Show Notes
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Growing up in a deeply Christian home, Shayla Perez assumed that faith was simply part of her family tradition. But as she entered her teenage years, skepticism began to grow. Questions about suffering and whether Christianity was actually true led her into online atheist communities and eventually to reject the faith she grew up around.
What began as rebellion soon became a sincere search for truth. As Shayla wrestled with the claims of atheism and the intellectual foundations of Christianity, she discovered something she had never expected.
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Guest Bio:
Shayla Perez is a Christian speaker and content creator passionate about helping the next generation discover the truth of Christianity. After a season of skepticism and involvement in online atheist communities as a teenager, she returned to faith through apologetics, philosophy, and a personal encounter with Christ. Today, she reaches Gen Z and Gen Alpha through social media, youth events, and churches, engaging honest questions about faith and culture.
Resources Mentioned:
eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/
Shayla’s Recommended Resources:
William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith https://www.reasonablefaith.org
Frank Turek, Cross-Examined, https://crossexamined.org
Cliff Knechtle, Give me an Answer: https://www.youtube.com/@givemeananswer
Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org
Total Truth and Finding Truth, Nancy Pearcey:https://a.co/d/066TnGwI
Shayla’s Social Resources:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla_j_perez/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shayla_Perez
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shayla_j_perez
Connect with eX-skeptic:
Website: https://exskeptic.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic
Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic
Email info: [email protected]
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: "God, If You're Real..." 00:34 Welcome & Introducing Shayla Perez 02:00 Shayla's Ministry & The Digital Mission Field 03:54 Growing Up a Pastor's Kid 06:08 When Skepticism Began 08:00 The Internet & Online Atheist Communities 11:12 Reading The Case for Christ (But Not Believing It) 13:24 What Atheism Couldn't Explain 14:57 Richard Dawkins, Morality & The First Doubts 17:48 Wrestling with the Problem of Evil 20:41 Christian Apologists Changed Everything 23:17 Giving God One Honest Chance 26:21 When Prayer Became Real 27:00 The Moment Shayla Came to Faith 29:52 Faith Isn't Blind 32:35 Can Logic Strengthen Faith? 34:02 How Do You Know Christianity Is True? 36:08 Advice for Parents of Skeptical Teens 42:46 Resources for Those Wrestling with Doubt 46:13 What Christianity Offers Gen Z 49:38 The Power of Personal Testimony 52:40 Why the Internet Is Today's Mission Field 55:50 Final Reflections & Takeaways
eX-skeptic transcript
Welcome & Introducing Shayla Perez
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