Oxford Mathematician DESTROYS Atheism (15 Minute Brilliancy!)

Summary

In this profound discourse, John Lennox at the Oxford Union articulates a harmonious relationship between faith and science, advocating for the existence of God as the foundation of rationality and order in the universe. He challenges the notion of choosing between God and science, likening it to distinguishing between Henry Ford and the engineering of a car. Lennox emphasizes the role of Christianity in the advancement of scientific thought, the intelligibility of the universe, and the ethical implications stemming from a belief in a personal and intelligent Ultimate Reality. He concludes with the transformative impact of Jesus Christ's life, teachings, and resurrection, offering a personal testimony of faith that addresses the problem of evil and the promise of ultimate justice.

Takeaways

• 😇 John Lennox, a Christian apologist, argues that belief in God and science are not mutually exclusive, likening the necessity of both to the relationship between Henry Ford and engineering in the creation of motor cars.
• 🔬 The rise of science in the 16th and 17th centuries was influenced by the belief in a lawgiver, implying that the expectation of natural laws was rooted in the belief in a divine creator.
• 📚 Newton's discovery of the law of gravity did not negate the need for God; instead, it was seen as an expression of God's work, highlighting the non-competitive relationship between scientific and divine explanations.
• 🌌 The desire to explain the universe's origin without a creator is criticized as an oxymoron, with the argument that positing the universe created itself from nothing is logically inconsistent.
• 🌟 The 'fine-tuning' of the fundamental forces of nature is presented as evidence of a designer, suggesting that the balance needed for life is too precise to be random.
• 🤔 The reliability of human cognitive faculties is questioned if they are solely the product of natural processes focused on survival rather than truth, challenging the validity of atheism and naturalism.
• 🧠 The effectiveness of mathematics in describing the universe is highlighted as a point of wonder, suggesting a deeper connection between the human mind and the universe that may be indicative of a divine intelligence.
• 🌐 Biblical theism posits that the universe and the human mind are both products of the same divine intelligence, providing a coherent framework for the success of science.
• 📜 The concept of human equality and ethical behavior is traced back to Judeo-Christian ethics, suggesting that these values are deeply rooted in religious beliefs and not merely societal constructs.
• 🛡 The problem of evil and suffering is acknowledged, but the script suggests that atheism offers no ultimate hope or justice, whereas the resurrection of Jesus Christ provides a promise of both.
• ❤️ Personal faith in God is emphasized as a deeply personal and real relationship, not a theoretical construct, with the transformative experience of forgiveness and acceptance through Christ's sacrifice.

Q & A

What is John Lennox's perspective on the relationship between God and science?

John Lennox believes that God and science are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary. He argues that serious thinkers should not ask us to choose between the two, comparing the notion to choosing between Henry Ford and the engineering that explains the motor car.

Why did people in the 16th and 17th centuries become scientific according to Lennox?

Lennox suggests that people became scientific during the rise of Science in the 16th and 17th centuries because they expected law in nature, which they attributed to the belief in a lawgiver, or God.

How does Lennox view the role of Christianity in the development of science?

Lennox posits that Christianity arguably gave rise to the subject of science, as it was the belief in an upper natural God who created the heavens and the Earth that led to the pursuit of understanding the laws of nature.

What does Lennox say about Newton's discovery of the law of gravity and his religious beliefs?

When Newton discovered the law of gravity, he did not reject the need for God. Instead, he wrote 'Principia Mathematica,' which Lennox considers one of the greatest works in the history of science, because Newton saw God as a different kind of explanation than a scientific one.

What is Lennox's stance on the argument that the universe created itself from nothing?

Lennox criticizes the idea that the universe created itself from nothing, calling it an immediate oxymoron. He argues that any explanation of creation from nothing assumes the existence of something to explain the creation of something else.

What does Lennox believe about the rationality of the universe and its implications for theism?

Lennox believes that the universe being rationally intelligible is a fundamental argument for theism. He points out that the universe's comprehensibility is something that great scientists have found remarkable and in need of explanation.

How does Lennox address the reliability of human cognitive faculties from an atheist perspective?

