The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast PEL Presents PvI#111: God Smites Elijah Dann
Feb 8, 2026
Elijah Dan, a philosophy professor who moved from evangelical Christianity to skeptical atheism and wrote Unbelieving God, tells the story of his intellectual journey. He critiques arguments for God's existence. He discusses why people hold faith, public debate in universities, comic improv about scripture, and how to engage believers with curiosity and civility.
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From Bible College To Scientific Doubt
- Elijah Dan describes moving from evangelical conservatism to questioning creationist claims during university study.
- He credits science and critical thinking for starting his shift away from literalist beliefs.
Belief Is More Than Logical Arguments
- Religious belief is psychologically embedded with identity, family, and community, not just propositions.
- Elijah Dan argues facts can change minds but psychology often blocks logical penetration of beliefs.
Parenthood Prompted Biblical Reassessment
- Elijah Dan says his son's birth forced him to re-evaluate literal readings of Adam and Eve and theodicy.
- He found the Genesis account incompatible with parental intuition and scientific facts about death's history.
