“Let me explain the problem science has with Jesus Christ.” The atheist
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new
students to stand. “You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?”
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new
students to stand. “You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?”
“Yes, sir.”
“So you believe in God?”
“Absolutely.”
“Is God good?”
“Sure! God is good.”
“Is God all powerful? Can God do anything?”
“Yes.”
“Are you good or evil?”
“The Bible says I’m evil.”
The professor grins knowingly. “Ahh! THE BIBLE!” He considers for a
moment. “Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you
can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? Would you try?”
moment. “Here’s one for you. Let’s say there’s a sick person over here and you
can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? Would you try?”
“Yes sir, I would.”
“So you’re good...!”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Why not say that? You would help a sick and maimed person if you could...in
fact most of us would if we could...God doesn’t.”
fact most of us would if we could...God doesn’t.”
-No answer.
“He doesn’t does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even
though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can
you answer that one?”
though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can
you answer that one?”
-No answer.
The elderly man is sympathetic. “No, you can’t, can you?” He takes a sip of
water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. In philosophy,
you have to go easy with the new ones. “Let’s start again, young fella. Is God
good?”
water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. In philosophy,
you have to go easy with the new ones. “Let’s start again, young fella. Is God
good?”
“Err...Yes.”
“Is Satan good?”
“No.”
“Where does Satan come from?”
The student falters.
“From...God...”
“That’s right. God made Satan, didn’t he?” The elderly man runs his bony
fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking student audience. “I
think we’re going to have a good semester, ladies and gentlemen.” He turns
back to the Christian.
fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking student audience. “I
think we’re going to have a good semester, ladies and gentlemen.” He turns
back to the Christian.
“Tell me, son. Is there any evil in this world?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Evil’s everywhere, isn’t it? Did God make everything?”
“Yes.”
“Who created evil?”
(No answer)
“Is there sickness in this world? Ugliness, immorality, hatred? All the terrible
things--do they exist in this world?
things--do they exist in this world?
The student squirms on his feet.
“Yes.”
“Who created them?”
(No answer.) The professor suddenly shouts at his student. “Who created them?
Tell me please!”
The professor closes in for the kill and climbs into the Christian’s face. In a still
small voice: “God created them, didn’t he?”
small voice: “God created them, didn’t he?”
(No answer.)
The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to face the front of the classroom like an aging panther.
The class is mesmerized.
lecturer breaks away to face the front of the classroom like an aging panther.
The class is mesmerized.
“Tell me,” he continues, “how is it that this God is good if He created all evil
throughout all time?” The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the
wickedness of the world. “All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture,
all the death and ugliness and suffering created by this good God is all over the
world, isn’t it, young man?”
throughout all time?” The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the
wickedness of the world. “All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture,
all the death and ugliness and suffering created by this good God is all over the
world, isn’t it, young man?”
(No answer.)
“Don’t you see it all over the place? Huh?” Pause. “Don’t you?” The professor
leans into the student’s face again and whispers, “Is God good?”
leans into the student’s face again and whispers, “Is God good?”
(No answer.)
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?”
The student’s voice betrays him and cracks. “Yes, Professor, I do.”
The old man shakes his head sadly. “Science says you have five senses you use
to identify and observe the world around you. Have you seen Jesus?”
to identify and observe the world around you. Have you seen Jesus?”
“No, sir, I’ve never seen Him.”
“Then tell us, have you ever heard your Jesus?”
“No, sir, I have not.”
“Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus...in fact, do
you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?”
you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?”
(No answer.)
“Answer me, please.”
Question: Is there a God