1. EVIDENCE OF THE TRUTH: Why do you believe that there is something out there called "the truth"? ...In this sense I don't believe that there is any such "truth." --Scott McDaniel Crusty(prior to conversion): I guess your question is why do I believe that there is a reason for us humans to be on earth? ... I used to think, a long time ago, that we were just a bunch of neural impulses but now my views have changed. Here is one argument in favor of some "sacred" reason for our existence. I will use the term nature instead of God right now. It seems that nature has given us only what is meant for us, and nothing more. Animals are given certain physical characteristics, especially, to help them adapt to their environment. It also seems that animals are given nothing more than the minimum that they need in order to survive in their environment. One quick example is the frog. Frogs do not see in color, they do not need to. However, in order to survive they are able to see movement to avoid prey and to eat. The type of movement is umimportant. They do not need to know what it is they are eating or escaping from in order to survive. For example, all frogs need to perceive in order to eat a fly in front of their nose is size and movement. I have pretty much proved this. With a fishing pole you can dangle all sorts of things of a small size in front of a frog's nose, and as long as it is moving he will jump after it, time and time again even after being hooked. It seems that a frog doesn't know what a fly looks like. The frog doesn't need to know this to survive. This seems to be consistent through nature. Animals are given just what they need to survive. The one exception is the human. We do not need to think about God in order to physically survive. So why do we? Why were we given the ability to think about things that have nothing to do with our survival on this earth, an ability which does not seem to exist in any other species? The fact that we, as humans, have extra abilities that have no purpose whatsoever in physical survival is extremely significant. There has to be some special reason why we were given these abilities. This reason is the truth. ....This is what I am searching for. RORSCHACH(Scott McDaniel): I feel that we more or less developed them(given abilites from God) randomly....I suspect that those abilities developed out of the same process that gave rise to the evolution of symbols and language...You are correct in assuming that I do not believe that we are here for any reason, individually or as a race... If you ask why we possess these other worldly abilities, I'll just answer "I don't know." And that's pretty hard to argue against. ME: I believe, like Crusty, that there is a reason for our existence. I believe there is a truth; however, each person is entitled to his own opinions. The human's freedom to choose is a special gift. ....Basically, I'd like to ask you this: If our existence is simply dust to dust--no God, no afterlife, just birth, life on earth, and decay--then why do those who believe that it is dust to dust bother doing anything here on earth? Don't (such people) feel that it's a waste of time? Personally, I don't, because I know that my life has a purpose here on earth and elsewhere. When it comes to science, it is powerful and practical, but remember who invented scientific theories and mathematical formulas--humans. Humans are not perfect; therefore, our inventions aren't perfect--science and math included. ...I do feel that science and math have limitations. There are some who find a scientific explanation for everything, but still, it is man's invention, and it is not flawless... RORSCHACH: ...Life may well be a waste of time, but since I've got the time I may as well keep myself occupied and happy(with pleasure). ...look at who invented religion--humans... ME: ...humans invented religion, but humans didn't invent truth and faith. ...God existed before the earth was even formed...the word religion doesn't quite fit the context when it comes to my beliefs. Faith and truth are foundations of my Christian beliefs. ... 2. The Bible is the reliable Word of GOD: NONBELIEVERS: (They try to argue that the Bible isn't reliable because it is flawed and written by man.) ME: The Bible, the Word of God, is the best and most reliable source for truth besides an actual spiritual relationship. Those who wrote the Bible relied totally on faith in God. If submission to God is 100%, not 99.9999%, but 100..00000%, then perfection is possible. Jesus gave 100% (really 10000%); therefore, he was perfect. Those who wrote the Bible of course had their flaws. Paul tells us in the Epistles about falling short of the Glory of God. No one gives God 100% overall, but in some instances, there are people who give God 100% at some time, but not all of the time. At these 100% instances, perfection is possible. (The writers of the Bible) put all their faith in God (as they wrote). Sure, there are fumbles in the Bible. But they are only fumbles in such things as how many went to Jesus' tomb. The Bible...is practically perfect.... Christians can be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit(God, Jesus) is flawless. If flawlessness fills a man, then he is flawless. *NOTE: What I am refering to are "moments of perfection." Man isn't perfect, because he does fall away sooner or later after a moment of perfection. Also note, Ryan, that no matter who it was or how many it was who went to Jesus' tomb, He wasn't there when they arrived. 