Josh Timonen, who was often viewed as the right-hand man of renowned atheist Richard Dawkins recently professed his newfound faith in Jesus Christ.
From Atheism to Belief
Richard Dawkins, the prominent figurehead of the “New Atheist” movement, achieved global fame for his criticism of religion in books such as “The God Delusion.” It was Dawkins who inspired many to question their belief in God.
Interestingly, Timonen, despite being a close associate of Dawkins and even having a book dedicated to him by the celebrated atheist, embarked on a spiritual path that led him to embrace Christian faith.
During an episode of the “Living Waters” podcast, Timonen shed light on his spiritual transformation. He spoke of his childhood in a Christian household and his subsequent departure from faith as he grew older.
He detailed how a chance encounter with Dawkins at a point in his life when he had dismissed Jesus’ existence led to a close professional and personal relationship over five years. Timonen contributed significantly to many of Dawkins’ projects, including website development, video production, and merchandise sales.
Timonen held on to his atheism, even after a fallout with Dawkins that led to a legal dispute.
A Call to Change
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged and civil unrest took over his hometown, Portland, Oregon, Timonen found his worldview shaken by the “evil” he witnessed. This eventually led him to move to Waco, Texas.
Upon relocating, Timonen and his wife sought a nurturing environment for their homeschooled daughter, leading them to a local church. Their initial motive was merely to leverage the “social benefits” of churchgoing. However, their frequent visits gradually awakened Timonen to the spiritual advantages.
Inspired by his observations at the church, Timonen began to engage with Scripture. He studied the New Testament in depth and read “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel, another former atheist who found faith later in life.
Through his readings, he discovered convincing evidence for Jesus’ existence and had to face the reality of it. “I had to deal with the fact that it was real, that Jesus was real,” Timonen confessed.
Embracing the Truth
Over the next two years, Timonen’s spiritual evolution unfolded. Even with his previous repudiation of faith, he couldn’t deny the truth of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. “Jesus actually lived, he actually died, and he actually rose,” Timonen affirmed.
His journey didn’t stop there. Timonen continued to read and analyze biblical history, confronting the existence of sin. His wife joined him on this spiritual journey, and their faith grew together.
“No one is beyond the reach of God’s love and redemption. Even the most ardent disbelievers can find their way back to the truth,” reflects Timonen, underlining the transformative power of faith.
“Jesus is who He says He is,” Timonen boldly declared.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
