CCP189: On the New Reasons for Believing in God

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Apr 3, 2026

James Emery White, founding pastor and author on theology and faith-culture, explores why reasons for belief have changed. He discusses functional atheism, the shift from proving God to answering “so what?”, science-driven curiosity about the cosmos, and how wonder and reason now steer people back toward questions about Jesus and meaning.

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INSIGHT

Apologetics Clears The Path For Evangelism

Apologetics is giving a reasoned answer for faith to remove barriers to evangelism.
James Emery White defines apologia from 1 Peter 3:15 and frames apologetics as pre-evangelism that clears intellectual, emotional, and relational objections.

INSIGHT

Functional Atheism Drives The Rise Of The Nones

Functional atheism, not philosophical atheism, is the core secular challenge today because many simply ignore God rather than argue against him.
White links this dynamic to the rise of the religiously unaffiliated "nones."

INSIGHT

Move Beyond Proof To The So What

Old-school apologetics focused on proof (e.g., empty tomb) but that's only the start; you must progress to the "so what" implications of Christian claims.
White argues clearing intellectual barriers is necessary but insufficient without showing how belief transforms life.

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In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss how much things have changed culturally when it comes to reasons for belief (or unbelief) in God. The conversation was sparked by an article in The Atlantic written by Elizabeth Bruenig titled “The Evidence That God Exists.” The article has a very interesting subtitle - “Searching for scientific proof for faith misunderstands faith” - which explains some of the challenges facing apologetics in our world today.

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Dr. White mentioned how a functional atheism has invaded our culture and has played a significant role in the rise of the “nones” - those claiming no religious affiliation. Dr. White even wrote a book called The Rise of the Nones, which you can find on Amazon HERE. He and Alexis discussed how, when presented with evidence for belief in the Christian faith, many people in today's culture will respond by asking, “So what?” Dr. White tried to address a number of these questions through another book he wrote titled Christianity for People Who Aren't Christians: Uncommon Answers to Common Questions, which you can find on Amazon HERE.

Dr. White talked about the importance of addressing these questions for people who are open to exploring the Christian faith. There are a number of series that Dr. White has given over the years at Mecklenburg Community Church that would fall into this category. You can find those messages in both .mp3 and .pdf formats under the banners “Evangelism & Apologetics” and “Exploring Christianity” on the Church & Culture website.

There does seem to be renewed interest in science proving the existence of God. Alexis mentioned a book that was included in The Atlantic article above. That book is God, the Science, the Evidence written by Michel-Yves Bollore and Olivier Bonnassies, and you can find that resource on Amazon HERE.

And finally, the story that Dr. White shared toward the end of the episode about C.S. Lewis is one that you can find (among many others) in his book titled A Traveler's Guide to the Kingdom, which you can find as an eBook on Church & Culture HERE.

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