Thursday, May 6, 2010

Another Approach to Rebut the Resurrection Story

No doubt you’ve been given the endless drivel of reasons why the resurrection of Jesus Christ was true, the Bible no doubt? Well there’s a book with the credibility of a used car salesman with a crack addiction.

I was recently corresponding with a theologian on the subject and decided on another approach. This is my email. What do you think?

To [Theologian]

I won’t bore you with the multitudes of Biblical contradictions about the resurrection (and everything else for that matter). Just Google, “contradictions in the bible - resurrection” and reach out to your intellectual honesty.

I’d like to approach your belief from the angle of what’s going on in your head. The relatively new subject called the Cognitive Science of Religion, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_science_of_religion, had identified naturally evolved thought processes, (Note: By the way, if you don’t accept evolution, I’m afraid we’re a non starter), that religion has hijacked. This coupled with the transfer mechanism of ‘memes’, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme, shows that we’re pre-programmed to believe.




The HIV virus is
exquisitely evolved with receptors, chemical signals, physical structure, etc, to invade cells, specifically those of the human immune system. How did it get to do this I hear you ask? It evolved to do it. All the other viruses that morphed to have different infection techniques that weren’t as good as HIV, simply didn’t survive. Similarly, the memetic virus known as the story of someone that died unjustly 2000 years ago and, because he came back to life, he took away all the responsibility for all the bad deeds, not just done by you, but for all of humanity, has exquisitely evolved ‘receptors’, pleasing ‘signals’, and ‘physical evidence – the Bible' (in your mind anyway), that this story is actually true.

For example, if I told you 1.) there was a tree in my back yard, you’d say, “so?” If I told you 2.) there was a tree in my back yard that turned invisible every second Wednesday, you’d say, “Doug, go and get some therapy.” However, if I told you 3.) there was a tree in my back yard that, due to it being next to the pond, and the sound of the fountain, and the pleasant greenery of Louisiana, etc., etc., if you sit down underneath it and watch the ducks gently swimming about their own business, you can maybe feel the weight of the world lift from your shoulders. Occasionally you can even hear the breeze blow through the trees branches and, if you listen carefully, sometimes they speak to you and provide ideas and direction that can aid you and your loved ones in the future.

Now, ‘meme’ 1.) is boring. Enough said. Meme 2. is stupid. Enough said. But meme 3.) is what’s called ‘minimally counter intuitive’. It’s initially believable in that who on this planet doesn’t have problems, concerns, and worries? Furthermore, who wouldn’t appreciate a beautiful scene with a pond, a fountain, ducks, greenery, etc.? But then it slides very slightly and slowly into the supernatural, but that’s okay because you get something out of it. You get your psychological stress relieved and what’s more, you get answers for the future. Also, using the words ‘occasionally’, 'sometimes' and ‘maybe’ implies that even if it doesn't happen all the time, it doesn't mean that it's not true. This is exactly the same as the resurrection story.

To the New Orleans Theological Baptist Seminary’s credit, they had a theologian, Dr. Michael Murray come speak about this very subject. http://www.epsapologetics.com/sessions/sessions.asp?mode=detail&sid=17. Of course, he ended the lecture by saying “it’s all God’s will”, but up to that point, his presentation was excellent.

I don’t know if you have an interest in social psychology, and more specifically, cognitive evolution, but that’s where the answers to religious belief are.

Doug






2 comments:

  1. Here, I am. A theist coming to see why you're an atheist.

    > No doubt you’ve been given the endless drivel of reasons why the resurrection of Jesus Christ was true, the Bible no doubt?

    I checked out for myself. Check out something like NT Wright's Resurrection of the Son of God. I also like Habermas' approach, who argues on the "minimal facts" that the vast majority of historians accept. I actually found them really fascinating.

    > I won’t bore you with the multitudes of Biblical contradictions about the resurrection.

    No. Don't bore us with worrying about the actual historical evidence. Dismiss both atheist and Christian historians out of hand. Who needs evidence anyway?

    > had identified naturally evolved thought processes, that religion has hijacked.

    Of course this type of empty accusation can be used both ways. Perhaps atheism has mislead your thought processes.

    > This meme, has exquisitely evolved ‘receptors’, pleasing ‘signals’, and ‘physical evidence – the Bible'

    The thought processes in the brain went back and put historical evidence in history? Thoughts "evolved" physical evidence? Seriously?

    And when did this "evolving" happening? The earliest clear statement we have of Christian belief is in 1 Corinthians 15, which can be traced (by both liberal and conservative historians) within 5 years of Jesus death. There doesn't seem like enough time for much to "evolve". It seems like a statement which is either true or false.

    > Furthermore, who wouldn’t appreciate a beautiful scene with a pond, a fountain, ducks, greenery, etc.?

    Right. And the Christian view of the world is far more uplifting than an atheist one. We don't struggle with nihilism, with finding meaning in life, and it is a much more fulfilling life. In my experience talking to atheists I often find them quite depressed, which is kind of sad. That's not to say that Christianity is easy. It can be hard - forgiving, giving up what you have for others, taking these things seriously can be difficult though.

    But simply because I think that atheists are a bit depressed because of their world-view is not a reason to accept that false view. I didn't start believing in God because I wanted something nice. I started believing because I thought it was true. Your post seems to me to say that you haven't really begun to think seriously about these issues.

    If I didn't know better I'd say you're a Richard Dawkins fan. Actually check out some of his references - for example, read CS Lewis who he dismisses in a page. You might not not be convinced by CS Lewis, but at least you will understand that Dawkins isn't honest about him. Check out NT Wright. Become informed. Search for the truth.

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  2. Open your eyes godless. At Mardi Gras you told me I was a liar for Jesus because I proved to you that the Bible says that the earth was a sphere. Dawkins uses the same term in his dialogue. Do you have any other errors that you can come up with? doug

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