My Tipping Point from Atheism to Christianity | Alister McGrath (Oxford)

Want Veritas updates in your inbox? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter here:

[Ancient_Man_In_Modern_World]

“For the normative self-understanding of modernity, Christianity has functioned as more than just a precursor or catalyst. Universalistic egalitarianism, from which sprang the ideals of freedom and a collective life in solidarity, the autonomous conduct of life and emancipation, the individual morality of conscience, human rights and democracy, is the direct legacy of the Judaic ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love. This legacy, substantially unchanged, has been the object of a continual critical reappropriation and reinterpretation. Up to this very day there is no alternative to it. And in light of the current challenges of a post-national constellation, we must draw sustenance now, as in the past, from this substance. Everything else is idle postmodern talk.”
-Sociologist, Jürgen Habermas

[walterjohnson]

Jesus was tempted in ways, just as are. But, was without sin." Hebrews 2...As the song says, "Jesus knows all about our struggles he will guide til the day is done..."

[MrSridharMurthy]

Nobody wants suffering, whether god ordained it or not ! The whole goal of life is to end suffering!

[SimonBaddeley]

'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son ..." Would you put your only son into the care of humans?

[johncoldwell]

You cynics don't understand that these things happen by the Holy Spirit. Whilst you are blinded by your own arragance you will never see

[NonfoX]

As so many other Christians, he is complete off with what atheism is. Atheism cannot be factually correct or wrong! It's just a dismissal of a claim...

[HonestlyAtheist]

I have no idea what this has to do with how Christianity is more likely true than Atheism. He himself said it was a matter of "relevance" and not truth.

[ubersheizer]

Really??? Dollars to Donuts it was: 1- He was going through a time of desperation and despair, or 2- He hooked up with a Christian woman.

[MrSridharMurthy]

Does a change of heart come about from a change of thought?

[urasam]

He blows it in the first minute when he says “I thought Atheism was factually correct”. This is like saying “I thought that being an undecided voter was factually correct”. It makes no sense

[robertmcabee]

So, a Christian told him the New Testament was true, and he went “oh ok”? I’d be interested to hear how he went from not believing the Bible to believing the Bible.

[boleperishon]

I'm really sorry to inform you, but, what he just said, shows that he was never an atheist. He merely needed an excuse that sounded logical enough to justify believing to himself.

Edit: no, it is not a "no true Scotsman". Read the thread.

[brwa]

So God suffered for three days out of an eternal life and that was a game changer for you? And this ignoring pesky things like facts and evidence.

[brixan...]

"Jesus is God"
"Well then that's it. Don't even prove that, I'll take it as is"
Idk about this...

[BigBri]

Christianity's God: exists, nor not. Logic requires the answer with the least conjecture while faith requires the exact opposite: "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Your tipping point, sir, was merely that your faith won out over your logic.

[Achillestroy]

You got my attention and I was expecting at least an attempt to provide some decent arguments ... is this really what you call a 'tipping point'?? Try again please ...

[DforDapson]

I agree the title would have been better phrased as “tipping point from agnosticism or religious apathy”...

But this takes nothing away from the validity of the video. I don't know why some people expect it to be an all encompassing treatise on faith.

He's basically describing something that makes everything make sense. If God exists, then there should be an undeniable manifestation of Himself in the world He created. I think we see that everyday in the things He's created, but we can still chose to deny that. So He came into the world.

That's enough of a tipping point for anyone who believes the historicity of Jesus Christ.

[absquereligione]

So he just chose to believe the baseless claims of theism?
Even saying: I can’t demonstrate it to be true!

Yes, faith and knowledge are definitely not the same.

[oscargr_]

If you say it sitting down, slowly and with enough affectation... The Christian community on YouTube will embrace it.

[roblovestar]

Alister: "I was going through a process of thinking...". Excellent! Keep at it! Maybe read Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion", or Jerry Coyne's "Faith vs Fact".