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THE END OF

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DO YOU COMMIT INTELLECTUAL SUICIDE WHEN YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN?

Celebrating

God’s goodness

through the life

of Michael Green

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

Z A C H A R I A S T R U S T

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THIS ISSUE...

Welcome to the fourth

issue of Pulse, the

apologetics magazine

published by the

Zacharias Trust.

This includes all of the latest

information about our ministry,

including articles on Christian

evangelism and apologetics,

information about training

opportunities and much more.

Michael Writes… 3

The End of Atheism? 4 -5

Celebrating God’s Goodness through the Life of Michael Green 6 -7

Useful Resources 8

Training 9 -11

Amy Writes… 12

Dates for your Diary 13

Around the World: Canada 14

Do you Commit Intellectual Suicide when you become a Christian? 15 - 17

Meet our Associates 18 - 19

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The fact that the Trust currently has 22 full and part-time staff indicates how things have grown and developed, since the last time I wrote.

The front-line team currently consists of Amy Orr-Ewing, John Lennox, Alister McGrath, Michael Green, Vlad Criznic and myself. To this must now be added our Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA) tutors, Vince Vitale, Sharon Dirckx and Tom Price,as well as our enlarging group of Associates.

The offi ce team has thankfully

also been given some much needed strength. This is in order to cope with the teaching and marking requirements for the OCCA, which now has its largest ever cohort of students. Secondly, there is the need to make sure that our admissions team and administrative team can cope with the inevitable pressure of growing enquiries given the accreditation of the OCCA programme.

The challenges ahead are both exciting and numerous, but, by the end of this year, the entire organisation will hopefully be in a great position to impact

more places than ever before for the Gospel.

Thank you again for all of your

prayers and support.

We are living in a time of well-publicised uncertainty and fear. Th e challenges we are presented with are unlikely to go away quickly; indeed it may take more than a decade for us to recover economically.

RZIM Zacharias Trust was founded in 1997 as the European offi ce of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Our mandate is to engage people’s hearts and minds for Christ in an increasingly secular Europe. Working alongside the church, the Trust seeks to address the many objections and questions about Christianity so that lives can be transformed and renewed through the gospel message.

michael

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Th e fundamentalist atheists, who have become a publishing phenomenon, tout that God is a delusion destructive to human life and civilization. Th ese authors herald the end of faith and see only positive results at the end of atheism. Th ey contend that reason and rationality will conquer any zealous adherence or devotion to a transcendent God.It’s fairly easy to identify with the concerns that motivate these authors towards atheism. Like them, I grieve over the violence perpetrated in the world in the name of God and religion. I can understand why many poignantly wonder about God’s presence in the suff ering wastelands of the world. And certainly, I, like many others, have had life experiences that raise questions concerning God’s involvement in my life and

God’s love toward me. I can understand the despair-fi lled temptation towards agnosticism or even atheism.

Yet, the world many atheists envision without God or faith is overly optimistic and ultimately unrealistic. Th eir beautiful portraits of what the world could look like if we would only jettison faith are painted with glowing brushstrokes of romantic imagery and language. Sam Harris writes:

Th is universe is shot through with mystery. Th e very fact of its being, and of our own, is a mystery absolute, and the only miracle worthy of the name. Th e consciousness that animates us is itself central to this mystery and the ground for any experience we might wish to call ‘spiritual’… No personal God need be worshipped for us to live in awe at the beauty and immensity of creation… love our neighbors, and [know that] our

interdependence demands that people everywhere be given the opportunity to fl ourish.1

I fi nd this vision completely out of step with a world in which innocent civilians, even as I write, are being silenced and slaughtered by the thousands. Indeed, in light of the state of our world, an optimistic ending for atheism is as out-of-touch with reality as belief that the world is fl at.

In fact, this vision of a godless world being a better world is shattered by the writings of the prescient atheist Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche, the German philosopher who wrote in the nineteenth century, predicted what an atheistic society would look like. And unlike the pseudo-optimism of our popular atheists today, Nietzsche’s vision is harrowing and disturbing:

Th e story I have to tell is the

THE END OF

ATHEISM

1 Sam Harris, Th e End of Faith(New York, 2004), p. 227.2 Quoted in Erich Heller, Th e Importance of Nietzsche (Chicago, 1988), p. 5.

