When Skeptics Ask NORMAN L. GEISLER and RONALD M. BROOKS © 1990 by Norman L. Geisler and Ronald M. Rhodes Published 1996 by Baker Books a division of Baker Book House Company P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516–6287 First published 1990 by Victor Books, a division of Scripture Press Publications Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording— without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Geisler, Norman L. When skeptics ask/Norman L. Geisler and Ronald M. Brooks p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0–8010-1141–8 1. Apologetics—20th century—Miscellanea. I. Brooks, Ronald M. (Ronald Matthew), 1957- II. Tide. BT1102.G436 1990 239—dc20 89–29002 Art on page 49 © M. C. Escher Heirs/Cordon Art-Baarn-Holland. Used by permission. Art on pages 121–22 taken from W. D. Edwards, W. J. Gabel, and F. E. Hosmer, “On the Physical Death of Christ,” Journal of the American Medical Association 255 (21 March 1986): 1454–63. Used by permission of Mayo Foundation. Chart on page 155 taken from Norman L Geisler and William E. Nix, General Introduction to the Bible (Chicago: Moody Press, 1987), 149. Used by permission. Chart on page 227 taken from Norman L. Geisler and J. Origin Science: A Proposal for the Creation-Evolution Controversy (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987), 149. Used by permission. Chart on pages 236 and 238 taken from Norman L. Geisler, The Re-Incarnation Sensation (Wheaton, ILL.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1986). Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV . Copyright © 1973,1978,1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Authorized King James Version. For information about academic books, resources for Christian leaders, and all new releases available from Baker Book House, visit our web site: http://www.bakerbooks.com CONTENTS Chapter One: The Need To Answer Every Man Unbelievers Have Good Questions We Have Good Answers God Commands Us to Give Them the Answers But What About …? Chapter Two: Questions About God Does God Exist? What Kind of God Exists? Some Objections Chapter Three: Questions About Other Gods Atheism—What If There Is No God? Deism—What If God Made the World and Then Left It Alone? Pantheism—What If the World Is God? Panentheism—What If the World Is God’s Body? Finite Godism—What If God Is Not All-Powerful? Polytheism—What If There Are Many Gods? Chapter Four: Questions About Evil What Is Evil? Where Did Evil Come From? Why Can’t Evil Be Stopped? What Is the Purpose of Evil? Does There Have to Be So Much Evil? Couldn’t God Make a World without Evil? Chapter Five: Questions About Miracles Are Miracles Possible? Are Miracles Credible? Are Miracles Scientific? Are Miracles Historical? Are Miracles Mythological? Are Miracles Definable? Are Miracles Valuable? Chapter Six: Questions About Jesus Christ Who Was Jesus? What Claims Did the Disciples Make about Jesus? What Evidence Did Jesus Give to Support His Claims? Old Testament and the Resurrection Jesus Predicted His Own Resurrection Jesus Actually Died on the Cross Jesus Rose Bodily from the Grave Jesus Appeared in a Resurrected Body Summary and Conclusion Why Is Jesus Better Than Other Teachers? Chapter Seven: Questions About The Bible How Do We Know That the Bible Came from God? How Was the Bible Written? Can the Bible Be Wrong? How Was the Bible Put Together? How Reliable Are Our Modem Bibles? Summary Chapter Eight: Questions About Bible Difficulties What Are the Guidelines for Handling Difficult Passages? How Can We Resolve Some of These Difficulties? Chapter Nine: Questions About Archeology Does Archeology Confirm the Old Testament? Does Archeology Confirm the New Testament? Chapter Ten: Questions About Science And Evolution The Basic Argument against Evolution The Origin of the Universe The Origin of First Life The Origin of New Life Forms Conclusion Chapter Eleven: Questions About The Afterlife What Is Reincarnation? What Is Resurrection? Chapter Twelve: Questions About Truth Is Truth Relative or Absolute? Is Truth Correspondent or Coherent? Is Truth Knowable? Is Truth Logical? Chapter Thirteen: Questions About Morals Are There Any Absolute Values? Where Do Values Come From? What Happens When Absolutes Conflict? Appendix: Reasoning to Christianity from Ground Zero Glossary of Terms Suggested Readings Topical Index This book is dedicated to all who would seek a reason for the hope that is in them. 