Is Christianity true because it works, or does it work because it's true?
For years, Ellie Long was convinced that Christianity was nothing more than a story people used to cope with life. Raised in a secular environment and embracing atheism at a young age, she wrestled with despair, depression, and the belief that life ultimately had no purpose beyond birth and death.
But when she began encountering Christians whose lives were marked by joy, authenticity, forgiveness, and hope, a question emerged that she could no longer ignore:
Was Christianity merely helpful, or was it actually true?
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Guest Bio:
Ellie Long is a young missionary from Allentown, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a post-Christian culture and did not have experiences with Christians in her everyday life. She unexpectedly encountered God halfway through her time at the University of Alabama, and after a period of hesitancy and questioning, believed and began working in a local church and pursuing the mission field after her graduation in 2024. She recently spent time in Southeast Asia, working with an unreached people group in a Muslim culture, and is now considering where she is going to bring the gospel to next.
Resources Mentioned:
eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/
Ellie’s Recommended Resources:
• Wes Huff (www.wesleyhuff.com) on Joe Rogan’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwyAX69xG1Q
• Gavin Ortlund, Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org)
• Book: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Quereshi
Connect with eX-skeptic:
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Email info: info@exskeptic.org
Chapters
00:00 Is Christianity Helpful—or True?
05:15 Meet Ellie Long
06:02 Becoming an Atheist at 10
08:35 Growing Up Without God
10:56 The Hopelessness of Atheism
14:01 Wishing My Life Away
16: 04 Finding Hope in an Unexpected Bible Verse
19:00 The Church Experience I Couldn't Explain
23:28 Seeing Christians Differently
25:00 Why Do They Love God?
30:27 Searching for Freedom in College
34:30 Returning to Church
35:46 Accidentally Joining a Bible Study
38:57 Trying Christianity Before Believing
45:08 Asking God to Prove He Was Real
48:20 When Christianity Became True
49:24 What Is the Gospel?
53:33 How Jesus Changed My Life
55:41 Evidence for the Resurrection
01:02:10 Advice for Skeptics Searching for Truth