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history of the next two centuries… For a long time now our whole civilization has been driving, with a tortured intensity growing from decade to decade, as if towards a catastrophe: restlessly, violently, tempestuously, like a mighty river desiring the end of its journey, without pausing to refl ect, indeed fearful of refl ection.2

Nietzsche claimed that the world was entering an “era of monstrous wars, upheavals, explosions and that there will be wars such as have never been waged on the earth.”3

Why such pessimism about the future of the world? Nietzsche argued that the actions of human beings had rendered God superfl uous. In Th e Gay Science his madman yells, “Where is God?’… ‘I’ll tell you! We have killed him - you and I!”4 He goes on to doubt if even reason and the advance of theoretical knowledge, as our

modern-day atheists posit, could heal the “wound of our existence.” Indeed, science, reason, and history could not overcome the reality that human beings “can rise or sink to no other reality than the reality of our drives.”5 One of those drives, Nietzsche argued, is the will to power, ultimately fulfi lled by rogue regimes in World War I and in World War II by the Nazi regime and the Communist regime led by Joseph Stalin.

Nietzsche’s utter suspicion of reason calls the entire optimistic programme advocated by popular atheists into question. God’s absence would not make for a better world, according to Nietzsche. Indeed, his picture of a world without God, without a divine Creator intimately involved in re-creation, is a very grim place fi lled with darkness, amorality and despair. In contrast to the godless future predicted by Nietzsche or our current atheistic

prophets, the prophet Isaiah – even in the midst of warnings of exile, destruction, and suff ering – had a hope-fi lled vision of a world permeated with the presence of God: “Th e wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child will lead them... they will not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:6, 9). Th is vision of a God-fi lled future is what Christians hope for and work towards, even as we wrestle with the challenges and the diffi culties of a God-famished world.

Margaret Manning(from A Slice of Infi nity– for more articles see the resources section of RZIM’s website at www.rzim.org)

Margaret Manning is a member of the speaking and writing team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and she is based in Seattle, Washington.

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3 Ibid.4 Friedrich Nietzsche, Th e Gay Science (Cambridge, 2001), p. 119.5 Ibid.

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The event, held in October and attended by more than 160 people, included a whole host of family, friends and colleagues ranging from those who have known Michael Green since his school days, to those who now serve with him at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). Michael used the occasion not only to share his life-long passion for evangelism and apologetics, but also to highlight the increasing importance of institutions like the OCCA in training future generations of believers to share the gospel of Christ more eff ectively in an increasingly secular world.

Designed to honour Michael Green in his 80th year for his work as Chaplain, Missions Coordinator and Lecturer at the OCCA in the run-up to his retirement next June, the event began with the Inaugural Michael Green Lecture. John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, and Fellow in

Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College, Oxford, presented this at St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford. Professor Lennox, an adjunct professor of the OCCA, spoke on ‘Is faith a delusion?’ A leader in the fi eld of evangelism and apologetics will present this lecture annually.

The lecture was followed by dinner at St Aldate’s Church, where Michael Green was Rector for 12 years. Following a welcome by Lord Carey of Clifton (the former Archbishop of Canterbury) and Rev. Charlie Cleverly, Rector of St Aldate’s, the evening included a surprise This is Your Life show for Michael Green. This involved speeches from many diff erent fi gures spanning the years, including Lord Carey (who was a student under Michael, then a co-worker, then his boss), and fi lm contributions from Jonathan Aitken (former MP and student at Wycliff e Hall) and Dr Ravi Zacharias, President of RZIM.

Many of those speaking - including some who travelled from America and Canada to join in the celebrations - testifi ed to both Michael Green’s infectious passion and energy for the Gospel and the strong pastoral concern for others that typifi ed his evangelism over the past sixty years. Alister McGrath, Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education at King’s College, London, and President of the OCCA, echoed this sentiment and highlighted the need for more people like Michael. This theme was continued in Michael Green’s concluding address, where he stressed that the rise of pluralism, relativism and atheism in today’s society only helped to illustrate how urgent the need was for evangelists to be trained in apologetics.

Michael Ramsden, European Director of the RZIM Zacharias Trust and OCCA Director, presented a special gift to Michael and Rosemary Green before the evening closed with a time of prayer for the nation.

RZIM Zacharias Trust recently organized a special event in Oxford to celebrate

God’s goodness as shown through the life and ministry of one of the UK’s most

prolifi c and longest-serving evangelists, Rev. Canon Dr Michael Green.

Celebrating God’s goodness through the life of Michael Green

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RZIM Zacharias Trust has announced that there will be a new Lectureship post established in honour of Michael Green. At the same time, the Michael Green Bursary Fund – to enable students to attend the OCCA One-Year Programme – is to be expanded.

Michael Ramsden said: “I am personally delighted to have Michael Green playing such a key role at the OCCA. Before he retires, he shares a burden to establish the OCCA on a fi rmer footing, knowing how crucial it is for

Christians in this age to give clear and well-considered reasons for the hope that they have.”

“Given his plans to retire in 2010, we are seeking to appoint a Senior Academic Tutor to the OCCA to spearhead the programme, so that it can continue to expand and develop. In honour of Michael, we have decided to call this new post the Michael Green Lectureship in Evangelism and Apologetics.”

