For My Atheist Friend a reminder, a refresher,

an encouragement

Christian

Believe in God

Atheist

Not: “win”

Bear informed, gracious witness

1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give ...the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Respect

Respect

Be a friend

Listen. Earn respect.

Be open, honest, genuine

Insist on mutual respect of person and beliefs

Your Goal

Plant a seed

Your Role

Open the door

Understand His Thinking

Get in his head

Listen, ask

Concerns, reservations

Reasons for his beliefs

Why an atheist?

Be Prepared

Explain your beliefs

Reasons

Faith challenged

Pace

Pray

Be patient

Go slowly

Choose time, place

Be persistent

Time in the Creation

Time in the Creation

Evidence

Not: “proof”

Evidence

Possible explanations

Look for the best possible explanation

Evidence for the Existence of God

Universe

Design

Morality

Cosmological Argument Beginning → Beginner

Design Argument Watch = Watchmaker

Morality Case

Is “right” and “wrong” objective reality or personal opinion?

If objective: transcendent, personal being

Cosmological Argument Beginning → Beginner

Kalam Argument

Big Bang

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Cosmological Argument Kalam Argument

There are no actual “infinites”.

“Now” = finite past

Finite past = Beginning

Beginning = Beginner

Cosmological Argument Big Bang

13 Billion years ago

Point of Origin: extremely hot, dense

Expanding

Before: no time, space, matter, energy

Cosmological Argument 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Entropy happens: slows, cools

Hot spots: not infinitely old

Goldilocks universe

Cosmological Evidence Beginning → Beginner

Inferences:Transcendent: beyond time, space, matter, energy.

Non-contingent

Necessary

Intentional, proactive, willful, chooses

Omniscient (knows all)

Personal

Design Argument Watch = Watchmaker

fine tuning

irreducible complexities

information

Case from Design Watch = Watchmaker

Fine-tuning

Case from Design Design Argument: Watch = Watchmaker

Irreducible complexity

Case from Design Design Argument: Watch = Watchmaker

Irreducible complexity

Case from Design Design Argument: Watch = Watchmaker

Information: communication between minds

Case from Design Design Argument: Watch = Watchmaker

Inferences: Intentional

Intelligent

Personal

Powerful

Precision

Purpose

Benevolent

Case from Morality If objective → Transcendent, personal Being

Case from Morality If objective → Transcendent, personal Being ! Relativism

No objective, universal moral truth

Society, individuals decide “right” & “wrong”

“True” for me

Opinions, not morals

Case from Morality If objective → Transcendent, personal Being ! Objectivism

Objective RIGHT and WRONG: Torturing babies for fun is wrong.

Commands

Authoritative

!!

Source: higher power

“True” for me

Guilt

Guilt to a person - not to a thing

Case from Morality If objective → Transcendent, personal Being !Inferences:

Transcendent

Personal

concerned

Engaged

Holy

Authority

Judgement

punishment

Inferences from the Evidence

Exists

Necessary

Intentional will

intelligent

All knowing

All powerful

Beyond time

Immaterial, eternal

Personal

Author, Authority

Transcendent

Necessary

Moral, Holy

Judge

Concerned

Engaged

Unique

Timeless

Human Expectations of God on Earth

If God were to become a man and walk around here on the planet ....

What would we humans expect of Him?

Human Expectations of God on Earth

Unique entrance

Human Expectations of God on Earth

Unique entrance

Without sin

Human Expectations of God on Earth

Unique entrance

Without sin

Miracles

Human Expectations of God on Earth

Unique entrance

Without sin

Miracles

Greatest words

Human Expectations of God on Earth

Unique entrance

Without sin

Miracles

Greatest words

Pivotal influence

“The nature of Christ’s existence is mysterious, I admit; but this mystery meets the wants of a man - reject it and the world is an inexplicable riddle, believe it, and the history of our race is satisfactorily explained.” !

Napoleon Bonaparte

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Christ’s Influence on Civilization

Hospitals

Universities

Literacy

Representative gov’t

Separate political powers

Civil Liberties

Abolition of slavery

Modern science

Benevolence, charity

Standards of Justice

Elevation of Common Man

High regard for human life

Civilized barbarians

written language

Art & music

Changed lives

Saved souls

Human Expectations of God on Earth

Unique entrance

Without sin

Miracles

Greatest words

Pivotal influence

Satisfy Spiritual hunger

Human Expectations of God on Earth

Unique entrance

Without sin

Miracles

Greatest words

Pivotal influence

Satisfy Spiritual hunger

#1 Enemy: death

Evidence for the Existence of God

Universe

Design

Morality

Cosmological Argument Beginning → Beginner

Design Argument Watch = Watchmaker

Inferences from the Evidence

Exists

Necessary

Intentional will

intelligent

All knowing

All powerful

Beyond time

Immaterial, eternal

Personal

Author, Authority

Transcendent

Necessary

Moral, Holy

Judge

Concerned

Engaged

Unique

Timeless

Expectations of God