eX-skeptic

For years, Nate Hanson was deeply committed to Christianity. Influenced by voices like Francis Chan and immersed in ministry, he devoted his life to radical discipleship and church planting. But after years of burnout, disappointment, and difficult questions, cracks began to appear in the faith he had always known. What followed was nearly a decade of public deconstruction through his podcast Almost Heretical, where he wrestled honestly with doubt, theology, and whether Christianity could withstand serious scrutiny. Yet what Nate expected to be the end of faith became the beginning of a new search for truth. In this episode, Nate shares how engaging skeptical arguments, historical scholarship, and the evidence surrounding Jesus led him to reconsider the very faith he thought he had left behind. 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Guest Bio: Nate Hanson is the co-host of Faith Lab, a podcast dedicated to exploring thoughtful Christianity and helping people wrestle honestly with questions of faith. For nearly a decade, he hosted the popular podcast Almost Heretical, where he openly chronicled his own journey through deconstruction and engaged in conversations surrounding doubt, theology, and spirituality. Today, Nate seeks to create space for gracious conversations and to help skeptics, doubters, and seekers thoughtfully engage the truth claims of Christianity. Nate is also a tech professional, specializing in AI and coding. He lives in Oregon with his wife and children. Resources Mentioned: eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/ Nate’s Resources: Podcast Website: Faith Lab Show www.faithlabshow.com; He recently shared his personal journey back to Christianity in the episode Deconstruction Led Me Back to Christianity. Nate’s Recommended Resources: Tim Mackie, The Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com Tim Keller, Questioning Christianity video series: https://qcpodcast.gospelinlife.com Tim Keller, Reasons for God Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the Eye Witnesses Lydia McGrew, https://lydiamcgrew.com Peter J. Williams, https://www.divinity.cam.ac.uk/directory/peter-williams Shane Rosenthal, The Humble Skeptic podcast NT Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God James D. G. Dunn, New Testament Scholar John Lennox, https://johnlennox.org Stephen C. Meyer, The God Hypothesis, https://www.discovery.org/p/meyer/ Justin Brierley, Uncommon Ground, https://justinbrierley.com John Dickson, Undeceptions Podcast, https://undeceptions.com/podcast/ Chapters  00:00 Why Nate Returned to Christianity 00:26 Introduction to Nate Hanson's Story 02:54 What Is Christian Deconstruction? 06:25 Growing Up in a Christian Family 09:13 Church was Life 12:09 Francis Chan and Radical Faith 17:10 Pursuing Full-Time Christian Ministry 21:49 Ministry in San Francisco's Toughest Neighborhoods 28:07 Gunfire and a Crisis of Faith 31:44 When Blind Faith Began to Unravel 33:14 Exploring Different Christian Traditions 36:30 The Almost Heretical Podcast and Deconstruction 41:32 The Dominoes Falling 42:40 Giving Christianity One Last Chance 45:20 Investigating the Historical Evidence for Jesus 49:48 Can Christianity Stand Up to Skepticism? 52:43 The Resurrection and 1 Corinthians 15 55:32 Questioning God, Science, and Alternative Worldviews 58:00 Why Nate Became a Christian Again 01:01:55 Rebuilding Faith After Deconstruction 01:06:02 Advice for Parents of Children Who Leave Christianity 01:11:49 Advice for Anyone Questioning Their Faith 01:18:31 Closing Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: [email protected] eX-skeptic Transcript

What happens when the scientific story you're given seems to leave no room for God? Dr. Brian Miller grew up with a belief in God, but everything changed when he entered MIT and later pursued a PhD in physics at Duke University. Surrounded by a scientific culture that viewed God as unnecessary and influenced by thinkers like Richard Dawkins, Brian gradually embraced a materialistic view of reality. But the deeper he explored science, the more questions emerged. Could naturalism explain meaning, consciousness, or the origin of life? Why did the universe appear so finely tuned? And what if the story he had accepted about science and faith was itself incomplete? 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Want to support this channel? Tax-deductible donations available here: https://givebutter.com/CB6WoH Guest Bio: Dr. Brian Miller is a physicist who studied physics and engineering at MIT and earned his PhD in complex systems physics from Duke University. He serves as a researcher with the Discovery Institute, where his work focuses on intelligent design, the origin of life, and the evidence for purpose and engineering in biology. Dr. Miller was also a lead technical consultant for Stephen Meyer’s bestselling book The Return of the God Hypothesis. Passionate about helping people think deeply about faith and science, he speaks and writes on topics including cosmology, biology, philosophy, and the historical reliability of Christianity.  Resources Mentioned: eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/ Brian’s Resources: •        Book: The God Hypothesis, Stephen Meyer (Brian Miller, lead technical consultant) •        Book: God’s Not Dead, Rice Broocks (Brian Miller, technical consultant) Brian’s Recommended Resources: •        Website: https://intelligentdesign.org/ •        Website: Discovery Institute: www.discovery.org •        Website: Reasons to Believe, Hugh Ross: www.reasons.org •        David Snoke: www.christianscientific.org •        Craig Blomberg: https://theopedia.com/craig-blomberg •        Jonathan McLatchie: www.jonathanmclatchie.com •        Talk about Doubts: www.talkaboutdoubts.com •        Lydia McGrew: www.lydiamcgrew.com •        William Lane Craig: www.reasonablefaith.org •        Rice Broocks, SALT training: https://www.thegodtest.org Chapters  0:00 – Can Science Lead You to God? 02:19 – Brian Miller’s Journey Through MIT and Duke 03:24 – Growing Up Christian and Beginning to Doubt 06:15 – Questioning Christianity at MIT 10:34 – Evidence That Challenged His Skepticism 14:06 – Challenging Materialism and the Assumptions Behind Science 19:09 – Is There Evidence of Design in Nature? 23:12 – How Our Environment Shapes What We Believe 30:47 – Where Naturalism Struggles to Explain Reality 36:24 – Why Changing Your Worldview Takes Time 40:51 – Can Life Have Meaning Without God? 45:58 – How Christianity Changed Brian’s View of Life 51:25 – Next Steps to Belief in God 56:15 – How Christians Can Talk with Skeptics 59:14 – Keep Exploring  Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: [email protected]

