John Lennox

{{Short description|Irish mathematician and philosopher of science}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = John Lennox

| image = John Lennox 2015 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Lennox in 2015

| birth_name = John Carson Lennox

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1943|11|07}}

| birth_place = Armagh, Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| ethnicity =

| spouse = Sally Lennox

| children = 3

| field = Group theory

| work_institutions = {{Plainlist|

}}

| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|

{{no wrap|University of Cambridge}} (MA, MMath, PhD)
University of Oxford (MA, DPhil)
Cardiff University (DSc)
University of Surrey (MA)}}

| thesis1_title = Centrality and Permutability in Soluble Groups

| thesis1_year = 1969

| thesis1_url = https://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/t9gok8/44CAM_ALMA21352484320003606

| doctoral_advisor = James Roseblade

| doctoral_students =

| influences =

| influenced =

| prizes =

| footnotes =

| signature =

| website = {{URL|https://www.johnlennox.org}}

}}

John Carson Lennox (born 7 November 1943) is an Irish mathematician, bioethicist, and Christian apologist originally from Ireland. He has written many books on religion, ethics, the relationship between science and God (like his books, Has Science Buried God and Can Science Explain Everything), and has had public debates with atheists including Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens.

Lennox earned a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Cambridge, then earned a second and third doctorate from the University of Oxford and Cardiff University, respectively. As a professor, Lennox specialised in group theory. He is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics{{cite web|url=http://www.maths.ox.ac.uk/node/7522|title=Recognition of Distinction|publisher=Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford|date=29 July 2008|access-date=2009-07-15}} at the University of Oxford, where he is also Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College and has worked as adjunct lecturer at Wycliffe Hall and at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Saïd Business School and a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum.

Early life and education

John Lennox was born on 7 November 1943 in Ireland and brought up in Armagh where his father ran a store.{{Cite news|title=God is a person not a theory|last=Billen|first=Andrew|work=The Times|date=17 November 2010}} He attended The Royal School, Armagh, and went on to become Exhibitioner and Senior Scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where in 1962 he also attended the last lectures of C. S. Lewis on the poet John Donne. Lennox obtained a Master of Arts, a Master of Mathematics and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge with the dissertation Centrality and Permutability in Soluble Groups (1970).{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=69823|title=John Lennox - The Mathematics Genealogy Project|website=www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu}}

Lennox was awarded a Doctor of Science degree in mathematics by Cardiff University in 1993 for his research. Lennox also holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford (by incorporation)Having a doctorate from both Cambridge and Oxford makes Lennox what Ghil'ad Zuckermann calls an "Oxbridge paradox": Lennox belongs to the rare group of people who hold a "pair o' docs" (sounding like "paradox" but meaning "two doctorates") – a D.Phil. (Oxon.) and a PhD (Cantab.) – from both Oxford and Cambridge universities (commonly abbreviated as Oxbridge) – see [https://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/ghilad.zuckermann Biography]. and an M.A. degree in bioethics at the University of Surrey. In addition, he was a Humboldt Fellow at the University of Würzburg and the University of Freiburg.{{cite web|url=http://johnlennox.org/index.php/en/about/|title=About John Lennox|work=JohnLennox.org Website|access-date=2012-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503220337/http://johnlennox.org/index.php/en/about/|archive-date=3 May 2012|url-status=dead}}

Career

Upon completing his doctorate, Lennox moved to Cardiff, Wales, becoming a reader in Mathematics at the University of Wales, Cardiff. Lennox teaches science and religion in the University of Oxford. During his 29 years in Cardiff he spent a year at each of the universities of Würzburg, Freiburg (as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow), and Vienna, and has lectured extensively in both Eastern and Western Europe, Russia and North America on mathematics, apologetics, and the exposition of scripture.

Lennox is the author of a number of books on the relations of science, religion, and ethics. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles on mathematics, co-authored two Oxford Mathematical Monographs, and worked as a translator of Russian mathematics.

