"You can lead atheistic evolutionists to evidence, but you can't make them think."

HOW WE KNOW GOD EXISTS - WHO MADE GOD?

1. Who made God: Science and reality tells us that every “dependent effect” ultimately necessitates a “non-dependent” first cause, otherwise there would be no basis for existence, only an infinite regress of “dependent” causes where nothing is ever capable of bringing itself into existence.

Everything ever observed on earth and in the universe is DEPENDENT on something preceding it to explain its existence. Children need parents, who in turn need grandparents, and so it goes for all things. No one has ever observed anything in existence with the capability to bring itself into existence, and the ultimate Nobel Prize awaits any scientist who makes such a discovery.

Dependent Universe: This is affirmed by the reality that the universe is itself dependent and dying, running down towards maximum entropy and heat death. If the universe had the capability to bring itself into existence, or keep winding itself up again, it would not be running down towards heat death. The fact that the universe is incapable of preventing itself from running down affirms its dependence on something external to explain both its beginning and its existence.

'Parallel Universes' Dependent: No one has ever seen a parallel universe, nor are they ever likely to. The mathematics on which unverifiable theories such as parallel universes, multiple universes (M - Theory), String Theory, bubble universes, are all founded is dubious and unconvincing. As acknowledged by one of the founders of String and M-Theory, Dr David Gross, the Nobel Prize winning American theorist , "We don't know what we are talking about." This reality has been further emphasised by well known South African cosmologist Professor David Block, who has stressed that all such notions are philosophically based,and have no basis in science. None-the-less, those with an agenda, and opposed to the clear evidence for God in the fine tuning of the universe and the cosmological constants seek to avoid the theistic implications of a cosmic designer. They do so on the basis that "if" there is an endless number of universes the odds are that at least one will be fine tuned by chance, and our universe just happens to be that fine tuned universe. The problem here is that all these universes are parallel equivalents of this universe, and as such, they too would be dependent and dying, running down towards heat death. What we ultimately have is a huge multitude of supposed universes that are also dependent, and therefore incapable of ever bringing themselves into existence. So, once again, we are forced towards the only viable alternative, the existence of a "necessary" non-dependent self-existing first cause - God!

It is often argued by those scientists opposed to theism that the cause-effect argument does not apply to whatever caused the universe; because whatever caused the universe would be outside the space-time realm and therefore "timeless" and "uncaused". And the infinite "cause-effect" dependency regress would not apply. However, they are caught in the classic "Catch 22"situation, whatever way they turn. In seeking to escape the "Intelligent Cause" theistic implications of the fine tuning of our universe, they have unknowingly affirmed theism. For in affirming that the CAUSE of the universe is TIMELESS and UNCAUSED, and not dependent on anything preceding, they have in fact AFFIRMED the classical "theistic" worldview. For theism itself is based on the premise that the CAUSE of the contingent universe is timeless, uncaused, non-dependent and self-existing first cause. So in seeking to escape theism, they have in fact affirmed theism. Thus, the anti-god presuppositions of philosophical naturalism and atheism have their feet planted firmly in mid air.

Darwin's Delusions: Noted atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, P. Z.Myers and others repeatedly use the flawed argument that something as complex as the universe would necessitate a cause even more complex than the universe itself. This cause would be much more complex and therefore more difficult to explain than the complex universe itself, so we may just as well just accept the the universe is its own explanation, rather than try to explain something far more complex such as God. The problem with this argument is that a dependent universe cannot be its own cause. Nor can anything within this dependent universe. Cars, ships, and fully functional life forms necessitate a designer and maker. The flawed Darwinian notion that all forms of life, simple or complex, only "appear" to be designed, but in reality are the result of 'luck' and mindless chance events, in combination with a blind natural selection mechanism, that has no overall perspective of where anything, and everything, is evolving to, or even why. And this localized mindless process is endowed with all the capabilities and attributes of deity. Thus, we have a dependent mindless mechanism, operating in a dependent dying universe, made up decaying elements and dependent life forms. None of which is capable of bringing itself into existence.

