Science Logic And The Thinking

SCIENCE, LOGIC AND THE THINKING CHRISTIAN

In this book, answers are given to 10 questions. I believe a sound, logical basis has been provided for each answer. If you read this book and question the logical basis for one or more of the answers, you could do me a favor by writing a letter delineating what you believe to be the flaws in my thinking. If, on the other hand, you cannot reject my logic, then reading this book will accomplish one of two things. If you are a Christian, you will become a stronger apologist. If you are not a Christian, you will re-examine your beliefs.

The logic used in this book is based on the concept of thesis/antithesis. Any simple sentence (subject/predicate) may be called the thesis. The negative of that sentence is called the antithesis. Given any thesis and its antithesis, one is true, the other is false. In addition, thesis A can be connected to thesis B to form the complex sentence “if A then B.” In such a sentence, A and B may be different ways of stating exactly the same idea. If so, the sentence “if A then B” is called a tautology and is always true. Conversely, A and B may express different ideas. In that case, the sentence “if A then B” cannot be regarded as true unless the truth of B can be independently established whenever the truth of A can be verified.

Another type of logic, called dialectic, is often used by intellectuals. This type of logic is based on the concept of thesis/antithesis/synthesis. In dialectic reasoning, both the thesis and its antithesis are false. Considered together, however, they lead to another statement called the synthesis. The synthesis is not viewed as true in an absolute sense, but merely “more true” than either the thesis or the antithesis. Dialectic reasoning is totally inconsistent with rational human consciousness; it should be rejected as intrinsically unsound.

The 10 questions, with which this book is concerned, are given in the following list:

(1) Is the Christian description of the beginning of the

universe consistent with the scientific description?

(2) Does the universe exist primarily to serve as a home for us?

(3) What is the origin of the moral law written on each of our

hearts?

(4) Did life arise spontaneously from non-living matter?

(5) Is “survival-of-the-fittest” a rational basis for the

concept of biological evolution?

(6) Are Christians supposed to think about the basis for their

beliefs?

(7) Are each of the known Greek manuscripts and manuscript fragments, of a particular New Testament book, “pure” representations of a unique autograph?

(8) Did the New Testament autographs provide an accurate account

of what a man named Jesus said and did?

(9) Who was Jesus?

(10) Were the autographs, for the book referred to as the

Christian Bible, inspired by God?

Are you one of these individuals whose heart can be reached only by a path that goes through your head? If so, this book was written for you. An appeal is made, not to your emotions, but rather to your cold, hard logic. In some cases, a question cannot be answered with certainty. In those cases, however, so much evidence can be amassed in support of a particular answer that a final step of faith is small and guided as opposed to large and blind. B. D. McLaughlin, Sc.D. A Humble Servant of Jesus Christ 20 Hartford Rd. Sewell, NJ 08080 CHAPTER I THE BEGINNING

Is the Christian description of the beginning of the universe consistent with the scientific description? This question can be answered with certainty. To answer it, examine the basic scientific and Biblical facts about the beginning.

Science says:

The universe began at a definite point in time.
Verification of any type of existence prior to the beginning of the universe is beyond the domain of science.
Since the beginning, the universe has evolved in a qualitatively understood manner for about 18 billion years.

The Bible says:

The universe began by “ex nihilo” creation (bara) at a definite point in time (Gen 1:1, Heb 11:3).
God existed prior to the beginning of the universe.
Since the beginning, indefinitely long periods of time (yom) have elapsed.

Although science and the Bible do not say exactly the same thing about the beginning of the universe, there is clearly no inconsistency; therefore, the answer to the question is “yes.”

Claims of inconsistency generally originate with Christians who advocate one of the following concepts: (a) The “big-bang” theory cannot explain the bringing of the universe into existence from nothing (ex nihilo) because it requires the pre-existence of space, time and energy/matter. (b) Biblical genealogies can be used to construct chronologies of personalities from Adam to Noah and Noah to Abraham. Also, each creation day (yom), described in Genesis, was 24 hours long. It follows that Adam was created no more than six to ten thousand years ago and the universe was created no more than 144 hours earlier.

Concept (a) is scientifically unsound; concept (b) is theologically unsound. Both concepts have served as needless barriers to the acceptance of Christian beliefs. At no time has either concept represented the thinking of mainline science or mainline Judeo-Christian theology. (1,2) CHAPTER II

THE ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE

Does the universe exist primarily to serve as a home for us? This question cannot be answered with certainty. However, considerable evidence can be amassed in support of a “yes” answer. Consider the following facts.