“At the same time, we remain committed to ensuring that the

very best candidates can enroll regardless of their ability to pay. A Michael Green Bursary Fund has already been established and we wish to develop this fund signifi cantly as we seek to more than double the number of students on our annual course over the next three years.”

“Please pray with us, as we continue to train evangelists and apologists around the globe, that they may know God’s protection as they continue to fulfi l their calling in Christ. Pray too, that extra resources will be provided, so that we may eff ectively prepare the next generation for His service.”

Donations for these two aspects should be sent to RZIM Zacharias Trust, 97a St Aldate’s,

Oxford, OX1 1BT. For further details, please contact David Lloyd on 01865 203951.

New lectureship post and bursary fund set up in

honour of Michael Green

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recent items...

A Spectator’s Guide to Jesus by John Dickson£9 In this introduction to the life and teaching of Christ, Dr Dickson takes the reader through historical data to reveal a Jesus who is far removed from many of the caricatures that circulate today.

Is Faith Delusional? (DVD) Ravi Zacharias and John Lennox£11According to Richard Dawkins, there’s no difference between God and the Easter Bunny. In this DVD Ravi and John address the intellectual assumptions of atheism and the validity of the Christian faith.

Is God Great? (DVD) Debate between John Lennox and Christopher Hitchens£14This is the most recent of a series of debates between John Lennox and the world’s leading atheists. This was the rematch against Christopher Hitchens, one of the most vocal proponents of the new atheism.

resources• resources• resources• resources• resources• resources• resources• resources• resources• resources• resources•

popular items...

Does God Exist? (DVD) Debate between William Lane Craig and Antony Flew £5This debate is particularly interesting as it is an exchange between William Lane Craig (Christian) and Antony Flew (atheist) before Flew changed his mind (he now believes there is a creator).

Why Trust the Bible? by Amy Orr-Ewing £6The Bible is the best-selling book of all time and yet many people choose not to believe it for a variety of reasons. This book provides answers to many of the common objections that are made towards the Bible.

Doubt in Perspective by Alister McGrath £6Many believers go through times when they experience feelings of doubt. This useful book puts these thoughts into perspective and highlights the role that doubt plays in all worldviews.

Deep by Frog and Amy Orr-Ewing £6.50This book explores the nature of church in the 21st century context. Frog and Amy urge their readers to become much deeper in their faith and this books explores ways of doing this.

Lies, Lies, Lies by Michael Green £7Christ is a fi gure who has been depicted in many different ways. In Green’s latest book, he tackles many of the common misconceptions about Jesus, in order that the reader might see who he really is.

But is it Real? by Amy Orr-Ewing £7This accessible book provides answers to many of the common accusations made against Christianity, such as “Is it real?”, “Is faith just a psychological crutch?” and “What about the experiences in other religions?”.

God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? by John Lennox £9Is there a war going on between science and faith, and is it true that science necessitates atheism? Lennox answers these and many other questions in this examination of the relationship of science to Christianity.

Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias and the RZIM team £11This book provides detailed answers for many of the major challenges facing Christians today. Chapters are written by different RZIM authors and cover topics such as atheism, science and other religions.

Has Christianity Failed You? (DVD) Ravi Zacharias and Michael Ramsden £11Many people have been hurt by the church and feel let down by their experiences. This book explores this important topic before refocusing viewers to the central and unfailing person of Christ.

The Big Book of Bible Diffi culties by Norman Geisler £13Many antagonists like to highlight various problem verses in the Bible. This books deals with these systematically and provides answers / explanations for all of the seemingly diffi cult passages in the Bible.

The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona£14This provides a useful overview of the strongest arguments for accepting the historicity of the resurrection (it also includes an interactive study DVD). See page 15 for an interview with the author, Gary Habermas.

usefulThe Zacharias Trust stocks a large number of resources that are

designed to help both the believer who wishes to defend his/her

faith more eff ectively and the non-believer who is interested in

learning more about Christianity. Below is a summary of some of the

items that can be ordered from our website

(for the full list of resources see: www.zactrust.org/products

or call the Oxford offi ce):

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SPEAKERS: Michael Ramsden

Amy Orr-Ewing

Michael Green

John Lennox

DATE: Sat 23 January 2010

VENUE: St Aldate’s Church, Oxford

BOOKINGS & PRICE: Online at www.rzim.eu

Places are limited, so

please book early to

avoid disappointment.

