Wikipedia Co-Founder Reconnects With Christianity
Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia, has shared his personal journey of converting to Christianity after spending decades as a “skeptical philosopher.” Sanger, who was raised in the Lutheran Church but walked away from his faith during his teenage years, spent over 30 years grappling with questions about God’s existence. Initially, he embraced a philosophy of “methodical skepticism,” rejecting beliefs that could not be known with certainty. This skepticism led him to explore various philosophical views, and by the mid-1990s, he became disillusioned with academia and the lack of genuine concern for truth within the philosophical community.
While Sanger initially identified as an agnostic, he became open to considering the existence of God, unlike many atheists who dismiss the possibility altogether. His shift from atheism to agnosticism marked the beginning of his deeper exploration into Christianity. His intellectual curiosity led him to engage with Christian apologetics, particularly the “First Cause” argument, though he initially felt that these arguments could not definitively prove the God of the Bible. Over time, however, he began to reconsider Christianity, especially after encountering intelligent and respected Christian figures who challenged his earlier dismissive views.
Sanger’s turning point came when he began studying the Bible for himself. He found it unexpectedly coherent and intellectually stimulating, prompting him to dive deeper into Christian theology. He also started listening to Christian apologists like Stephen Meyer and William Lane Craig, which pushed him to further examine his beliefs and accept that much of the understanding of God comes from the Bible itself, not just reason alone. By early 2020, after reading the Gospels, Sanger admitted to himself that he now believed in God and began praying. He described this realization as a gradual and unremarkable experience, lacking a dramatic conversion moment, but still profoundly transformative.
Though Sanger now identifies with Orthodox Christianity, he has not yet found a church to call home, admitting that he is still exploring various denominations. Despite his reluctance to commit fully to a church, he remains determined to defend the Christian faith through his writings. Sanger also expressed concerns about the bias in Wikipedia, particularly the article on Jesus, which he feels fails to present a neutral point of view, undermining the credibility of the Gospels. This observation has led him to critique the platform he helped create, noting its increasing lack of impartiality.