Life is possible only because the universe has been expanding and is continuing to expand at precisely the critical rate required to avoid recollapse. If it had been expanding any faster, regions which had developed slightly higher than average densities would have continued to expand indefinitely and would not have formed stars and galaxies. If the universe had been expanding any slower, it would have recollapsed long before the elements of life could have been generated in stars by nucleosynthesis. The numerical value of expansion rate is called the Hubble constant (H) and is approximately 15km/sec/million light years.

Life is possible only because the gravitational constant (G), the quantum of angular momentum (h), the speed of light (c) and the elementary unit of electrical charge (e) have the precise values required for the evolution of a very particular kind of universe. This universe contains short-lived, metal scattering blue stars and long-lived, evenly burning, slowly turning stars like the sun.

Life is possible only because of the delicate balance between the strong force that binds nuclei together and the enormous repulsive force between protons.

Life is possible only because the electromagnetic coupling constant and the ratio of electron mass (m) to proton mass (M) are precisely what is required to allow the formation of chemical compounds.

Life is possible only because the weak-interaction coupling constant has precisely the proper value. If it were slightly smaller or larger, helium production would either be 100% or zero. In one case there would be no water, in the other an entirely variant stellar evolution.

Since H and c have precisely the proper values to permit life, it follows that the characteristic length or “radius” of the universe (c/H) could not be changed without precluding our existence.

Since the universe is expanding at the critical rate to avoid recollapse, its density must be equal to 3c^2H^2/8(pi)G. The quantities c, H and G have precisely the correct values to permit life; therefore, the density of the universe is exactly what is required to permit our existence.

This list could be continued but it is already long enough to justify a conclusion: not one of the fundamental properties of the universe could be changed without eliminating the possibility of life. Could this be what the Bible refers to when it says God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly evident in the things He has made (Rom 1:20)? Did a Supreme Being deliberately create the universe in such a way that the slightest change in any one of its properties would preclude our existence? The only serious alternative offered, to date, is based on the idea that not just one but rather an ensemble of universes exists; each member of the ensemble is self-contained and unaffected by the rest. In this ensemble of universes, only our universe and those similar to ours contain living creatures. The rest are lifeless. The ensemble concept makes our universe just one of many and thereby avoids the need for us to occupy a special place. Aside from the fact that no supporting evidence exists for the ensemble concept, is it really more difficult to believe in God than in an ensemble of universes? (3,4,5) CHAPTER III

THE MORAL LAW

What is the origin of the moral law written on each of our hearts? This question presupposes that you and I have identical codes of conduct embedded deep in our subconscious minds; we can try to suppress or ignore this code but it is there nonetheless. This deeply embedded code of conduct is the little voice inside which, for example, tells you not to:

steal from, double-cross or murder persons who treat you with kindness.
abuse your children, elderly, sick or disabled.
admire selfishness

If you question the existence of this code of conduct or “moral law,” try to locate a stable society, anywhere in recorded history, which espoused the three items listed above.

The origin of the moral law cannot be determined with certainty; but, once again, the evidence points strongly in a particular direction. Three origins have been suggested:

(1) The words “moral law” encompass certain types of behavior which have developed in us by the process of biological evolution. The details of this development process are covered by such theories as “kinship” and “reciprocation” and may even employ the principles of game theory. The types of behavior classified as “moral law” accomplish no purpose other than to enhance the survivability of the human race.

(2) The “moral law” is learned social behavior passed from adults to children; collective human intelligence has recognized that certain restrictions on social behavior result in a more pleasant society for all.

(3) The “moral law” is really God’s commandment to love your neighbor as yourself (Mat 22:36-40). This commandment embodies the sum total of the law given to us by God (Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14). To make sure no one missed the instructions, he wrote his law on everyone’s heart (Rom 1:19,32; 2:14,15).

Which of these explanations is consistent with the facts?

Consider, for a moment, the following groups of people in our

society; assume these people are institutionalized with no means of support beyond public charity.

Elderly (with no relatives) suffering from severe Alzheimer’s disease
Orphan babies with AIDS
Orphan babies with Down’s Syndrome

Preserving the lives of these individuals causes a drain on the resources of society and in no way enhances the survivability of the human race. Would you like to have them killed? If a little voice inside you is saying, “These people need love and compassion,” that voice does not have biological evolution as its origin. Mutation, genetic drift, migration and natural selection cannot explain love.

