One of the most successful podcasters and YouTube hosts today has admitted that he feels an affinity with the person of Jesus Christ.
Dave Rubin, who hosts the “The Rubin Report” was discussing matters of faith with Christian apologist, Prof. John Lennox as part of the “The Big Conversation” debate series organized by Premier Christian Radio.
Held before a 1,000-strong audience at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, the pair discussed the open question, “Is God Dead?”
Rubin was raised in a culturally Jewish home and in the past had described himself as an atheist, but later hedged on that description and seemed to indicate agnostic was more befitting. Now, however, he has opened up about the profound impact that Christians have had on his life and how they have caused him to explore the faith.
“I would say as I’ve sat down with believers and non-believers alike, I’ve genuinely found the believers not only more welcoming but more open, actually happier; less dependent on things outside of themselves – more self-reliant,” he said during the discussion.
On Jesus himself, Rubin said he has “no problem” with him, but actually rather “likes the guy.”
“I like the message of Jesus – I love these ideas,” he added. “I think that if my life becomes a continuing conversation about these things, I can incorporate the best parts of that to be a better person.”
Spending a lot of time with renowned Canadian academic Jordan Peterson this year, Rubin said he profoundly impacted by the deep Biblical influences that underpin Peterson’s philosophy and worldview.
“Talking about his Biblical lectures and his perspective on life — that there has to be a bedrock of something that is real and true outside of us.. it moved me,” Rubin explained.
“I’m secular in my life, but I’ve found in the last year that there has to be something outside of us… the rest of this makes no sense.”
On the issue of initially labeling himself an atheist, Rubin said that it was only when he went on a retreat one summer that he realized he had many more questions about life and faith than he first thought.
“I do this off-the-grid August thing where I literally lock my phone in a safe, and I don’t look at any news or television. I’m completely offline to try and let my brain reset.”
“Two years ago when I did it.. one of the thoughts that I kept having in my peace was that I’m not an atheist. I do believe in something else even if I can’t completely articulate what it is,” he said.
“I got a lot of hate for that one. The atheists, they don’t like a converted person, either.”