Classic: Faith & Doubt: A Former Atheist and Ex-Christian Face Off
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Can belief and unbelief follow the same path? In this Unbelievable? episode, Justin Brierley hosts a fascinating conversation from 2014 between Guillaume Bignon, an atheist-turned-Christian theologian, and Wade Padgett, a former devout Christian who became an atheist.
🔍 What’s Inside?
🔥 Guillaume’s journey from atheism to Christianity—an unexpected turn shaped by intellectual inquiry and life-changing events
🔥 Wade’s shift from Christianity to atheism, driven by existential philosophy and critical reflection on faith
🔥 The power of personal experience—do conversions and deconversions rely on reason or emotion?
🔥 The role of evidence—what counts as "good reasons" for belief or unbelief?
🔥 Are conversion stories valid arguments for faith?
📖 Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:14 Guillaume Bignon’s Journey from Atheism to Christianity
04:10 Encountering Christianity & The Turning Point
06:16 Intellectual & Emotional Struggles
10:13 Challenges of a Newfound Faith
16:20 Wade Padgett’s Religious Upbringing
21:16 From Faith to Doubt: Wade’s Journey to Atheism
25:47 Comparing Conversion & Deconversion Stories
31:15 Questioning Arguments for Christianity
32:41 The Role of Personal Experiences in Belief & Deconversion
36:47 Properly Basic Beliefs & Knowledge
46:29 Cognitive Science & Belief Formation
52:10 Do Conversion Stories Prove Faith?
1:03:02 Final Reflections
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🚀 Are conversions and deconversions truly rational, or are they shaped by deeper motivations? Let us know in the comments!
Released on 1 Apr 2025
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