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Tag Archives: evolution

“Imagine” – An Atheist’s Argument Against God: Evidence (2)

05 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by Ron Thomas in Atheism, God

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Apologetics Press, “Imagine”, creation, empirical evidence, evolution, John Lennon, Warren Christian Apologetics Center

Sub-titled: John Lennon’s “Imagine” thinking

“The Argument from Lack of Empirical Evidence argues that there has not been any reliable, testable evidence to support the hypothesis that God exists despite many attempts, and it is therefore not rational to believe that there is a God. If God interacts with our universe in any meaningful way, then the effects of his interaction must be detectable and measurable, but no such interactions have been reliably demonstrated.”

REPLY: Empirical evidence is an interesting word. Notice this remark: “If God interacts with our universe in any meaningful way, then the effects of his interaction must be detectable and measurable, but no such interactions have been reliably demonstrated.” Detectable and measurable are interesting terms; consider the following.

Let us reword this remark to make a parallel statement. “The Argument from Lack of Empirical Evidence argues that there has not been any reliable, testable evidence to support the hypothesis that evolution from spontaneous generation ever occurred despite many attempts, and it is therefore not rational to believe that the general theory of evolution is true.”

Since there are no known exception to the so-called “laws of science” (Miller 9, 2017), “…the laws of thermodynamics prove the spontaneous generation and the eternality of matter are logically and scientifically impossible” (Miller 36, 2017).

Yet, here we are, existing in a material Universe.

The material world/universe exists. There are only two options to account for its existence; 1) it always existed, 2) it came into existence. The first option is false. “The lingering decline predicted by astronomers for the end of the world differs from the explosive conditions they have calculated for its birth, but the impact is the same: modern science denies an eternal existence of the Universe, either in the past or in the future” (Robert Jastrow, cited by Dr. Jeff Miller in Science vs. Evolution, 2013, Apologetics Press, p. 30, emp. added in book). This leaves the second option of the two available.

The second option of the material universe having come into existence, then, presents us with two additional or “sub” options: 1) it came into existence without a cause, 2) it came into existence by a cause. On the first of the two options, “Until the First Law of Thermodynamics ceases to be a fundamental law explaining this Universe, the spontaneous generation of this Universe from nothing is impossible” (Miller, p. 27). Thus, the first option is false. Miller cites the words of Lord Kelvin, the Father of Thermodynamics: “I do not say that, with regard to the origin of life, science neither affirms nor denies Creative Power. Science positively affirms Creative Power…It is not in dead matter that we live and move and have our being, but in the creating and directive Power which science compels us to accept as an article of belief…” (p. 33).

That leaves the second “sub” option, and from this comes two more options from which the material universe came into existence: 1) God, 2) not God. There is no third option.

John Lennon’s words to his song “Imagine” is wishful thinking, not based in reality. One can imagine there is no heaven, no hell, but that is only because the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). The secular world in which we live does not want to give attention to these matters because, if as a society we do, or even on an individual basis, then the questions with the corresponding answers becomes clearer. 1) Where did we (I) come from? 2) Why are we (am I) here? 3) Where are we (am I) going? To a hedonistic society, these profound (and answerable) questions bring meaning and purpose to life, and hedonists (atheists, agnostics, secularists, progressives, liberals, some theists) don’t want that, lest they be deadly wrong in their moral philosophy. In the end, John Lennon’s inquiry/message in the song is meaningless.

The scientific method atheists and agnostics are fond of (especially), leaves them hanging in mid-air, with no foundation upon which they can stand. The material universe has not always existed, but came into existence. The material universe that came into existence did not come into existence by spontaneous generation, but came into existence by a cause. That cause, however, from the perspective of the atheist is not God (a priori)! Who or what then? There is absolutely, positively no evidence that is on their side in this debate. “The creation of the universe remains unexplained by any force, field, power, potency, influence or instrumentality known to physics – or to man. The whole vast imposing structure organizes itself from absolutely nothing. This is not simply difficult to grasp. It is incomprehensible.” (Berlinski, 1998, quoted in Investigating Christian Evidence, 2003, p. 18).

Since atheists/agnostics demand evidentiary based knowledge, and the premises I submitted are evidence, then which of the options, God or not God, will they choose? Will “not-God” be chosen, then by faith (a leap in the dark) the evidence they demand must be forthcoming. We will wait.

 

Man and God’s Wisdom

05 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by Ron Thomas in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

creation, evolution, secular, wisdom

In the grand scheme of this world’s existence, there are competing philosophies. There is a philosophy that says the material universe has always existed. From this material universe that has always existed comes what man knows to be life. In the long ago there was nothing but inanimate material that corresponded to rocks and dirt. At some time in the past from this inanimate material (rocks and dirt) came animate existence (or life). How this is explained is never accomplished.

Another philosophy that gives some explanation to this material universe is the belief that the material universe came into existence, but the source of its existence is itself. In the long ago NOTHING existed. This nothing means there was not one thing material or immaterial; there was absolutely nothing (zero, zip, notta) that existed. Suddenly and without explanation, something came into existence. Some call this a “big bang,” but a big bang without a Creator. There is an inherent problem with this philosophy, however. If nothing existed in the past, since nothing can only “create” nothing, then it is absolutely the case that nothing produces (creates) nothing—and we don’t exist! Complete nonsense, but some actually believe it.

A third philosophy gives explanation to the material universe by saying that, indeed, there was creation by a source, but that source is unknown. This third philosophy is more in accord with the evidence, but there is a strong determination to keep God, especially the idea as conveyed in Christianity out of the picture.

A fourth philosophy says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis  1:1-2, KJV).

In giving explanation, scientists are just as much controlled by religious fervor as just about anyone else. Their religious fervor is in making certain whatever explanation is given to explain the material universe and life within it, it can’t be God, especially God as described in Scripture, the Bible. Why such religious devotion? There may be many reasons, but at least one of them pertains to the the realm of the supernatural. Since man has very little experience with the supernatural, miracles, it must be the case it never occurred. Of course, “very little experience” does not warrant a deductive conclusion “it never occurred.”

That does not matter, however, to those religiously devoted.

Another reason is related to morality. If the Scriptures are correct in its declarations then there is such a thing as right and wrong and, more than that, there is a judgment day coming. People don’t want to be trouble by such ways of thinking.

Near the end of his life, Joshua told the people of Israel they needed to be very courageous and do all the things written in the Law of Moses (Joshua 23:6-7). This exhortation given them is one, in part, we need also to hear. In this world with the competing ideologies, there are a great many that mock Christians because of their acceptance of a world-view that has at its source Almighty God. “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew” (Proverbs 3:19-20).

What a contrast to the “wisdom” man offers! RT

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