eX-skeptic

Brian grew up in a small Georgia town where religion wasn’t part of his upbringing, though he was surrounded by churches. Angry at the concept of God, he viewed religious beliefs as a way to escape the fear of death. In high school, he became an atheist but befriended a popular group of Christians. Although he criticized their beliefs to fit in and feel superior, he couldn’t shake the sense that their faith had something genuine and authentic. Guest Bio: Brian Smith is a Student Pastor at Dunwoody Baptist Church in the Metro of Atlanta. He has been in student ministry for 16 years, and is a loving husband and father of four. Resources Mentioned: I Never Thought of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Podcast: Within Reason Alex J O’Conner God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org

Former skeptic Henare Whaanga grew up with an ex-gang member father and a mother who was an ex-Jehovah's Witness. His father supernaturally encountered God in prison, and he took Henare with him to preach the Gospel. However, Henare became frustrated with the evangelical church's emphasis on blind faith. His questions were met with shallow responses from the church, and his belief started to crumble. Unable to find any substance in Christianity, Henare left the church, but then he stumbled upon apologetics, leading him to a deeper exploration of key questions: Did Jesus really die and rise again? Is the Bible trustworthy? Guest bio: Henare Whaanga is the Regional Director at Thinking Matters, New Zealand’s leading apologetics organization, where he works to strengthen the understanding and defense of the Christian faith. He is a devoted husband, father, lay pastor and Bible teacher.  Resources Mentioned: Frank Turek - I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist Works of Lee Strobel Works of J. Warner Wallace Eli Ayala - Revealed Apologetics Nate Sala YouTube - Wise Disciple YouTube Channel Thinking Matters: https://www.thinkingmatters.org.nz/ Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org

Former atheist Spencer grew up in an abusive home, and while his mother took him to church, it felt more like a manipulative act than genuine faith. Witnessing the hypocrisy of the self-proclaimed Christians around him, Spencer began reading philosophical books. He determined that Christianity, like other religions, was irrational and needed to be challenged. He often engaged in debates with Christians, attempting to liberate them by dismantling their beliefs. He eventually found Christians that not only listened to his criticisms, but helped him look for real answers to his questions. After much study, Spencer began to see Christianity and the God of the Bible in a whole new light. Guest bio: Spencer Durrenberger is a chemist in Texas, with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Physics from the University of Texas at Arlington. He currently works in the medical field, specializing in oncology with Humana Pathology, where he contributes to groundbreaking medical research focused on cancer. Resources Mentioned: The Gospels For History, read Luke For History from the perspective of the Law, read Matthew For Why God became Man, read Mark For The Divinity of Christ and Beauty, read John Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org

Kathleen grew up in a loving, immigrant household where religion wasn't a central part of her upbringing but was raised with a strong emphasis on good morals and values. In her mid-teens, Kathleen became an atheist, embracing nihilism and developing an animosity toward Christianity. Despite her elite education and achievements, she was not taught to ask deeper questions about purpose and meaning. This changed when a friend gave her a book that opened her eyes to new insights, including the concept of God as both a cosmic lawmaker and a personal deity, and her journey to Christ and understanding Christianity began. Guest Bio: Dr. Kathleen Noller is a leading Computational Biologist and specializes in cancer research. Kathleen completed her undergraduate studies in Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, where her academic journey laid the foundation for her career as a scientist. She holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University and is passionate about medical research. Kathleen is also a dedicated wife and mother to a one-year-old, balancing her professional achievements with the joys of family life. You can find her blog on Substack at The Reformed Gadfly Resources mentioned: John Lennox The Reasons for God Timothy Keller Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis William Lane Craig  C.S. Lewis Institute resources Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org

Trevor Lancon, an engineer with a Master's in Health Physics, shares his transformative journey from atheism back to Christianity. He reflects on his youth in a religious community, the struggle with skepticism, and the profound experiences that reignited his faith. Trevor emphasizes how moments like his children's baptism reshaped his view of spirituality, merging science with belief. He discusses the importance of patience and support from loved ones in navigating this complex relationship between faith and doubt.

During childhood, David Westerhoff’s faith never really extended outside of the church building. The tradition and practice of Christianity just didn’t make sense to David, and he began naturally moving with culture’s secular flow, becoming the ruler of his own life. On the surface, David’s life was unfolding perfectly; he had a loving wife, a growing family, and a steady career, but he still wasn’t content. His own internal battles and addictions threatened David’s marriage, and he began to feel a loss of control for the first time. On a night that seemed at first like any other, David felt the sudden presence of the Spirit of God, revealing the weight and gravity of his sins.  Guest Bio: David Westerhoff is a software engineer, a husband, and a father of two. David grew up in the secularized culture of northern California but moved to Georgia after marrying his wife, Megan. He spent fifteen years of his career in tech and software, but after encountering Jesus and feeling powerfully convicted in August of 2022, David immediately realized he needed to switch gears and pursue God wholeheartedly. He is now a seminary student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, studying to obtain a Master’s in Divinity. Connect with Ex-Skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: ​​https://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic

Former atheist and Swedish physicist Krister Renard dismissed God at a young age, believing science was the key to understanding reality.  In his pursuit of knowledge, he came to see that the universe demanded a greater explanation, eventually believing in God.   Krister's Website: www.gluefox.com Resources Mentioned by Krister: C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Former atheist Dr. John Studebaker viewed religion as boring and inconsequential until he encountered surprising evidence about God and meaningful experiences with Christians.  Over time, his quest for truth led him to a profound personal relationship with Jesus. John's Resources:  Book, John Studebaker, editor (2023):  The Quest of World Religions, An Introduction and Anthology BMI Oasis website: www.bmioasis.com, a service of Bridge Ministries, Inc., which has helped thousands of people find and fulfill their God-given life calling www.lemaseminary.net John's Recommended Resources: Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Anthony Flew, There is a God

Daniel Ray did not have a religious upbringing, yet he somehow ‘knew’ God was real but  kept him at a distance.  He was living his own way on his own terms, but eventually he was found by God. Daniel's Resources:  Apologetics Ministry, The Watchman Fellowship: https://www.watchman.org/ Daniel's Recommended Resources: Greg Koukl, Tactics, Street Smarts www.exskeptic.org

Cambridge educated Dr. Sharon Dirckx was raised in a secular culture where religion played a minimal role. Intellectual authorities led her to believe that science and belief in God were incompatible until she began investigating the verifiable claims of Christianity. She came to see that a robust, intellectually grounded faith was possible. Sharon's Resources:  Website: www.dirckx.org Books: Broken Planet Am I Just My Brain? Why?  Looking at God, Evil, and Personal Suffering Sharon's Recommended Resources: Sean McDowell, www.seanmcdowell.org Premier Unbelievable, www.premierunbelievable.com OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, www.theocca.org The C.S. Lewis Institute, www.cslewisinstitute.org The Sanity of Belief, by Simon Edwards Can Science Explain Everything? by John Lennox