He has spoken in many different countries, in conferences and as an academic fellow, including numerous trips to the former Soviet Union.{{cite web |url=https://www.purposenation.org/ep-28-john-lennox-phd-podcast-transcript |title=Episode 28: John Lennox, PhD |author= |date= |website=Purpose Nation |publisher= |access-date=2024-04-04}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgpf0vPxxQw |title=Prof John Lennox - Experiences in the Soviet Union |author= |date= |website=YouTube |publisher= |access-date=2024-04-04}}

On 14 March 2012 he presented an edition of the Lent Talks for BBC Radio Four. Lennox has also given lectures at the Veritas Forum on topics such as the relationship between science and religion,{{Cite web|url=http://www.veritas.org/science-buried-god-2/|title=Has Science Buried God?|date=16 September 2016|website=Veritas Forum|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005105940/http://www.veritas.org/science-buried-god-2/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.veritas.org/science-buried-god/|title=Has Science Buried God|date=11 July 2016|website=Veritas Forum|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005105640/http://www.veritas.org/science-buried-god/|url-status=dead}} the existence of God,{{Cite web|url=http://www.veritas.org/god-fact-or-fiction-2/|title=God: Fact or Fiction?|date=20 February 2013|website=Veritas Forum|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005104214/http://www.veritas.org/god-fact-or-fiction-2/|url-status=dead}} doubt, and the problems of evil and suffering.{{Cite web|url=http://www.veritas.org/why-is-there-suffering-in-the-world/|title=Why is there suffering in the world?|website=The Veritas Forum|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005105336/http://www.veritas.org/why-is-there-suffering-in-the-world/|url-status=dead}} Additionally, he is a Senior Fellow of The Trinity Forum, a Christian nonprofit organisation that develops leaders to make contributions to cultural renewal.

=Debates=

File:John Lennox and Christopher Hitchens debating.jpg in Alabama, March 2009]]

Lennox has been part of numerous public debates defending the Christian faith, including debates with Christopher Hitchens, Michael Shermer, Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss,

Peter Atkins, Victor Stenger, Michael Tooley, Stephen Law, and Peter Singer.

On 3 October 2007, Lennox debated Richard Dawkins at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama on Dawkins's views expressed in his book, The God Delusion.{{cite web|url=http://fixed-point.org/index.php/video/35-full-length/164-the-dawkins-lennox-debate|title=The God Delusion Debate (Dawkins-Lennox)|publisher=Fixed Point Foundation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817002138/http://www.fixed-point.org/index.php/video/35-full-length/164-the-dawkins-lennox-debate|archive-date=17 August 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119214767015956720|title=A Revelation: In Alabama, A Civil Debate Over God's Existence|author=Naomi Schaefer Riley|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=12 October 2007|access-date=2016-11-03}}{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2588509.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530131412/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2588509.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2010|title=Richard Dawkins Debates in the Bible Belt|author=Joanna Sugden|publisher=Times Online|date=4 October 2007|access-date=2009-11-03}}
Lennox and Dawkins had a discussion in April 2008 at Trinity College, Oxford to expand upon topics left undeveloped during The God Delusion Debate.{{cite web|url=http://richarddawkins.net/article,2834,Conversation-between-Richard-Dawkins-and-John-Lennox,Richard-Dawkins-John-Lennox-Fixed-Point|title=Conversation between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox|publisher=RichardDawkins.net|access-date=2009-11-03|archive-date=8 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708201540/http://richarddawkins.net/article,2834,Conversation-between-Richard-Dawkins-and-John-Lennox,Richard-Dawkins-John-Lennox-Fixed-Point|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://fixed-point.org/index.php/cds/misc-talks |title=Dawkins-Lennox Radio Interview at Trinity College |publisher=Fixed Point Foundation |access-date=2009-11-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214054427/http://fixed-point.org/index.php/cds/misc-talks |archive-date=14 December 2010 }}