Collective human intelligence has clearly recognized that certain restrictions on social behavior result in a more pleasant society for all; the existence of civil and criminal law reflect this recognition. However, in your daily life, cheating would often be more pleasurable than truthfulness. On those occasions when you know you won’t be caught, do you really refrain from cheating because you know, in the long run, society will be a better place for it? If so, you are an unusual person. Cultures which use the “good of society” as a basis for morality are generally rife with crookedness. If confronted with opportunities to:

keep $10,000 cash you found in a wallet on the sidewalk.
commit adultery while away from your spouse
conceal $15,000 of your income from the IRS

Would what’s “good for society” be an important consideration when making a decision? Is your innermost, secret character based on learned social behavior about what’s “good for society?” There is no evidence to support such a premise.

This leaves God as the most likely source of that little voice telling you right from wrong. CHAPTER IV

BIOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION

Did life arise spontaneously from non-living matter? This question can be answered with certainty.

Every living creature contains at least one blueprint which furnishes instructions for making all the creature’s biochemicals. This blueprint is a long chain of chemical units called nucleotides. The chain is neither ordered nor random but is, instead, complex; information is stored by means of a linear sequence. In a living creature, a complex polynucleotide is never constructed from nucleotide building blocks without the assistance of another kind of chemical called an informed enzyme. The informed enzyme is a long chain of chemical units called amino acids. This chain is also complex and also stores information by means of a linear sequence. In a living creature, an informed enzyme is never constructed from amino acid building blocks without a complex polynucleotide to provide the code. Thus, we are faced with the catch-22 of life’s origin. The complex polynucleotide, which is the blueprint for all the biochemicals of a living creature, cannot be constructed without an informed enzyme; but the informed enzyme cannot be constructed without a complex polynucleotide to code for it! If life developed spontaneously in a primordial soup of nucleotides, amino acids and nutrients, then either the first complex polynucleotide or the first informed enzyme was formed purely by random chance. The probability of such an event is virtually zero.

By way of illustration, consider a racemic mixture of all 20 Lamino acids and the corresponding 19 optical isomers. What is the probability that these 39 different kinds of amino acids will assemble themselves into a particular kind of primitive complex amino acid chain called cytochrome-c? This particular chain has 101 amino acid sites. If each of the 39 types of amino acid has the same probability of being incorporated into the chain, then the number of sequences which can be formed is simply 39 raised to the 101 power or 4.98E+160. Given a more than generous estimate of the number of synonymous amino acid residues for each site in the cytochrome c chain, the number of cytochrome c sequences which can be formed has been estimated to be 12E+63. Therefore, the probability of producing a cytochrome c chain by random chance is 2.4E-97. If the primordial soup contained E+44 amino acid molecules (a gross overestimate) which combined, broke-up, and recombined in groups of 101 every second for a billion years, the probability of finding one molecule of cytochrome-c during that period is (2.4E-97)(3.15E+58) or 7.56E- 39. This is the probability that a sequence of honest coin tosses will produce 126 heads in a row. Keep in mind that cytochrome-c is only a primitive protein which contains nowhere near the information found in an informed enzyme.

The cytochrome-c illustration was based on the assumption that amino acid chains were formed in a prebiotic soup by a specific chemical process: random formation and destruction of full length chains each second for a billion years. If the illustration had been based on path independent thermodynamic concepts, the computed probability would have been virtually the same.

The only way to achieve probabilities significantly larger than zero is to assume that spontaneous generation of life did not occur by random chance. In other words the chemical bonding preferences of nucleotides or amino acids caused them to spontaneously form complex sequences. Unfortunately for those who would prefer to view first life as the inevitable consequence of nature’s laws at work over vast spans of time, the concept of “directed chance” or “biochemical predestination” has neither experimental nor theoretical support.

A conviction that complex amino acid or nucleotide chains appeared spontaneously in the primitive milieu on earth is clearly based more on faith than science. The scientific answer to the question asked at the beginning of the chapter is “no.” (6,7) CHAPTER V

SURVIVAL-OF-THE-FITTEST

Biological evolution presumably functions by mutation, genetic drift, migration and natural selection. Natural selection is supposed to operate through differential reproduction or “survival-of-the-fittest.” Is “survival-of-the-fittest” a rational basis for the concept of biological evolution? This question can be answered with certainty.

Consider the following two theses:

A = a creature is the most fit B = the creature will, all things being equal (ceteris paribus), live the longest and have the most offspring

The principle encompassed by the phrase “survival-of-thefittest” can be expressed using the sentence “if A then B.”

In such a sentence, A and B may be different ways of stating exactly the same idea. If so, the sentence “if A then B” is called a tautology and is always true. Conversely, A and B may express different ideas. In that case, the sentence “if A then B” cannot be regarded as true unless the truth of B can be independently established whenever the truth of A can be verified.