What happens when suffering shapes your picture of God? For Paul Snyder, the God he rejected as a young boy seemed harsh, distant, and impossible to please. Growing up amid fear, family brokenness, rejection, and disappointment, he concluded that if God existed at all, He certainly wasn't good. By the age of twelve, Paul had reached a point of despair. Filled with anger and skepticism, he did something many people secretly feel but rarely admit. He challenged God directly.What happened next changed everything. Paul shares how an unexpected encounter with the love of Christ transformed his understanding of God and set him on a lifelong journey of faith and service.  🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Guest Bio: Paul Snyder is the president of Global Bridges, an international ministry serving persecuted believers, vulnerable children, and marginalized communities in some of the world's most restricted nations. Continuing a legacy of gospel ministry that spans generations, Paul is passionate about demonstrating the love of Christ through practical compassion and humanitarian aid. He is also the co-author of Love Shines, a book highlighting the importance of Scripture and the extraordinary story behind the ministry's work among persecuted Christians around the world. Once an atheist shaped by suffering and disappointment, Paul now dedicates his life to helping others encounter the hope and love he found in Jesus.  Resources Mentioned: eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/ Book: Love Shines: From Smuggling Bibles to Training a Million Disciples; https://globalbridgesrelief.org/loveshines/ Global Bridges – International ministry serving persecuted believers and vulnerable communities: https://globalbridgesrelief.org/ Open Doors (founded by Brother Andrew) Ethnos360 (formerly New Tribes Mission) YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Chapters   00:00 Paul’s “Liquid Love” Encounter 00:54 If God Is Good, Why Do We Suffer? 02:00 Serving the Persecuted with Global Bridges 04:48 A Family Legacy of Faith 09:25 From Smuggling Bibles to Smuggling Drugs 11:41 How His Father Shaped His View of God 15:33 “God Was Like Santa Claus” 16:49 Paul Reaches a Point of Despair 19:21 He Challenges God to Prove He’s Real 19:47 “Liquid Love” Poured Over Him 20:23 God Says, “I Love You” 21:36 Jesus Is More Than a Philosophy 23:01 Discovering God Through the Bible 26:05 Why Scripture Matters 27:18 If God Is Good, Why Is There Suffering? 30:18 Escaping Performance-Based Christianity 34:44 Is God Supposed to Stop All Suffering? 36:02 Do You Need a Dramatic Encounter with God? 39:01 Where Should a Skeptic Start? 41:00 How Christians Should Engage with Skeptics  Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: [email protected]

🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Growing up in a deeply Christian home, Shayla Perez assumed that faith was simply part of her family tradition. But as she entered her teenage years, skepticism began to grow. Questions about suffering and whether Christianity was actually true led her into online atheist communities and eventually to reject the faith she grew up around. What began as rebellion soon became a sincere search for truth. As Shayla wrestled with the claims of atheism and the intellectual foundations of Christianity, she discovered something she had never expected. Want to support this channel? Tax-deductible donations available here: https://givebutter.com/CB6WoH  Guest Bio: Shayla Perez is a Christian speaker and content creator passionate about helping the next generation discover the truth of Christianity. After a season of skepticism and involvement in online atheist communities as a teenager, she returned to faith through apologetics, philosophy, and a personal encounter with Christ. Today, she reaches Gen Z and Gen Alpha through social media, youth events, and churches, engaging honest questions about faith and culture.  Resources Mentioned: eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/ Shayla’s Recommended Resources: William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith https://www.reasonablefaith.org Frank Turek, Cross-Examined, https://crossexamined.org Cliff Knechtle, Give me an Answer: https://www.youtube.com/@givemeananswer Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org Total Truth and Finding Truth, Nancy Pearcey:https://a.co/d/066TnGwI Shayla’s Social Resources: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla_j_perez/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shayla_Perez TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shayla_j_perez Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: [email protected] Chapters 00:00 Introduction: "God, If You're Real..." 00:34 Welcome & Introducing Shayla Perez 02:00 Shayla's Ministry & The Digital Mission Field 03:54 Growing Up a Pastor's Kid 06:08 When Skepticism Began 08:00 The Internet & Online Atheist Communities 11:12 Reading The Case for Christ (But Not Believing It) 13:24 What Atheism Couldn't Explain 14:57 Richard Dawkins, Morality & The First Doubts 17:48 Wrestling with the Problem of Evil 20:41 Christian Apologists Changed Everything 23:17 Giving God One Honest Chance 26:21 When Prayer Became Real 27:00 The Moment Shayla Came to Faith 29:52 Faith Isn't Blind 32:35 Can Logic Strengthen Faith? 34:02 How Do You Know Christianity Is True? 36:08 Advice for Parents of Skeptical Teens 42:46 Resources for Those Wrestling with Doubt 46:13 What Christianity Offers Gen Z 49:38 The Power of Personal Testimony 52:40 Why the Internet Is Today's Mission Field 55:50 Final Reflections & Takeaways eX-skeptic transcript Welcome & Introducing Shayla Perez