Nathanael Yates interview by anchorman Mark Tronson can be viewed on the Australian Missionary News IPYV at either
http://tv.bushorchestra.com/Professionals/videopages/nathanael_yates.html
OR www.safeworlds.net
The youngest of five children, as a son of a Minister and whose mother is a home maker and Mathematics teacher, and while growing up he experienced life where his father's Parishes were based, from lower to higher socio economic situations.
Since he was very young he was interested in science and in Year 10 at high school having read a text book on the psychology of the mind, Nathanael turned his attention to an interest in Schizophrenia.
In his science field, he topped 2nd and 3rd year at the University of Western Australia, won awards and is currently undertaking Honours science research, his interest is in auditory hallucinations.
Nathanael Yates explained that 1% of the population suffers Schizophrenia with greater or lesser symptoms. In other words, people hear voices or noises of one kind or another. His interest lies in the different nerve connections to the brain stem.
He was asked whether there is a difference between 'hearing voices' as in Schizophrenia, to say the New Testament's accounting of speaking in tongues and listening to the voice of the Lord speaking into the lives of the followers of Jesus? Moreover these continue to be a part of the Christian Church today.
Nathanael Yates says there is a clear cut distinction between the speaking in tongues and hearing the voice of the Lord as to guidance and in Christian thought to that of a scientific subject such as Schizophrenia.
Someone suffering from Schizophrenia often hear what they believe to be God instructing them to do destructive and dangerous things, which is very different to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Nathanael Yates has found that Christian Union (CU) has been a wonderful blessing. CU provides opportunity for young people to have public meetings where their faith can be explored openly and in scientific standing. In addition CU's small cell groups are very helpful and moreover CU peruses 'thinking Christianity'. He has found CU very useful.
His family background has provided him a strong foundation in the faith, but his parents were careful to allow him and his siblings the freedom to consider the claims of Christ upon their lives.
His understanding of Christianity relates to the motives behind helping others. Nathanael Yates stated that we should never be afraid to help others in need, willingly sacrificing to give a helping hand to those less fortunate. He is concerned that too many people have mixed motives with community services, but with Christ, one gives willingly where there is nothing to gain.
Nathanael Yates sees that following Jesus Christ is both through rational reasoning and experience, that the two go together, they cannot be separated. This is the basis of a firm faith explained Nathanael.