Introduction
In this world people have always gathered in separate tribes and
communities, hence why what many believe to be true may be a misconception. In
this book the goal is for readers to become open minded, to think freely and
thus objectively, so one can rightly recognize what is true from what is false.
Therefore, the focus will be on absolute truth and the most rational answer for
the problem of evil. Specifically, this book is more for those who grew up in
the church but have never received satisfying answers to how and why they
should trust in God and trust in the Bible. When there is no respected or
accepted leader in the family or in the community people will often follow what
is trending or be guided in the direction of popular opinion. Most people still
want to be told what to believe but not many seek to discover for themselves
what is true. Hence why so many students are fooled into believing only natural
causes explain what can be observed. To be examined in the last sections of
this text readers will discover intellectuals in the higher sciences recognize
our very universe is dependent on an extra-dimensional reality far beyond our
natural realm.
Before one can clearly recognize truth, one must humbly accept every
person is vulnerable to being fooled. Thus, one must consider if their entire
worldview has been formed by lies. One can freely disagree with what is shared
in this text and is encouraged to do so if there is anything illogical,
incorrect, or in need of improvement. The hope is if one chooses to disagree
with any point presented here the reader will take the initiative to do some
research before intellectually countering the arguments presented in this text.
No one has it all figured out. Perhaps readers can benefit from what is shared
here, and upon being persuaded to seek after true meaning to life, will then go
and share this hope with others.
Now one may argue free will is only an
illusion because people are driven to make choices based on what they cannot
help but want, or because one is forced to act. One may argue freedom of
thought is an illusion for a person cannot truly have free will if a person
cannot control their wants. However, if an addict wants help for their
addiction and seeks after help this only serves to prove their desire to change
for the better proved stronger than their addiction. This book is written to
help people realize the ultimate freedom available is found in the ability for
one to change their mind for the better. This is not meaning a simple change of
mind like someone deciding to have Cheerios instead of Wheaties. The kind of
change being referred to here is the ability to change how one makes their
choices in life, the ability to change the mind from being irrational to
thinking rationally. Now faith has a big part to play in helping the mind
change for the better, but not blind faith, rational faith. For example,
imagine a person who truly has no desire to live and has recently lost their
appetite for anything after years of severe depression. Now imagine this person
has somehow learned how to think logically and at the same time has recently
gained belief in a loving God. What has not changed is this person still
recognizes most people are creatures of habit who become stuck in their ways.
The changed mind still feels despair at times, while still seeing a world
filled with suffering, but at the same time this person recognizes there is
hope.
The main point here is summed up in the common
phrase, “it is better to give than to receive.” A person may not want to
discipline their mind but if one recognizes this is something one ought to do,
then the intellectually honest person will choose to do so. Doing what one
ought to do, while not necessarily wanting to, this is not in the same vein as
feeling forced to do something. In this book readers will learn how to think
freely and objectively, and how to help others do the same. After reading this
text one will recognize there is absolute truth, the problem of evil has been
logically solved, there are evidential reasons for having rational faith, and
accordingly readers will learn how to share this hope with others.
If all truth is subjective this means those
with the money and power will be the ones telling you what truth is. What is
this subjective truth the so-called elite believe in? You are their property
which can be bought and sold. You can be controlled by those who know how to
appeal to your emotions. You can be manipulated by those who pay the media to
form what they deem to be popular opinion; therefore, they will appeal to your
ignorance. You will be subject to their truth, for they feel you are sheep
powerless to do otherwise. However, at the crossroads there is another choice. To
be argued for in this text, the absolute Truth is the ultimate price has been
paid for your freedom. Take the offer. Those set free are free indeed, for
their mind is set free. Such a person will have peace of mind, a peace which
surpasses anything the materialistic world has to offer.
Wakeup Call
My faith in humanity was nearly gone, for so
few seemed to care about hearing truth anymore. When trying to block out the
thought of the pains awaiting the next generation, my heart was growing cold
and bitter. Was in autopilot much of the time, just going through the motions
when interacting with my wife and children. Concerned my melancholy would have
a negative effect on my family, we desperately needed a change. We needed to go
somewhere far away from everything we knew. The idea was to wake up to a new
life, a simpler one, for seemingly God did not want to work through me in the
way I had expected.
Since exiting the U.S. Army, my life was
invested in seeking after answers where many others in the church were too
afraid to look. After years of research and gaining degrees, which are now stacked
under some files and a few books, the saddest truth to be discovered was many
did not care for the knowledge I had to share. Even in the church, most
believed science was contrary to faith, so they felt my desire to grow in
knowledge in the fields of biology, astrophysics, secular philosophy, and other
religious worldviews was a sign of a lack of faith. Sadly, many young people
were leaving the faith because neither their parents nor the church leaders
proved able to provide them with satisfying answers.