Zacharias Trust Training Day

Is God Really Good?:

An Equipping Day for Thinking Christians

St Aldates Church, Oxford, 23 January 2010

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (PSALM 118:1)

“God is not great” (CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS)

Christianity has played a central role in the history of Europe and, up

until fairly recently, a belief in God was considered to be a powerful

force for good, not only in the life of an individual, but also for

society at large. Today, however, one of the major challenges that

Christians face is from those who question the moral character of

God. These arguments have been popularized by a number of best-

selling authors, such as Richard Dawkins and Philip Pullman, who

argue that the Christian faith requires believers to live a restricted

lifestyle that is at odds with the rest of society. As a result, they argue

that living a God-prescribed life is actually worse than living

a godless life.

Many Christians understandably fi nd it diffi cult to know how best to

respond to some of the challenges made to their faith. What do you

say, for example, to someone who says that there is no evidence for

God and that it doesn’t really matter what you believe? How can you

defend your faith against the accusation that the New Testament

documents have been deliberately tampered with, or that it is more

ethical not to believe in God?

Is God Really Good? is a day of apologetics training designed to help

believers tackle vital questions such as these. The event aims to help

Christians develop a more confi dent faith that is able to respond to the

important issues of today, without having to duck the hard questions.

If you would like to be

informed about any

upcoming Zacharias Trust

events please email our

offi ce: events@rzim.eu

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continued...

Zacharias Trust Summer School

Lost and Found

Around 250 years ago the ex-slave trader, John Newton, penned the

words to what would become one of the most famous hymns of all

time, Amazing Grace. In it he describes part of his own journey from

the “many dangers, toils and snares” that had once led him astray, to

his eventual redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Many people today feel a sense of being lost, confused or disillusioned

with aspects of life. The recent downturn in the global economic

markets, for example, has only added to the atmosphere of uncertainty

and has prompted some to start thinking more deeply about questions

of morality and purpose. However, whereas religion was once thought

to provide the answers to many of life’s problems, it has recently been

in the fi ring line, sharply criticised by the new atheists who want to see

all forms of faith consigned to the history books.

So what has Christianity got to off er us today in the global marketplace

of competing ideas, philosophies and worldviews? What do you say,

for example, to someone who argues that science has rendered faith

in God obsolete? And how should you respond to the suggestion that

the place of your upbringing determines your belief system and that

ultimately all forms of religion are equally valid attempts to connect

with God?

The 2010 annual Oxford Summer School is designed to help with

questions such as these, so that those attending might develop a

more confi dent faith able to respond to the major challenges faced

by Christians today. Our hope is that you will be inspired by the lives

of those, such as Malcolm Muggeridge and Dietrich Bonhoeff er,

who were able to speak into the needs of society and who sought to

communicate the gospel eff ectively to a world that seems so lost.

SPEAKERS: Ravi Zacharias

Michael Ramsden

Tom Price

Frog Orr-Ewing

Amy Orr-Ewing

John Njoroge

Alister McGrath

John Lennox

J. John

Michael Green

Andy Bannister

DATE: Sun 4 July – Sat 10 July 2010

VENUE: The Queen’s College, Oxford

BOOKINGS & PRICE: Online at www.rzim.eu

Places are limited, so

please book early to

avoid disappointment.

If you would like to be

informed about any

upcoming Zacharias Trust

events please email our

offi ce: events@rzim.eu

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1

For further information about the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and for details

about applying, see: www.theocca.org

The deadline for applications for the Eight Week Business Programme is 28 February 2010.

My time spent at the OCCA

may have been one of my best

investments yet. My heart

infl ates with gratefulness when

I think of the staggering level

of intelligence and unwavering

belief in Jesus Christ from the

professors and staff at OCCA. My

faith and my outlook on life has

taken a diff erent path, one that

feels deeper and more mature.

God presented me with a gift

when I stumbled across the two

month business apologetics

program online. I took a chance

and applied, not expecting

much, but in return I got an

experience that challenged me

and grew me in ways I never

dreamed. The relationships that

came from my time at the OCCA

and the information I gathered

from my peers and teachers

were invaluable. I was humbled

daily by the friendships I had

accrued, the staff and professors

are loving and accepting and,

as silly as it may sound, they

made me feel incredibly special

and appreciated. Since I’ve

been home, I’ve noticed that

God presents innumerable

opportunities for me to talk

with people about Christian

apologetics, both with believers

and non-believers. The same

diffi culties of life present

themselves daily, but I now feel

more equipped in my faith and

I have a maturity in Christ that I

will be forever grateful for.

Melanie Brown, OCCA 2009

How has the 8 week OCCA

programme aff ected me? I

believe that it has rooted me in

the Word, it has given me the

confi dence to share my faith and

to live out my faith within the

business community that God

has placed me into - rather than

compromising and conforming

to this world. I struggle with this

every day, but I believe that as I

am being more faithful, and as

I take the small steps to put my

faith in Him, God is with me and

opens doors and shows me ways

that I previously was not able to

see by myself.

