My very bright son-in-law, Bible college graduate, came out as an atheist. I fear he is swaying my daughter (also Bible college grad) to his way of thinking. He kept me up until after 4AM once, peppering me with all the usual atheist arguments. I held my ground, as best I could. Probably could have done better, having a Ph.D. in Theology and all. No chance I would see any truth in his arguments, not so much because of “book learning” but from a lifetime of Christian experience. Not to downplay what I consider to be irrefutable arguments for God’s existence, as pointed out by this quote from a former atheist: “Former skeptical journalist-turned Christian apologist Lee Strobel confessed: ‘To continue in atheism, I would need to believe that nothing produces everything, non-life produces life, randomness produces fine-tuning, chaos produces information, unconsciousness produces consciousness, and non-reason produces reason,” he wrote. “I simply didn’t have that much faith”’”
“My very bright son-in-law, Bible college graduate, came out as an atheist.”
My son just graduate with a degree in theology and psychology. His second year iirc he was pretty pissed at his instructors as they tore apart the Bible. He talked with one of our pastors. The pastor said that they tear apart your beliefs (probably your parent’s beliefs) in order for you to have your own beliefs - and the pastor gave him (and us) encouragement that our he would weather the storm.
He did - and is still a strong Conservative and Believer (works youth ministry full time). I’m sorry for your son - but also believe that God’s work is never done. Perhaps he will be the next Lee Strobel! He may very well come out stronger in his faith once this is all said and done.
Josh McDowell was also an atheist, and set out to prove the resurrection was false. After his research he became a believer - and wrote the book “Evidence Demands a Verdict”.
Must have been a pamphlet or the back of one of his books where he described sitting in the back of the lecture hall with his sunglasses on with a hang-over. Me and a buddy went to see one of his lectures at a conference during college. I can’t remember if it was at our college - or maybe “Urbana” - that missionary thing. Anyway - we thought it would be funny to sit up in the back row with sunglasses on and sprawled out across the seats.
The talk was about to begin. Josh came in from the back doors and slumped down next to us - with shades on! “So I guess we’re supposed to listen to this guy and believe in God and stuff?”
We laughed and made sure he knew we were supportive of him - and then he went down and gave his talk.