I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

How do you spend 20 years talking to some of the world’s most well-known atheists and still remain a committed Christian? Is it possible that belief in God actually makes sense?Popular radio host and podcaster Justin Brierley has been creating and facilitating constructive conversations about faith for more than two decades, and has had a ringside seat as believers and nonbelievers have debated Christianity. This week on the podcast, Justin joins Frank to discuss his upcoming book, 'Why I'm Still a Christian: After Two Decades of Conversations with Skeptics and Atheists–The Reason I Believe' and shares how he kept his faith intact while engaging with skeptics from around the world. Together, he and Frank answer big questions like:What led Justin to write this book, and what ultimately convinces him that Christianity is true?Is Christianity intellectually defensible in a secular age?What are the strongest arguments for (and against) the existence of God?Why are some leading atheists reconsidering their skepticism?Has science truly made belief in God obsolete?How can Christians engage skeptics without losing their own faith?What advice does Justin have for people who may be "deconstructing" their faith?Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion, and be sure to pre-order your copy of 'Why I'm Still a Christian' to support Justin’s important work in Christian apologetics!Resources mentioned during the episode:How a Dice Can Say That God Exists - https://youtu.be/yy6kaDaeDT8Pre-Order Justin's new book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496466934Justin's Podcast - https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth

Are there contradictions between the gospel accounts? If so, how can we trust the central tenet of Christianity--the Resurrection of Jesus? J. Warner Wallace returns to share how he used his skill set as a detective to investigate the claims of the New Testament gospels and compares his findings to those of atheist/agnostic New Testament scholar, Bart Ehrman.Together, Frank and Jim answer questions like:What's necessary to prove an event occurred in the past?Why weren't first-century historians bothered by textual differences found in the Gospels?Why is it better to have four different gospel accounts vs. one harmonization?Why would God allow these textual differences?What surprised Jim the most the first time he read the Gospels as an atheist?Why do detectives separate eyewitnesses?When doing detective work, why does Jim prefer it when the stories are "messy"?Does the evidence always determine the verdict? In other words, why do Jim and Bart come to different conclusions when it comes to the Resurrection of Jesus?Why is bias against the supernatural a double-standard for materialist atheists?What's the best way to test an eyewitness?If the Gospels are contradictory and can’t be trusted, why do critics like Erhman conclude that much of the New Testament is true and that the disciples really believed they saw the resurrected Jesus?How are atheists disagreeing with themselves and agreeing with Christians when it comes to alternative explanations for the resurrection?And so much more! If you normally listen to podcasts on 2x speed you may need to slow it down for this one and take some notes!Resources mentioned during the episode:Jim's website - https://coldcasechristianity.com/Cold Case Christianity - https://a.co/d/dABS4uACase Files: Murder & Meaning - https://casefilesgraphicnovel.com/

Why are so many people fascinated with evil stories of murder, and true crime? And more importantly, can we use that fascination to point them to Jesus? Christianity is the only worldview that answers the problem of evil adequately, and now there’s a new graphic novel that tackles this big question in a way that’s both artistic and compelling!This week, Frank sits down with cold-case detective and bestselling author, J. Warner Wallace, along with his son and co-author, Jimmy Wallace, to discuss their new book, 'Case Files: Murder and Meaning’. As a father-son duo with deep roots in law enforcement, they’re using their real-life experiences to craft a crime story that sneaks apologetics into an action-packed graphic novel. Tune in as they address questions like:Why do so many police officers become cynical, and what does that reveal about human nature?How did their experience in law enforcement help Jim and Jimmy to write this story?What makes 'Case Files' different from other apologetics books?How can storytelling help people wrestle with questions about morality and justice?What are some of the biggest misconceptions that the public has about police and detective work?How did the George Floyd and BLM riots radically shift the police world?What are some of the common internal and psychological struggles of police officers?How did Jim overcome his season of identity crisis once he retired?Be sure to pre-order your copy of 'Case Files: Murder and Meaning' and then head to Jim's website to grab some exclusive bonus resources! If you know anyone who loves crime stories, comics, or big questions about life, this book might just be the tool that sparks some amazing faith conversations!Jim's website: https://coldcasechristianity.com/J. Warner Wallace & Jimmy's New Book: https://casefilesgraphicnovel.com/The Truth in True Crime: https://a.co/d/0fE9crTCold-Case Christianity: https://a.co/d/dABS4uAPerson of Interest: https://a.co/d/69NoUEw