The argument used by Dawkins and other atheists is comparable to suggesting that our "car maker", whom none will ever see, would be much more complex than the car, and therefore far more difficult to explain than the existence of the car itself. So we should just assume that the car made itself, rather than try to explain where the more complex car maker came from. The problem with such arguments is that everyone instinctively knows that a car, or anything else ever observed in the dependent universe, cannot bring itself into existence. As such, a "car maker" is both a philosophical and scientific necessity. And this reality applies to the dependent universe and all biological life forms.

I once had a hard core atheist openly challenge me at a public meeting stating that "No one has ever seen God, and he only believes in what he can see!", and, anyway, "who made God?" I asked him if he had ever seen the people who made the shirt on his back. To which he replied "No!". I challenged him to name anything in existence that was capable of bringing itself into existence. He immediately realized his delimma and sat down without further comment. The very existence of the shirt on his back was (of necessity) "dependent" on a shirt maker, whom he was never ever likely to meet. The shirt did not have the capability to bring itself into existence, and nor does anything else ever observed in the universe, including the universe itself.

I repeat, the complexity based argument is fatally flawed - logically, philosophically, and scientifically. It is logically flawed because anything that is DEPENDENT in nature cannot at the same time also be non-dependent and self-existing. This is true of the car, the universe, and everything ever observed. Because the universe and everything in it is DEPENDENT it cannot be simultaneously self-existing, and therefore necessitates a cause other than itself. The only alternative is an infinite dependent regress, where nothing is ever capable of bringing itself into existence, not ever! In short, a self-existing God is both a philosophical and scientific necessity, there is no other viable alternative.

Who Made God: The moment we ask the question of "who made God" we place God into this same infinite "dependent" regress, and thus we never have any basis for why anything exists.

A non-dependent self-existing first cause is the only philosophical and scientific option as to why this universe and anything exists. Put in more technical philosophical terms, anything that has a beginning such as the universe necessitates a cause that brought it into existence. And anything in the process of becoming, such as an evolving universe, is still a work in progress and therefore limited. And anything that is limited or finite cannot be self-existing. To be self-existing, a non-dependent "first cause," must be unlimited and infinite, which is exactly what the God of Biblical revelation is declared to be.

2. Science and direct observation tells us that there is a continual degeneration going on around us, with increasing loss of usable energy, order and information in the universe. When asked to provide a mechanism that produced "new information" atheist Richard Dawkins was stunned into silence.(see video on You Tube), though he later attempted to cover his tracks with less than convincing conjecture.

Noted geneticist pioneer professor John Sanford, of Cornell University, has shown that rather than an information gain there is progressive genetic degeneration taking place in every life form, with each generation suffering a loss of genetic information: All of which necessitates an initial "pre-degeneration" condition that cannot be explained naturalistically without God. Sanford has also shown that the degeneration process is happening at a rate which indicates that human beings cannot be much more than 6000-10,000 years old. As noted physicist and author, Paul Davies, in God And The New Physics, this initial low entropy (wound up) state of the cosmos remains one of the great mysteries of physics.

3. An intelligent dependent effect always demands an intelligent cause, and all of science is founded on this reality. We can apply intelligence to science and all else only because we live in a universe that clearly manifests intelligence. The fundamental reality that intelligence, regularity, and predictability exists in the universe is assumed by all scientists in every field of science, without which it would be impossible to do science. The regularity and mathematical predictability of the universe is the foundation stone on which scientific investigation functions. A dependent running down universe that clearly manifests intelligence and design at every level necessitates a self-existing intelligent cause, for reasons given above.

