…On the Day They Face the Judgment of Jesus Whom they
Naively Denied
“…that at the
name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord.” (Philippians 2:11)
I highlight the word, “pretenders” (title, above) for the reason that I reject the view
that science is anti-theistic. Science, according
to its simple classical definition, is the study of physical entities and the occurrence
of interactions between them. In line
with these parameters, every careful scientist:
o
Will acknowledge that scientific knowledge, although
vital, is NOT the totality of either factual data or rationality. Indeed scientific research as a discipline
can only be rationally justified by means of non-scientific (religious and philosophical)
reasons.[1]
o
Will acknowledge the boundaries within which
science has authority to pronounce judgments.
o
Will thereby acknowledge that science cannot
disprove or dismiss the possibility of miracle.
o
Will assemble and analyze ALL evidence that is
relevant to the given investigational program.
o
Grants that hypotheses about phenomenal
relationships cannot be absolutely proved.
o
Will NOT settle for only disproving hypotheses
posed by other parties; but rather seek to disprove their own as
well.
o
Will further employ the same scientific
investigation strategy that was used in Charles Darwin’s research for his seminal
work, On the Origin of Species, which is called “abductive reasoning.” This positive methodology is defined
as “beginning with an observation or set of observations, and then seeking
to find the simplest and most likely conclusion from these observations.” This methodology is most effective when
applied in a context where the data is both acknowledged by all, and where a
plurality of competing hypotheses are proposed, each of which seek to offer the
best explanation of that data. In
summary, scientists do not settle for knocking down hypotheses, but attempt to
explain them better than does their competition!
To the question then, “Was
Jesus raised from the dead?” any reply which limits itself to merely denying
that claim must, in light of especially the last point (just above), be judged
amateurish and sub-scientific.
Authentic scientists will instead firstly face the following body of historically-sound
facts:[2]
1) Jesus died due to the rigors of
crucifixion, 2) Was buried, 3) His death caused the disciples to despair, 4)
the tomb was found to be empty a few days later, 5) The disciples had experiences
which they believed were literal appearances of the risen Jesus, 6) They were transformed from fearful
doubters into bold proclaimers who willingly died for their message, 7) This
message was at the center of their preaching, 8) which was first proclaimed in
Jerusalem, the very “scene of the crime,” 9) As a result of their preaching,
the church was born and grew. 10) Sunday
became the new primary day of worship, 11) James, Jesus’ own brother who had
been a skeptic became converted and transformed by his experience of seeing the
risen Jesus, and 12) Sometime later Paul, the great persecutor of the early
Jesus movement, was converted and transformed by seeing the risen Jesus.
[1] Empirical scientific research began NOT in ancient
Greece or Asia, but by Christians who assumed by their belief in God,
that since He created nature, the latter too must have rational order at all
levels. Secondly, the validity of
logical inference is grounded by philosophical arguments.
[2]Did Jesus Rise From the Dead? (Harper and Row, 1987), pp. 19-20. In his debate against former atheist, the
late Antony Flew, New Testament scholar Dr. Gary Habermas laid out twelve
historical facts which are deemed to be historically sound by the vast majority
of historians, many of whom don’t necessarily believe that they prove Jesus
rose from the dead. Hence, they offer alternative hypotheses.
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