One instance of how I have

used my training:

Recently, I had a breakfast

meeting with a friend in an

investment bank in Korea who

is a Catholic who says that he is

in the process of trying to make

as much money as possible to

fi nd fulfi lment and meaning

in God (as money would allow

him to have more time to spend

with God). I challenged him

on whether God would maybe

want to spend time with him

now (even before he becomes

the next Warren Buff et), and

we ended up discussing a lot

of the issues about struggling

in the business world to keep

one’s faith and how to make

a diff erence. I talked about

business for 15 minutes, about

God for 40 minutes, and I ended

up closing with a prayer for him

in a hotel buff et restaurant. He

was very uncomfortable about

me praying in the public, but

shortly after we parted he sent

me a message thanking me for

a refreshing meeting.

Hyun Kim, OCCA 2009

The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA)

Two students share their experiences of the Eight Week Business Programme

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At a recent Christian conference I was giving a lecture on Christian apologetics focusing particularly on the question of whether belief in God is a psychological crutch. There was a large crowd in attendance (between 1500-2000 people) and, after the question time, I was overwhelmed by people wanting to talk further. About fi fteen had committed their lives to Christ, but many more wanted that personal interaction and a terribly British and enormous queue was developing.

Out of that crowd, one conversation stands out: a girl had made a commitment to Christ at an event I had spoken at a whole year before and she had been following Christ and growing as a Christian in the previous year. She had wanted to let me know that the previous month she had met my cousin at a party and had shared the gospel with him and had even given him a copy of my book. This cousin, whom I had prayed for, but had not really been able to talk to about Christ very easily, had been impacted by that encounter. He and his friends had been keen to read the

book and see whether Christianity really stacks up or not.

The Lord knows the details of our lives. He has been at work in his world and in our friends’ lives long before we thought of reaching them with His love. He has the whole world in His hands. But we are left with a question: will we play our part in being His hands and feet in those simple daily conversations and encounters we fi nd ourselves in at home, in the workplace and with our friends?

As I sing the song “He’s got the whole world in his hands” with my children, it helps me to remember that this is not a general or distant truth. The God of the Bible is a personal Trinitarian God who interacts with people in a meaningful way. He knows the details of our lives, responds to our prayers and helps us fulfi ll our calling in this life. “God our Saviour… wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 TIMOTHY 2:4).

The children’s hymn writer

tells us “He’s got the

whole world in his hands”,

but sometimes we fi nd

ourselves questioning this

simple truth. As we look

around the world, taking

in the enormity all of the

millions of people living

their lives multiplying

detail upon detail, we may

well wonder if God really

sees us? Does He really

hold us in His hand?

17 JANUARY City Life Church, Southampton (Michael Ramsden)

19 JANUARY Christians in Parliament Bible Study (Amy Orr-Ewing)

23 JANUARY Zacharias Trust Training Day, Oxford (Team)

25 JANUARY Sixth Form Conference, Oxford (John Lennox)

28 JANUARY Wycliff e Hall Chapel (Amy Orr-Ewing)

2 FEBRUARY Science, Ethics and New Atheism, Parliament (John Lennox)

31 JAN – 5 FEB Southampton Mission (Michael Ramsden)

11 FEBRUARY Genesis TV Interview (Amy Orr-Ewing)

12 FEBRUARY Unite, Southampton University CU (Amy Orr-Ewing)

14 FEBRUARY Magdalen College Chapel, Oxford (John Lennox)

20 FEBRUARY CCF Training, London (Amy Orr-Ewing)

3 MARCH Guest Evening, Carlton Club, London (Amy Orr-Ewing)

15 MARCH Evangelist’s Supper, Churchill (Michael Ramsden)

16 MARCH Has Science Buried God?, Tooting (John Lennox)

20 MARCH St Aldates Women’s Day, Oxford (Amy Orr-Ewing)

21 MARCH Church of Christ the King, Hove (Michael Ramsden)

26 – 28 MAR Various Events, Sweden (John Lennox)

3 – 8 APRIL Spring Harvest, Minehead (Amy Orr-Ewing)

13 – 18 APRIL New Word Alive, Pwllheli (Amy Orr-Ewing)

20 – 23 APRIL EEA, Turkey (Michael Ramsden)

23 – 25 APRIL CMF Graduates, Swanwick (John Lennox)

26 – 29 APRIL Romania (Michael Ramsden)

27 APRIL Does Science Necessitate Atheism?, Oxford (John Lennox)

30 APRIL Science and Faith, Swansea (John Lennox)

30 APR – 3 MAY Baptist Assembly, Plymouth (Amy Orr-Ewing)

6 MAY Cornhill, London (Michael Ramsden)

22 – 26 MAY European Leadership Forum, Hungary (Team)

5 – 6 JUNE Various Talks, Cumbria (Michael Ramsden)

13 – 19 JUNE RZIM Summer Institute, Wheaton, USA (Team)

4 – 10 JULY Zacharias Trust Summer School, Oxford (Team)

For further information about any of the above events, or to be added to our email list to

be notifi ed about upcoming events, please contact our Oxford offi ce. All of the events listed are correct at time of print, but some may be subject to changes.

