Even those with deep-seated skepticism can experience profound shifts in faith. Julie Hannah, a retired university lecturer of mathematics, set out to discredit religious claims but instead discovered a new depth of understanding in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Her journey from agnosticism to faith is a testament to the transformative power of inquiry and introspection.
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A Lifelong Quest for Meaning
Julie’s early life was shaped by a secular upbringing, where she was encouraged to question traditional religious
narratives. This skepticism led her to explore philosophical ideologies such as existentialism, stoicism, and nihilism. She also ventured into various religious traditions, including Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism, searching for a cohesive explanation of human existence. Despite her extensive exploration, none of these belief systems satisfied her intellectual curiosity.
The Turning Point: Encountering the New Testament
Julie approached the Christian scriptures with the same critical mindset she applied to other religious texts, initially aiming to discredit them. However, her study of the New Testament, particularly the four Gospels, revealed a level of intellectual and spiritual depth she hadn’t expected. Jesus’s teachings, parables, and debates captivated her, offering answers to questions she had long grappled with. Contrary to her initial skepticism, Julie found in Jesus a figure who embodied both divine wisdom and human empathy.
The Evolution of Faith and Scholarship
After years of study and introspection, Julie’s intellectual pursuit gave way to a deeper spiritual realization. Her first book, A Skeptic’s Investigation into Jesus, captured her journey from skepticism to belief, offering readers an analytical yet deeply personal account of her transformation. In her latest work, The Seventh Covenant, Julie takes a more immersive approach, blending historical fiction with religious insight, allowing readers to experience the world of first-century Palestine through the eyes of her characters.
Bringing First-Century Palestine to Life
In this episode of Your Radical Truth Podcast, host Margaret Mary O’Connor delves into The Seventh Covenant, praising Julie’s ability to transport readers back to the time of Jesus. Margaret highlights the character Rachel, a scribe for her rabbinic uncle, who provides a unique lens on Jewish culture and the early reactions to Jesus’s teachings. Julie’s vivid storytelling makes ancient Palestine come alive, immersing readers in the struggles, debates, and emotions of those who witnessed Jesus’s ministry firsthand.
Intellectual Discovery Meets Personal Transformation
Throughout the conversation, Julie and Margaret explore how The Seventh Covenant challenges readers to reconsider how they might have reacted to Jesus in his time. Julie reflects on how her own skepticism evolved into faith, and how the intricate connections between the Old and New Testaments were impossible to ignore. She shares that the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament could not be dismissed as mere coincidence, a realization that became a cornerstone of her belief.
A Message for Today’s Listeners
Julie’s message for today’s listeners is one of unity and understanding. As the church faces increasing challenges, she emphasizes the importance of Christ’s final instruction: to love one another. Julie encourages deeper knowledge of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, as a means to strengthen faith and understanding of God’s eternal plan for humanity.
Tune in to this episode to discover Julie Hannah’s incredible journey from skepticism to faith and how her works,
particularly The Seventh Covenant, provide readers with an immersive, thought-provoking exploration of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Listeners can find Julie Hannah’s books, including The Seventh Covenant, on Amazon.
About Julie Hannah
Julie Hannah, a retired university lecturer of Mathematics, embarked on a quest to unravel the mystery of human existence from a skeptical agnostic standpoint. Raised in a secular environment with nominal exposure to Christianity, Julie found herself questioning the validity of religious narratives from an early age. Her upbringing instilled a skepticism towards traditional beliefs, leading her to explore various philosophical ideologies like existentialism, Stoicism, and nihilism in search of meaning.
Throughout her youth and into her early adulthood, Julie delved into diverse religious traditions including Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and various forms of mysticism and meditation. However, none provided the intellectual fulfillment she sought, leaving her grappling with the elusive quest for a unified truth about life and the cosmos.
Driven by a thirst for knowledge and understanding, Julie embarked on an extensive study of religious texts, including the Christian Scriptures, with a skeptical lens. Initially, her intention was to discredit the Christian message, much like she had done with other belief systems. Yet, her encounter with the New Testament, particularly the four Gospels, unveiled a profound revelation.
In the teachings of Jesus Christ, Julie found a voice that defied her expectations. She was captivated by the depth of intellect displayed in Jesus’ debates, and she found resonance in his parables and metaphors. Contrary to her initial skepticism, she discovered in Jesus a figure who embodied both divine authority and human empathy, offering a unique perspective on the human condition.
After years of rigorous investigation and introspection, Julie experienced a transformative realization. To her immense surprise, she found that Christian Scripture provided the truth she had been seeking about the meaning of human existence. Her journey from skepticism to faith culminated in the publication of her research in “A Skeptic’s Investigation into Jesus,” a testament to her profound intellectual and spiritual journey.
Access the Kindle Version of A Skeptic’s Investigation into Jesus https://amzn.to/3TpFB89
About Margaret Mary O’Connor
Margaret Mary O’Connor, as a member of the Catholic Laity, thought she knew everything about the Catholic Church, at least until she came upon a centuries-old Scandal of lies and cover-up by the Hierarchy of that Church. Frankly, she was fed up being lied to by her own Church, about its own past Church’s History on Women priests. With that realization, she truly felt in that moment, the monumental feeling of betrayal by her own Church.
Follow Margaret, as she travels down this Highway of Radical Truth where lies and outright coverup will be disclosed. Millions of Catholics are unaware of that past presence of Women Bishop’s, Women Deacons, as well as Women Priests, all there hiding in plain sight, in Early Church History.
As the complicity of this centuries-old Scandal continues, Margaret wants her fellow Catholics to learn the actual truth of this
matter for themselves. She strongly believes, at minimal, any Catholic deserves the actual truth of this matter. To say that change is needed is hardly an understatement. She doesn’t let the Church’s betrayal stop her from uncovering some very fascinating Church Skeleton’s – one which very well might help solve our current priest shortage issue today.
Margaret Mary O’Connor has been called, “The Modern Day David” on many occasions. On a mission to reveal carefully guarded secrets of the Catholic Church, she unveils the truth through her well-researched writings.
Author of Scandal in the Shadows and Journey of a Celiac’s Soul, Margaret Mary is a force to be reckoned with. To book Margaret Mary for an interview with media or on a podcast, go to: https://yourradicaltruth.com/contact/