If the particular sentence with which this chapter is concerned is viewed as a tautology, then it is just as devoid of scientific content as the sentence “if a man is married then the man is a husband.” Conversely, if A and B express different ideas, then circumstances must be found such that the truth of A and the truth of B can be independently tested before the truth of “if A then B” can be evaluated. Herein lies the problem. The truth of “a creature is the most fit” cannot be tested for any creature under any circumstances because the overall “fitness” of the creature can neither be measured nor computed. Since the truth of A is untestable, it follows that the truth of “if A then B” is likewise untestable. Therefore, the answer to the question addressed in this chapter is “no.”

Although deficiencies fatal to the theory of biochemical evolution are gradually being recognized by the scientific community, our inability to measure or compute the “fitness” of a creature has not yet been viewed as fatal to the theory of biological evolution. Investigators generally settle for measuring small numbers of morphological, physiological or behavioral “traits” and insinuate that, if all other aspects of “fitness” are fixed, these traits alone will suffice.

Unfortunately, no theory is available which shows how the vast

majority of aspects may be fixed while a chosen few are free to vary. A change in a single trait may alter 1000 aspects important to the overall “fitness” of an organism. What sort of interfering parameters might exist cannot even be imagined due to the absence of a theory for reducing the organism to a calculable whole.

If the concept of natural selection is clearly untestable, why does the theory of biological evolution continue to dominate the field of biology? Partly because the concept’s untestability makes it immune to falsification. Partly because the concept has become integrated into the common working knowledge of the biological community and has become the context within which that community understands the world. Partly because the alternative appears to involve God. (8) CHAPTER VI

BASIS OF CHRISTIAN BELIEFS

Are Christians supposed to think about the basis for their beliefs? This question can be answered “yes” with certainty because not every basis provides a suitable foundation for the Christian faith.

Beliefs are generally based on:

Blind faith in a learned person (authority figure)
Intuition or “feeling”
Personal experience
Thinking (logic, reason)

Which are acceptable; which are not?

If the dentist informs you that one of your fillings is cracked and you allow him to replace it even though you don’t have a toothache, then your belief in his truthfulness is based on blind faith in a learned person. In our complex technological society, we must base some decisions on blind faith because we can’t become experts on everything. However, we don’t generally use blind faith as a basis for our beliefs if a mistake could be life threatening or financially ruinous. When a false belief can have grave consequences for ourselves or our loved ones, we may consult available experts or “learned persons” but, ultimately, we weigh the evidence ourselves and personally make a decision about what is true or what represents the best course of action.

Consider, for a moment, the interesting possibility that you, as a person, may continue to exist after the death of your physical body. Consider the additional possibility that this existence may be either meaningful or meaningless depending on what’s in your heart when you die. Given these premises, a false belief about what should be in your heart will have grave consequences. If you deal with this possibility like you deal with other important issues, you will not blindly accept the opinion of a learned person. You might consult a parent, teacher, pastor, priest, rabbi, mulla or guru but, ultimately, you will personally weigh the evidence and personally make a decision. Blind faith in a learned person is not an acceptable basis for any religious belief because the stakes are too high.

Intuition or “feeling” is equally unacceptable as a basis for Christian beliefs because a very basic Christian belief is that the human heart is too deceitful to be trusted (Ps 14:1; Prov 12:15, 14:12; Is 32:6; Jer 17:9). The Bible never encourages us

to trust our emotions. On the other hand, a personal experience

is quite acceptable as a basis for certain Christian beliefs provided the experience is real and consistent with scripture.

What about “thinking?” Many people believe the Bible teaches us to replace thinking with blind faith. If that were the case, the Bible would be encouraging us to do something inconsistent with our own common sense. In truth, the Bible encourages us, from cover to cover, to think! The following examples will illustrate this point.

Deut 18:21-22 – We are encouraged to use simple logic to distinguish between a false prophet and a prophet of God. “If a prophet makes one mistake then the prophet is not getting his or her information from God” or, what is the same thing, “If a prophet is of God then the prophet always speaks the truth.”

Is 1:18 ——- We are told God wants to reason with us.

Hos 4:6 ——- We are informed that we can be destroyed by lack

of knowledge.

Luke 7:19-23 — John the Baptist sends two of his followers to Jesus with the following question, “Are you the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” Instead of saying, “Yes, I am the one you have awaited,” Jesus performs miracles in full view of John’s followers. After a while, Jesus sends the followers back to John with information obtained by first hand observation. Jesus says for them to tell John what they’ve seen so he can deduce the answer for himself.