Lennox challenges the atheist perspective by suggesting that if humans are a product of mindless, unguided natural processes, then there is reason to doubt the reliability of human cognitive faculties, including the validity of atheism itself.

What is Lennox's view on the connection between theism and ethics?

Lennox asserts that while ethical behavior does not require religious belief, the existence of morality can be better explained within the context of theism. He suggests that the Judeo-Christian sources from which modern science sprang also gave rise to the concept of human equality and ethics.

What evidence does Lennox present for the existence and nature of God?

Lennox presents the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as central evidence for the existence and nature of God. He believes that Jesus' life, teachings, and resurrection provide a powerful narrative for understanding God's relationship with humanity.

How does Lennox reconcile the problem of evil and pain with his belief in God?

Lennox acknowledges the problem of evil and pain as a significant challenge for believers. However, he suggests that the crucifixion of Jesus, who he believes is both God and man, shows that God is not distant from human suffering but has become part of it, offering hope for ultimate justice and redemption.

What personal experience does Lennox share regarding his belief in God?

Lennox shares that he not only believes in God but has come to know and trust Him through the death and resurrection of Christ. This personal relationship has given him a sense of unmerited forgiveness, acceptance, and peace.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Compatibility of God and Science

In this paragraph, John Lennox, a mathematician and philosopher, addresses the false dichotomy between belief in God and the pursuit of scientific knowledge. He likens the demand to choose between the two to choosing between Henry Ford and the engineering behind cars, suggesting they are not mutually exclusive. Lennox argues that the expectation of natural laws led to the rise of science, as thinkers believed in a lawgiver—God. He identifies as both a scientist and a Christian, viewing Christianity as foundational to the development of science. He also touches on the idea that the universe's existence and fine-tuning imply a purpose and design, which he attributes to God. Moreover, he criticizes the notion of the universe creating itself from nothing, considering it an oxymoron, and highlights the importance of God as the answer to why there is something rather than nothing.

05:01

🧐 The Reliability of Human Reason and the Origins of Ethics

This paragraph delves into the philosophical implications of atheism versus theism on the reliability of human cognitive faculties. Lennox cites Alvin Plantinga, who posits that if atheism is correct and humans are products of natural processes without a purpose for truth, then our ability to reason and form beliefs, including atheism itself, becomes questionable. The paragraph also explores the origins of ethics and human equality, suggesting that these concepts stem from Judeo-Christian ethics of justice and love. Habermas is quoted to emphasize the enduring legacy of these ethics in shaping modern ideals of freedom, solidarity, and democracy. Lennox argues that theism, with its belief in a personal and intelligent Ultimate Reality, provides a more coherent explanation for the existence of morality and the human capacity for science.

10:02

🙏 The Evidence of Christ's Resurrection and Personal Faith

In this segment, Lennox discusses the significance of Jesus Christ's life and resurrection as central evidence for the existence and nature of God. He emphasizes the transformative impact of Christ's teachings and actions, such as feeding the hungry and healing the sick, which have brought forgiveness and peace to millions. Lennox presents the historical resurrection of Jesus as a pivotal point, arguing that if it occurred, it disproves atheism and validates Christianity. He also shares a personal testimony of knowing God through a relationship with Christ, highlighting the forgiveness, acceptance, and peace he has experienced. Furthermore, he addresses the problem of evil and suffering, suggesting that the crucifixion of Jesus demonstrates God's solidarity with human suffering and the promise of ultimate justice through Christ's return as judge.

15:02

🌟 The Reality of God and the Impact of Scientism

The final paragraph focuses on the personal reality of God and the limitations of scientism, the belief that scientific knowledge is the only true knowledge. Lennox argues against the conceit that blocks the understanding of God and emphasizes the personal nature of knowing God, akin to his relationship with his wife. He appreciates Ravi Zacharias' approach to connecting scientism, human rights, morality, and the personal relationship with God, illustrating how these aspects are interwoven in a Christian worldview. Lennox encourages listeners to consider the interconnectedness of these threads and to seek a comprehensive understanding of reality that includes a personal relationship with God.

