Alanzo Julian Paul

DPhil student in philosophy at @UniofOxford l Researching meaning in the face of suffering l Director of @RebootQuestions l Speaker/Tutor with @theocca

[Justin Brierley @JusBrierley]

'This House Hopes That Hell Exists'. 🔥

That was the title of the motion I was invited to defend earlier this year at the Oxford Union. With some trepidation (and prayer!) I accepted. This felt like too significant an opportunity to pass up.

As one of the world's most famous debating chambers, the Oxford Union has a longstanding reputation for championing free speech and critical thinking by hosting leading voices on often controversial subjects. But could I persuade the students present of something as controversial as the concept that Hell is a good thing?

I was paired with two Oxford undergraduates as fellow proposition speakers - Gareth Lim and Max Papaioannades. We faced a robust opposition bench in the form of atheist skeptics @michaelshermer and @ToddStiefel, and well-known Jain activist Satish Kumar.

The style of debates at the Oxford Union is, admittedly, rather odd.

Each speaker gives a short prepared speech for or against the motion. However, there is little opportunity for rebuttal or cross examination thereafter (so not much 'debate' to speak of). Instead members of the audience can offer their own shorter arguments, objections and 'points of order' in response to the speeches.

It's also a fairly raucous and knockabout affair - there's plenty of opportunity for grandstanding and rhetoric as well as nuanced argument. Once the debate is over and the speakers have departed the chamber, the audience vote by exiting the chamber via either the 'Aye or the 'Noe' doors.

So, who won? You can find out at the end of the article below. If you want to watch all of the speeches and contributions made from the floor, the full video is there too.

📖 For now, continue reading for the full the argument I made for why this house should hope that Hell exists… 👉 https://t.co/WuBGuaX3yb

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

@DerikHarder @HMCOxford 🙏🏽👊🏽💪🏽

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

Dinner with my beautiful wife at the beautiful @HMCOxford

#wifey #date #oxford

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

Can We Really Forgive the Unforgivable?

https://t.co/SoG1B9HRLV

#forgiveness #forgiven #apologetics

[Rupert Lowe MP @RupertLowe10]

The Rape Gang Inquiry Report.

https://t.co/EuKgGWBRhS

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

“[God] wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles.”

C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

#cslewis #cslewisquotes #quotesoftheday

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

Does GOD just send people to HELL who don’t believe in JESUS?

#hell #fyp #doac #diaryofaceo #podcast

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

Article: WHAT THE HELL? Why would God send people to hell who have never heard of Jesus?

https://t.co/wAmQq2YXNc

#hell #fyp #article #podcast

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

Christianity Is Trending...But Is It True?

William Lane Craig joined the OCCA team for a wonderful evening discussing this question in the heart of Oxford.

Watch here: https://t.co/MsI6DPVAR6

#Christianity #trending #apologetics

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

"I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace."

― Saint Augustine of Hippo

#quotes #quoteoftheday #theology

[Timothy Keller (1950-2023) @timkellernyc]

Our need for worth is so powerful that whatever we base our identity and value on we essentially “deify.” We will look to it with all the passion and and intensity of worship and devotion, even if we are highly irreligious.

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

🦇 At the inaugural symposium of BATS (British Analytic Theology Symposium) in York.

🦇 Thank you to Ben Page & the whole team for such a wonderful conference.

🦇 Photo: Brian Leftow’s keynote on divine simplicity (which was pellucid & persuasive).

#fyp #philosophy #theology

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

“There is no greater misery than false joys.”

― Bernard of Clairvaux

#quoteoftheday #quote #quotes

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

Beautiful time meeting God in this sacred space.

@KebleOxford

#God #chapel #oxford

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

GOD of Abraham,
GOD of Isaac,
GOD of Jacob,
not of the philosophers and of the learned.
Certitude. Certitude.
Feeling. Joy. Peace.
GOD of Jesus Christ.
My God and your God.
….
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.

— Blaise Pascal

#quote #quoteoftheday

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

"I have ascended to the highest in me, and look, the Word is towering above that. I have descended to explore my lowest depths, and I found Him deeper still."

- Bernard of Clairvaux

[Matt Smethurst @MattSmethurst]

This is the most detailed MRI scan of an unborn baby.

At just 20 weeks, she is moving, turning her head, kicking—even standing. Her beating heart is also visible.

Human life is a miracle.

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

Death used to be an executioner, but the gospel has made him just a gardner.

— George Herbert

#Gospel #Jesus

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

@JusBrierley Precisely

[Alanzo Julian Paul @Alanzopaul_]

@DrCalumMiller Thanks for sharing! 🙏🏽