Page  213

q-213.1     Where can we find evidence for the existence of God?

 

q-213.2    What does this book intend to show?

 

q-214.1     Why could life not have developed solely due to natural causes?

 

q-214.2     Why is it hard to explain the "Cambrian Explosion" in naturalistic terms alone?

 

q-214.3     As new evidence is discovered, what will become more and more evident?

 

q-215.1     What has the Bible's author displayed that gives the text supernatural qualities?

 

q-215.2     Why could a theory like "Punctuated Equilibrium" have been predicted using Biblical arguments?

 

q-215.3     What is the likely cause for some of the contradictions found between Science and the Bible?

 

q-215.4     On what do the Bible and Science absolutely agree?

 

q-215.5     Why may some people refuse to believe in God despite the supporting evidence?

 

q-216.1     Upon what can our "leap of faith" in God be based?

 

q-216.2     What must we do to get God into our lives?

 

q-216.3     If you have any questions about this book, where can you go for help?

 

 

 

The Source Workbook - Answers 

Copyright © Nils Jansma 2008 - 2018, All Rights Reserved

CHAPTER  14 –  CONCLUSIONS

Page  213

q-213.1     Where can we find evidence for the existence of God?

Evidence for the existence of God is found in both nature and in our daily lives. 

q-213.2    What does this book intend to show?

The Source has intended to show that a closer look at science will reveal the handiwork of God in the form of universal laws of order based largely upon mathematical formulas.

q-214.1     Why could life not have developed solely due to natural causes?

To date, no natural means for life to develop has been discovered.  This is not for want of trying.  In fact, relatively recent discoveries indicate that there is insufficient time available for life to have developed by random undirected processes.  Recent discoveries of chemical signatures of life in the oldest rocks (a crystal) available for investigation indicate that living chemical processes had already emerged within 200,000,000 years from when the earth was a total molten mass.  There is no possibility that life in any form could have survived the events involved in the currently proposed process by which the moon is said to have been formed. (See Figure 14.1) Click Picture to Enlarge.

q-214.2   Why is it hard to explain the "Cambrian Explosion" in naturalistic terms alone?

There are about 70 different phylum or body plans represented without any factual evolutionary explanation. (See Figure 14.2)   An interesting fact to learn about the proposed origin of most of these body forms is that they all contained the same prefabricated genetic tool kit.  Evolutionist Sean Carroll, in describing the supposed ghost ancestor, said "based on the content and similar roles of the shared genetic tool kit in protostomes and deuterostomes, we can confidently add that the common ancestor of bilaterians (an animal that Eddy De Robertis at UCLA has dubbed Urbilateria, meaning a primitive bilaterian) had a tool kit of at least six or seven Hox genes, Pax-6, Distal-less, tinman, and a few hundred more body-building genes."  (Endless Forms Most Beautiful, 2005, Page 143).  Caroll's "confident" speculation is apparently based purely upon faith in the theory of evolution.  This is why some view the Doctrine of Evolution to be a form of religious belief that requires faith just as any other religion. (See Figure 14.3)

q-214.3     As new evidence is discovered, what will become more and more evident?

It will become more and more evident that the complexities of life cannot have happened accidentally.  It could very well be that God used natural laws to create life.  If that is the case, science may discover the methods used.  However, if that is the case, they will also realize that all of nature exists to bring humans into existence and sustain them.  This idea has been called the Cosmological Imperative. 

q-215.1     What has the Bible's author displayed that gives the text supernatural qualities?

Though originally written for a primitive people, the Bible can be interpreted to support modern scientific concepts.  There would be no need for this to be the case if its message was only intended for its original audience.  The fact that it has been relevant to readers throughout history testifies that its author transcends time and knew in advance what to write that would resonate with each succeeding generation down to our day.

q-215.2     Why could a theory like "Punctuated Equilibrium" have been predicted using Biblical arguments?

The Bible supports a rapid development of creatures followed by a stability during which microevolution takes place.  When the environment changes so rapidly that microevolution cannot keep up or the changes needed exceed the creatures' adaptive capacity, then extinction occurs.  With a new environment in operation, a whole new set of creatures may be needed to support the next phase of creation leading to humans.  So the cycle is repeated, a new set of creatures suddenly emerges and remains unchanged until another environmental change takes place that exceeds its adaptive capacities.  A good example of this is when the dinosaurs disappeared to make way for mammals.  Environmental conditions on earth favored the dinosaur until its work was finished.  It can be said that Punctuated Equilibrium describes, in a crude way, this type of intelligently designed process.

q-215.3     What is the likely cause for some of the contradictions found between Science and the Bible?

