12 Fierce Anti-Christian Critics:

Who Became Believers

 

Throughout history, several individuals who were once vocal critics or fierce skeptics of Christianity—believing the Bible to be a tool for manipulation or merely a collection of human writings—have undergone dramatic conversions after attempting to disprove it. Here are some of the most notable examples:

1. C.S. Lewis

• Background: Oxford professor, literary scholar, and outspoken atheist.
• Criticism: Saw Christianity as a myth and the Bible as a product of human imagination.
• Conversion: After rigorous intellectual investigation, he became one of the most influential Christian apologists, describing himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England”.

2. Lee Strobel

• Background: Investigative journalist and legal editor for the Chicago Tribune, confirmed atheist.
• Criticism: Believed Christianity was irrational and set out to prove the Bible and Resurrection false after his wife’s conversion.
• Conversion: After two years of research, he became convinced of the truth of Christianity and wrote The Case for Christ.

3. Josh McDowell

• Background: College skeptic, determined to disprove Christianity and the Bible.
• Criticism: Considered the Bible a fabrication and Christianity a crutch.
• Conversion: His research led him to faith, and he authored Evidence That Demands a Verdict.

 

 

 

4. Sir Lionel Luckhoo

• Background: Renowned lawyer, once the world’s most successful advocate.
• Criticism: Viewed Christianity as unsubstantiated and set out to disprove it.
• Conversion: Became a Christian apologist after investigating the Resurrection.

5. Simon Greenleaf

• Background: Harvard Law professor, co-founder of Harvard Law School.
• Criticism: Sought to apply legal scrutiny to the Gospels, expecting to expose them as unreliable.
• Conversion: Concluded the evidence for the Resurrection would stand in court and became a Christian, writing The Testimony of the Evangelists.

6. Frank Morison (Albert Henry Ross)

• Background: Journalist and novelist, skeptical of the Resurrection.
• Criticism: Intended to write a book debunking the Resurrection as myth.
• Conversion: Became convinced of its truth and authored Who Moved the Stone?.

7. William Mitchell Ramsay

• Background: Archaeologist and historian, skeptical of the New Testament’s historical claims.
• Criticism: Believed the Bible was unreliable and sought to prove it through archaeology.
• Conversion: His discoveries led him to affirm the accuracy of the New Testament and embrace Christianity.

8. Gary Parker

• Background: Biologist and geologist, ardent evolutionist and atheist.
• Criticism: Saw the Bible as anti-scientific and set out to discredit it.
• Conversion: Scientific investigation led him to creationism and Christian faith.

9. Richard Lumsden

• Background: Evolutionary biologist, Ph.D., and professor.
• Criticism: Fierce Darwinian atheist, dismissed the Bible as myth.
• Conversion: Scientific doubts led to a personal investigation and eventual Christian faith.

10. Malcolm Muggeridge

• Background: British journalist, broadcaster, and satirist, well-known for his anti-Christian views.
• Criticism: Saw Christianity as outdated and manipulative.
• Conversion: Investigation and personal experience led him to Christian faith.

11. Alister McGrath

• Background: Scientist and theologian, former atheist.
• Criticism: Dismissed Christianity as irrational.
• Conversion: Intellectual exploration led to faith and a career as a leading Christian thinker.

12. Sy Garte

• Background: Biochemist and lifelong atheist.
• Criticism: Viewed Christianity and the Bible as unscientific and manipulative.
• Conversion: Scientific inquiry and personal experience led him to Christian faith.

Notable Female Converts

While most documented cases are men (due to historical limitations on women’s public roles), some notable women include:

• Joy Davidman: Poet and wife of C.S. Lewis, former atheist who became a Christian.
• Leah Libresco: Popular atheist blogger who converted after searching for a rational foundation for morality.