Rom 1:20 —— We are invited to look carefully at each of the things around us — an incredible level of information stored in the most primitive DNA, a universe expanding at the critical rate to avoid recollapse, abstract thought along with love in the mind of man — and try to explain these things without invoking the existence of God.

1 Cor 14:20 — Christians are advised to think like adults.

1 Thes 5:21 — Christians are advised to carefully examine

everything.

1 Pet 3:15 —- Christians are advised to always be ready to

defend their beliefs by providing a sound basis.

1 John 4:1-4 — Christians are advised to test every prophet to

determine if he or she speaks for God.

Jude 3 ——– Christians are encouraged to contend earnestly

for the faith.

Clearly, the fundamental beliefs of Christianity should be based on sound thinking supplemented by personal experience. Christian beliefs should never be based on blind faith or intuition. What about your beliefs? What exactly do you believe and why do you believe it? CHAPTER VII

PURITY OF NEW TESTAMENT TEXT

Are each of the known Greek manuscripts and manuscript fragments, of a particular New Testament book, “pure” representations of a unique autograph? This question cannot be answered with certainty since no autographs have been found. However, the available evidence supports a “yes” answer.

By 1968, the existence of 5358 Greek New Testament manuscripts and manuscript fragments had been documented by scholars. Among these, more than 200,000 variants have been detected. To put this in perspective, the following facts should be considered:

If a single word is misspelled in 3000 manuscripts and manuscript fragments, this single word is listed as the cause of 3000 variants.
The more than 200,000 variants can be assigned to about 10,000 locations in the New Testament; serious controversy exists concerning the legitimacy of words found at approximately 400 of these locations.

Because the New Testament contains roughly 200,000 words and only 400 are the subject of serious controversy, it must be concluded that the Greek New Testament text, derived from all 5358 manuscripts and manuscript fragments, is more than 99% “pure.” This compares with a 95% “purity” for the Iliad based on 643 manuscripts and a 90% “purity” for the Mahabharata (the national epic of India). Even the Koran, which originated in the seventh century A.D., suffered from a large collection of variants that necessitated the Orthmanic revision.

The New Testament has not only survived in more manuscripts than any other ancient writing but it has survived in a much “purer” form than any other great book. In addition, it is interesting to note that not one shred of Christian doctrine hangs on debatable text.

The documented high degree of agreement, among the Greek manuscripts and manuscript fragments of a particular New Testament book, cannot logically be viewed as accidental. More likely it implies that each manuscript and fragment reflects a unique autograph as its ultimate source. (9) CHAPTER VIII

ACCURACY OF NEW TESTAMENT TEXT

Did the New Testament autographs provide an accurate account of what a man named Jesus said and did? This question will be addressed with the help of a logic tree.

*
*
* JESUS JESUS DID NOT DID EXIST. EXIST. * *

*
*
* NEW TESTAMENT AUTO- NEW TESTAMENT AUTOGRAPHS PROVIDED GRAPHS PROVIDED ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF INACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT JESUS SAID AND WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID. DID. * *

*
*
* INACCURATE ACCOUNT OF INACCURATE ACCOUNT OF JESUS WAS ACCIDENTAL. JESUS WAS DELIBERATE.

One and only one of the four statements located at branch tips must be true.

(1) Jesus did not exist.

(2) The New Testament autographs provided an accurate account of

what a man named Jesus said and did.

(3) The New Testament autographs accidentally provided an

inaccurate account of what a man named Jesus said and did.

(4) The New Testament autographs deliberately provided an

inaccurate account of what a man named Jesus said and did.

The subsequent paragraphs of this chapter will examine the

likelihood that statements (1), (3) and (4) represent truth. The falsity of these three statements and, therefore, the truth of statement (2) cannot be established with certainty. However, so much evidence can be amassed in support of this position that a final step of faith is small and guided as opposed to large and blind.

(1) JESUS DID NOT EXIST.

The existence of a man named Jesus was claimed by:

Josephus, the first century Jewish historian
Tacitus, the first century Roman historian
The first century authors of the Gnostic gospels
The first century authors of the New Testament autographs

These four sets of authors did not share a common background, philosophy or religion. Why would they independently invent or perpetuate the invention of a fictitious character who would have been a virtual contemporary for each of them? Furthermore, even if one or more of them did invent such a character, why wasn’t the hoax unmasked by eye-witnesses; why didn’t someone stand up and say, “This man Jesus never existed”? I can’t think of any good reasons. Can you?

(3) THE NEW TESTAMENT AUTOGRAPHS ACCIDENTALLY PROVIDED AN

INACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT A MAN NAMED JESUS SAID AND DID.

