Afterlife and the Universe…

…heady stuff. Are you ready? This post is as good as any other to mention the book The Unobservable Universe by Scott M. Tyson, a “visionary” physicist, engineer, scientist, and researcher.

I first heard about through a press release, subtitled “Award-Winning Physicist Chastises Scientist For Decrying Religion.” In a interview with The Guardian, Stephen Hawking dismissed the concept of life after death, and Tyson explained how these “comments deepen the rift between the scientific and religious communities.” It sounded fascinating to me, a theologian and lover of science, and from what I read of the release (excerpted below), I agreed with Tyson.

“I think that people in general believe that scientists don’t believe in God, and that’s just not true,” said Tyson, author of The Unobservable Universe. “History is filled with scientists who were also men of faith, from Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton to Einstein. Now, I do also believe that there are other scientists who would like to prove that God doesn’t exist. These scientists might want to rain on everyone else’s parades with respect to God really, really badly. The problem is that one of the limitations of science is that science simply cannot prove the non-existence of objects and phenomena over the full spectrum of possibilities. So, while scientists may be able to prove in a scientific framework that there is no life after death, they cannot, nor should they even attempt to, prove it in a theological framework, which is the territory of faith. To do so creates unnecessary divisiveness that can serve no beneficial purpose. And that’s the line Dr. Hawking crossed – he essentially discounted the idea in both frameworks, and nothing good could come of that.”

Tyson’s concern is that Hawking’s comments deepen the rift between the scientific and religious communities, erecting hurdles that only diminish the prospects for potential good that science could do for humanity.

“Dr. Hawking is probably one of only a handful of scientists in the world who is a household name,” he added. “In many ways, he’s the captain of the team, he’s the quarterback, so when he speaks, millions of people believe he is speaking for scientists everywhere. That’s part of the weight of his celebrity on the scientific community as a whole. His comments are out of line and further complicate complex issues like stem cell research, in which faith effectively blocks the use of scientific discoveries that could heal people and ease their suffering – a concept not inconsistent with the tenets of most organized religions,” Tyson added. “But science oftentimes becomes blocked politically and socially not because the science contradicts religion, but because the argument is framed in an ‘us versus them’ context. We inadvertently challenge people to either believe in science or to believe in God, at the exclusion of the other. It’s an unreasonable and unnecessary position in which to place anyone.”

What’s worse, according to Tyson, is that people who believe in both science and faith get left out or, worse, placed into the difficult situation of needlessly choosing sides.

“Millions of people practice their faith but then also believe in the veracity of Darwin’s evolution,” he said. “Many in the scientific community view science through their faith, rather than in spite of it. When scientists discount theology in a wholesale fashion, they not only insult the faithful who discount science, but also the faithful who embrace it. It discourages and further polarizes the dialogue between the two disciplines and increases the challenges that science must overcome in its quest to better comprehend the nature of our world for the betterment of society, goals that I and many other scientists will continue to embrace.”

May 15, 2011 – News and Experts

This sparked some dialogue with me and a friend, so I decided to request a copy of the book for review.

What I received was an esoteric, high-level approach to some of the foundational questions of human existence. This was not written for laymen; rather, the language is obviously intended for someone with a solid foundation in cosmology—definitely not me. I’m sure I would have liked it if I could understand it!

The book makes extraordinary claims of taking readers on “an exciting 2,500-year journey through which they can comprehend all the phenomena in the universe” and “drastically alter[ing] the direction of human civilization in a very positive way.” If you’re interested in reading a pared-down outline of the theories and ideas presented in The Unobservable Universe, click over to Tyson’s blog.

However, the press release proved much more digestible to me. I believe that there is an afterlife—either Heaven or Hell, no in-between—and I believe that because of salvation through Jesus Christ, I am headed for Heaven.

To reject the afterlife would suck the marrow out of the foundation of my actions. My time on Earth is not pointless; it even extends beyond alleviating the temporal suffering of others. I believe many agnostics/atheists want to improve the world and help others, but without faith, actions mean little. (There is also the hedonist type, living to please themselves.) Yes, I believe that I should live for something beyond this life—I should live to alleviate eternal suffering by expanding God’s Kingdom.