In not seeking recognition for myself, my
prayer and hope was to help the next generation during a time when so many were
leaving the church and losing hope. Many from both inside and outside the
church were quick to turn and snap at the messenger, every time he tried to
help, every time he tried to warn them. As the world was still greatly in fear
over the pandemic spreading in every country, my primary focus was my wife and
children. We decided to take some much-needed vacation time, in a small town
where people were not so prone to hysteria. Truth is, in my heart I felt we
were going to move to that small town. Perhaps God willed for me to find peace
of mind being primarily focused on teaching my wife and children. Perhaps they
would care to learn how to think objectively and thus spot the lies. Perhaps I
would find peace in knowing it was enough that my children learn how to better
share the rational reasons for why one should place their faith in Christ. Maybe
someday they would reach more for Christ than I ever could, so I had to focus
on them first. I would cease trying to share truth with an understandably
untrusting generation. Was on the second day we arrived when I received the wakeup
call.
The fog was thick, and as we approached the
beach in Garibaldi Oregon, the kids ran ahead. My eleven-year-old daughter Leona
and my six-year-old son Logan were so excited. A vacation was a long time
coming, as quarantine from the pandemic had taken a toll. The children ran over
a sand dune blocking my vision of the beach on the other side. I ran to catch
up with Jennifer close by.
I ran up over the sand hill and once on the
other side I noticed the sand was wet for quite a distance from the tide. There
were large fallen trees, allot of large logs, and debris washed up all along
the coastline, stopping just below the sand hills. I ran out to my children and
my wife did as well… The wave came out from the fog like something from the
worst of nightmares. Violently the force shoved into my back and then all I saw
was thick foamy white bubbles as the water engulfed me. My thoughts were loud
in my head, but my tone was still. To accept the worst was not an option. ‘My
family… God, please, save my family.’ I had no control, for the current was so
strong. The tide receded, and my head reached the surface. I saw my wife as the
tide receded enough for me to see her head emerge, and soon I saw Leona. ‘Where
is my son!’ I refused to believe he had washed away with the tide. ‘Please God,
no.’
The force hit again, just when I had caught a
breath. I was covered again in another violent wave. Jennifer and Leona were
ahead of me, so I hoped they would have been pushed closer to the shore. ‘They
will be safe. They will be okay… where was my son? Oh, God, please. I could not
see him.’ The struggle again to swim against such a great force seemed in vain.
Sudden hope came from nowhere, but my flesh shouted for me to not trust in such
hope. ‘The devil is a liar. God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power,
love, and a sound mind.’ I needed to focus. I needed to stay calm. The water
receded again, more so this time, and my wife popped up near a large log, and
then I saw Leona, and her foot seemed to be caught under the log. The water
receded again, and I kept moving forward. Jennifer moved towards helping Leona,
while she shouted in a commanding voice, “Where is my son!”
Logan, such a skinny little boy, like me at
his age. He is going to be taller than me probably someday, over six feet tall,
but now he is just a skinny little boy. ‘Where is my son… Lord, please.” The current
receded more this time, and further in front of me I saw the back of my son as Logan
emerged from the waters. He floated to the surface as the might of the tide
seemed to rush around him, as if not having permission to take him away. ‘Oh,
my God! My son! He must be alive!’ Jennifer moved towards him, struggling
through the water that was just below her chest at this point. She grabbed him
by the hood of his coat. I was still swimming towards them and then I felt the
sand beneath my feet. I pushed through the pressure, as it felt as though the
ocean was still trying to suck me away, but then suddenly I felt rushed
forward. Such a strange sensation, as I felt the water swishing passed me, yet
I was moving forward. I grabbed my son by his coat, pulled him towards me, and
held him close. I turned to Jennifer and shouted, “I have him! Get Leona free!”
The next wave hit but was not as large as the ones before. The force of the
wave was enough to help Jennifer pull Leona free. I leaned Logan forward and
patted his back. He coughed up some water and was quite alert. Jennifer and
Leona were soon up out of the water as well. We all took a moment to rest on
the sand hill, shivering, and trying to catch our breath. This vacation had to
be cut short, for I had work to do, and I would be foolish to resist the One
calling me to do so.
I was given a second chance, and God did not
want me to cease sharing truth with others. What you are about to read in this
book will provide you with a choice. Learn, grow, and share the truth with as
many as possible, while you are still alive and free to do so. There is nothing
better we can do with our lives but stand for the truth, share the truth, and
accordingly help others receive hope they can trust in.
I: To See and Communicate Truth
The one who developed the first chariot had to
value the mind of the one who invented the wheel, for every mind is in some way
dependent on another. The first cause of all innovative ideas is the mind, and
one capable of recognizing what is truly valuable for the sake of progress. The
self-aware mind must seek after, discover, and communicate the truth, being
driven to see the minds of others set free. Disciples of Christ must understand
how to worship God with all their mind; thus, they must understand the need for
logical reasoning when sharing the eternal truth revealed in Christ. The need to depend on the mind of
another is an observable truth, for even the writer is dependent on the one who
invented the written word, but the mind is also vulnerable and easily
misguided. When seeking after clearer direction one must be able to distinguish
truth from deception, but after sifting through the lies the opposition to the Truth
must be faced.