4. Natural realities that have no naturalistic answer: All of science is founded on realities for which there is no naturalistic explanation, and may never be. The origin and existence of the laws of nature cannot be explained naturalistically. Natural Laws require a lawgiver. And a universe with a mathematical structure, regularity and predictability suggests a mathematician behind the universe. This is true also of the the fine tuned cosmological constants, the tailor made solar system, the tailor made earth environment, and the interdependent and co dependent eco-systems. We can add to this the fine tuning of atomic and subatomic particles, and the unique structure of the water molecule that allows it to defy gravity in plant life, without which all vegetation would die. We can add to this the water molecules capability to exist as a solid, liquid or gas within a specific limited temperature range, without which there would be no water cycle, no rain, and no life. It is for this reason that the water molecule is regarded by scientists as the most remarkable molecule in the universe.

5. The origin of life, DNA, consciousness and other phenomena cannot be explained naturalistically. Even the simplest form of life is vastly complex, with scientists increasingly concluding that the vast complexity of the human genome is beyond the capabilities of chance events and natural selection. All life forms manifest vastly complex design. The human mind and body with its profound biological systems and sub-systems is without comparison. Indeed, the human mind, combined with the human hand, is the most sophisticated instrument in the known universe, sufficient to harness forces of nature and prevail over every other creature. Such highly advanced design requires a designer, be it human brain, the reproductive system, or the immune system. The co dependency and interdependence of all life forms necessitates an overall perspective that is vastly beyond a limited localized natural selection mechanism. Such an astounding symphony of life demands a transcendent composer.

6. Let's first look into The evolutionary Wonderland before reading on - click here

The finite human perspective crisis: The noted French existential philosopher, Jean Paul Sarte, made the now famous statement that, "A finite point without an infinite reference point is meaningless and absurd." Meaning that finite humanity with its limited knowledge, insight and understanding would never be in a position to know the big picture. What was needed was an infinite reference point, a special revelation from God, who alone has the big picture. It is for this reason that science will never be in a position to know the ultimate truth about ultimate reality, not ever! And this is precisely why everything in science is considered tentative, and never the final word. Indeed, the more science discovers the more questions arise, to the point where science comes up against a wall beyond which it cannot go. For while we understand what energy does, no one understands what energy ultimately is,or where it came from.

The terminator principle: Almost all the world religions are based on a finite limited perspective, starting out from finite human insights and seeking to make sense of life and existence. The result of this is a vast array of religions and secular world views, all saying something different. They all face the crisis of never having a big enough picture to know that they possess the ultimate truth about ultimate reality. All such religions are terminated as the true revealer of the mind of God. This is the crisis for both religious and secular views of reality. No one is really ever in a position to know that they really know. And that is why all religions and world views based on finite human insights are all making conflicting and opposing claims. As a consequence, untold millions are committed to religious and secular world views based on mass delusion.

There is one exception, the Judeo-Christian world view, which alone is based on special divine revelation. The Biblical revelation is sustainable to such an extent that it has captured the attention of the world and its finest minds for over 2000 years, sufficient to make the Bible the most consistent best seller of all time. And sufficient to change the basis of the world's primary calendar. No other supposed revelation has presented such a persuasive case and wealth of evidence in support of its revelational claims. In comparison, the Mormon 'revelation' has no verifiable historical or archaeological basis. And the Koran has no solid historical basis or legal standing outside the Islamic world. Not only were all early variant copies of the Koran destroyed, but the source of the text itself is of questionable origin, being chosen from a wide assortment of variant copies, which were themselves a collection to questionable sources.

8. Reports of Supernatural phenomenon, paranormal and miracles are reported even today. While the vast majority of these are highly suspect and unverified, a select few have proved to be authentic. Moreover, theologians and theistic minded scientists alike have concluded that there is more to ultimate reality than we presently know. A multitude of theories of other world and dimensions have been proposed even by scientists. Indeed, the very existence of this world and cosmic dimension testifies not only to the possibility, but probability, of other dimensions, including the supernatural.

