>-----Original Message-----
>From: PHSEELY@aol.com [mailto:PHSEELY@aol.com]
>Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 7:58 AM
>Glenn wrote:
>
><< Does anyone have any fact that is verifiable about Christianity
>which makes
> a difference to the central issue of God invading history?
>
> Only by an affirmative, can we totally escape the issue of faith
>based upon
> faith.
> >>
>
>The underlying question is important; and I was trying to think of how I
>would answer it.
Thank you. I am glad that someone thinks they are important questions. I
find it terribly important.
I tried to think if proving that the Flood occured would
>answer the question; and concluded it would only be of tangential value
>because even if the Flood were proven by say finding the ark with a tablet
>inside with Noah's name on it as well as sedimentary remains of
>the Flood in
>all the right places at the right time, that would still leave as possible
>contenders as the true religion: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Bahai,
>Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses.
>
>I conclude, therefore, that appeal to the New Testament record of
>the words
>and deeds of Jesus and especially the resurrection would go further in the
>right direction. This need not include any claim that the
>historical record
>per se is a revelation from God; but, only that it is a historical
>document,
>like the writings of Livy or Suetonius, and just as much entitled
>to respect
>as such as they are--- if not more because of their close
>proximity in time
>to eye-witnesses of the life and teachings of Jesus. Such an appeal to
>historical documents along with those archaeological finds such as the
>inscription with Pilate's name which lend authenticity to the accounts
>escapes the charge that one is basing faith in Christ on faith alone. The
>historical documents of the NT are _objective_ evidences of the real
>historical existence, life and teachings of Jesus; so Christianity is not
>depending on subjective experiences alone. It is not a faith
>based on faith
>alone.
Lets take that approach. If we verify all of the above, like with the flood,
we haven't ruled out many of the world's religions, including Mormonism and
Bahai. And even some of the eastern religions are plastic enough to
encompass the events of Jesus' life. So, once again, I don't see any better
way to the verification we want than by the way I am going.
glenn
see http://www.glenn.morton.btinternet.co.uk/dmd.htm
for lots of creation/evolution information
anthropology/geology/paleontology/theology\
personal stories of struggle
>
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