 

 

 

Summary Table

Name	Profession	Former Stance	Conversion Trigger
C.S. Lewis	Professor/ Author	Atheist, vocal critic	Intellectual investigation
Lee Strobel	Journalist	Atheist, anti-Christian	Investigative research
Josh McDowell	Student/Author	Skeptic	Historical research
Sir Lionel Luckhoo	Lawyer	Skeptic	Legal analysis of Resurrection
Simon Greenleaf	Law Professor	Skeptic	Legal scrutiny of Gospels
Frank Morison	Journalist/ Novelist	Skeptic	Resurrection research
William Ramsay	Archaeologist	Skeptic	Archaeological discoveries
Gary Parker	Biologist/ Geologist	Atheist, evolutionist	Scientific investigation
Richard Lumsden	Biologist	Darwinian atheist	Scientific doubts
Antony Flew	Philosopher	Leading atheist	Philosophical/scientific arguments
Malcolm Muggeridge	Journalist/ Broadcaster	Anti-Christian	Investigation/personal experience
Alister McGrath	Scientist/ Theologian	Atheist	Intellectual exploration
Sy Garte	Biochemist	Lifelong atheist	Scientific inquiry
Joy Davidman	Poet	Atheist	Personal and intellectual journey
Leah Libresco	Blogger	Atheist	Moral philosophy

These stories illustrate that even the most vocal and intellectually rigorous critics of Christianity have, in some cases, become passionate believers after attempting to disprove the Bible or expose it as a tool of manipulation. Their journeys are often cited in apologetics as evidence of the persuasive power of the Christian message when subjected to honest scrutiny.

 

 

 

A number of Christian pastors, apologists, and influential figures—both in the present day, recent past, and ancient history—began their journeys as skeptics or even as active opponents of Christianity, sometimes with the explicit goal of disproving the Bible, before ultimately converting and becoming prominent defenders of the faith. Here are several notable examples:

 

Ancient and Early Church Figures

• Paul the Apostle: Originally known as Saul of Tarsus, he was a Pharisee who persecuted early Christians before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. Afterward, he became one of Christianity’s most influential apostles and authors of much of the New Testament.
• Augustine of Hippo: While not an outright opponent seeking to disprove the Bible, Augustine spent years as a skeptic and follower of Manichaeism before converting and becoming a foundational Christian theologian.

 

Recent Past

• Gilbert West (1703–1756): An English poet and scholar who set out to disprove the resurrection of Jesus but, after extensive study, became convinced of its truth and wrote in defense of Christianity.
• Frank Morison (1881–1950): A British journalist who intended to write a book disproving the resurrection, but his research led him to become a Christian and author of “Who Moved the Stone?”.
• Sir William Ramsay (1851–1939): A renowned archaeologist who initially believed the Book of Acts was historically inaccurate. His investigations led him to conclude that Acts was historically reliable, and he became a defender of biblical accuracy.

 

Modern Era

• Josh McDowell: As a college student, McDowell set out to write a paper disproving Christianity. His research led him to faith, and he became a prominent Christian apologist, authoring “Evidence That Demands a Verdict.”
• Lee Strobel: An investigative journalist and atheist who began investigating Christianity to disprove it after his wife’s conversion. His research led him to faith in Christ, and he authored “The Case for Christ,” becoming a well-known apologist and pastor.
• J. Warner Wallace: A former atheist and cold-case homicide detective who used his investigative skills to examine the claims of Christianity, ultimately converting and becoming a Christian apologist and pastor.

 

Other Noteworthy Mentions

• C.S. Lewis: While not a pastor, Lewis was a prominent Christian writer and apologist who was once an atheist and skeptic before converting to Christianity and defending the faith through works like “Mere Christianity.”
• Alister McGrath: Once an atheist, McGrath became a Christian and is now a theologian, apologist, and ordained Anglican priest.

 

These individuals are often cited as examples of skeptics-turned-defenders who began their journeys either by attempting to disprove Christianity or by holding strong anti-Christian views, only to become some of its most influential advocates.