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Readers respond with helpful answers for an agnostic
In response to Donna Fennell (‘Hard questions from an agnostic,’ Readers Forum, September): Believe it or not, Christians sometimes have the
same doubts and questions.
My understanding is that God created the universe. He created a perfect man and
woman to enjoy his creation. He gave them free will to choose his way or the
highway. He wanted us to choose him freely.
The first couple chose the highway. I often think that, if I had been in that
garden, I would have done the same thing.
Free will has caused most of the ills of the world; even natural calamities are
probably caused by mankind fiddling with nature.
Regarding God writing ‘Believe in Me’ across the sky at night: I believe he does this, with the galaxies, stars, aurora borealis, etc.
As for non-biblical sources for comment on Jesus, there was Josephus, a Jewish
historian. And don’t discount the gospel writers; Peter and John were his disciples, and wrote of
witnessing his life.
Some questions won’t be answered in this life. We do have the power of belief – whether to, or not. Imagine a Being who could create us – and allow us to say no to him.
Jesus endured much worse than being spit upon – and all he said was, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
I sincerely wish all good things for you.
Cherryl, by email
Very reasonable questions, Donna. I just wanted to comment on one of them.
You stated that not one historian from the time wrote about Jesus. That’s a common conception, but is not really accurate.
We have many early sources of information regarding Jesus – some from historians such as Josephus, and others from politicians like
Cornelius Tacitus. We should really be surprised there are any references from
politicians or historians, because they are not often interested in religious
figures.
Our main source of knowledge is from the people who knew Jesus and followed him.
We can completely rely on what is recorded in the New Testament. It contains
multiple accounts of his life by eye witnesses, and people that had outstanding
moral credibility. We also have letters from the apostles, which were sent to
different churches in the early years. This gives us tremendous insight into
Jesus and his early followers.
God may not be as obvious as you would like; but the truth is there for all who
seek it.
Cory Schmidtz, by email
At some point, everyone should ask questions about why our world is the way it
is.
The Old Testament depicts nations with similar problems to our own – such as hunger and war. In the New Testament, the teachings of Jesus provide
solutions to all these problems. Christ said we must learn to love everyone
equally, and share all we have.
It can readily be seen that a loving way of life would solve all of the world’s problems. Jesus set a good example, by making the welfare of others his main
concern.
A better understanding of Jesus can be found by talking to leaders of
compassionate ministries. Christianity has to be practiced to be appreciated.
David Gale, Burnaby
There are good reasons for believing God exists. These include scientific
evidence such as the fine-tuning of physical constants that allow for the
existence of human life.
If there is no God, and nature is all that exists, it’s hard to see where meaning and reasoning originate. How can meaning come from
mere matter, and reason from the non-rational? If there’s no God, then all that has ever existed is blind matter in motion. That would
include every thought we’ve ever had.
This puts us in the peculiar position of saying our thoughts are rational, while
also professing that these thoughts are the result of non-rational forces. But
if thoughts are the product of blind matter, is there any good reason to trust
any of our thoughts?
It seems more reasonable to believe that more than just matter exists, and that
our intelligent, rational minds are themselves the products of intelligence,
namely God.
Why would God test us “to see if we are worthy to grace heaven?” Because God has high standards. Should we prefer a God who doesn’t care about our spiritual maturity?
How can people improve if they don’t face adversity of some kind? Some say they’ve grown the most through suffering. If God is all-knowing, would it be
far-fetched to think that he has good reasons to allow suffering?
God did something about evil. He became human, to experience that evil firsthand. Even
if I can’t understand why there’s so much suffering, I know it’s not because God doesn’t love us. He takes it so seriously that he willingly suffered himself.
What if the Bible is “biased?” All history is written from a particular viewpoint. Former University of Durham
professor Henry Turner notes: “There is nothing anti-historical in writing history from a standpoint.”
The important question is this: “Do these documents stand up to critical scrutiny?” Take Holocaust historians: their passionate commitment to their subject makes
us all the more certain their work is accurate. The same goes for the New
Testament writers.
Historian Michael Grant (a non-Christian) writes in Jesus: An Historian’s Review:
“If we apply to the New Testament . . . the same sort of criteria as we should
apply to other ancient writings containing historical material, we can no more
reject Jesus’ existence than we can reject the existence of a mass of pagan personages whose
reality as historical figures is never questioned.”