Why is propaganda and empty rhetoric so appealing to some people? In this midweek episode, Frank explains how the first of 'The Screwtape Letters' by C.S. Lewis perfectly illustrates the way demons manipulate human beings, now and throughout history. He'll also explore the recent power struggles between the Trump Administration and the lower district court judge who blocked Trump's transgender military ban. Frank will answer questions like:Why is using "jargon" instead of evidence-based arguments not good thinking?What specific tactics does C.S. Lewis say demons use to tempt humans and where do we see evidence of this happening in our culture today?Do all people have the right or privilege to serve in the military?Was Trump's decision to say transgender people are not qualified to serve in the military unconstitutional?Why is it so difficult to impeach judges, and do we really have only three branches of government?What do a lot of people get wrong about Islam?Frank also tackles some listener questions about who will be resurrected (is it only Christians?) and whether an old-earth contradicts biblical genealogies. Plus, he’ll reveal details about his numerous speaking events coming up this spring—so listen closely to see if he's coming to a city near you!Resources mentioned during the episode:The ScrewTape Letters by C.S. Lewis - https://a.co/d/7F6GSTMFederal Judge Appoints Himself President - https://bit.ly/4hLAjOISeven Days that Divide the World - https://a.co/d/0VxGRz6The Case for Old-Earth Creationism (Genealogy Info) - https://bit.ly/4l0QTghSystematic Theology by Wayne Grudem - https://a.co/d/38DqgSZ

How do you capture your child’s attention so they know and live THE truth of Jesus while ensuring they aren’t indoctrinated by secularism? This week, Frank sits down with actor and conservative activist, Kirk Cameron, to talk about his partnership with Brave Books and his new children’s program, 'Iggy & Mr. Kirk', designed to train kids in the Lord. Together they tackle questions like:How did Kirk become a Hollywood actor at the age of 10 and then make the transition from atheism to Christianity?Why did Kirk need bodyguards and bulletproof vests when reading wholesome books at public libraries?What excuse do many Christians use to avoid engaging in culture battles instead of creating solutions to make things better?What does Kirk mean when he says there's two groups of people in the world--reporters and reformers?What makes 'Iggy & Mr. Kirk' different from every other television program made for kids?What Brave Book titles do Frank's grandchildren ask him to read to them over and over again?If you want to be one of the first to get a sneak peek of 'Iggy & Mr. Kirk' and find out how your family can watch this brand-new series, along with more than 50 parent-approved shows that teach Christian values, don’t miss this fun and family-friendly episode of 'I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist!'Resources mentioned during the episode:Kirk's website: https://www.kirkcameron.com/Kirk's book 'Born to Be Brave': https://a.co/d/1FePYjgLearn more about 'Iggy and Mr. Kirk': https://bit.ly/41OC8EtBrave Books: https://bravebooks.us/Brave+ Streaming Entertainment for Kids: https://braveplus.com/Takeaways Podcast: https://bit.ly/4c5MEw1American Campfire Revival: https://www.kirkcameron.com/acr

Are we witnessing a renewed interest in God, Christianity, and Jesus in today’s culture? Frank welcomes back our favorite father-son duo, Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle from the popular Youtube channel, 'Give Me an Answer', to share their unique insights into the recent rise of Christianity in the West, particularly on college campuses. Tune in as they answer key questions like:What major cultural shifts has Cliffe observed over the past 40 years, and why has he softened his approach?Why are young people today so anxious, and what is their biggest fear?What are some of the most common misconceptions and objections to Christianity that Cliffe and Stuart encounter, and how do they respond?Why should we care about sin?How should Christians address the topic of homosexuality and other cultural issues with grace and truth?How did the Knechtles end up on popular shows with Logan Paul, Alex O'Connor, and George Janko?How important is it to have an eternal perspective on life, and why is God’s judgment actually good news?Cliffe and Stuart’s commitment to open-air preaching has led to incredible ministry growth—but not without its challenges! Find out what’s happening on the frontlines, where they’ll be traveling next, how you can be praying for them, and simple ways you can support their mission!Connect with Cliffe and Stuart in-person or online using the links below!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@givemeananswerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuart_knechtleWebsite: https://givemeananswer.org/Grace Community Church: https://www.gracecommunity.info/

