Plot
In the fall of 2013, Josh Wheaton, a college student and evangelical Christian, enrolls in a philosophy class taught by Professor Jeffrey Radisson, a renowned atheist. On the first day, Radisson demands that his students sign a declaration stating "God is dead" in order to bypass what he calls the "tedious" theological debate. Josh is the only student who refuses. Radisson is willing to grant credit for this unit of course if Josh agrees to "defend the antithesis"—that God is not dead—in front of the class.
Josh's girlfriend Kara demands that Josh either sign the statement or drop Radisson's class, as standing up to Radisson will jeopardize their academic future. When Josh refuses, Kara breaks up with him. In the first two debates, Radisson has counter-arguments for all of Josh's points.
Radisson dates Mina, an evangelical whom he belittles in front of his fellow atheist colleagues. Her brother Mark, a successful businessman and atheist, refuses to visit their mother, who has dementia. Mark's girlfriend Amy is a left-wing blogger who writes articles critical of Duck Dynasty. When Amy is diagnosed with cancer, Mark dumps her. A Muslim student, Ayisha, secretly converts to Christianity and is disowned by her infuriated father when he finds out.
In the final debate, Josh halts his line of debate to ask Radisson: "Why do you hate God?" Radisson explodes in rage, confirming he hates God for his mother's death. Josh asks Radisson how he can hate someone that does not exist. Martin, a Chinese student whose father forbids him from talking about God to avoid jeopardizing his brother's chance at overseas study, stands up and says, "God's not dead." Most of the class follows Martin's lead, and Radisson leaves the room in defeat.
Josh invites Martin to attend a Newsboys concert. Mark finally visits his mother but mocks her for her faith. She responds that his financial success was given to him by Satan to keep him from turning to God; then, she does not remember his name. Amy confronts the Newsboys in their dressing room but asks them to help guide her in converting to Christianity. Radisson reads a letter from his late mother and is moved to reconcile with Mina. On his way to find Mina, Radisson is struck by a car and fatally injured. A pastor waiting at the intersection tends to Radisson and helps him come clean of his sins and regain his religious faith as he dies.
At the concert, the Newsboys show a video clip of Willie Robertson congratulating Josh on standing up to Radisson and encouraging the audience to text "God's Not Dead" as a message to others. The Newsboys then begin to play their song "God's Not Dead", dedicating it to Josh.