9. All of Jewish history testifies to the reality of God, but the validity of Biblical prophecy - affirmed by the restoration of modern nation of Israel in our time. As the Bible predicts in Genesis 15:5 the Jews would survive over thousands of years and endure despite continual opposition. Notice how Israel is always in the news? After World War II, the Jews are miraculously back in Jerusalem after nearly 2000 years of exile, just as Jesus stated in Luke 21:24. And just as the Hebrew prophets likewise predicted. Such predictions included the revival of the Hebrew language and a multitude of other factors. Of all the sacred manuscripts in the world only the Bible contains specific revelations about future events, with specific predictions about the destiny of the Jewish people and the world. There are hundreds of prophetic predictions made throughout the Bible and this in itself can be shown to be beyond all probability, and the mark of divine revelation.

10. The Bible: Archeology supports it, history verifies it, prophecy proves it.

Despite the many authors there is a common core of teaching throughout the Bible. Justice, love, reconciliation, and salvation by "grace" through faith. The Bible has always proved to be consistent with reality when tested. It is logically consistent; philosophically sound; historically verifiable, scientifically valid, and existentially livable. The Talmudists and Massoretes ensured accuracy in copies, as a study their methods clearly shows. The New Testament manuscripts have no equal. Not only in terms of the early dating of the manuscripts still in existence, the vast number of manuscripts available, and the various ways these manuscripts came down to us. In short, if anyone wants to reject the New testament manuscripts on historical grounds, they are force to reject every other manuscript of antiquity, for none is better based. (See The New Testament Documents, F.F Bruce; The Shape of The Past,, Dr John W Montgomery. Is The New Testament History, Dr Paul Barnett).

Some examples of Science in the Bible; A round earth Isaiah 40:22 used by Christopher Columbus; Space expanding Psalm 104; Law of Entropy Isaiah 51:6; Relativity of Time 2 Peter 3:8; Wandering Stars Jude 13

The Proof for Jesus Christ: a) A Historically Provable Jesus Christ. Examples of: a. Non-biblical Historians who affirm Jesus as a man of history. 1) Flavius Josephus 37 A.D. 2) Comelius Tacitus 52 A.D. 3) Thallus 52 A.D. 4) The Jewish Talmuds.

Prophecy Proves Jesus IS the Messiah, Saviour: Over 300 predictions came true: Examples: Isaiah 7, ; Jeremiah 23:5 House of David , Luke 3:23,31; Micah 5:2 Born at Bethlehem Matt. 2:1; Isaiah 7:14 Emmanuel (God with Us), Matt. 1:23; Zechariah 9:9 Jerusalem on donkey, Luke 19:3537; Zechariah 11:12 Sold for 30 pieces of silver, Matt. 26:15; Psalm 22:7,8,16, Mocked, hands, feet pierced, Matt. 27:31; Zechariah 12: 10 His side pierced, Luke 23:33; Psalm 22:18 Garments parted lots cast, John 19:23,24; Isaiah 53:12 Crucified with thieves, Matt. 27:38 etc. Every attempt has been made by skeptics and Jewish opponents of Christianity to refute these messianic prophecies regarding Jesus, but as shown by foremost Jewish Scholar, Dr. Michael L. Brown, in his 5 volume series, Answering Jewish [ and Skeptics] Objections to Jesus, all these are objections are flawed having no valid or sustainable basis.

A Provable Resurrection: Jesus predicted how he would die (Matt. 16:2 1); Proved dead on the cross. (Blood and water evidence); The huge stone, the Roman Seal.; The Sealing would have been done in the presence of the Roman Guard (usually 4 men), who were to protect the stamp of Roman authority. Their punishment could have been death. The empty tomb, the grave clothes. The disciples reactions before and after the resurrection. They were scared before he’d risen, but changed completely after; Jesus had appeared to them and 500 other people in Galilee. They were now willing to die for what they’d witnessed. No one would ever give their lives for something "they know" is not true. They died martyrs because "they knew" it was true. Despite the Roman Guard, the Jewish Authorities could not prove Jesus hadn't’t risen. No one ever produced the body, and every attempt by scholars to discredit the resurrection of historical grounds raises far more inconsistencies questions than they bargained for in raising their objections. The graves of every other religious leader is occupied. Christ's grave alone is empty, as was acknowledged and affirmed even by opponents. He alone defeated death. And He alone can provide this future hope for others. In short, Christ is humanities only valid hope of life beyond the grave, and only way of humanity ever achieving redemption and peace with God. And this is the "Good News (Gospel) that Christ's Jewish disciples took to the world, and changed history in the process.