Consider the following:

The contents of the New Testament autographs must have been completely consistent with the beliefs of the Christian community at the time the autographs were circulated. Otherwise, the autographs would have been rejected just like the Gnostic gospels and other “heretical” writings were rejected.
The New Testament autographs must have pre-dated the oldest known manuscript fragments.

The oldest known manuscript fragments have been placed in the early second century A.D. This most likely means the actual Greek autographs were known to some portion of the Christian community during the first century. Furthermore, the fact that the autographs were accepted by their readers as statements of truth means that those autographs accurately described the beliefs of the Christian community at that time. How then, could first century Christians, including those who wrote the autographs, have developed, totally by accident, inaccurate beliefs about what Jesus said and did when eye-witnesses were available to challenge those beliefs. I can’t think of a way. Can you?

Clearly, the idea that New Testament autographs accidentally provided an inaccurate account of what a man named Jesus said and did is viable only if the events in the life of Jesus had been recorded long after the death of all eye-witnesses. For example, if the events in His life had been handed down by word of mouth until 300A.D. and then finally began to be written down in what we now refer to as New Testament autographs, it is reasonable to believe that what He said and did could have become distorted. What was recorded would have been consistent with the beliefs of the Christian community of 300A.D. but those beliefs would have been erroneous.

(4) THE NEW TESTAMENT AUTOGRAPHS DELIBERATELY PROVIDED AN

INACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT A MAN NAMED JESUS SAID AND DID.

This means the New Testament autographs contained deliberate lies set forth by certain individuals in the first century Christian community. Since eye-witnesses were alive to challenge these lies, the hoax could not have been perpetrated without the “clout” of the disciples. The disciples must have been at least willing conspirators if not the actual originators of the fraud. Since individuals do not usually conspire to defraud without anticipating some kind of gain, it is reasonable to ask, “What did the disciples get for their trouble?” There is no record to indicate they achieved wealth or political power. Instead, the disciples, along with the rest of the first century Christians, received persecution, torture and death as a reward for their beliefs. Yet no disciple ever recanted his story. When, in recorded history, have sane men ignored personal gain and freely chosen persecution, torture and death to preserve what they knew to be a lie?

If you can rationalize the idea that eleven men, and their associates, risked their lives, with no hope of personal gain, to promulgate what they knew to be a lie, then another question must be asked. Why did anyone believe them? History confirms that Christianity became a powerful evangelical force during the first century. Were all the converts more gullible than you? Were they so dumb they could be convinced without evidence that a poor carpenter rose bodily from the dead after spending three days in a tomb? If these converts were only of average intelligence, they would have demanded something more than the claims of a ragtag bunch of amateur preachers. Surely they would have demanded something like the personal word of a trusted friend who witnessed a miracle or even saw the resurrected Jesus with his own eyes.

Some autographs even offered bold challenges daring skeptics to refute the lies (Acts 2:22; 26:24-28; 1 Cor 15:3-7). These challenges were thrust in the face of Jew and Roman alike. Yet no one stepped forth to unmask the hoax. Why?

Finally, if you and your associates decided to concoct a hoax, focusing on a person claiming one-ness with God, would you agree to the fabrication of details that made this person seem susceptible to the same human frailties as you and I? If you personally were going to play the part of a disciple in this hoax, would you tolerate the fabrication of details that made you look selfish and petty? Such details were incorporated into the New Testament autographs:

Certain disciples argued about who among them should be most important when Jesus acquired his kingdom (Mark 9:33-37).
The disciples deserted Jesus after his arrest (Mat 26:56).
After the arrest of Jesus, one of the disciples denied even being acquainted with him (Mat 26:69-75).
Some people thought Jesus was crazy (John 10:20).
Jesus could not perform miracles in a certain geographic location (Mark 6:1-5).
Jesus spent his early life uncertain about the nature of his ministry (Luke 2:51-52; 3:23).
Jesus confessed ignorance about certain future events (Mark 13:32).
Jesus had moments of bitterness (Mat 26:36-46).
Jesus uttered a cry of despair from the cross (Mark 15:34).

If you were fabricating events for a text which you planned to stuff down the throats of gullible people, would you include these nine items?

I contend that statements (1), (3) and (4) on our logic tree must be viewed as false based on all available evidence. Therefore, the question asked at the beginning of this chapter can be answered “yes” with near certainty. (10,11,12) CHAPTER IX

THE IDENTITY OF JESUS

Who was Jesus? Once again, the question cannot be answered with certainty but so much evidence can be amassed in support of a particular answer that a final step of faith is small and guided as opposed to large and blind.

