Breaking Down Walls: A Christian and an Atheist in Conversation

Sep 6, 2024

In this conversation, Drew, known as 'Genetically Modified Skeptic,' shares his journey from fundamentalism to atheism. He discusses the impact of his strict Christian upbringing and the critical questions that sparked his deconversion. The duo emphasizes the importance of civil discussions to bridge divides, advocating for empathy and understanding across belief systems. They explore how meaningful dialogues can alleviate existential anxieties and foster connections, urging both atheists and Christians to listen to one another's perspectives.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Fostering Meaningful Dialogue Across Beliefs

01:37 • 2min

Exploring Dialogues vs. Debates in Apologetics

03:29 • 2min

Roots of Faith: Navigating Backgrounds

05:54 • 10min

Navigating Faith and Doubt

16:09 • 29min

Navigating Belief and Connection

45:22 • 6min

Bridging Divides: Compassionate Dialogue

51:26 • 16min

Emphasizing Understanding in Conversations

01:07:13 • 3min

Can Christians and atheists find common ground on the importance of having civil discussions today? That's what Drew (YouTuber: "Genetically Modified Skeptic") and I aim for in this video. Rather than debating questions about the existence of God and the afterlife, as important as these issues are, I ask Drew a ton of questions about his deconversion from Christianity to atheism and how we can have better conversations today across the religious divide. For a synopsis of how we met, check out my blog: "Learning from a Young Atheist" (https://bit.ly/2U9vxFA) *Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf) *USE Discount Code [SMDCERTDISC] for $100 off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM) *See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK) FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sean_McDowell TikTok: @sean_mcdowell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/ Website: https://seanmcdowell.org Timestamps 0:00 Intro 2:06 Why would an Atheist come onto a Christian Apologists Youtube Channel? 3:53 How did Genetically Modified Skeptic get started on Youtube? 6:13 How did Genetically Modified Skeptic become an Atheist? 9:20 How did fundamentalism in the Church affect GMS's life? 12:24 What was GMS's experience with Christianity in his early life? 18:15 What issues made GMS question his faith? 22:36 How did Christians respond to GMS questioning his faith? 25:50 How did GMS questioning his faith effect his life? 29:10 What experiences occurred after Drew "came out" as an Atheist? 34:50 How did it feel to come out as an Atheist? 41:50 GMS Role-plays as a Christian parent 45:43 How was Youtube an outlet for GMS? 52:05 What is the Atheist-Christian relationship like on Youtube? 57:26 What can both Christians and Atheists do to improve the relationship with the other side? 1:02:50 What can Christians do to better understand people with other belief systems?