Keywords

💡God

God is a central concept in the video, representing the belief in a supreme being who created the universe. The speaker, John Lennox, argues that belief in God is not in conflict with science but rather complements it. He uses the analogy of Henry Ford and engineering to illustrate that just as Ford's role in creating cars doesn't negate the principles of engineering, God's role in creation doesn't negate the laws of nature.

💡Science

Science is presented as a pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world through observation and experimentation. Lennox emphasizes that the rise of science in the 16th and 17th centuries was influenced by the belief in a lawgiver, God, who established the laws of nature that scientists seek to discover. The video suggests that science and belief in God are not mutually exclusive but rather coexist harmoniously.

💡Rational Evidence

Rational evidence refers to the logical and empirical basis for beliefs and claims. In the context of the video, Lennox asserts that belief in God and the Christian faith is supported by rational evidence, including the intelligibility of the universe and the existence of moral values. He argues that the universe's order and the human capacity for reason and morality are indicative of a divine design.

💡Natural Law

Natural law in the video is the concept of inherent, universal principles that govern the behavior of the physical world. Lennox mentions that the expectation of natural law is rooted in the belief in a lawgiver, which is a belief in God. This belief in natural law is what drove the scientific method and the exploration of the universe's underlying order.

💡Evolution

Evolution is discussed in the video as a natural process that has been proposed to explain the development of life on Earth. Lennox challenges the idea that evolution, driven by survival rather than truth, could result in the human cognitive faculties capable of discerning truth. He suggests that the existence of reason and morality is more plausibly explained by a divine design rather than by natural selection alone.

💡Atheism

Atheism is the absence of belief in any deity. The video critiques atheism for its inability to account for the origin and reliability of human cognitive faculties and moral values. Lennox argues that atheism's conflict between the belief in natural processes and the belief in the validity of human reason undermines its own logical consistency.

💡Intelligent Design

Intelligent design is the belief that the universe and life exhibit signs of having been created by an intelligent being. Lennox uses the concept of intelligent design to argue that the complexity and order of the universe suggest a purposeful creator, rather than random chance or natural processes alone.

💡Ethics

Ethics in the video refers to moral principles that guide human behavior. Lennox suggests that the existence of ethics and moral values is better explained by the belief in a moral God who created humans in His image, rather than by atheistic naturalism, which struggles to ground morality in a naturalistic worldview.

💡Human Rights

Human rights are the fundamental rights to which all humans are entitled. The video connects the concept of human rights to the Judeo-Christian tradition, suggesting that the belief in human equality and the value of each person is rooted in the religious belief that all humans are created in the image of God.

💡Resurrection

Resurrection in the video is the Christian belief in the physical rising of Jesus Christ from the dead. Lennox presents the historical resurrection of Jesus as central evidence for the existence of God and the truth of Christianity, arguing that it provides a basis for hope, justice, and the ultimate resolution of the problem of evil and suffering.

💡Problem of Evil

The problem of evil is a philosophical and theological issue concerning the existence of evil and suffering in a world governed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, and benevolent God. Lennox acknowledges this as a significant challenge for believers, but he also suggests that the Christian belief in a suffering and resurrected God provides a unique perspective on the nature of suffering and the possibility of ultimate justice and redemption.

Highlights

John Lennox argues that the choice between God and science is misguided, comparing it to choosing between Henry Ford and engineering to explain the motor car.

Lennox believes in an upper natural God who created the universe and holds it in existence, and he is not ashamed of being both a scientist and a Christian.

The rise of science in the 16th and 17th centuries was influenced by the belief in a lawgiver, which is tied to the belief in God.

Newton's discovery of gravity did not lead him to reject God; instead, he wrote 'Principia Mathematica', viewing God and scientific explanations as complementary.

Alan Sandage suggests that God is the answer to why there is something rather than nothing, challenging the idea that the universe created itself from nothing.

GK Chesterton's quote is highlighted, emphasizing the absurdity of complaining about the unthinkability of God creating everything from nothing, versus the idea of nothing turning into everything.

The fine-tuning of the fundamental forces of nature is presented as evidence that demands an explanation, suggesting a supernatural plan.