1 THE NEED TO ANSWER EVERY MAN “You know, all this stuff about arguments for God’s existence and evidence for the Resurrection is interesting, and I know there is a place for it, but I’ve never needed it,” the pastor said as he looked in the rearview mirror to change lanes. The young man seated next to him remained silent for a moment, slightly shocked by this statement. The pastor continued, “The people I share the Gospel with just don’t ask those questions. They aren’t interested in whether truth is objective, or what ancient historians said about Jesus and the Resurrection, or solutions to the problem of evil. Most people just aren’t the kind that are philosophical about what they believe.” Finally the young man blurted out, “REALLY? That’s the only kind of questions I ever get!” He had come from a family that was Christian in name only and raised in a part of the country where religion was typically ridiculed. When he finally became a Christian in college, he had to work out a lot of difficult questions about his faith, and the unbelievers he had contact with had been thoroughly trained skeptics and agnostics. Through his whole life he had been keenly aware of the fact that the world is opposed to Christianity on intellectual grounds. Whenever he shared Christ with someone, he or she would inevitably raise some of the objections that he himself had once voiced. It seemed inconceivable, from his experience, that a pastor could minister without ever confronting the same kind of opposition. These two men were engaged in two different ministries. Both are valid and both are necessary. The pastor’s ministry focused on evangelism, but the other man was used by God in a separate and distinct ministry of pre-evangelism. Rather than first trying to lead people to Christ, he removed the obstacles to faith. Rather than just preaching the Word, he spent more time using reason to explain why objections are groundless. Instead of asking immediately for a spiritual commitment, he sought intellectual agreement on the issues that must be understood before the Gospel can be accepted. For example, if someone does not believe that God exists and that He can perform miracles, then it makes no sense to him to say that God raised Jesus from the dead, because that is a miracle—a big one! Not all people have questions of this kind, but when they do, they need answers before they can believe. Before we can share the Gospel, we sometimes have to smooth the road, remove the obstacles, and answer the questions that are keeping that person from accepting the Lord. The following chart clarifies the difference between evangelism and pre-evangelism. EVANGELISM PRE-EVANGELISM Done by all Christians Done by any Christian when needed Anytime/anyplace Only if an objection is raised Content is Gospel Content is all of Christian doctrine Based on revelation Based on reason States Gospel Clarify Christian teaching Goal is faith Goal is understanding So evangelism and pre-evangelism are different ministries. We know that the Bible tells us all to do evangelism, but what about pre-evangelism? Is that only for a few geniuses and specially gifted people, or should we all be involved? Do we really need to answer every man? There are three simple reasons why we need to be involved in pre- evangelism. UNBELIEVERS HAVE GOOD QUESTIONS The objections that unbelievers raise are usually not trivial. They often cut deep into the heart of the Christian faith and challenge its very foundations. If miracles are not possible, then why should we believe Christ was God? If God can’t control evil, is He really worthy of worship? Face it: if these objections can’t be answered, then we may as well believe in fairy tales. These are reasonable questions which deserve reasonable answers. WE HAVE GOOD ANSWERS Most skeptics have only heard the questions and believed that there were no answers. But we have some great answers to their questions. Christianity is true. That means that reality will always be on our side, and we just need to find the appropriate evidence to answer whatever question is asked. Fortunately, Christian thinkers have been answering these questions ever since Paul’s time, and we can draw on their knowledge to help us find the answers we want. GOD COMMANDS US TO GIVE THEM THE ANSWERS This is the most important reason of all. God told us to do it. In I Peter 3:15 we read, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” ( NIV ).