Exploring Philosophy, Ethics, Religion, and More with David Turner
Join author and professor David Turner as he delves into topics such as philosophy, ethics, comparative religion, and the Bible. With experience in academia, church leadership, and athletics, David offers a unique perspective on a variety of subjects. Stay tuned for insights on golf, running, weightlifting, kayaking, and fishing.
TESTIMONIAL, BIBLE, PHILOSOPHY, SPORTS
David Turner
5/8/20242 min read
Author, Professor, Pastor
I didn’t always have an interest in the Bible, history, or philosophy, and I certainly never planned on becoming a pastor. Back in high school, my life was all about sports. Like many high school guys, I had dreams of being a great athlete. I loved all sports, but track and field and football were where I really excelled.
In my sophomore year, I broke the school records in the 100, 220, and 440-yard dash and even took third place in the state for the 440. I also made the all-county team as a running back in football. But unfortunately, pulled hamstrings and a fractured leg kept me from reaching my goals during my junior and senior years.
In college, I kept running and also got into karate, where I took second place in my division at an international tournament in Kumite and Kata. During this time, I started getting really interested in philosophy and religion. My involvement in karate sparked an interest in Eastern philosophy, so I began studying meditation and various Eastern religions. I was intrigued by the pantheism of Hinduism but couldn’t quite get on board with the idea of a plurality of gods. This led me to explore Spinoza’s teachings. For a while, I even considered myself an atheist, though I was never completely sure and leaned more towards agnosticism.
After college, my brother introduced me to a couple of books by Eric von Däniken—Chariots of the Gods and Gods from Outer Space. In one of these books, the author suggested that UFOs were mentioned in the Bible. Curious, I decided to read the Bible to see for myself. Not knowing where to start, I began with Genesis 1:1 and set a goal to read it all the way through. The only places I saw a slight possibility of UFOs were in Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai when the Ten Commandments were given, and in Ezekiel’s vision. But even those weren’t very convincing.
While I didn’t find UFOs in the Bible, something else happened—I became captivated by the content, especially the history of the Jewish people and, in the New Testament, the life and teachings of Jesus. It was while reading the Gospel of John that I became a Christian.