00 a Christian acknowledges that he is not being persecuted by agnostic colleagues.

[@hambam7533]

Know one can read the gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus his personality pulsates in every word no myth is filled with such life, Question who said this statement ,maybe Billy Graham or Charles Finney NO Albert Eienstien , it was in the 2007 April edition of i think Newsweek magizine. God bless

[@jkmaseruman]

Great, honest testimony. On the issue of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Issac then yes initially it seems very problematic but I've come to understand that child sacrifice was normal at the time and in order to appease your god eg Molech, a child sacrifice was expected. God demonstrates here that he is not like other gods and, after a normal request of the time, provides an alternative sacrifice at the last minute. I don't know if this is a fair analogy but a similar situation today would be a pregnant woman being told to abort her child, a child that God had promised to her. To a lot of people being asked to have an abortion would be perfectly normal and indeed a right!

[@nildameers3772]

I wonder what made him write the book in the first place. Not sure if I heard him explain that part. ❤

[@934rex]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@carollew8655]

Could have a combo with other eminent physicists who are Christian eg. Ard Louis at Oxford and George Ellis at Cape Town.

[@Gandoff2000]

"For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” Psalm 33:9 Hum. String theory? Vibrating strings? Cool.

[@kiwisaram9373]

Saw the Sheldon Cooper character in the Big Bang Theory say recently that if you know physics, anything is possible. This seems to contradict his opinion of his mother's faith and beliefs. It should also silence athiests talking about whether the claims of the gospels are possible or probable.

[@Jonas-gl9ke]

What methodology would you use to demonstrate the supernatural exists?

[@bryant475]

The more you learn about physics and science in general, the more convincing it is that God created it all :) I love that show btw, but if Sheldon spoke with Dr. Hugh Ross, he would understand!

[@Jonas-gl9ke]

@@bryant475 Sounds like an argument from incredulity. You need to first demonstrate a god exists before using a god as a candidate explanation.

[@bryant475]

@@Jonas-gl9ke It's too much for me to get into, but look into Dr. Hugh Ross, Dr. Frank Turek, Dr. William Lane Craig, J Warner Wallace, Lee Strobel. They all go into the evidence, and have lots of vids on here, as well as sites, books. God bless!

[@StudentDad-mc3pu]

Science does not necessarily contradict faith, however it does prove that beliefs like a young earth and Genesis's description of creation are not literal truth.