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around the world . . .

It is a tremendous

privilege to live in a

country so blessed

as Canada. In natural

beauty alone – stretching

from shore (east) to

shore (west) to shore

(north) – she invites her

inhabitants to wander

and to wonder.

No less grand are the people

who make this land their home.

It has been said that if you fi nd

a Canadian friend, you’ve found

one for life. I like that as it speaks

to a collective virtue: that living

in community is held in high

regard. That looking out for each

other is a characteristic worth

protecting and pursuing, and that

conversations are worth having.

Ravi Zacharias International Ministries has offi ces in the following places:

HEAD OFFICE

Atlanta, USA

CANADIAN OFFICE

Toronto, Canada

EUROPEAN OFFICES

Oxford, UK (Head Offi ce)Arad, Romania

MIDDLE EAST OFFICE

INDIAN HEAD OFFICE

Chennai, India

ASIA PACIFIC OFFICE

Singapore

HONG KONG OFFICE

Hong Kong

CANADA

It is among these people – friendly,

trusting and self-eff acing – that

RZIM Canada seeks to foster a rich

understanding of, and love for the

redemptive grace of our Lord. I must

say, it can intimidate and inspire us

simultaneously. Canadians expect us

to be open and honest; thoughtful

and well-read; understanding of

others yet purposeful. Mostly, they

expect that if ‘Jesus is love’ then

anything goes as long as it appears

to be loving.

Our team is deeply committed, in

love, to people. Equally, we are deeply

committed to introducing people

to the narrative of scripture – the

great conversation between the

supernatural and the natural.

In this world, we all have ideas that

guide us as we make our way through

life. Whether we have considered

them or not, these ideas determine

both how we look at the world

and how we live in it. Ideas are so

infl uential that it is worth thinking

carefully about which ones we hold

to and why.

In Canada, it is common to feel

bombarded by diff erent perspectives

and ideas. They come so cheaply and

easily that it can be diffi cult to sort

through them refl ectively. In a culture

of multiple options where advertising

rules the day, it seems ideas hold

sway more based on their novelty

and presentation than on their

content or coherence.

Consequently, one of the challenges

we face in Canada is to elucidate that

all the ideas we adopt need to work

themselves out in real life regardless

of how they were chosen. They all

have a fi nishing line, a landing place,

a fi nal destination. They all take us

somewhere.

So, RZIM Canada asks a lot of

questions. Where do the ideas that

hold sway in our culture lead us?

What are the results of the ideas that

we personally accept? What are the

consequences of how we answer or

fail to answer the big questions of life?

What is faith? And we respectfully ask

people to consider the unique ways

faith that in Christ off ers a response

to these honest questions

Paul E Ralph

On behalf of Andy, Deborah,

Karlenna, Rachel & Rick

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Q | Would you say that when you became

a Christian you committed intellectual

suicide?

A | I became a Christian believer at a young age, but afterwards I experienced a very protracted time of acute doubt (see below). Experiencing and pursuing these questions propelled me into several decades of spending my life in search of what might be called the big questions of life. After writing thirty-six books, along with dozens of other publications and many debates, I would say without hesitation that today, I am more sure of the truth of Christianity than at any previous time in my life. So without equivocation, I would say that far from committing intellectual suicide, I think fi rmly that Christianity explains the nature of the universe far better than any other philosophy or religion.

D O Y O U C OM M I T I NT E L L E C T UA L SU IC I D E W H E N YO U B E C O M E A CHRISTIAN?INTERVIEW WITH GARY HABERMAS

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Q | What questions were

you particularly touched by

during your search for God?

How did you come to accept

Jesus Christ as your personal

Saviour? Were there any

arguments that played a key

role in your conversion?

A | I trusted Jesus Christ as a child, and was raised in a Christian home. But during my teen years, I began a very long pilgrimage of more than 10 years. I read and studied widely, ranging especially through the fi elds of philosophy, nineteenth century German theological liberalism, and the world religions. In particular, I concentrated on philosophical naturalism and the ideas of skeptics such as the Scottish philosopher David Hume, the German critical theologian David Strauss, the French thinker Ernest Renan, as well as the area of

ancient mythology. For me, it was certainly not a case of squeezing everything into a Christian box regardless of whether or not it fi t. Family members and friends would probably remember the odd paths where my search took me. Through much intense study, personal visits, and discussions with believers from other persuasions, I pursued both fringe as well as mainline philosophies and religions. I argued with Christians and told them that they were mistaken about central theology. At one time, I thought that I was in the process of becoming a Buddhist and that I had already stepped over into that faith.

