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Kerley
Since we began our journey several months ago, it seems to me a good time to take stock of where we are. Fredrich Nietzsche, the nineteenth century German philosopher first coined the bold phrase; “God is Dead” back in 1883. In 1966, Time magazine, in startling fashion, asked the question directly: “Is God Dead?” After all, it’s an important question! And it is an important question because everyone who is alive, or who has ever lived has given an answer to the question in the way they chose to live their lives. Our Bible skeptic Michael, it seems, has made a decision as well. If you recall we began our conversation concerning the question; is God dead? with the Bible skeptic, Michael. Remember, Michael thinks the Bible is not the inspired work and Word of God, but rather a creation solely of man’s imagination. Michael said of the biblical writer’s inspiration that; inspiration comes in many forms like artist who write songs because of inspiration. I think the Bible could be written in the same way just like any book, song, or other art. But I think it is in some ways art because it is a creation of man but it is also handpicked in certain ways because it has gone through different interpretations. Consequently, Michael does not believe in Christianity, nor is he sure if God is dead or, if He ever existed in the first place. Michael says he does not know, but it turns out Michael, like everyone else in the world, has made a decision that reflects his indecisiveness, and that, we said, is Michael’s dilemma. And so began our journey: a journey to present acumulativecaseargumenttothe Michaels of the world. Not unlike a legal case presented in a court of law, each week we have been presenting and uncovering evidence that seems to indicate there is a Supreme Being who created all that exists. Our case started from the kalam cosmological Argumentfromwhichwedetermined there to be compelling evidence from cosmology and physics that there exits an uncaused, personal Creator of the universe, who in relation to the universe is beginningless, changeless, immaterial, timeless, spaceless, and enormously powerful.
But that was only the start of the case. We said to know the artist one needs to study their works of art. If you want to learn about Van Gogh, then one needs to study Starry Night. If you want to learn about Andy Warhol, then you need to study his self-portraits. If you want to learn about the Artist of creation, you need to look at His creation. And it is from that perspective that looking at the teleological argument for the cosmos, plus the irreducible complexity found in biological systems provided much more compelling evidence to the case. From the design argument, further evidence of the Artist came into view: the design, unity, order, and complexity of creation itself implies the Creator of the universe is a highly intelligent Designer who purposefully designed and brought the universe into being.
Over the last few weeks evidence hasbeenpresented,andtheargument hasbeenmadethathumanbeingsare endowed with some very unique and sophisticated attributes—attributes that are found nowhere else in the animal kingdom; nowhere. The dualistic constitution of human beings. And it is the soul of man that houses many uniquely human attributes. One of the most fascinating is the human capacity of self-consciousness; often called the argument from consciousness. From the argument of self-consciousness we have warrant in suggesting that the human beings God freely chose to create consist of two substances; one material, and one immaterial; one body being uniquely human, and one spirit being similar in substance to God, who is Spirit.
Given the present and cumulative evidence, we are driven to ponder a great question: why are humans so uniquely endowed? Philosopher Anthony O’ Hear compels us to ask a simple question: could it be that the Creator, who is personal, and intentional, and purposeful in His design and creation placed a particular and unique expectation upon mankind? After all, there are not a lot of expectations placed upon a skunk’s behavior. Nor are there distinct obligations placed upon a dog or a cat, or any other non-human member of the animalkingdom.Onceagaintheseare uniquely human attributes and they are attributes warehoused in the human soul. —Join us next week as we begin to look at human morality—its originandpurpose—aswecontinueto search for an answer to the question; Is God dead?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Ty B. Kerley, DMin., is an ordained minister who teaches Christian apologetics, and relief preaches in Southern Oklahoma. Dr. Kerley and his wife Vicki are members of the Waurika church of Christ, and live in Ardmore. You can contact him at: dr.kerley@isGoddead.com.