3. EVIDENCE OF JESUS OUR LORD MATT REEDY: If Jesus knew His claims were false, He would be a liar. And if He was a liar, He was also a hypocrite because he told His followers to be honest, while He lived a lie. He would have also been a fool because His claims led to His crucifixion. How could a great moral teacher knowingly mislead people at the most crucial point of His teaching--His identity? You would have to conclude that He was a deliberate liar. This view doesn't coincide with what we know of Him or the results of His teaching. Wherever Jesus has been proclaimed, lives have changed for the better, alcoholics are cured, thieves made honest. I have seen some of this work personally. Historiasn Philip Schaff says: "This testimony, if not true, must be downright blasphemy or madness. The former hypothesis cannot stand a moment before the moral of purity and dignity of Jesus, revealed in His every word and work, and acknowledged by universal consent. Self-deception in a matter so momentous, and with an intellect in all respects so clear and so sound, is equally out of the question. How could He be an enthusiast or a madman who never lost the even balance of His mind, who sailed serenely over all the troubles and persecutions, who always returned the wisest answer to tempting questions, who calmly and deliberately predicted His death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day, the founding of His church, the destruction of Jerusalem--predictions which have been literally fulfilled? It would take more than a Jesus to invent a Jesus."("History of the Christian Church",p.109). If Jesus wanted people to follow Him, why did He go to a Jewish nation? Why wouldn't he have gone to a larger nation, or to one where people worshipped numerous gods, like Greece? Someone who lived as Jesus lived, taught as He taught and died as He died could not have been a liar. What other alternativbes are there? Well, He could have been lying and not realized it--in which case He was a lunatic. Maybe Jesus really thought He was God, but was mistaken. In Jesus we don't observe the abnormalities and imbalance that go along with being deranged. And His poise and composure under tremendous pressure would be amazing if He were insane. Christ has said some of the most profound things in history, and His teachings of 2,000 years ago still apply today. It certainly would be amazing for an insane man to seem so consistent. Psychiatreist J.T. Fisher stated that if you took all the articles written by the most qualified psychologists and have them refined by the most capable poets, you would have an awkward an incomplete summation of the Sermon on the Mount. And it would suffer immeasurably in comparison (J.T. Fisher-- "A Few Buttons Missing",p.273). Was Jesus Lord? There is a choice to be made: Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. This choice should not be man idle intellectual exercise; Jesus cannot be shelved as simply a moral teacher. All choices are possible, but which is the more probable? NOTE: Matt B. Reedy is a Christian, and the most probable... in fact...only correct choice is Lord. Jesus is Lord, yesterday, today, and forever! ME: There you have it! There is no one who can say that Jesus was not who He claimed to be and be right. Jesus is Lord as I said in the note. Also, note all of the prophecies fulfilled in the Bible. There were over 333 fulfilled. Ryan, if you need material on evolution and refuting it then let me know, and somehow, I will copy some stuff and give it to you. 4. Quick note on EVOLUTION and the BIG BANG: ME: I believe in the type of evolution that involves a camel being related to a llama, or my cat being related to a tiger, or the various human races being related. I do not believe in the organic soup theory or an evolution of man from ape-like creatures. Nor do I really believe in the BIG BANG theory. Some talk about carbon dating and such and the ages of various rocks and stuff. I would reply the following: If God wanted to, He could put enough pressure on a rock in one second to make it "age" 4 billion years! He is GOD! Now, about the BIG BANG theory.....OK, supposedly they think that some huge "rock" or mass exploded and formed the universe ....HEY! If so, where did the rock come from? I don't know may be a reply, or some person may try the same and ask where God came from. I would reply the following: God didn't come from anywhere.....He's always been there. NO rock or mass referred to in the Big Bang could've always been there. Ryan, I hope these notes and excerpts help you; however, the best thing that is going to help is faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Hold up that shield by relying on Him, and then you can "extinguish all the flaming arrows" of those who attack you and reject God. They may tell you that you're wrong, but that won't change the fact of the loving, living, and only GOD. I can choose to not believe in the law of gravity, but that won't change the fact that gravity exists. If one doesn't believe in that law of gravity and tries to reach a goal, they may reach too far, fall off of the ledge and die. In other words, if one doesn't believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, and then that person tries to reach his/her own goal via his/her own way, then eventually, they are going to fall and die(in more ways than one). Take heart Ryan. Practice with your sword(read the Bible), talk to the Lord(Pray), and by His Grace, slay the wicked(Stand up for Jesus). Keep the Faith. We're gonna take hell by the Blood of the Lamb, --Jamie(Beacon Deacon) ADDITION: JESUS is the important focus! God be with you.