During this search, many topics made fascinating studies. I settled

down in the area of apologetics, studying arguments for both Christian and non-Christian systems. I concluded that some evidences for Christianity, while intriguing, couldn’t close the argument or establish the grounds for faith. And I rejected outright some of the purported reasons to be a Christian. Sometimes I was appalled when I found out why Christians believed what they did. Without any question, a single topic that emerged during this time held more promise than any other: arguments for the resurrection of Jesus. Very early, I realized that if Jesus was raised from the dead in time-space history, then this would easily be the strongest indication that Jesus was who he said he was. But at that time, I knew neither the evidence for the resurrection nor any strong reasons for concluding that Jesus thought of himself as Deity. Only years later, after 18

books on this subject along with debates and dialogues with some of the brightest minds around, did I rest in the argument that not only was the resurrection by far the best explanation for the historical facts upon which virtually all critical scholars who study this subject agree, but that this event was also the strongest indication of Jesus’ identity. The interested individual may pursue some of these studies on my website www.garyhabermas.com.

Q | What questions are you

most often confronted with

in your ministry?

A | Occasionally, I am asked

factual questions, concerning such topics as the reliability of the New Testament, details regarding the life of the historical Jesus, or especially regarding his resurrection. Happily, I can report after decades of research that Christianity does exceptionally well when it comes to historical areas of investigation such as these.

Seldom noticed, however, is that research indicates that the majority of religious doubts, including many questions by unbelievers, tend to be more emotional in nature. In other words, although the questions may appear very often to be more factual in nature, they very frequently emanate from distraught emotional states. As such, they are generally not solved by evidential considerations at all. Rather, techniques such as those taught in cognitive or cognitive-behavioral approaches work best.

It is often said that the most prominent objections to religion concern issues related to personal pain and suff ering. I took an entirely new perspective on this subject when my wife of 23 years died of cancer in 1995. I thought that my doubts would return, but they never did so, for which I was deeply thankful to God. Strangely enough, emotional complaints against God often come during times of personal suff ering. In testimony after testimony of those who have experienced horrible psychological pain, the objections cry out not for detailed factual, passionless answers of a textbook nature, but for emotional corrections. Once again, those interested in some of these details can pursue various audio and video lectures at www.garyhabermas.com

(This site also includes my two out of print books on the subject of religious doubt, located under the books tab.)

DOYOUCOMMITINTELLECTUALSUICIDEWHENYOU

Sometimes I was appalled when I found out why Christians believed what they did.

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Q | What would you like to say to

Europeans reading this interview?

A | Throughout much of the Western world today, philosophical naturalism of various stripes holds sway in intellectual circles. Yet, there are signs at present that the naturalistic fortress is crumbling. For example, new studies in the cognitive sciences argue for diff erent approaches. Philosophical areas that were taboo until a few decades ago, like those of God’s existence, an afterlife, as well as intercessory prayer and even certain miracle stories are gaining not only popularity, but incredible backup. Then if we were to add some of the historical areas mentioned here, such as the nature of the New Testament text, the historical Jesus, and especially the resurrection, we might begin to put together a well-rounded picture of orthodox Christianity. Truly, these are new and exciting times.

But even beyond evidential concerns, it has been hinted above that emotional needs may be much more prevalent today in a love-and relationship-starved world. In my opinion, dealing with our emotional pain presents a well-rounded picture that completes the evidential landscape. When the two come together, there are great reasons for the deepest joy available today.

Gary Habermas

Interview given for the French apologetics website www.raisonsdecroire.org – reprinted by permission. For more information about apologetics in France, see page 18.

Gary Habermas (Ph.D., Michigan State University) is Distinguished Research Professor at Liberty University. He has published 36 books (18 on Jesus’ resurrection), most recently, Did the Resurrection Happen? (with Antony Flew and David Baggett). He has also written over sixty-fi ve chapters, essays, or articles in other books, plus more than 100 articles in journals and other periodicals. He has been a Visiting (or Adjunct) Professor teaching over 40 courses at 15 diff erent graduate schools and seminaries in the US and abroad (including the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics). His website is www.garyhabermas.com

U BECOMEA CHRISTIAN?

INTERVIEW WITH GARY HABERMAS

I had the privilege of hearing

about God’s grace and love when

I was growing up. However, it

wasn’t until the age of 22 that the

Lord saved my soul and gave me

a vision to reach France through

the raising up of a new wave of

young evangelists.

