Veritas Forum at Harvard Medical School - Dr. John Lennox Lecture
Welcome and Introduction
- Event: Veritas Forum, engaging university students and faculty in discussions on life's hardest questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ.
- Format: Dr. Lennox speaks for 20-25 minutes, followed by Q&A.
- Speaker: Dr. John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, also has a degree in bioethics.
- Focus: The problem of pain and suffering from both a Christian and atheist perspective.
Key Ideas from Dr. Lennox's Lecture
1. Two Problems of Evil
- Moral Evil: Examples include 9/11, terrorist attacks.
- Natural Evil: Examples include diseases like Ebola.
- These problems can intermingle (e.g., malnutrition caused by deforestation).
2. Two Perspectives on Pain and Suffering
- Intellectual Perspective: Studying topics like cancer as a professor (Detached, rigorous approach).
- Personal Perspective: Experiencing suffering personally (Empathy, emotional counseling).
3. Worldviews and Interpretation
- Materialist/Naturalist: The universe consists of mass and energy.
- Transcendence: Belief in gods or a creator (e.g., Socrates, Plato, Aristotle).
- Pantheism: God and the universe coalesce into an impersonal entity.
- Skeptical/Postmodern: Various skeptical and modern takes.
- Questions of Ultimate Reality: How our beliefs frame the problem of suffering.
4. Atheism and the Problem of Suffering
- David Hume's Questions: If God is willing but not able to prevent evil, is He impotent? If able but not willing, is He malevolent?
- Atheist Perspective: Some become atheists due to negative experiences of suffering.
- Richard Dawkins' View: Universe has no design, purpose, good, or evil—just blind, pitiless indifference.
- Critique: Atheism doesn't solve the problem or alleviate suffering; it removes hope and moral accountability.
5. Christian Perspective on Suffering
- Intellectual Side: Jesus and Christian teachings provide a framework for understanding and addressing suffering.
- Practical Side: Compassion and empathy are paramount.
- Historical and Personal Illustrations: Mentioned personal experiences, interactions with people, and historical examples like Auschwitz.
- Detachment and Empathy: Balance needed when dealing with suffering in professional and personal capacities.
Q&A Highlights
Question on Atheism and Morality
- Critique of New Atheists: Atheists like Dawkins are popular but not necessarily convincing.
- Religion as Psychological Phenomenon: Religion provides coping mechanisms, meaning, and hope in face of suffering (as seen in studies with cancer patients).
- Evidence-Based Faith: Lennox argues that true faith must withstand objections and be evidence-based.
Theological Explanations for Suffering
- Divine Retribution: Illness as punishment for sins, found in various religions including Christianity.
- Cosmic Evil Forces: Illness caused by malevolent spiritual forces (e.g., Satan, demons).
- Jesus' Teachings: Examples where Jesus refuted the idea that all suffering is punishment for sin.
Responding to Extreme Cases of Suffering
- **Specific Examples: Scenarios involving severe and seemingly unexplainable suffering (e.g., terminal illness, mental disorders, dementia).
- Lewis' Megaphone Quote: While God may use suffering to get our attention, in extreme cases, this explanation may seem inadequate or cruel.
Certainty in Christianity Amid Diverse Beliefs
- Comparison with Other Religions: Other major world religions have their own perspectives on suffering.
- Lennox's Reply: Confidence in Christian faith comes from personal relationship and evidence, similar to how trust in other relationships grows over time.
- The Role of Jesus: Emphasis on personal relationship with Christ and understanding God's nature through the cross and resurrection.
- Distinguishing Faith from Merit Systems: Christianity as a relationship based on grace rather than merit-based acceptance.
Summary
- Main Argument: While atheism offers a bleak and ultimately hopeless perspective on suffering, Christianity provides a broader framework of hope, compassion, and ultimate justice through the teachings and person of Jesus Christ.
- Important Takeaway: Faith in God offers a way to cope with suffering by fostering a personal relationship and hope beyond this life.
Final Note
- Encouragement for Continued Discussion: Audience invited for further conversation and personal reflection.
For more information and recordings of Veritas Forums: Veritas Forum Website