Well known messianic Jewish scholar Dr Michael Brown, has successfully dealt with most of the arguments raised by those Jews and other opposed to the messianic claims of Christ. Brown has clearly shown why Jesus meets all the criteria relating to the first coming of messiah ben Joseph, the sacrificial servant redeemer spoken of by the prophets, and those predictions of the messiahs returning as messiah ben David ,to mount the throne of David and rule the nations.

I have challenged Jews opposed to Christ’s messianic claims to explain to me what possible justification would warrant the destruction of the Temple and the Jewish commonwealth shortly following Christ's death and resurrection, just as He predicted, as He did the return of the Jews to Jerusalem in our time. And as to why all of Jewish life would center around a Temple sacrificial system of continual animal sacrifices, if it ultimately had no point. And nothing ultimately to do with anything, including the predicted sacrificial servant of Isaiah 53. This sinless servant could not be Israel, for the entire Temple system clearly showed that Israel were hard pressed dealing with their own sins, let alone the sins of the nations. Christ Himself stated that His sacrificial crucifixion at a specific location, and in a specific way, was the messianic culmination of the whole Temple sacrificial system, as animals sacrifices could never ultimately be a substitute for humanities sins. They were only provisional until the God's chosen servant messiah paid the price of humanities sin, in their place.

Jesus Christ, the perfect sinless messiah,rejected by his own people. Most of the prophets sent be God had likewise been rejected and killed. A fate shared by Christ. Subsequent events indicated that the Jewish nation would no longer have the protection and shelter under God's wings. What followed was an incredible 2000 Jewish exile, It had to do with God's special covenant with Israel, and the conditional consequences of the "Blessing and the Curse" instituted at the time of Joshua. Yet Jesus remains an outsider, and the reborn state of Israel remains the most fortified nation per capita on the face of the earth.

Yet, this single unknown Jew, with no money, no status, no resources, no political power, and no recognition with any Jewish authorities; and only three years ministry in a relatively minor Roman region, would have an impact on world history more than the total Jewish people combined. Sufficient to change the calendar of the western world, and have the assigned date of his birth even inscribed on modern Israeli calendars. Thus, in spite of the rejection of Jesus by the majority of Jews they could not escape His influence, even today. Efforts have been made to paint the monument a different color, but the monument stands none the less. For how would all this ever be possible without God's special oversight and provision.

Sadly, the worlds knowledge of the God of Israel did not come about as a result of the long Jewish exile, for the Jewish people were generally a close community with no missionary agenda, and whose presence was not always appreciated. Rather it came about as a result of costly efforts of messianic Jews, the followers of Jesus. It was these Jews who took the knowledge of the God of Israel to the world, as the waters cover the sea. And untold billions of non-Jews down through the centuries have been eternally grateful...

WHO THEN IS JESUS? In John 20:28 we read "My Lord and my God"; Matthew 1:23 "God with Us"; Isaiah 9:6 "Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"; John 1:29 "The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". We know Jesus is alive because he has the ability to change lives even today. Be ready when he comes back.

Some References: Christianity for the Tough Minded, Dr. John Warwick Montgomery; Evidence That Demands a Verdict Vol. I by Josh McDowell, Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith; Evolution: A Theory in Crisis by Dr. Michael Denton (an a agnostic Scientist who exposes the myth of evolution.) Christianity for Skeptics by Dr. Steve Kumar & John Heininger:www.thegodreality.com ; The Problem of Pain and Basic Christianity by C.S. Lewis, and other sources.

:John Heininger