Podcast Summary

Podcast: I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST

Host: Dr. Frank Turek
Episode: Are Miracles Illogical? PLUS More Q&A
Date: February 17, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, Dr. Frank Turek responds to a series of thoughtful challenges posed by a regular listener and self-identified skeptic, Mike, about the logic, rationality, and plausibility of Christian beliefs—especially miracles, the resurrection, and biblical doctrines. The episode explores whether miracles are illogical, how Christian claims interface with science and reason, and broader questions about divine hiddenness, evidence for God, and statistical reasoning about society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are Miracles (and Christianity) Illogical? (00:03–08:50)

• Mike’s Skepticism:
  Mike questions whether it is logical to believe that a vast universe exists solely for humanity, and whether resurrection stories or miracles violate logic and science.

• Frank’s Response:

  • Clarifies that the term “illogical” is often misused; these questions are about what’s rational or probable, not strict logic.

  • The existence of a finely-tuned universe and humanity does not violate logic; it raises questions about reason and expectation.

  • The evolutionary process, macroevolution in particular, is heavily critiqued:

    • LIFE Acronym:
      • Limited ability to change (e.g., dog breeding, E. coli experiments) (08:10)
      • Irreducible complexity—living systems need all parts present
      • Fossil record does not support gradualism (Cambrian Explosion)
      • Epigenetic information cannot be generated by DNA mutation
    • "Darwinism is dead. They're looking for a new theory. The best evidence shows that there's intelligence behind this." (22:46)

  • Regardless of evolution’s truth, the existence of natural laws points to a lawgiver:

    • “Who is the source and sustainer of all things? ...That’s what we mean by God.” (25:55)

2. The Universe’s Size & Fine-Tuning (28:20–33:50)

• Mike’s Question:
  Is it reasonable to believe a universe of this scale exists for us?

• Frank’s Response:

  • The Bible anticipates the vastness of the universe and uses it as a metaphor for God’s glory.
  • The number of stars is immense, further indicating the glory of the Creator.
    • "The number of stars in the universe are equivalent to...the number of grains of sand on all the beaches on all the earth times 100,000." (31:25)
  • Even if humanity is not alone, the fine-tuning of Earth makes our situation unique.

3. Is Belief in Resurrection & Miracles Rational? (33:51–46:55)

• Mike’s Question:
  Does the finality of death make belief in biblical resurrections irrational?

• Frank’s Response:

  • Miracles, by definition, require a stable backdrop of natural laws to be recognized.
  • “If people popped up from the dead routinely, then the resurrection of Christ would mean nothing.” (37:59)
  • Miracles are rare in the biblical record: only about 250 from Abraham to Jesus—averaging one every eight years and concentrated in three main periods (Moses, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and the apostles).
  • “Miracles are not card tricks; they're demonstrations that Jesus is Savior over sin, nature, sickness, and death.” (41:12)

4. Can God Violate the Laws of Logic or Physics? (46:56–53:45)

• Mike’s Challenge:
  If God can violate all natural laws, does this become a convenient explanation for anything Christians want to claim?

• Frank’s Response:

  • God cannot violate His own nature; laws of logic and mathematics are rooted in God's very being and thus cannot be broken.
    • "Even God can't create a one-ended stick or a married bachelor...There are some things that are just too hard for God. They would violate his nature." (51:09)
  • God can overpower physical laws, just as humans do when flying or jumping, but this isn’t “violating” them, just superseding them with greater power.

5. Divine Hiddenness: Why Doesn’t Jesus Appear to Everyone? (53:46–1:00:32)

• Mike’s Question:
  Why did Jesus appear only to a small group? Why so little public evidence?

• Frank’s Response:

  • God gives enough evidence for belief but not so much as to overwhelm free will. "God wants children, not hostages." (55:42)
  • Divine hiddenness maintains a balance between revelation and personal autonomy; most people reject God not due to lack of evidence but volitional resistance.
  • The witness of the Holy Spirit counts as evidence, even if not historical in nature.

6. Can You Accept Jesus’s Influence Without All Christian Doctrine? (1:00:33–1:09:08)

• Mike’s Assertion:
  One can accept a creator and Jesus's impact without the "belief requirements" or contradictions with "observational science."

• Frank’s Response:

  • Challenges the claim that Christianity contradicts observational science; most controversies (like universe age) are not settled by the Bible and don’t conflict.
  • The historical influence and character of Jesus (e.g., the reading from "One Solitary Life" at 1:05:58) cannot be explained unless something dramatic—like the resurrection—really happened.
    • "Would such a person...think that it's probable that 2,000 years from right now...a fictional character such as, say, Sam in the Lord of the Rings or Luke Skywalker...will have become the most influential human being in history?" (1:07:39)
  • The uniqueness and realism of Jesus’s life surpass any fictional model.

7. Statistical Reasoning & Group Generalization (1:13:08–1:26:50)

• Mike’s Final Point:
  Frank’s previous comments on law enforcement, immigration, ICE and propaganda.

• Frank’s Response:

  • Warns against generalizing from anecdotal (social media) evidence to entire groups—calls this prejudice and illogical.
    • "You can't generalize from anecdotal data to whole groups. That's called prejudice." (1:15:55)
  • Discusses proper use of statistics in social science.
  • Defends that, while isolated abuses exist, policy must be built on rigorous data, not viral clips.
  • Asserts the legitimacy (by biblical and common-sense standards) of borders for national and household security.
  • Argues that sanctuary city policies undermine law enforcement by releasing illegal immigrants with criminal records.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Miracles and Logic:
  “Miracles are not against logic. They're not illogical. If God exists, miracles are possible. And the evidence shows that God does exist. So if God wants to do a miracle, he can.” (1:28:55)

• On God's Nature and Logic:
  “God cannot violate the laws of logic because his nature is the ground of the laws of logic and reason. He can't violate the laws of mathematics either.” (51:09)

• On Divine Hiddenness:
  "God wants children, not hostages. Yes, we have to know that God exists. But if he's too overt with us...we sort of lose some of our freedom." (55:42)

• On Jesus’s Uniqueness:
  “How could he be the ultimate hero, the most influential human being in all of history, if he just died on a Roman cross...and that was it? He wouldn't be.” (1:08:47)

• On Statistical Reasoning:
  “You can't generalize from anecdotal data to whole groups. That's called prejudice.” (1:15:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---------|-------|-----------| | 1 | Defining logic vs. rationality; evolution | 00:03–08:50 | | 2 | LIFE acronym & fine-tuning | 08:10–22:46 | | 3 | Universe size and biblical perspective | 28:20–33:50 | | 4 | Resurrection, rarity of miracles | 33:51–46:55 | | 5 | Can God violate logic or physics? | 46:56–53:45 | | 6 | Divine hiddenness & free will | 53:46–1:00:32 | | 7 | Jesus’s historical impact | 1:05:58–1:09:08 | | 8 | Group generalization and propaganda | 1:13:08–1:26:50 | | 9 | Final wrap-up on miracles and logic | 1:28:55 |

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Dr. Frank Turek argues that if God exists, miracles (including those in Christianity) are not only logically possible but also supported by world evidence and historical uniqueness. He differentiates between violations of physical and logical laws, emphasizes the importance of free will in God’s hiddenness, and insists on reasoned, data-driven thinking on both spiritual and social issues. His tone is direct, sometimes humorous, and always rooted in apologetics, with a strong challenge for skeptics and believers alike to consider the best evidence for Christianity.