For the truth to ever be shared and recognized
on a wider scale language was necessary, and thus the ability to create a
written language is essential. This gift of communicating with spoken words and
the written word must not be wasted, for language surely is a gift from God. Leading
linguists and evolutionists have confessed to being completely puzzled by the
human ability to communicate through language and the written word. As linguist
Patricia Kuhl has observed, “the mechanism that controls the interface between
language and social cognition remains a mystery.”[1] Paleontologist Simon Morris has observed the human gift of language is
“somehow imprinted on our brains…” thus for good reason Morris also happens to
be a Christian.[2] To say human language is an obstacle for
those denying the existence of God is no exaggeration, seeing as how the
secular experts in multiple fields of study have given up on solving this
mystery.
Multiple experts from respected fields of
study including evolutionists, anthropologists, computer scientists, and linguistics
have discovered no plausible explanation for how and why language exists from
an evolutionary perspective.[3] Regarding this study journalist Tom Wolfe remarked, “I had never heard
of a group of experts coming together to announce what abject failures they
were…”[4] Since the idea of Darwinism came into being
scientists in other fields of study have discovered so many valuable and
advancing truths. Meanwhile the atheistic evolutionists have discovered nothing
of progressive value. From the naturalist perspective
the mystery of language, thus the mystery of the human mind, has never been
resolved. As an engineering technologist and Christian ethicist Paul Golata
argued, “God provides the best framework from which to understand
intelligence.”[5] God
is relational and has even communicated with humanity through the language of
mathematics. This language was not invented by humans but was discovered. As
Werner Heisenberg observed, “…the fact that we can explain nature by simple
mathematical laws tells us that here we have met some genuine feature of
reality, not something that we have — in any meaning of the word — invented
ourselves.”[6] What sets humans far
above the animals is the ability to communicate ideas and express emotions
through speech, written words, and in discovering and sharing mathematical
truths. Yet, the human mind coming into being by chance remains a faithful hope
for atheists.
Language has always been a gift from God
intended for people to comprehend, appreciate, and share the truth. As Wolfe
argued, “Speech is 95 percent plus of what lifts man above animal!”[7] The relational aspect of language is expected
if one believes humankind is made in the image of a loving and relational God. This ability for the mind to communicate truth
and express selfless love is one of the first pieces of evidence for the human
mind being designed by the Triune God. The truth is science and theology are
united, thus the misinformed skeptic must have been misled by those who are
experts at delivering well-articulated lies.[8]
Furthermore, the evidence points towards
Christ, the only personal God known for proving His love, so conceivably any
skeptical intellectuals claiming the evidence is not substantial may be in
denial or perhaps even deliberately lying.[9] Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth, and the
Life (John 14:6 NIV).[10] Where the deist believes in a God who has not
revealed His identity, the Christian is faithful to a God who has revealed
Himself and therefore wants to be known.
Without fearing opposing views, the Christian
should investigate and grow in their knowledge of what is true, for their faith
is in the provider of all truth.[11] If Christ is the Truth, one sees there must be a deeper understanding
about what truth is. Truth is not subjective, nor can one simply argue truth is
objective, for if what Christ claimed is true, then truth is alive and eternal.
God desires for the Christian to love Him with all their mind, and Jesus
expects the Christian to worship God in Spirit and in truth (Matt. 22:37; John
4:21-24). Therefore, the modern Christian must seek after a deeper
understanding in the fields of science, philosophy, and of course theology to
better articulate the truth to any person who believes contrary.[12] From multiple fields of study there has been
amazing discoveries supportive of the Biblical worldview, thus there is no
excuse for ignorance in the Church today. The Bible is clear on how the faithful
must be wise towards outsiders, being ready to provide answers to everyone
who asks why one should place their faith in Christ (Col. 4: 5-6, 1 Pet. 3:15).
What is clear in mathematics is clear in life, there is a right way and a wrong
way, thus there is the absolute truth and the lies.
When considering other arguments for God the
moral argument may not seem to be the first or best argument for theism.
However, if one is defending Christianity, the moral argument is connected to
who God is and thus further supports reason for believing in and accepting the
love of Christ. Without a sense of morality, one could not properly define free
will, for freedom to choose is most recognized by moral opposites. To forgive
or hold a grudge, to tell the truth or a lie, to love or hate, and the list
goes on, but ultimately one cannot honestly deny free will is most recognized
because of the knowledge of what is contrary to good. The significance of
Christ death and resurrection would have no meaning if there was no knowledge
of suffering and what is defined as immoral. Christ displayed the moral
attributes of God and proved one can trust in His great love. Christianity
provides the best explanation for why what is morally true comes from God and
provides a clear explanation for why there is evil.
(Read more in the following book--
Absolute Truth and The Most Rational Answer to the Problem of Evil
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097LR8CVP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=absolute+truth+and+the+most+rational+answer+to+the+problem+of+evil&qid=1624292835&sr=8-1