Let us begin by trying to find out who Jesus claimed to be. Based on chapter VIII, “who he claimed to be” was accurately recorded in the New Testament autographs. Based on chapter VII we can learn the content of these autographs using the Greek text derived from more than 5000 manuscripts and manuscript fragments. Finally, if we consult a translation faithful to the Greek text, we don’t even need to learn Greek.

The fifth chapter of John tells us Jesus broke the fourth commandment by healing a man on the Sabbath; He then encouraged this man to likewise violate the Sabbath by telling him to pick up his bed and carry it away. When confronted by the Jews, Jesus said He was working because his Father was working. To the Jews, this meant Jesus was making himself equal with God.

In the eighth chapter of John, Jesus claimed to have existed as a person since before Abraham was born.

The tenth chapter of John indicates Jesus claimed to be one with the Father; the Jews understood this to mean Jesus was making himself out to be God.

When Jesus appeared to “doubting” Thomas, as recorded in the twentieth chapter of John, Thomas addressed him as God; Jesus accepted this greeting.

Jesus healed a paralytic in the second chapter of Mark but, before the physical healing, He forgave the man’s sins. Scribes in the audience asked themselves, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

In the fourteenth chapter of Mark, the high priest asked Jesus if He was the Son of God. Jesus replied, “I am.”

These examples show who Jesus claimed to be; Jesus claimed to be God! He was executed, not for any crime against man, but for blasphemy. Was the claim of Jesus true or false? This question will be addressed with the help of a logic tree.

*
*
* JESUS’ CLAIM TO JESUS’ CLAIM TO BE GOD WAS TRUE BE GOD WAS FALSE * *

*
*
* JESUS REALIZED JESUS DIDN’T REALIZE HIS CLAIM TO BE GOD HIS CLAIM TO BE GOD
WAS FALSE WAS FALSE

One and only one of the three statements located at branch tips must be true.

(1) Jesus’ claim to be God was true.

(2) Jesus realized his claim to be God was false.

(3) Jesus didn’t realize his claim to be God was false.

The subsequent paragraphs of this chapter will examine the likelihood that statements (2) and (3) represent truth. The falsity of these two statements and, therefore, the truth of statement (1) cannot be established with certainty. However, so much evidence can be amassed in support of this position that a final step of faith is small and guided as opposed to large and blind.

(2) JESUS REALIZED HIS CLAIM TO BE GOD WAS FALSE

This means Jesus was a blasphemous, pernicious, hypocritical, foolish liar!

Blasphemous because His claim would have been an insult to God.
Pernicious because He asked others to trust Him alone for their eternal destiny.
Hypocritical because He told others to be honest whatever the cost.
Foolish because it was His claim to be God that led to his crucifixion.

If you believe the New Testament autographs provided an accurate

account of what Jesus said and did then you can study the character of Jesus using a good translation of the derived Greek text. In those pages, you will discover the most pure and noble person in recorded history. How could a deceitful, selfish, depraved man have flawlessly lived the life of a pure and noble person? I don’t know of a way. Do you?

(3) JESUS DIDN’T REALIZE HIS CLAIM TO BE GOD WAS FALSE

This means Jesus actually believed He was God even though He really wasn’t; in other words, Jesus was insane! I challenge you to read chapters 5, 6 and 7 in the Book of Matthew and conclude you have read the words of a madman. I challenge you to pick up a red-letter addition of the New Testament, read all the teachings attributed to Jesus and conclude you have read the ravings of a lunatic.

I contend that statements (2) and (3) on our logic tree must be viewed as false based on all available evidence. Therefore, statement (1) can be viewed as true with near certainty. The final step of faith required to believe that Jesus was God is small indeed.

Notice our logic tree offers only three alternatives: (1) Lord, (2) Liar and (3) Lunatic. One and only one of these three L’s was an accurate description of the man Jesus. What about that other option selected by most people in the world today? “Jesus was clearly a fine, articulate fellow offering lofty principles, sound teaching and great leadership but, just as clearly, Jesus was not God.”

The fact that Jesus claimed to be God makes this belief irrational. Neither a deceitful liar nor a crazy person can be viewed as a great moral leader of men.

Finally, if Jesus’ claim to be God was true when He walked the earth 1960 years ago, then surely He is still God today. (12) CHAPTER X

SOURCE OF THE BIBLE

Were the autographs, for the book referred to as the Christian Bible, inspired by God? By Christian Bible we mean the 39 books of the Old Testament (corresponding to the 24 books of the Jewish Scriptures) and the 27 books of the New Testament.