On 9 August 2008, Lennox debated Christopher Hitchens at the Edinburgh International Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the question of whether or not Europe should jettison its religious past and welcome the "New Atheism."{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburghguide.com/story/edinburghinternationalfestival/1474|title=Edinburgh International Festival 2008 Looks To European Identity|publisher=EdinburghGuide.com|access-date=2009-11-03}}{{cite web|url=http://wetlenses.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-europe-new-atheism.html|title=New Europe, New Atheism?|publisher=Wet Lenses|access-date=2009-11-03}}
On 23 August 2008, Lennox debated Michael Shermer at the Wesley Conference Centre in Sydney, Australia, on the existence of God.{{cite web|url=http://www.publicchristianity.org/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=26865 |title=The Great Debate: Does God Exist? |publisher=Centre for Public Christianity |access-date=2009-11-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719003804/http://www.publicchristianity.org/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=26865 |archive-date=19 July 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://files.meetup.com/979735/Lennox_Events.pdf|title=Public Lectures, forums and debates with Dr. John Lennox|publisher=Centre for Public Christianity|access-date=2009-11-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714070026/http://files.meetup.com/979735/Lennox_Events.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}
On 21 October 2008, Lennox again debated Dawkins at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the site of the 1860 Oxford evolution debate between Thomas Henry Huxley and Samuel Wilberforce. The debate was titled "Has Science Buried God?".{{cite web|url=http://fixed-point.org/index.php/events/1-latest/5-has-science-buried-god|title=Has Science Buried God?|publisher=Fixed Point Foundation|access-date=2009-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230135546/http://www.fixed-point.org/index.php/events/1-latest/5-has-science-buried-god|archive-date=30 December 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2008/10/15/lennox_dawkins.shtml|title=Has Science Buried God?|publisher=BBC Oxford|date=15 October 2008|access-date=2009-11-03}} The Spectator called the event "Huxley-Wilberforce, Round Two."{{cite web|url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/771841/huxleywilberforce-round-two.thtml|title=Huxley-Wilberforce, Round Two|author=Melanie Phillips|publisher=The Spectator|date=12 June 2008|access-date=2009-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107090651/http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/771841/huxleywilberforce-round-two.thtml|archive-date=7 November 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
On 3 March 2009, Lennox debated Hitchens for the second time at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, on the question "Is God Great?" The debate addressed the validity of some of Hitchens' claims in his book God is Not Great.{{cite web|url=http://fixed-point.org/index.php/events/1-latest/6-is-god-great|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720192903/http://fixed-point.org/index.php/events/1-latest/6-is-god-great|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-07-20|title=Is God Great?|publisher=Fixed Point Foundation|access-date=2009-11-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/religion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/living/1235812553191660.xml&coll=2|title=Christopher Hitchens argues against existence of God at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama|author=Greg Garrison|publisher=The Birmingham News|date=28 February 2009|access-date=2009-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308134433/http://www.al.com/religion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fliving%2F1235812553191660.xml&coll=2|archive-date=8 March 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
On 20 July 2011, Lennox debated Peter Singer at the Melbourne Town Hall in Melbourne, Australia on the topic "Is There a God?"{{cite web|url=http://www.iscast.org/lennox_singer_debate_review|title=Review of Lennox / Singer Debate: Is There A God?|publisher=ISCAST|access-date=2015-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106160634/http://www.iscast.org/lennox_singer_debate_review|archive-date=6 January 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/ondemand/isthereagod|title=Is There A God?|publisher=Fixed Point Foundation|access-date=2015-09-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA7qBtNMayQ|title=Peter Singer vs John Lennox: Is There a God?|website=YouTube|date=8 August 2016 |access-date=September 24, 2021}}
In August 2021, Lennox was the chief guest for the prestigious Malhar Fest hosted by St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.