In September 1999, Karen (my

wife) and I started theological

training in the US. Both of us had

already graduated with secular

masters degrees, but we felt the

necessity to study the Word of

God. It was during these years

of training that Leighton Ford,

one of my mentors, introduced

me to Ravi Zacharias. Ravi invited

me to join him and the Zacharias

Trust team at the 2003 European

Leadership Forum in Sopron. What

an experience – brilliant apologists

with a passion for reaching the

lost. I wanted to be part of it!

Through their love and support,

I not only received strategic

training that I could then

implement in my own French

context, but I also became part

of a wonderful community of

godly men and women, through

the RZIM Associate program.

In 2006, we started implementing

Veritas events in France (www.

veritasforum.eu). For the fi rst

time in the history of French

evangelicals, we are able to debate

leading philosophers and political

thinkers on the subject

of exploring true life.

We also developed a unique

concept called Dialogues Veritas,

through which we do a survey

of university students. We gather

all their objections to the Gospel

and then invite them to attend

an open Q&A event where we

respond to their questions. These

events take place in universities

all across France (including the

prestigious Sorbonne University)

and are also broadcast live on the

internet. Last year, 1,500 students

attended and heard, often for the

fi rst time, the wonderful message

of the Gospel.

In 2009, we started a training

programme in apologetics for

teenagers, called JCrois.com.

It is wonderful to see them

absorbing the teaching like

sponges, and then challenging

their atheist philosophy professors

in the classroom. Smashing!

When Michael Ramsden shared his

vision to train 1,000 evangelists in

Europe, I told him: “I’ll take care of

100 of them”. We have trained 40

thus far in France, and each year,

we are adding 10 more. Please

pray for these young apologists,

that they will continue to grow

strong in their faith, and pursue

their own dream to reach France

for Christ!

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Raphael Anzenberger is serving in France as an evangelist, with a passion to raise a new generation of evangelists who will bring the message of the Cross into all corners of French society. Married with four children, Raphael lives in Tours, France. He earned an MS in Economics, an MDiv in Th eology and is currently enrolled in a doctoral programme on Missiology. He is also the General Secretary of France Evangelisation.

Meet Our

The ultimate question!

If I was to tell you my parents

divorced when I was three years

old you could easily dismiss it as

another sad statistic, but if I told

you they decided to get remarried

six years later – to each other –

it may encourage you to pause

before you turn the page.

During the divorce my parents

fully grasped the signifi cance of

the life, death, and resurrection of

Jesus Christ and decided to trust in

him. They were reconciled to God

and then reconciled to each other.

The person they encountered

made a real diff erence in their

lives, and I committed my life to

Christ because Christianity was real

– it changed people – but one day

I realised change is not enough.

There is an issue much deeper

than does it work? The ultimate

question about belief threatens to

either hold everything together or

cause it to come crashing down:

is it true? As a teenager, I wrestled

with this question until an absence

of answers made it easier to walk

away from my faith.

Today I am an Associate with RZIM

and the Founder and Executive

Director of Reason Why, a Christian

Apologetics ministry based in

Scotland (www.reasonwhy.org).

I travel broadly and speak in

churches, universities, schools,

camps, conferences, and a variety

of outreach events. I have debated

the Director of Education for

the British Humanist Society

on national radio, defended a

Christian perspective before a

room full of Humanists in the

National Library of Scotland, and

shared the reasonableness of

Christianity before the Scottish

Parliament. What changed?

My overwhelming passion and

conviction: Christianity is true!

The Christian worldview strikes

a chord in the human heart,

mind and soul. We do not

resemble Bertrand Russell’s

accidental collocation of atoms,

we do not resonate with Douglas

Adams’ guide to an ultimately

meaningless galaxy, and we do

not respect Richard Dawkins

snarling suggestion of a divine

delusion. Deep down, something

inside reverberates with the

expectation of value, meaning

and hope, and Christianity rings

true because it fi ts and helps us

make sense of the world.

What an honour to serve

alongside RZIM! What a joy to

share the truth of the gospel!

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My overwhelming passion and conviction: Christianity is true! Alex McLellan

is Founder and Executive Director of Reason Why. He serves on the board of the national evangelism ministry Mission Scotland and works with the Heralds Trust, Faith Mission Bible College, Carrubbers Christian Centre’s Institute of Biblical Studies, Scripture Union, Abernethy Trust, UCCF, Teen Ranch Scotland, Capernwray Hall, and schools and churches around the country. He is married to Sheryl and they live in the Scottish Borders with their two daughters.

Associates

RZIM Zacharias Trust

97a St Aldate’s

Oxford

OX1 1BT

T: +44 (0)1865 203951

F: +44 (0)1865 203950

www.rzim.eu

The RZIM Zacharias Trust is the European offi ce of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered in England and Wales.

Company No. 3449676. Charity No. 1067314

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