John Lennox

John Lennox is a Creation Apologist from Northern Ireland. He was born on November 7, 1943. He is married to his wife, Sally, whom he has three children with and eight grandchildren. Lennox is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford as well as an Adjunct Lecturer at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, and at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He is a Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at the University of Oxford at the Green Templeton College. Along with being a Fellow of Mathematics and Science Philosophy at Oxford, he also is an Associate Fellow for the Business School and teaches the Strategic Leadership Program. On top of this, he is also a Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum. John is best known for his defense and knowledge of the Christian faith. He likes to address those who see the world and the Bible in black and white. In an argument against this black and white interpretation, he explains how "Jesus said 'I'm the door'," said Professor Lennox. "Is Jesus a door like a door over there? No. He is not a literal door, but he is a real door into a real experience of God. Metaphor stands for reality. The word 'literal' is useless."

Academics and Career
John did his studies at the Royal School Armagh, in Northern Ireland while later attending Emmanuel College at Cambridge University. There he worked and studied as an exhibitioner (a student who receives an exhibition or scholarship ) and as a senior scholar. While attending Cambridge, he went on to earn his MA, MMath and PhD. John earned his MA and DPhil from Oxford and also gained his MA in Bioethics while at the University of Surrey. Lennox has taught at the University of Oxford as the Professor of Mathematics and at the Green Templeton College at Oxford as Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science. At Oxford he teaches for the Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme and is an Associate Fellow of the Business School. While at the University of Wales in Cardiff, Lennox worked in the Mathematics Institute. Because of this work, he was rewarded for his research with a DSc. Through programs and places like Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, and at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, John Lennox has the opportunity to be a adjunct lecturer. On top of that, he also is a Senior Fellow for the Trinity Forum.

Lennox is best known for his apologetic studies, lectures, and publications. His knowledge of the Bible and how to defend it is widely used in debate for the Christian faith. Some common questions that John Lennox has answered concerning arguments composed by atheists include "You don't believe in Zeus, Thor and all the other gods. I just go one god more than you, and reject the Christian God." When addressed with this argument, Lennox responds with the fact that gods like Zeus or Thor are no where near comparable to the God of the Bible who created all of earth and heaven. When faced with the statement that, "Science has explained everything, and it doesn't include God," Lennox argues back that science is unable to answer the type of questions like 'what is ethical' or 'what is beautiful'. Without God, there is no reasoning for morality and there is no way to know the difference between right and wrong. Facing the argument of not being able to prove that there is a God, Lennox responds "[c]an you prove that there is a God?" asked Prof Lennox. "In the mathematical sense no, but proving anything is very difficult. The word proof has two meanings. There's the rigorous meaning in maths that is very difficult to do and rare. But then there's the other meaning – beyond reasonable doubt". John speaks about how faith in Christ is not at an unreliable belief at all. There is plenty of evidence all around and written all throughout the Bible for proof of a Creator. The gospels of the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are written specifically to record evidence and provide better reasoning.

Debates


In a debate at The Natural History Museum in Oxford, John Lennox debated Richard Dawkins on the topic of "Has science buried God?" The debate itself was sold out, packing the room with people ready to hear the words discussed between Lennox and Dawkins. The two had debated together a year before over The God Delusion, but this time the format of the debate was changed. Dawkins had expressed his frustration about the earlier format of the debate and so the Oxford Debate created a more free flowing discussion between the two, rather than structured with more rules and regulations. Throughout this debate, Dawkins continued to question Lennox on his Christian belief rather than scientific arguments. Lennox stressed the idea that Dawkins should approach the belief in the resurrection of Jesus with the same approach he uses when researching his scientific discoveries and studies. The winner of the debate was not fully clear or chosen at the end. Depending on what side an onlooker was supporting had more of an influence on who won in their own minds.

Another famous debate that Lennox participated in was against Christopher Hitchens in the "Is God Great" Debate. The two stood in Birmingham, Alabama at Samford University in March of 2009 to discuss the topic. Hitchens is a strong atheist and an acclaimed journalist. He clearly states his opinions on the matter in his book from 2007, God is not Great. He not only supports the idea that God is not great, but also believes that God does not exist at all. Because of John Lennox's beliefs and Christian faith, he supports the idea that God is, in fact, great. He respectfully does not agree with Hitchens remarks and offers his insight and evidence for his personal faith. The debate is fast-paced and quick that covers the issues from two entirely different and separate worldviews.

Publications
Books 2011)
 * Against the Flow (Monarch Books 2015)
 * Selected Letters of Margaret Laurence and Adele Wiseman (Heritage), Edited with Ruth Panofsky (University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division 2015)
 * Christianity, Written By John Lennox and David W. Gooding (Myrtlefield House 2014)
 * Key Bible Concepts (Myrtlefield Encounters) (Volume 1), Written By John Lennox and David W. Gooding (Myrtlefield House 2013)
 * The Definition of Christianity (Myrtlefield Encounters) (Volume 2), Written By John Lennox and David W. Gooding (Myrtlefield House 2014)
 * Miracles (The Veritas Forum 2013)
 * Seven Days That Divide the World (Zondervan 2011)
 * The Burnside Problem and Identities in Groups (Ergebnisse der Mathematik und ihrer Grenzgebiete. 2. Folge), Written by Sergej I. Adian, Translated by John Lennox and James Wiegold (Springer
 * Gunning for God: Why the New Atheists are Missing the Target (Lion Hudson 2011)
 * God and Stephen Hawking (Lion Hudson 2011)
 * God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? (Lion Hudson 2009)
 * Glengarry School Days, Written by Ralph Connor, with an Afterword by John Lennox (New Canadian Library 2009)
 * The Theory of Infinite Soluble Groups (Oxford Mathematical Monographs), Written By John Lennox and Derek J. S. Robinson (Clarendon Press 2004)
 * Christianity Opium or Truth?, Co-Written By David W. Gooding and John Lennox (Gospel Folio Press 1997)
 * Selected Letters of Margaret Laurence and Adele Wiseman, Written By John Lennox and Ruth Panofsky (University of Toronto Press 1997)
 * Margaret Laurence - Al Purdy, A Friendship in Letters: Selected Correspondence, Edited By John Lennox (McClelland & Stewart 1994)
 * Charles W. Gordon "Ralph Connor" and His Works (Canadian Author Studies series) (ECW Press 1988)
 * Subnormal Subgroups of Groups (Oxford Mathematical Monographs), Written By John Lennox and Stewart E. Stonehewer (Oxford University Press 1987)

Video
m0Ov4HBperc Dave Rubin & John Lennox • Is God dead? Faith, culture and the modern world PART 1.