Atheism on Trial

Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

The Christian Research Institute

Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture, Education

5.0 • 810 Ratings

🗓️ 26 June 2018

⏱️ 92 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Atheists are launching a new wave of attacks against Christianity and faith in God, claiming that they have a more enlightened, scientific, and sophisticated worldview. Despite what these New Atheists might think, this is nothing new, and Dr. Louis Markos confronts these recycled claims in his book Atheism on Trial, showing that they have already been disproven by Christian thinkers of the past and how you can use the same solid logic to silence these claims today. On this edition of Hank Unplugged, Markos joins Dr. Larry Johnston (pinch-hitting for Hank while he is overseas speaking at a conference) to discuss why it is time for Christians to stand up and challenge the atheistic assertions of popular narratives of our day. Are you ready to put atheism on trial?

Topics discussed include: the modernist narrative and the problem with "chronological snobbery" (2:30); the distinction between narrative and metanarrative and the significance of metanarratives (5:55); the importance of obtaining objective distance to better understand our behaviors and reactions (10:50); do we live in a clockwork universe? (15:00); looking to the pre-Socratics to show that the so-called "New Atheists" are merely pedaling old ideas (19:50); the theistic implications of the Big Bang and how dedicated materialists such as Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking avoided them (25:30); "Houdini hermeneutics and the sense in which Darwinism is a myth" (32:00); who was Spinoza, and what did he mean when he said that God and nature are one? (38:00); examining intelligent design and some of the absurd theories people have come up with to avoid it, such as panspermia (41:35); why David Hume was wrong when he said that miracles are impossible (49:25); how God reveals Himself through both creation and the Bible and why it is important for Christians to be conversant in both (1:00:20); examining the problem of pain (1:05:45); comparing the God of Abraham from the god of Aristotle (1:10:05); how Karl Marx changed the metanarrative in an extremely destructive way (1:13:30); how the secular enlightenment stole the idea of human dignity from the Judeo-Christian ethic (1:19:00); and Christianity and Stoicism (1:20:20).

Transcript

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0:38.3	This is Dr. Larry Johnston, pinch hitting for Hank while he is overseas speaking at an international conference. As usual, on Hank Unplugged, you're about to hear a conversation with one of the most interesting, informative, and inspirational people around.
1:12.9	It's my distinct pleasure to bring you a conversation with Dr. Louis Marcos.
1:18.2	Lou is a professor of English and a scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University.
1:23.4	Lou is an author of 18 books and a contributor to the Christian Research Journal, CRI's flagship publication,
1:30.5	and we're pleased to be offering his latest book, Atheism on Trial, to listeners like you who are
1:37.0	supporting the ongoing work of the Christian Research Institute.
1:40.7	If you'd like to learn more about joining the CRA support team and equipping yourself and others with essential tools like Lou's book, Atheism on Trial, simply head to equip.org.
1:53.9	Lou, having truly feasted on your book, Atheism on Trial, it's great to get a chance to talk to you.
1:59.9	Thanks for taking time out from what I know is a busy schedule to join us today. Thanks, Larry. It's great to get a chance to talk to you. Thanks for taking time out from what I know
2:01.9	is a busy schedule to join us today. Thanks, Larry. It's great to be here. Lewis, you know
2:07.8	certainly better than most. Critics and skeptics for two millennia have been putting Christianity
2:14.6	on trial. And like other serious Christian scholars over the century,
2:19.4	you've decided to return the favor and put atheism on trial. And what's cool is that you
2:26.1	have invited us all to take our place in the jury box as you do so. I think it's about time.
2:31.6	We've been on the defensive so often. I think we need to go on the offensive, not to be offensive, but to understand that we have a worldview that is more integrated and coherent than any other worldview out there. And we do not have to be ashamed of the gospel, either in an emotional, spiritual way,
2:53.4	or in a logical, rational way.
2:56.6	We have the worldview, and we need to be unashamed, and to come forward and speak up for it.
	...

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