How much evidence exists for the martyrdom of the apostles? Did they REALLY die for their faith? Forget 'Foxe’s Book of Martyrs'—the second edition of Sean McDowell's, 'The Fate of the Apostles', is today's go-to comprehensive resource for studying the martyrdom accounts of the apostles! Tune in as Frank and Sean investigate what really happened to the closest followers of Jesus and answer questions like:What incident spurred Sean to make 'The Fate of the Apostles' the topic of his doctoral dissertation?What updates has Sean made to the second edition of his book?Was Peter crucified upside-down and how did this tradition get started?Which apostles does Sean believe have the highest (and lowest) probabilities of being martyred?Is there evidence that any of the apostles recanted their testimony?Is John the only apostle who died from natural causes?If we say martyrdom proves Christianity is true, what about the martyrs of other religions?Is there good reason to believe that Joseph Smith died as a martyr for Mormonism?Christians often use the martyrdom of the apostles to defend the credibility of Jesus' death and resurrection, but could we be overstating the case? Don't miss this fascinating episode of 'I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist' to learn the answers!Resources mentioned during the episode:Sean’s website: https://seanmcdowell.org/The Fate of the Apostles (2nd Edition): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1032580542

Why doesn’t God make Himself more obvious? If God truly exists, why wouldn’t He just appear to everyone and settle all doubts once and for all? In a world filled with skepticism, doubt, and unbelief, the "divine hiddenness" of God is one of the most common objections raised against Christianity. But is it really a valid reason to reject His existence? In this solo midweek episode, Frank tackles a listener’s question about God’s hiddenness and explores these questions along the way:Does the hiddenness of God negate the evidence we already have for His existence?What does Scripture reveal about why God may choose to remain unseen?Would seeing the full presence of God actually eliminate doubt and unbelief for some people?How do free will and love relate to divine hiddenness?Why didn't Jesus parade Himself around publicly post-resurrection so that everyone could see Him?How did so many Pharisee priests come to believe in Jesus?Were the angels ever exposed to the full presence of God?If you—or someone you know—wrestles with the hiddenness of God, this episode will help you see how His presence can still be known. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion on one of the most challenging questions from skeptics!Resources mentioned during the episode:Don't forget to take our podcast survey! https://crossexamined.org/surveyThe Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060652934

Were the Crusades unprovoked attacks by Christian armies, or was there something deeper at play? In this week’s episode, Frank invites historian Bill Federer to discuss the facts behind one of history’s most misunderstood events. Tune in as Bill unpacks its historical backdrop, revealing why Europe took up arms to blunt the rise and expansion of Islam. During their conversation, Frank and Bill will answer questions like:Did the Crusaders know the Bible?What did the Pope promise the Crusaders?How did Islam originate, and how did it expand so rapidly?Did Christianity spread as a direct result of the Crusades?What would have happened to Europe if the Crusades had never taken place?Were the Crusades an example of Just War?What was Muhammad's involvement in the slave trade, and what sparked the onset of the Dark Ages?What happened on the crusades that cannot be justified?If you’ve ever struggled to answer objections about Christianity and the Crusades, you won’t want to miss this!Resources mentioned during the episode:Take our podcast survey! https://crossexamined.org/surveyBill’s website: https://americanminute.com/What Every American Needs to Know About the Quran: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0977808556Bullies and Saints: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310119375

Is it possible that Jesus, the most influential person in history, was just a fictional character? In this midweek podcast, Frank responds to a question from Elijah, a medical student in Ghana, whose evolutionist professor seems unwilling to consider that Jesus existed unless Elijah can provide first century sources from outside of the Bible. What's the most effective way for Elijah to engage with his teacher's skepticism? Join Frank as he explores these questions and more, including:How can you respectfully defend your faith in the classroom?What historical and archaeological evidence confirms Jesus’ existence?Are extra-biblical sources more credible than the New Testament writers?What common presuppositions do atheists hold, and how can you respectfully challenge them?Are there any atheist or agnostic New Testament scholars who believe that Jesus never existed?Was Christianity a Roman invention designed to control the masses?What unique characteristics does Jesus hold that we don't find in any other human being?Tune in as Frank not only shares the facts, but also gives practical advice on engaging skeptics with confidence, clarity, and respect. This short but content-packed episode is full of valuable resources, so listen closely and be sure to check out the links below!Resources mentioned during the episode:BOOK: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist - https://bit.ly/3WX3Xc7BOOK: Hollywood Heroes - https://bit.ly/3Or82AxBOOK: Stealing from God - https://bit.ly/41hLt91BOOK: Can Science Explain Everything? - https://a.co/d/5ZRIFRTBOOK: God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? - https://a.co/d/0yecDnyBOOK: Return of the God Hypothesis - https://a.co/d/6kHOck6BOOK: Tactics - https://bit.ly/3DgZ1bm