Personal life

Lennox speaks English, Russian, French, Spanish and German. He is married to Sally and has three children and 10 grandchildren. He has a brother named Gilbert Lennox, previously an elder in Glenabbey Church, Glengormley.{{Cite web|url=https://evangelicalfocus.com/|title=Authors|website=Evangelical Focus}} The hymn writer and recording artist Kristyn Getty, Gilbert's daughter, is Lennox's niece.

Works

{{cite book |title= Subnormal subgroups of groups |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |first2= Stewart E. |last2= Stonehewer |location= Oxford |publisher= Clarendon |date= 1987 |isbn= 978-0-19-853552-2 }}
{{cite book |title= Key Bible Concepts |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location= Port Colborne |publisher= Gospel Folio Press |date= 1997 |isbn= 9781882701414 }}
{{cite book |title= Christianity: Opium or Truth? |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location= Port Colborne |publisher= Gospel Folio Press |date= 1997 |isbn= 9781882701469 }}
{{cite book |title= The Definition of Christianity |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask= 3 |first2= David W. |last2= Gooding |author2-link= David Willoughby Gooding |location= Port Colborne |publisher= Gospel Folio Press |date= 2001 |isbn= 9781882701421 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/definitionofchri00davi }}
{{cite book |title= The Theory of Infinite Soluble Groups |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2= Derek J. S. |last2=Robinson |author2-link=Derek J. S. Robinson |publisher= Clarendon Press |date= 2004 |isbn= 978-0-19-850728-4 |pages= 458 }}
{{cite book |title= God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask= 3 |location= Lion UK |edition= Updated |date= 2009 |isbn= 978-0-7459-5371-7 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/godsundertaker00john/page/224 224] |url= https://archive.org/details/godsundertaker00john/page/224 }}
{{cite book |title= Seven Days That Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |publisher= Zondervan |date= 2011 |pages= 192 |isbn= 978-0-310-49217-7 }}
{{cite book |title= God and Stephen Hawking: Whose Design Is It Anyway? |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |publisher= Lion UK |edition= 1st |date= 2011 |pages= 96 |isbn= 978-0-7459-5549-0 }}
{{cite book |title= Gunning for God: A Critique of the New Atheism |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |publisher= Lion UK |edition= 1st |date= 2011 |pages= 248 |isbn= 978-0-7459-5322-9 }}
{{cite book |title= The Bible & Ethics |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location=Ontario |publisher= Myrtlefield House |series= Myrtlefield Encounters |date= 2015 |volume= 4 |isbn= 978-1874584575 }}
{{cite book |title= Against the Flow: The Inspiration of Daniel in an Age of Relativism |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |publisher= Monarch Books |edition= 1st |date= 2015 |pages= 416 |isbn= 978-0857216212 }}
{{cite book |title= Determined to Believe: The Sovereignty of God, Freedom, Faith, and Human Responsibility |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |publisher= Monarch Books |edition= 1st |date= 2017 |pages= 352 |isbn= 978-0857218728 }}
{{cite book |title= Being Truly Human: The Limits of Our Worth, Power, Freedom and Destiny |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location=Belfast |publisher= Myrtlefield House |series= The Quest for Reality and Significance |date= 2018 |volume= 1 |isbn= 978-1912721016 }}
{{cite book |title= Finding Ultimate Reality: In Search of the Best Answers to the Biggest Questions |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location=Belfast |publisher= Myrtlefield House |series= The Quest for Reality and Significance |date= 2018 |volume= 2 |isbn= 978-1912721061 }}
{{cite book |title= Questioning Our Knowledge: Can We Know What We Need to Know? |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location=Belfast |publisher= Myrtlefield House |series= The Quest for Reality and Significance |date= 2019 |volume= 3 |isbn= 978-1912721115 }}
{{cite book |title= Doing What's Right: The Limits of Our Worth, Power, Freedom and Destiny |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location=Belfast |publisher= Myrtlefield House |series= The Quest for Reality and Significance |date= 2019 |volume= 4 |isbn= 978-1912721214 }}
{{cite book |title= Claiming to Answer: How One Person Became the Response to Our Deepest Questions |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location=Belfast |publisher= Myrtlefield House |series= The Quest for Reality and Significance |date= 2019 |volume= 5 |isbn= 978-1912721269 }}
{{cite book |title= Suffering Life's Pain: Facing the Problems of Moral and Natural Evil |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |first2=David W. |last2=Gooding |author2-link=David Willoughby Gooding |location=Belfast |publisher= Myrtlefield House |series= The Quest for Reality and Significance |date= 2019 |volume= 6 |isbn= 978-1912721160 }}
{{cite book |title= Can Science Explain Everything? |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |publisher= The Good Book Company |date= 2019 |isbn= 978-1784984113 }}
{{cite book |title= Joseph: A Story of Love, Hate, Slavery, Power, and Forgiveness |first1= John C. |last1= Lennox |author1-mask=3 |publisher= Crossway |date= 2019 |isbn= 9781433562969 }}
{{cite book |last1=Lennox |first1=John |title=Where is God in A Coronavirus World?. |date=April 2020 |publisher=The Good Book Company |isbn=9781784985691 |url=https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/where-is-god-in-a-coronavirus-world}}
{{cite book |last1=Lennox |first1=John |title=2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. |date=2020 |publisher=Zondervan |isbn=9780310109563}}
{{cite book |last1=Lennox |first1=John |title=Cosmic Chemistry: Do God and Science Mix?. |date=2021 |publisher=Lion Books|isbn=9780745981406}}

References

External links

{{wikiquote-inline}}
[https://www.johnlennox.org Official website]
{{MathGenealogy|id=69823}}
[http://richarddawkins.net/articleComments,3240,Interview-with-John-Lennox,Tim-Bearder-BBC-Radio-Oxford,page2 Interview with John Lennox by Tim Bearder, BBC Radio Oxford] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229130444/http://richarddawkins.net/articleComments,3240,Interview-with-John-Lennox,Tim-Bearder-BBC-Radio-Oxford,page2 |date=29 December 2008 }}, 2008-10-16.
[http://www.premierradio.org.uk/listen/ondemand.aspx?mediaid={CD6D82AC-9A89-41D7-8D9E-F6712260177F} Premier Christian Radio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415183112/http://www.premierradio.org.uk/listen/ondemand.aspx?mediaid=%7BCD6D82AC-9A89-41D7-8D9E-F6712260177F%7D |date=15 April 2013 }} Radio debate on "Are we alone in the Universe?"

Category:1943 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century evangelicals

Category:20th-century mathematicians from Northern Ireland

Category:21st-century evangelicals

Category:21st-century mathematicians from Northern Ireland

Category:Alumni of Cardiff University

Category:Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge

Category:Alumni of the University of Surrey

Category:Christian apologists

Category:Christianity and science

Category:British critics of atheism