From Atheism to Faith | A Conversation with Andrew Klavan
What happens when a celebrated crime novelist, political commentator, and former Hollywood insider shares his unlikely journey from atheism to faith? In this thought-provoking episode of The Greg Laurie Show, Pastor Greg sits down with Andrew Klavan—Daily Wire host, best-selling author, humorist, and screenwriter—for a revealing and joyfully honest conversation about belief, culture, truth, and the state of the modern world.
From the trauma of a “cracked up” life and his secular Jewish upbringing to a miraculous encounter with God at age 49, Klavan shares how grappling with deep depression and relentless curiosity led him to Christianity. Together, Pastor Greg and Andrew explore how ideas shape society, why true masculinity and femininity matter, and what it means to stand firm in your convictions—even when it costs you everything.
-----
Find Andrew’s memoir—The Great Good Thing—here: https://bit.ly/4868CyS
Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit https://harvest.org/.
Find Pastor Greg on social media:
- https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/
- https://x.com/greglaurie
- https://www.facebook.com/harvest.greglaurie
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
-----
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Andrew Klavan’s Descent into Depression and Miraculous Recovery
01:46 Culture Shock: Returning to America After Seven Years Abroad
02:48 Hollywood’s Shift: Speaking Out Against Anti-American Narratives
04:14 The Symbolism of Trump’s Election & Defeating “Empire of Lies”
07:58 Arguing Spiritual Truth in a Material World
10:31 Rejecting Empty Religion: Klavan’s Jewish Upbringing and Crisis
12:48 Therapy, Transformation, and the Power of Mentorship
14:12 The Logic and Experience of Prayer
15:25 The Unlikely Call to Christian Baptism
16:57 Reading the Bible as Truth: A Pivotal Moment
19:35 Are Today’s Intellectuals Moving Toward Faith?
22:21 The Limits of Science and Dawkins as a “Cultural Christian”
23:55 Jordan Peterson’s Influence on Youth & The Bible
24:23 Letting God Judge: On Orthodoxy, Spirit, and Conversions
27:34 Darkness in the World & The Call to Love
29:23 Defining True Masculinity: Integrity and Courage
31:46 The High Calling of Motherhood & Marriage Insights
33:39 Art, Storytelling, and the Hope for Genuine Christian Films
35:20 Why Mainstream Filmmakers Avoid Christian Stories—But Momentum Grows
37:40 The Power of Story: “Chariots of Fire” & Impactful Interviews
40:41 Shakespeare as the Ultimate Interview: Faith, Story, and Mystery
43:53 The Role of Humor in Surviving Life’s Corruption
45:41 Jewish Humor, Survival, and Laughter Through Adversity
47:15 Closing: The Power of Love, Humor, and Unique Voices
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In 1990, Laurie founded the Harvest Crusades, a series of large-scale evangelistic events designed to present the gospel to broad audiences. These events have since drawn more than 11.5 million participants in person and online. In 2012, he launched Harvest America, a nationwide outreach event that utilized HD livestreaming to broadcast to thousands of venues across the United States. Collectively, these efforts have resulted in over 700,000 documented professions of faith.
A prolific author, Laurie has written over 70 books, including House of David, Billy Graham: The Man I Knew, Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, Revelation: A Book of Promises, and Jesus Revolution.
His filmography includes Lost Boy: The Next Chapter, Hope for Hurting Hearts, Steve McQueen: American Icon, and Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon. In 2023, Greg and Cathe Laurie’s life and conversion during the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and ‘70s were depicted in the Lionsgate film Jesus Revolution, starring Kelsey Grammer and Jonathan Roumie.
Greg Laurie has been married to Cathe Laurie for over 51 years. They have two sons and five grandchildren.
Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit harvest.org
Find Pastory Greg on Instagram