Arnold Penzey's view on the universe being created out of nothing with a delicate balance for life is mentioned, implying a supernatural plan.

Lennox discusses the rational intelligibility of the universe, which some scientists find inexplicable, such as Einstein's comment on the comprehensibility of the universe.

The unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in describing the universe is highlighted as an area that demands explanation.

Atheists are challenged on the reliability of human cognitive faculties if they are the product of unguided natural processes.

Biblical theism asserts that the ultimate reality is personal and intelligent, which is why science works and is a driving force behind the pioneers of science.

Ethics and morality are discussed as concepts that cannot be explained without the existence of God, with a connection to the Judeo-Christian sources of modern science.

Jurgen Habermas is quoted to emphasize that the ideals of freedom, human rights, and democracy are the direct legacy of the Judaic ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love.

The problem of evil and pain is acknowledged, with Lennox sharing a personal story about his niece to illustrate the difficulty of reconciling suffering with belief in God.

The historical resurrection of Jesus Christ is presented as central evidence for the claim that Jesus was both man and God, and as a test for the truth of Christianity and atheism.

Lennox concludes by emphasizing the personal nature of belief in God, likening it to a relationship, and the transformative impact of knowing and trusting God through Christ.

Transcripts

what I am amazed at is that serious

thinkers today continue to ask us to

choose between God and science that's

like asking people to choose between

Henry Ford and Engineering as an

explanation of the motor car what you're

about to listen to is absolutely

exceptional it's John Lennox with Oxford

Union making his case for God it's

extremely dense he packs a lot into a

little amount of time so feel free to

pause rewind whatever you need to to

make sure that you're really grasping

each and every idea that he lays out

with that being said let's go ahead and

dive in I believe in God

I believe

upper natural God who created the

heavens and the Earth

I believe in a God who holds the heavens

of the Earth in existence

I believe that on the basis of rational

evidence and as we look up at the rise

of Science in the 16th and 17th

centuries Alfred North Whitehead and

many others commented that men became

scientific because they expected law in

nature and they expected law in nature

because they believed in a lawgiver so

ladies and gentlemen I'm not ashamed of

being both a scientist and a Christian

because arguably Christianity gave me my

subject what I am amazed at is that

serious thinkers today continue to ask

us to choose between God and science

that's like asking people to choose

between Henry Ford and Engineering as an

explanation of the motor car so good

when Newton discovered his law of

gravity he didn't say I've got a law I

don't need God no he wrote the principia

Mathematica arguably the greatest work

in the whole history of science

because he saw that God is not the same

kind of explanation as a scientific

explanation God doesn't compete agency

does not compete with mechanism and law

why is there something rather than

nothing Alan sandidge the brilliant

cosmologist who became a Christian in

his 50s said God is the answer to that

question but people are now so desperate

to show that the universe created itself

from nothing which seems to me to be an

immediate oxymoron if I say excreated

why I'm assuming the existence of extra

explained the existence of why if I say

x created X I'm assuming the existence

of Acts to explain the existence of X

which simply shows that nonsense remains

nonsense even of high-powered scientists

utter it that might be worth rewinding

in case you missed it the first time

that is such a good point it reminds me

a little bit of GK Chesterton and who

said it is absurd to complain that it is

Unthinkable for an unthinkable God to

make everything out of nothing and then

to pretend that it is more thinkable

that nothing should turn itself into

everything

the heavens declare the glory of God

says the ancient psalm

and we've unraveled a bit of that seeing

the fine tuning of the fundamental

forces of nature

it's something that's so striking to

scientists that it demands explanation

and it seems to me that Arnold Penzey

has headed right he is the Nobel Prize

winner who discovered the microwave

background on which a lot of the

evidence for the Big Bang is based he

said 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

right conditions required to forbid life

and one which has an underlying one

might say Supernatural plan

but I want to come to what I think is

one of the fundamental Arguments for

theism

I take it this house believes in reason

that's why we're all here

and as a scientist I believe that the

universe is rationally intelligible that

is something that has struck some of the

Geniuses of science as demanding an

explanation

Einstein said the only incomprehensible