There is the issue of morals: not to defend atheism/agnosticism or the “afterlife is a fairy story” camp (see links below or interview link above), but these theologies don’t correlate to an abandonment of morals; after all, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.” Hebrews 8:10. That is to say, God’s Law is written on the hearts of man.

Even pagan cultures in the deep jungle have basic social rules such as, no murder; adultery; theft—this is what I heard from Marilyn Laszlo, missionary to Papua New Guinea, when she spoke at The Lord’s Boot Camp. It seems to me that people know at some level what is right and what is wrong. Of course, many times the lines are blurred on ‘minor’ sins—things that wouldn’t get you jailed—but my point is that even though religion clearly outlines moral code, everybody has a conscience.

Official book website: www.theunobservableuniverse.com

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Related articles

• Hawking on Heaven (theness.com)
• Heroes sometimes fail: Why Stephen Hawking is wrong (sixdayscience.wordpress.com)

Be Rescued from Emptiness

I’ve been thinking about the way a lot of people feel empty despite achieving whatever the world told them would make them happy… there is a reason fairy tale endings don’t exist.

After several years of intense longing for something to fill the deepest parts of me, I found nothing more satisfying and real than a relationship with God—He’s the only thing that does it for me. I have been blessed with many enjoyable opportunities, but nothing can compare to being with God and loving him with my life.

What do you think?

I wrote this blog entry back in March, the day after my birthday, in the midst of desperation in my own life, when I didn’t pursue God but other things, like health, food, acceptance, and good grades. Personal achievement happened, but it didn’t make me feel the way I thought maybe it would.

I believe that God loves you, no matter who or what you are. Of course you are not perfect and your imperfection keeps you from God, but He loves you so much that He made a way to save you from sin and emptiness: He gave His Son, Jesus, who was truly perfect in every way. Jesus suffered pain I can’t begin to imagine, and died a gruesome death, just for your sake. If you believe that, you can have a personal relationship with your Father in Heaven.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

God is not an old man in the sky, watching your every mistake and making rules for no good reason. He made you and cares about you.

This is not impossible! Everything is true—it’s in the Bible, a book well-supported by archaeology, historical parallels, and a touch of divinity. Without that last point, it could be just like any other ancient document, but it’s not! The Bible is the Word of God. If there is a God, wouldn’t you want to know what He has to tell you?

Got questions? Any intelligent person would. If you are considering giving your life back to the One who gave it to you in the first place, I wouldn’t want you to rush into this. I love you, and I just want you to know that there is something better than desperation, seeking, unhappiness. Better than a life of guilt, lies, arguments, and hate. Pride and achievement will only get you so far. There is something better than you could imagine… For answers to questions, please see this website: http://www.gotquestions.org/.

The “Good Person” Test

Are you a good person? Almost everyone thinks they are.

However, most of us differ as to the definition of “good.” The Bible says that God is good, and the Ten Commandments are His standard of goodness.

How many of them have you obeyed?

1. “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Have you always put God first in your life? Jesus said to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength—to love God so much that your love for your parents, siblings, friends and even your own life is like hatred compared to your devotion to God.

2. “You shall not make for yourself any idol.”
Who is God to you? Have you made a god in your mind that you’re more comfortable with—a god to suit yourself?

3. “You shall not take the name of God in vain.”
Have you ever used God’s holy name as a curse word? If you have used God’s holy name to express contempt or frustration, then you are a blasphemer.

4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
One day out of seven should be a day of rest and delight.

5. “Honor your father and your mother.”
Have you ever acted toward your parents in a manner displeasing to God? Even the sins of youth are not forgotten.

6. “You shall not murder.”
Jesus warned, “Whoever is angry with his brother without cause, is in danger of judgment,” (Matthew 5:22) and the Bible says, “He who hates his brother is a murderer.” (1 John 3:15) God sees hatred in the heart to be as wicked as murder. We can violate the Law just with attitude and intent.

7. “You shall not commit adultery.”
“Whosoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28). This also includes sex before marriage.

8. “You shall not steal.”
Have you ever stolen anything? The value of the item is irrelevant. Theft is theft, and if you have ever taken something that did not belong to you, you are a thief.

9. “You shall not lie.”
Have you ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. (It just take one murder to make a murderer; it just takes one lie to make a liar.) Even if you do not think deceitfulness is a sin, God does.

