A man read a book. The author had carefully researched and dug up details previously unknown to him or his acquaintances, and the man believed the additional details to be true, as the author had presented ample evidence as to their truth. The man then went to his friends and told them about the book and the news therein. He also told many people he happened to meet along his way each day. Not everyone believed, as this man did, that the author’s details were authentic. Nevertheless, the man continued to share his beliefs with others as he met them, and he happily entered into lively debates with those who disagreed with him, sometimes winning them to his side, and other times agreeing to disagree.
It happened that the man was a teacher, and he decided to share his discoveries with his students. Many of the students’ parents disagreed with his ideas and did not like the man teaching their children such ideas. They discussed the matter with the school board, accused the man of attempting to force their children to think and act in ways other than what was desired by the parents and brought the man to trial….
Now, many of you who know me probably think I mean any Christian teacher in America today for “man” and Bible by “book”. While this is certainly entirely feasible, I am in fact referring to the “Scopes Monkey Trial“. Of course, we all know that Darwin’s Origin of Species was allowed into the teaching curriculum as true after that trial, despite hard evidence still elusively evading every researcher who has attempted to verify its claims. Evolution is in fact a belief1 system. Likewise, the “big bang” has never been and will never be proven, yet it, too, is allowed in curriculum around the country as true.
Now, back to the example you expected me to use–does anyone else see a major inconsistency with the way in which our justice system has responded? In the final analysis, we are evaluating systems of belief and whether or not these have a place in school. In other words, should a teacher teach the tenets of a belief system to his students? I am afraid that if we were to apply the judiciary’s methods of evaluating the place of beliefs in school curricula to our question, students across the country would rejoice and run home to continue playing their video games, and whatever other mischief they may have lined up. In other words, everything that is taught in school is a belief system. Math and science, in which findings are based on the scientific method2, are sets of laws and theories. Who set these laws and theories? Men. When? Over periods of time. Others have since backed up these findings, but there are often changes or corrections or revisions to make them more accurate. Except for the last half of the last sentence, I could have just described the biblical law and worldview. “What about history?” you say. What about history? History, as we have all heard from our history teachers, is written by the winners. There are only two major groups of people who have recorded histories that have survived despite serious persecutions against them: Jews and Christians. That alone should point out to most people that something must be up with those groups. Personally, that fact piques my interest to the point that were I not a Christian, I think I would long to learn more about how they survived. I say “think” because I believe that I would never actually have any interest apart from God desiring me to have an interest3.
Taking these things into account, then, I think we can all agree4 that 1) we really are talking about beliefs, 2) there is great value in discussing various opinions on an issue rather than hiding or denying other views than the popular view and 3) the judiciary has acted inconsistently. I realize you may disagree with me in whether or not the judiciary is justified in their inconsistency; but I see no way around acknowledging inconsistency. What is to be done? I honestly have no idea. The problem lies in the fact that Christianity is promised trouble and persecution. No matter how many times the Bible is attacked on its historicity and authenticity, it continues to come through these attacks with an almost spotless glow in comparison with other historical works that have less evidence but are nonetheless considered basically reliable5. Archaelogical evidence continues to confirm biblical accounts. Even people who undertake to discredit the Bible but are not biased in their approach end up accepting it as true and giving their lives to Christ6. Yet none of these things ever provides enough evidence to scoffers. In the end, Christians must stand alone like Martin Luther, declaring their loyalty to Christ while staring in the maw of the lion. I wish it would be otherwise, but too many in our generation have “traded the truth of God for a lie,”7 and they revel in their lie, desiring that it should not be brought to light. No amount of reasonableness will change their minds, even though most declare themselves to be reasonable. We live in an age of protection from offense. Despite this being a ridiculous notion, we live in it, and Christians will have to pray and seek the Lord for their rescue.
And just for argument’s sake, nihilism8 is really the only option to belief in something. You can read my thoughts on the results of nihilism here. My question, then, for all those who despise belief and religion, is that what you really want?