The gospels are independent eyewitness accounts. Remember that the New Testament
was collated later on. In the first century, these documents were written early
(within 30 to 40 years of Jesus’ life), and were circulated throughout the Mediterranean world as separate
writings.
So it’s not the case that there’s one source of information (i.e. the New Testament as a whole), but multiple
sources. And there are references to Jesus in Tacitus, Pliny the Younger,
Suetonius, Josephus and others.
If Jesus was merely an itinerant preacher in some backwater province, it’s remarkable that we have as much information about him as we do, from
non-Christian sources.
Donna, I hope you keep asking questions – but that you also keep looking for answers.
Dennis, by email
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Report on The Cry discouraging
Re: ‘The Cry counters Woodstock nostalgia’: Lloyd Mackey’s reporting came across as negative. I was unable to attend The Cry, but close
friends of mine did – and spoke with delight about the event.
The unsympathetic comments of Gerry Bowler and some unnamed critics were offered
with more space and clarity than anything from The Cry’s Faytene Kryskow.
The concept that Christians should not “clean up the world” was presented uncritically. I fail to see how people giving 11 hours to pray
for their country could be construed as imposing biblical morality on Canada.
I would have expected this kind of cynical and discouraging report from The Province or The Vancouver Sun.
I would have wanted to read something encouraging: how people at the event were
exhorted to be more like Jesus, or to obey God with greater abandon.
You missed a great opportunity to build hope and faith in God’s people.
Cheryl Berto, Delta
God won’t condemn Hutterites
In ‘Hutterites ordered to commit idolatry’ (September), the writer comments: “If the top court in Canada cannot find room to accommodate their religious
beliefs, where will they go?” I’m reminded of an old song: “Where could I go but to the Lord?”
The Hutterites have been a great blessing to Canada. They have a reputation for
honesty and industriousness. Obviously, they do not desire to sin against God
Almighty by committing idolatry, which they believe they would be doing by
carrying photo ID.
However, Romans 13 tells us to be subject to the higher powers ordained by God
for our good. Jesus tells us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.
God will not club the Hutterites for getting their pictures taken. Idolatry is a
matter of the heart, and presumably not in their hearts.
Eva Wares, Burnaby
Evolution as Satan’s masterpiece
Re: ‘Christians divided over evolution’ (Readers’ Forum, August):
Rudolf Clausius demonstrated entropy around 1880 – showing that the idea of evolution is preposterous. There is far more
scientific evidence to support entropy – diminishing order and energy – than to support evolution. You cannot have both.
Science, Christian theology and common observation make it obvious the universe
is dying. Anything that counters this, including the conception of every small
child, takes a unique burst of energy and intelligence – which we call creation.
Philip G. Ney, MD, Victoria
Evolution is a lie, and Satan’s masterpiece. I find it difficult to see how anyone could believe Darwin, when scientists like
Faraday, Kepler, Copernicus and Newton saw God’s work so plainly in nature.
Brendan Ritchie’s attempts at sowing doubt show he is just a blind follower of evolution.
His ‘proofs’ of evolution are easily explained in other ways. We need wisdom teeth for
chewing; the tailbone protects our bottom; and the appendix helps in digestion.
Where is the fossil evidence of whales transitioning from land mammals by
crawling out to sea? They appear in the fossil record suddenly, as does
everything else.
Ritchie compares well-founded belief in creation with the new atheists. Richard
Dawkins actually admitted that nature looks created. Atheists are just scared that there is something out there smarter than
they are.
Creation scientists used to debate at the highest levels at universities; but
they were stopped, because the students cheered for the creationists more than
the evolutionists.
Herb Benty, Surrey
More spiritual warfare over Harry
Re:‘Potter glorifies ‘good’ witchcraft,’ Readers’ Forum, September:
I commend pastors like George Ewald, who will ‘monitor’ and not distribute newspapers like yours when they contain anything with which
he disagrees. I would just hate to have to think for myself, or be involved in discerning how
God works in culture and media.
Stanley Groothof, Telkwa
I was very disappointed with BCCN’s review of the latest Harry Potter film. When did sorcery become acceptable entertainment for Christ followers?
My Bible says this practice is an abomination in the eyes of God.
I was also surprised at one reader’s comment that, unless we have read the Potter books, we shouldn’t comment. Romans 16:19 states: “I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.”
We desperately need the Bible as our guide. Let’s not allow mediocrity and indifference to harm our witness to the world!
Julia Navarro Rojas, Kelowna
October 2009
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