thing about the universe is that it's

comprehensible and vigner talked about

the unreasonable effectiveness of

mathematics how is it that a

mathematician thinking in her head in

here can come up with equations that

seem to fit the universe out there well

how is it indeed because the irony of

the atheist position here is evident my

atheist friends and I have many of them

tell me that the driving force of

evolution which eventually produced our

human cognitive faculties reason

included was not primarily concerned

with truth at all but with survival and

we all know ladies and gentlemen what

has often happened and still happens to

truth when individuals or commercial

Enterprises or nations feel themselves

threatened and struggle for survival

a leading philosopher Alvin planting of

Notre Dame says if atheists are right

that we are the product of mindless

unguided natural processes then they

have given us strong reason to doubt the

reliability of human cognitive faculties

and therefore inevitably to doubt the

validity of any belief that they produce

including their atheism

their biology and their belief in

naturalism would therefore appear to be

at war with each other in a conflict

that is nothing at all to do with God

yet my atheist friends still insist that

it is rational for them to believe that

the evolution of human reason was not

directed for the purpose of discovering

truth and yet it is irrational for me to

believe that human reason was designed

and created by God to enable us to

understand and believe the truth curious

logic by contrast with that biblical

theism asserts that Ultimate Reality is

personal and intelligent and the reason

science works and this was the

motivating force that drove the great

pioneers of science is that the Universe

out there and the human mind in here

that does the science are ultimately the

product of the same intelligent Divine

mind human beings are made we are told

in God's image and that means that

science can be done

that makes infinitely more sense to me

as a scientist than atheism does

now let me come briefly to ethics

ethical Behavior like rational behavior

of course does not itself require

religious belief

this is consistent with the fact that

humans are created in God's image as

rational moral persons but just as I

suggest that rationality cannot be

explained without the existence of God

so I dare to suggest that the existence

of morality cannot be explained either

as modern science sprang from

judeo-christian sources so did the

concept of human equality listen to

atheist Jurgen habermaus arguably one of

Germany's leading intellectuals he said

that universalistic egalitarianism for

which sprang the ideals of freedom and a

collective life and solidarity the

individual morality of conscience human

rights and democracy is the direct

Legacy of the judaic ethic of Justice of

the Christian ethic of love

this Legacy substantially unchanged has

been the object of continual critical

appropriation reinterpretation to this

day there is no alternative to it

everything else is just idle postmodern

talk

and it seems to me he's hitting the core

of something important because the value

of a human being on which certain

egalitarianism rests is based not on

what the human being can do but what

she's made of what our house she's made

in God's image

I never forget speaking when on one of

my many visits to Russia to a colleague

in the Academy of Sciences

and he said you know John we thought

we could abolish God and retain a value

for human beings we found we couldn't

and we murdered millions of them and

Alexander solgenitson has said if I mask

why is it that 60 million of my fellow

countrymen were sacrificed he said the

answer is we have forgotten God

science of course marvelous of this is

limited even a Nobel Prize winner by

analyzing a cake cannot tell why it was

made but aunt Matilda who made it can

tell you she can reveal it to you but if

she doesn't reveal it to you you'll

never know

and that brings me to be my next

evidence it's the same with the universe

we can analyze it magnificently but

ultimately if it has a maker and I

believe it has only he can tell us what

it's all about and he's done so in the

powerful Narrative of the Bible in

particular in its analysis of the

problem with Humanity not simply in

terms of Behavioral breakdown between

people but a vertical breakdown of trust

between us and the Creator

the unique solution to that problem is

not simply in terms of human ethical

development although that's very

important but in terms of something far

deeper altogether the restoration of the

fractured relationship with God through

the Salvation he has brought through

Jesus Christ a radical relationship that

empowers us to live ethically from God

and here we reach what for me is a chief

evidence not only for the Existence but

the nature of God it is Jesus Christ he

it was who not only taught the Golden

Rule but embodied it fed the hungry

healed the sick and suffering and

welcomed societies outcasts brought

honor and respect to the marginalized

and ashamed and he's brought forgiveness

and peace to multi-millions

