Former investigative reporter Lee Strobel shares the evidence that convinced him Jesus is real and physically rose from the dead. Topics include: Lee's journey from atheism to belief, the casting process for a movie about their lives, steps to atheism, the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, and the importance of miracles and God's perspective.
The podcast presents compelling evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus, including early eyewitness accounts, ancient testimonies, and the empty tomb.
Miracles, both biblical and contemporary, are supported by scientific evidence such as the fine-tuning of the universe, complexity of DNA, and personal experiences of miraculous healings.
The speaker highlights the abundance of evidence for Christianity over other religions, including proximity of New Testament writings to events, archaeological support, and the moralistic appeal of a God who sacrificed himself out of love.
Deep dives
The Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus
The podcast episode explores the evidence for the bodily resurrection of Jesus, which is a foundational belief in Christianity. The speaker highlights that the number of people who doubt the resurrection is significant, and it is okay to have doubts. However, the speaker shares that there is compelling evidence for the resurrection, such as the execution of Jesus, early eyewitness accounts, the testimony of ancient sources, and the empty tomb. The resurrection of Jesus is presented as a key pillar of Christianity that has convinced people all over the world.
Investigating Miracles and the Scientific Perspective
The podcast episode also delves into the topic of miracles. The speaker explains that miracles are not only a part of biblical accounts but also happen in contemporary times. They mention the scientific evidence that supports the existence of miracles, including the design and fine-tuning of the universe, the complexity of DNA, and the experiences of individuals who have encountered miraculous healings. The speaker emphasizes that miracles are more common than people think and that God can intervene in the laws of nature he created.
The Existence of God and Christian Beliefs
The podcast episode addresses the question of why one should believe in the God of the Bible rather than other gods or deism. The speaker presents arguments from cosmology, physics, and DNA that point towards a transcendent, intelligent, and creative creator. They analyze the credentials of various religions and emphasize the abundance of evidence for Christianity, including the proximity of the New Testament writings to the events they describe, archaeological support, and the moralistic appeal of a God who sacrificed himself out of love. The speaker also acknowledges the importance of truth-seeking and questions, encouraging listeners to explore their doubts and seek answers.
Dealing with Doubts and Understanding God's Will
A question from the audience raises concerns about the fate of non-believers and how God's will aligns with different faiths. The speaker responds by highlighting that the ultimate fate of individuals is known only by God. They discuss the concept of grace and hope that even non-believers may reach out to God in their final moments. They also address the philosophical and evidential aspects that distinguish the God of the Bible from other religious beliefs, emphasizing the evidence for the Christian God's existence and the unique message of love and self-sacrifice.
Science and the Nature of God
Another question from the audience seeks clarification on how science aligns with the existence of God. The speaker explains that science can provide insights into the nature of God through fields like cosmology, physics, and DNA, which reflect characteristics like transcendence, power, intelligence, creativity, and care. They describe the precision and fine-tuning of the universe as evidence that points to an intelligent creator. The speaker also emphasizes that faith in God is not opposed to science, highlighting that many scientists have found their faith deepened through scientific exploration.
This Easter week, the Maybe God team presents the most convincing evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. In this 2020 interview, host Eric Huffman sits down, in front of a live audience of Maybe God listeners, with New York Times bestselling author Lee Strobel to hear the evidence that convinced this former investigative reporter and hardcore atheist that Jesus is real and physically rose from the dead.
