...death in the news these days, or am I simply more aware of it? I just walked into the big house. On one TV, they're talking about the swine flu. On the other, about the University of Georgia professor accused of killing his wife and two other people.
It seems that every time I pull up my CNN (which is daily), I find out about someone else who has died -- and seldom is it a result of natural causes. Are people more desperate in this world? Are they more hopeless that they feel the need to take the lives of others?
The state of the world breaks my heart.
>>>>>
I actually came in here to write about my newest project. For those who know me well, you'll be surprised that it doesn't involve my sewing machine or a salvaged piece of furniture or anything of the sort. It involves several books and a journal I bought cheaply and is now dedicated for a specific purpose -- to allow me to pour forth my thoughts, observations, and learnings about faith.
This new project was, in part, inspired by my good friend Luke. He and I have vastly different understandings of who God is and about the truths of Christ, hell, and salvation. Yet he and I have a great deal of respect for each other's thoughts on the topics. He understands -- and even appreciates -- my faith, even when he doesn't agree. And I understand -- and appreciate -- his devotion to seeking truth, even when his journey leads him to places I do not also go. This past week he told me about a years-long undertaking of his unlikely group of friends, all who spent a great deal of time thinking and writing about faith and spiritual concepts, and eventually turned their thoughts into a book that they all share. That's just cool.
The project was also partly inspired by listening to slightly intoxicated philosophical conversations regarding the beginning of the universe. I was both sober and intrigued, but felt my hands tied behind me in a figurative manner. My limited knowledge and understanding -- especially apart from the specific mandates of the Bible (a source which is rendered nearly useless in an argument with an atheist or even a Christian who does not take it as full truth) -- forbid me from actually contributing anything of validity or value to the conversation.
That was on the last night in Albuquerque, and the questions plagued me for the entire plane ride home (the looooooong plane ride home. I had plenty of time to think). I knew then that I wanted to explore the topic further. I knew that I wanted to explore the idea of atheism -- to break it down and understand it so that I could also then understand how to argue against it. One of the first lessons of debate is to know the argument of your opposition inside and out, and it's a significant concept in philosophy as well. In all ways you must be prepared to counter objections, and the only way to do that well is to know the objections in advance. Even Peter said so: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15b)
I started the project in earnest last night, and my first question was the simplest, yet one of the hardest: "Does God exist?" This question forms the basis for all other questions: If God does exist, the the floodgates of questions about the specifics of faith open wide. If He does not, then the rest of my questions become moot and the experiment ends.
So far, I have opened the Bible (which assumes, but does not explain the existence of God), the writings of Bertrand Russell (a philosopher who believes that religion is not only untrue, but harmful), and answers penned by Norman Geisler (a Christian philosopher and apologist). I have more to explore, and every reference made by either of these very intelligent men pulls me deeper into into the journey.
Russell brought me only to a point of mental neutrality. At best, all he successfully argued against were the arguments for God, rather than against God himself, which leaves us in limbo, with neither proof for or against His existance. Geisler brings up the very points which Russell raised and argued against him. I wouldn't say that Geisler's arguments are perfect. However, I believe that planting doubt in the mind of a confident atheist is important. After all, if one can prove neither, only a foolish man would settle for ambiguity. It has been said (not by me), that it is better to live as thought there is a God and find out there isn't than to live as though there is no god and find out He is real.
On that note, I need to go to bed. I need to get lots of sleep this week. I was offered to take Friday off so that I can go to New Orleans with Maggie, Luke, Denver, and Paul for Jazz Fest this weekend. I have some comp time built up, and so I'm going to use it. Not only will I see them, but I'll also see some of my favorite people from Albuquerque -- the people I nearly missed my flight with. That's enough to bond you together, believe me.
Much love from Texas.
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