Not many people argue with the existence of Jesus of Nazareth, since there is as much evidence to support that he lived as there is for most other historical figures. This evidence comes from both Christian and secular sources, such as the prized writings of Josephus and Tacitus. Modern scholars are in agreement that Jesus existed, was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified by Pontius Pilate.
The disagreements start when it comes to the reliability of the New Testament in accurately depicting what Jesus said and did. Many people dismiss the Bible as mythology and refuse to see it as a historical document. Josh McDowell was one of these skeptics who set out to disprove the Bible but only ended up confirming its historicity. He states in his book, More Than a Carpenter, "If one discards the Bible as unreliable historically, then he or she must discard all the literature of antiquity. No other document has as much evidence to confirm its reliability" (revised and updated edition, copyright 2009, pg 87). Some of the reasons he cites are:
-The vast amount of early manuscripts that we still have available to us today (over 20,000). This rules out the idea that today's Bible is different from the original writings, since we can compare.
-The closeness of the text to the events they describe (all written by AD 80). No legend has ever been developed in this short amount of time.
-The fact that the writers of the New Testament were either eyewitnesses to the events they described or in close relationship with eyewitnesses.
-The fact that the books of the New Testament were circulated among those (some sympathetic to Christianity, and some opposed) who had witnessed the events and could have contested any false information.
-The evidence from secular writings and archaeological findings that verifies the accuracy of events recorded (i.e. - that Romans crucified Jesus, that Jesus was believed to be risen from the dead and was worshiped as God, and that his tomb was empty).
Another man that first set out to disprove the Bible, only to be convinced of its authenticity, was Nabeel Qureshi, once a devout Muslim, and now author of the book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus (very interesting book; I highly recommend it). He would not be convinced to embrace Christianity until he had spent years researching and considering every alternative, because the Muslim faith was so ingrained in him and so important to his family. This website has a PDF of "Expert Contributions" from different professors, researchers, and authors that expand on the themes in his book.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Friday, May 1, 2015
Are science and God incompatible?
As science advances, and we understand more about the world we live in, many people feel confident in saying that we don't need God anymore. God was for the people of the past who needed to invent a reason why the sun rose and set each day, explain what causes earthquakes, and understand how it is that life exists. But now we understand the scientific principles behind all of these phenomenon, so why continue with this blind belief in some supernatural being that we can't see or prove the existence of?
There are many problems with this argument. For one, the very fact that we can understand the universe, and that it is ordered and follows certain laws of nature, is evidence of an intelligent designer.
Furthermore, as science keeps uncovering new findings, we are realizing that there is a complexity to life that we never dreamed possible. Darwin did not even know of the existence of genes, but now we understand that life if made up of elaborate cells, which are directed by an intricate molecule called DNA. Scientists have discovered not only atoms, but subatomic particles. Darwin's theory makes sense if life is made up of molecular blobs, but could a single-celled organism really arise from nothing, and then develop into the complex multicellular organisms that exist today?
As we turn our attention from microscopic to macroscopic realities, exploring the solar system and beyond, we are finding that the Earth is so fine-tuned to support life that the chances of it being an accident are inconceivable.
Most everyone I know is trying to find out how to make their life purposeful. But how can there be purpose if we are all here by accident and created by blind evolution?
Do you believe in right and wrong? Where does your morality come from - did the process of evolution create it?
Here is a question that I remember hearing in 2001, from my atheist biology teacher - If we are made up of just chemicals, how can we feel emotions? How are we capable of love?
Science and God are not incompatible. Science explains how things work. The existence of God explains why they work in the first place.
"In the end, belief in God, especially the biblical God, is an act of faith. But so too is believing that our existence is simply the result of chance."
-Eric Metaxas: http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/12/26659
The scientific case for Intelligent Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2d7aKN-X5M
The history of the scientific theory of Intelligent Design: http://www.discovery.org/a/3207
There are many problems with this argument. For one, the very fact that we can understand the universe, and that it is ordered and follows certain laws of nature, is evidence of an intelligent designer.
Furthermore, as science keeps uncovering new findings, we are realizing that there is a complexity to life that we never dreamed possible. Darwin did not even know of the existence of genes, but now we understand that life if made up of elaborate cells, which are directed by an intricate molecule called DNA. Scientists have discovered not only atoms, but subatomic particles. Darwin's theory makes sense if life is made up of molecular blobs, but could a single-celled organism really arise from nothing, and then develop into the complex multicellular organisms that exist today?
As we turn our attention from microscopic to macroscopic realities, exploring the solar system and beyond, we are finding that the Earth is so fine-tuned to support life that the chances of it being an accident are inconceivable.
Most everyone I know is trying to find out how to make their life purposeful. But how can there be purpose if we are all here by accident and created by blind evolution?
Do you believe in right and wrong? Where does your morality come from - did the process of evolution create it?
Here is a question that I remember hearing in 2001, from my atheist biology teacher - If we are made up of just chemicals, how can we feel emotions? How are we capable of love?
Science and God are not incompatible. Science explains how things work. The existence of God explains why they work in the first place.
"In the end, belief in God, especially the biblical God, is an act of faith. But so too is believing that our existence is simply the result of chance."
-Eric Metaxas: http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/entry/12/26659
The scientific case for Intelligent Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2d7aKN-X5M
The history of the scientific theory of Intelligent Design: http://www.discovery.org/a/3207
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