around the world he's able to do this of

course because though he was a man he

uniquely never was only a man but God

become human

the central evidence for this startling

claim

is of course his historical Resurrection

from the dead that launched Christianity

in the world

this is of course ladies and gentlemen a

crunch issue if Jesus rose from the dead

death is not the end and Atheism is

false if Jesus did right did did not

rise from the dead Christianity is false

and I remember at Cambridge as a student

listening to the brilliant sir Norman

Anderson a legal expert going through

forensically the evidence from his legal

perspective as a brilliant lawyer and he

said at the end of it the empty tomb

then of Jesus forms a veritable rock on

which all rationalistic theories of the

Resurrection daesh themselves in vain

just finally now as I read the Bible

I do not only find intellectual

satisfaction but I find a great deal of

that I sense the voice of God speaking

to me you see that's intensely personal

but ladies and gentlemen we've been

asked tonight about belief in God

and I want to strongly emphasize that

God is not a theory he's a person

and if the origination of me choir

person is a personal God then the most

exciting thing really is is there a

possibility of getting to know God

and so I don't simply believe there is a

God I've come to know him and trust him

and I have strong reasons for doing so

because of Christ dying and Rising again

for me

and that is generated in me a sense of

utterly unmerited forgiveness acceptance

and peace

that has enabled me to face the ugly

side of my own nature and with God's

help to do something about it but it's

enabled me to face something else

the hardest problem I face as a

Christian is the problem of evil and

pain

my niece getting a tumor at 22 that

kills her what do I say to my sister and

this is the hardest problem we face but

it seems to me that atheism here has no

answer because by definition atheism

believes that human death is the end

so there is no ultimate hope

but you say ladies and gentlemen we

could stay here till midnight and Beyond

arguing as has been done in this

University for centuries

what a good god should might word could

if not possibly made just could he not

have done and will get nowhere so it

seems to me there's another question we

can ask and it's this granted that life

is presents us with a double picture we

see some beautiful things we see some

ragged ages we see hurt and pain and we

see Joy how can we come to terms with

that and it seems to me here is no

simplistic answer but a window into an

answer and it's this

if it is actually true that Jesus is as

I believe him to be the Son of God then

we can ask the question what is God

doing on a cross

and the answer comes back at the very

least

God has not remain distant from our

human suffering but has become part of

it

and the other side of that is this

because Jesus rose from the dead he is

going to be the ultimate judge

now here's an irony because atheism has

no ultimate hope of Justice by

definition

the vast majority of people in the

history of the world have died without

Justice and will die without Justice and

if death is the end then of course they

have no hope of ultimate justice but the

promise in the New Testament guaranteed

by the resurrection of Jesus is that he

is to be the judge in the coming day so

ladies and gentlemen

those are some of the reasons why I

believe that God is real and worthy to

be trusted thank you

and when Christians talk about God it is

personal it's not fantasy it's not the

spaghetti monster in the sky there is a

reality of God when when you have

accepted him on his terms that is a

completely undeniable it is as

undeniable as my relationship with my

wife and the other room if you were to

tell me that she's not real I would

laugh at you in the same way that if you

were to tell me that God is not real but

that type of knowing is not accessible

to someone who hasn't met God on his

terms there's this this conceit and this

arrogance that actually gets directly in

the way of the knowing of God and the

relationship of God and so I just love

what Linux says here because he starts

with sort of unpacking like why is

scientism the philosophy of science as

the only epistemology why is that

reductionistic then he walks into human

rights into morality and and ultimately

down to the extremely personal level

which is where all of these

conversations must end so

um all this being said I hope that

someone uh listening to this if anyone

is still listening to this that as much

as I did because I think that it's a

mistake to break apart these pieces and

to only talk about this to only talk

about this a lot of my videos focus on

like the moral case for God but really

it is like this tapestry where all of

these threads are connected together in

this you know this Christian world view

and it's when the threads are working

together and you can see the whole I

think Linux does a phenomenal job in

this of of beginning to reveal that

picture of reality all that being said I

hope you guys like this video and I'll

see you in the next one thanks

foreign