The contradictions found between Science and the Bible can usually be summarized by either a case of "bad science" or "bad theology."  A good example of bad theology is when it was concluded that the earth was the center of the universe because the sun moon and stars were created on the fourth creative day.  Additionally, when the Bible says that the "sun stood still" in Joshua's day, that must have meant that the sun was normally moving.  So it was concluded that the sun must travel around the earth.  This was bad theology based upon a mistaken interpretation, as later observations proved.  It also serves to show that we should not let our interpretation of Scripture trump, so-to-speak, the proven laws of nature.

Genesis 1:14-19 And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs and tokens [of God's provident care], and [to mark] seasons, days, and years, [Gen. 8:22.] (15) And let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light upon the earth. And it was so. (16) And God made the two great lights--the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night. He also made the stars. (17) And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, (18) To rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good (fitting, pleasant) and He approved it. (19) And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

Joshua 10:12-13 Then Joshua spoke to Jehovah in the day when Jehovah delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun! Stand still on Gibeon! And, moon, stand still in the valley of Aijalon! (13) And the sun stood still, and the moon stood still, until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? And the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens, and did not hasten to go down about a whole day.
 

q-215.4     On what do the Bible and Science absolutely agree?

Science and the Bible both agree that humans are genetically different from any other living organism.  There are many areas in the genome that humans share with other life forms.  However, the differences that make humans unique are no doubt what we call "image of God" features that relate to free will and self-consciousness. 

q-215.5     Why may some people refuse to believe in God despite the supporting evidence?

For some, absolute proof of God's existence is required.  However, it is logically impossible to prove anything absolutely by experimentation because you would have to perform an infinite number of experiments.  Science can only prove the likelihood of something happening.  So we will never be able to prove absolutely that God exists unless God chooses to reveal Himself in an unambiguous way.  As humans in our finite bodies, we will only be able to see God through the eyes of faith.  This is what Paul meant when he told the Corinthian brothers that we will not know anything completely or fully until God reveals it to us in the life to come.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12 AMP For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). (10) But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). (11) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. (12) For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].
 

q-216.1     Upon what can our "leap of faith" in God be based?

Our "leap of faith" in God can be based upon the abundant evidence that God has provided through nature.  However, it can also be based upon nothing more that an inward conviction that needs no physical proof whatsoever.  Where some make a mistake, in our opinion, is when they claim that faith based upon evidence is unacceptable to God.  For them, any attempt to harmonize the Bible and science is a demonstration of a lack of faith and thus condemned by God.  In other words, they hold that "blind faith" is the only faith that God accepts. 

 

Some who argue the "blind faith" point of view often quote of John 20:30-31 as proof.  However, it is our opinion that, using this Scripture appears to miss the point of the earlier statement found at John 20:19-20. In these verses, Jesus suddenly appears in the midst of his assembled disciples. Thomas was not present, however. Notice what happened: John 20:20 "And when He [Jesus] had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord."

 

The text says after Jesus showed them proof, then the disciples accepted him. Since Thomas was not present and didn't see the proof, he must not have been convinced by the testimony of his friends. Maybe they were mistaken or, worse yet, deceived by an imposter. However, instead of castigating him for his lack of faith, Jesus conciliated him in John 20:27, where, after entering the room with Thomas present, he went directly up to him and, "... said to Thomas, Reach your finger here and behold My hands; and reach your hand here and thrust it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing. "

 

Notice that Jesus did not require nor expect his disciples to believe in him without proof. However, Jesus realistically knew that after he left this earth, the only way people could believe in him was through faith.  I have never touched Jesus hands nor side, yet I believe. Why?  One reason among many, is given in, Psalm 19:1:  "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His handiwork."  In helping to rewrite The Source and The Source Workbook, my faith was strengthened by reviewing nature's wonders and seeing how much science supports belief in the God of the Bible.

John 20:19-20  AMP  Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you! (20) So saying, He showed them His hands and His side. And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy (delight, exultation, ecstasy, rapture).
John 20:30-31 BBE  A number of other signs Jesus did before his disciples which are not recorded in this book: (31) But these are recorded, so that you may have faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that, having this faith you may have life in his name.

 

q-216.2     What must we do to get God into our lives?

We must have faith that He exists and rewards those seeking to conform their lives to His standards.

Hebrews 11:6 AMP  But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him [God]. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
 

q-216.3     If you have any questions about this book, this is where can you go for help?

You can contact John Clayton at the address shown in The Source.  You can also review the information on the web at www.doesgodexist.org