The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God

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S2 E27. John Lennox: Engaging atheism & following Christ

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Nov 18, 2025

Guest

John Lennox

Join John Lennox, Emeritus Professor at Oxford and renowned Christian apologist, as he reflects on his journey from Northern Ireland's 'The Troubles' to engaging debates with figures like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. Lennox shares the profound impact of faith during health challenges and discusses how his upbringing shaped his worldview. He contrasts institutional atheism with today's new atheism, emphasizes a relationship with God, and argues that true hope lies in Christ rather than transhumanist promises.

01:22:18

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ANECDOTE

Debating Dawkins At The Natural History Museum

John Lennox recalled debating Richard Dawkins at Oxford's Natural History Museum under intense pressure from Dawkins's onslaught.

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ADVICE

Prioritise Friendly, Questioning Dialogue

Lennox models friendliness and listening in debate, inspired by how Christ treated people; he deliberately avoids bitterness and sectarianism.

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ANECDOTE

Pressured At High Table To Abandon Faith

A Cambridge Nobel laureate pressured young Lennox to give up his faith or lose a scientific career, threatening his future prospects at university.

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Lennox on Debating Richard Dawkins

01:28 • 1min

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Why Lennox Engaged Prominent Atheists

02:44 • 4min

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Personal Style: Warmth and Christlike Engagement

06:24 • 6min

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Formative Family Influences in Northern Ireland

12:47 • 5min

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Faith and Academia at Cambridge

17:43 • 3min

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Pressure to Choose Between Career and Faith

20:38 • 6min

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Ministry Behind the Iron Curtain

26:56 • 4min

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From Soviet Atheism to Western New Atheism

31:00 • 7min

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Debating Christopher Hitchens and Public Rhetoric

38:02 • 9min

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Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Intellectual Conversions

Addressing the Problem of Suffering

50:32 • 11min

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Personal Experience with Suffering and Peace

01:01:07 • 42sec

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Christianity as Empirical and Testable in Life

01:01:48 • 55sec

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Ayaan's Spiritual Journey from Despair to Faith

01:02:43 • 1min

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Sustaining Hope Amid Aging and Loss

01:04:10 • 3min

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Transhumanism Compared to Christian Hope

01:06:45 • 2min

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Following Christ as the Light of the World

01:08:23 • 2min

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Final Reflections and Thanks

01:10:46 • 1min

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Listener Feedback and Episode Promotion

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Prof John Lennox joins Justin to talk about his life and legacy - finding faith during 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland, his academic life at Cambridge and Oxford University, speaking in the USSR and debating the 'new atheists' such as Richard Dawkins & Christopher Hitchens. John also shares candidly about being sustained by his faith in the midst of health challenges for his wife Sally.

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Got feedback? Share it with us by emailing: feedback@think.faith
Ep 27 show notes: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/season-2-episode-27-lennox

The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God is a production of Think Faith in partnership with Genexis, and support from The Jerusalem Trust.

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