The autographs for the 39 Old Testament books were written over a period of approximately 1000 years by many different authors. If what these documents taught was not inspired by God then somewhere, among the high purity manuscripts existing in the first century, we would have expected God incarnate to identify at least one accidental or deliberate false teaching. Curiously, Jesus viewed the manuscripts to which he had access as being completely free of false teaching (Mat 5:18; 21:42; 22:29; Luke 24:44; John 5:39). The probability that the mere teachings of fallible men could be judged inerrant by God must indeed be small. Clearly, in the opinion of Jesus, the Old Testament autographs were inspired by God.

What about the New Testament autographs? Jesus clearly implied that the teachings of the disciples and their colleagues “would be” inspired by God (Mat 28:18-20; John 14:26; Acts 9:15).

What you believe about scriptural inspiration is determined by the importance you attach to the opinion of Jesus. If you believe Jesus is God, then the answer to the question asked at the beginning of this chapter is “yes.” EPILOGUE

If, after reading the previous ten chapters and studying the indicated references, you view my logic as flawed then I would appreciate an opportunity to examine your logic. I am not interested in protecting unsound thinking even it’s my own; I am interested only in the truth. Please read no further but, instead, commence immediately to formulate a basis for the “correct” answers to the ten questions I have posed.

Conversely, if you accept my logic, please continue reading; particularly if the first five chapters have shaken your trust in the materialistic/humanistic answers to important questions and the last five chapters have shaken your rejection of Christianity. In the next few paragraphs I’m going to delineate some important truths growing out of the beliefs that Jesus is God and the Bible was inspired by God. These paragraphs are directed at your heart since I am assuming your head has already been reached.

The one true God, existing as three eternal distinct persons, created the universe as a home for man and then created a man and a woman to live on the earth. God loved the man and woman and wanted them to return that love. They chose to reject God and desired to become gods themselves. Their disobedience ushered them and all their descendants onto the path of sin. Humanity has paid a great price for their decision: aging, disease, suffering, hatred, despair, loneliness, war, jealousy, murder, grief, death and, worst of all, separation from our creator. You see, God is holy and cannot fellowship with sinful creatures like you and I.

God was faced with a dilemma. On one hand sin was preventing Him from fellowship with his creatures; on the other, God loved each individual so much He could not bear the thought of separation. But sin could not simply be overlooked; a price had to be paid for every crime. Unfortunately, if you and I paid the price for our own crimes, our souls would spend eternity in Hell. God found the solution to this dilemma.

Two of the three persons who are God have a Father/Son relationship. The Father sent the Son to earth to be incarnated as a man. If this man could live a sinless life culminating in execution for crimes He didn’t commit, that punishment would pay the price for every sin throughout the history of the human race. This is exactly what transpired about 1960 years ago. Jesus paid the price for the sins of every man and woman who ever lived. But there’s a catch. No one has been or will be simply handed the gift of redemption automatically. The gift cannot be received by you until your heart is right with God and getting your heart right with God is very difficult. You can’t do it by joining a particular church, faithfully attending all church

activities, tithing, dedicating your life to Christian service,

becoming a pastor, living what you and your friends consider to be a holy life, making life-risking sacrifices for Jesus or exercising some spiritual gift. All these things are far too easy. To get your heart right, you must make something like the following statements to God and mean them to the depths of your soul:

(1) God, I am a sinner. Perhaps I have not murdered children or stolen from the poor but, to a holy God, my heart is black as coal. I can never stand before You justified by my own merit.

(2) I ask Your forgiveness for my sins.

(3) I believe You love me so much You chose to pay the price for my sins; I can stand before You justified only because Jesus Christ died on the cross for my redemption.

(4) I accept the gift of redemption and invite You to come into my heart, become Lord of my life and lead me down the path of repentance.

THINK ABOUT IT DEAR READER…THINK ABOUT IT. REFERENCES

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Wiley, H.O., Christian Theology, Vol. 1, Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, (1940) pp. 455, 458.
Hawking, S.W., The Anisotropy of the Universe at Large Times, Confrontation of Cosmological Theories with Observational Data, M.S. Longair (ed.), Copyright 1974 by IAU, pp. 283-286.
Wheeler, J.A., The Universe as a Home for Man, American Scientist, November-December (1974) pp. 683-691.
Neidhardt, W.J., The Anthropic Principle: A Religious Response, J. American Sci. Affiliation, Vol. 36, No. 4, December (1984) pp. 201-207.
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Geisler, N.L. and Nix, W.E., From God to Us, Moody Press, Chicago (1974) pp. 180-181.
Josephus, Complete Works, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapt. 3, Para. 3, Kregel Pub., Grand Rapids (1981).
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