Oxford Mathematician DESTROYS Atheism (15 Minute Brilliancy!)
Summary
TLDRIn 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
- đ 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.
- đŹ 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.
- đ 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.
- đ 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.
- đ 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.
- đ€ 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.
- đ§ 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.
- đ 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.
- đ 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.
- đĄ 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.
- â€ïž 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
đ€ 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 lawgiverâGod. 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.
đ§ 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.
đ 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.
đ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄGod
đĄScience
đĄRational Evidence
đĄNatural Law
đĄEvolution
đĄAtheism
đĄIntelligent Design
đĄEthics
đĄHuman Rights
đĄResurrection
đĄProblem of Evil
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
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
Oxford Mathematician DESTROYS Atheism In Less Than 15 Minutes (BRILLIANT!)
Next time they say "God is evil", say THIS | John Lennox
Bishop Barron on Why Do We Believe in God?
Neuroscientist Explains WHY He Believes In GOD (How Prayer Works)
Science Proves Hinduism? | Hashim
Is He the Teacher of Truth or the Truth to Be Taught? | Dr. David Jeremiah
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)