10. “You shall not covet.”
Have you ever been jealous of anything someone else owned—including their house, car, husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend, money, and lifestyle?

It is impossible to find a person who were not guilty of breaking these Commandments. This is what the Bible means by Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Can you see this predicament? You are guilty of sinning against the One who made you, God Himself. You have a conscience: con = with; science = knowledge. You have sinned with knowledge! The Bible says that God will punish all murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, adulterers, etc. on Judgment Day. He will even judge our words and thoughts! Does this concern you?

Perhaps you think that God is good, and will therefore overlook your sins. But it is His goodness itself that requires justice. But does a good judge turn a blind eye to a criminal? No, only corrupt judges do that.

The place of eternal punishment is Hell.

But listen! God made a way for justice and goodness to meet. God does not want you to perish. He is rich in mercy and compassion. You cannot earn it; you do not deserve it, but offered to you is eternal life! God provided a way for you to be forgiven as proof of His love for you.

We broke the Law, but He became a man to pay the fine. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ suffered and died on a cross as payment for our sins.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Do what he commands: “Repent… that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) Desire to have nothing to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you. Jesus died to set you free, and then he rose from death to be your Lord.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) If you will confess and forsake your sins—repent—and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, God will forgive you and you’ll pass from death to life.

If you are not sure how to pray, read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer. Or you can pray something like this—“Dear God, today I turn from all my sins (name them), and I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me, and grant me your gift of everlasting life. Amen.” There is nothing magic here—it is the attitude of your heart that is important.

To personally trust in Jesus is to trust in a parachute if you had to jump 25,000 feet out of airplane. You don’t just believe in the parachute; you put it on! So the Bible says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ…” and you will be saved. Many people believe in Jesus, but not all “put him on.” You may still have questions, but it is better to put on the parachute and then ask questions than to jump out of the plane without it.

God will transform you from the inside out. You will think and feel differently as you learn to trust and obey Him. God will give you new strength to live right and love Him above all else. Read your Bible daily and obey His Word. You can trust God—He loves you and will always be faithful.

To help you get started, you may also want to read “10 Principles for New and Growing Christians.”

If you’ve decided to reject the gift of forgiveness and you die in your sins, there is no hope for you. There is no purgatory. The wrath of God abides on you and you will spend eternity in Hell.

Please take time to read what the Bible says Hell is like.

“Am I saved?”

Do you think you may be saved but are unsure?

John Piper writes the following in Don’t Waste Your Life:

Jesus is the litmus test of reality for all persons and religions. He said it clearly: “The one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16). People and religions who reject Christ reject God. Do other religions know the true God? Here is the test: Do they reject Jesus as the only Savior for sinners who was crucified and raised by God from the dead? If they do, they do not know God in a saving way.

The apostle John said “Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God” (2 John 9 – also see 1 John 2:23).

Are Catholics, Jews, Muslims, etc. saved?

These verses also address other religions who claim “God”—if they don’t accept Jesus as their only Savior, they are not saved.

Does this sound like you?

A good tree with solid roots bears good fruit. A bad tree bears no fruit. These are the fruits of a “good tree” – the evidence of a true believer in his or her life:

1. Repentance (Matthew 3:8) – Mere belief in God is not sufficient for salvation. James 2:19 says, “Even the demons believe—and tremble!” Salvation requires belief accompanied with repentance (Luke 13:3) and faith in Christ (Acts 20:21).
2. Thanksgiving – Hebrews 13:15 reads, “Through Jesus, …let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Constant thanksgiving to God is present of a “good tree.”
3. Good works
   Colossians 1:10-12 says to “live a life worthy of the Lord” and to “please him in every way” includes “bearing fruit in every good work…”
4. Fruit of the Holy Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. A true believer exhibits these qualities stemming from the Holy Spirit.
5. Righteousness (Philippians 1:11) – The apostle Paul prayed that believers would be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ”. Righteousness should come from Jesus Christ, the one who saves, thus the saved should naturally be “morally upright; without guilt or sin” (the dictionary definition of righteousness).

Stop having merely the appearance of a Christian.

Revelation 2:2-5 reminds us not to forsake Jesus as our first love. Do you love Him more than yourself, your family, and anyone or anything else – is he YOUR first love?

If not, pray and ask God to forgive you; repent. Give your life back to God.