What happens when the worldview you embraced no longer seems capable of explaining the world you experience?

For Stuart Tettemer, atheism wasn't a rebellion against God. It was simply the conclusion that seemed most reasonable. Raised in a Christian home, Stuart gradually drifted away from faith and eventually embraced atheism, finding intellectual confidence in the arguments of the New Atheists and a materialistic understanding of reality.

But over time, unanswered questions began to emerge.

Could consciousness be explained by matter alone? If free will is an illusion, what becomes of morality and responsibility? And why did a life centered on success and achievement leave him increasingly unsatisfied?

🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com

Guest Bio:

Stuart Tettemer is the Mayor of Panama City Beach, Florida. A graduate of Cornell University with degrees in Information Science and Computer Science, Stuart spent years working as a software engineer in Silicon Valley and with technology startups before returning to Florida.

Today, he is passionate about community, discipleship, and helping others discover the truth and beauty of the Christian faith.

Resources Mentioned:

- eX-skeptic Guides: exskeptic.org/bookstore

Chapters For YouTube:

00:00 Why Materialistic Atheism Stopped Making Sense

02:00 Meet Former Atheist Stuart Tettemer

04:20 Growing Up Christian and Drifting Away

08:46 Why He Accepted Atheism Without Question

12:59 How Science Shaped His Worldview

15:14 Can Atheism Explain Life's Meaning?

18:54 The Mind-Body Problem and Consciousness

21:06 Can Free Will Exist Without God?

23:07 Exploring Buddhism and Meditation

24:42 Why Success and Wealth Weren't Enough

28:19 The Sam Harris Argument That Changed Everything

30:06 Why He Started Investigating Christianity

32:19 Discovering Eastern Orthodox Christianity

34:09 Practicing Christianity Before Believing

41:15 Finding Community Through Bible Study

44:18 How Serving Others Transformed His Faith

46:31 Are We Both Physical and Spiritual?

48:00 Recognizing God's Pursuit of Him

51:19 Why Evidence Still Requires a Step of Faith

54:15 How to Help Skeptics Discover Christianity

Connect with eX-skeptic:

Website: exskeptic.org

Facebook: facebook.com/exskeptic

Instagram: instagram.com/exskeptic

Twitter: x.com/exskeptic

YouTube: youtube.com/@exskeptic

Email info: info@exskeptic.org