The creation (belief) vs. evolution (unbelief) debate is like a trial. The new Scopes Monkey trial I spoke of weeks ago. I accept now the trial has already begun and continues to rage. In this trial being that what we decide is a personal decision we individually therefore are both judge and jury. Any jurist though begins with their own biases and prejudices despite what we are willing to admit and regardless of how totally objective we claim to be.
We are also the lawyers in the trial each one taking turns presenting his best case for what theory he believes is true.
The lawyers have various styles of presentation. Some have the arrogant in your face approach accusing the other side of being inept, scrupulous, misinformed, or outright immoral. Some will use the underhanded catchall tactic of casting their opponent in the worse possible light by comparing them to JWs our common enemy. There are those those who seldom make a personal attack but instead methodically presents their evidence and makes their case.
Each side has the frustration of trying to do the impossible. That is trying to prove something to someone that does not want to believe it (a biased juror). Though the biased juror asks for proof it is disingenuous at best as there is no proof for one not willing to believe it. The best each lawyer can do is present his evidence for the benefit of those uncommitted to their viewpoint. This evidence we say are the facts. It must be understood that these facts are only a certainty from each ones own perspective.
The juror will decide for himself what will be his truth. Many will delay making their decision intentionally delaying the rendering of justice. Will he be forever free or imprisoned to a point of view that result in his death.
This too interestingly is a matter of opinion. For the atheist liberty is being free from the very idea of God. Being guilty is to believe for which the sentence is disappointment by relying on something that doesn't exist and therefore can't do anything for you. This disappointment is something they fear more than death itself.
Perhaps the unbelievers might want to clarify or correct this opinion of their thought patterns. This is as far as I can come to understanding their motivations.
The believer on the other hand is encouraged by his greatest source of reference the Bible that liberty and the truth that set us free is that God exists. Liberty is knowing that Christ is the savior of all that earnestly seek and trusts in him. Being guilty is to disbelieve for which the penalty is spiritual death by being forever seperated from God which is eternal damnaton (hell).
Since the time Adam and Eve first failed to trust God they were pronounced guilty of disbelief. They were immediately executed in the same day they sinned by being seperated from God. This spiritual death they incurred eventually led to their physical death. Spirits are inherently immortal or not subject to death in any physical sense. This being the case death only can mean being seperated from God. This seperation was generally applied to all men. Exceptions were made for men of special faith and trust in God that God would call his friends.
God only allowed the Jews under special circumstances to have the close special protected relationship he desired for all men. This primarily was due to the covenant he made with Abraham.
Through the provision of animal sacrafice
the Jews could be cleansed of their sins so that legally they could have a right relationship with God. Though all men continued to be condemned by the sentence imposed on them from Adam and Eve, mankind could receive a resurrection of their souls from spiritual death upon Christs sacraficial death and ransom. Mens souls would have to figuratively sleep in the ground til this time.
All men after this time could spiritually be resurrected wth new spirit bodies and be adopted as spiritual sons of God. Just as mens spiritual death occured well in advance of his physical death I believe that a mans spiritual resurrection occurs immediately at the time that a man through exercising faith in Christ (God) recieves the baptism not in water but in holy spirit. It is by the Holy Spirit that the perfecting of man comes about. Perfection is being completely equipped for every good work.
As far as the believer is concern there is urgency in reaching ones verdict. Seperation from God like being in prison is a scary, unpleasant and uncomfortable situation. There is only one way out. Trust in God.
I personally have admitted unapologetically to being biased to belief. I am committed to not believing anything it does not benefit me to believe. The debate is like being in the lottery. The only winning bet is God. Everyone that bets on God wins something whether that something is security, self-esteem, confidence, etc. I don't believe the same holds true from the unbelievers perspective but I am sure they will correct me.
I am looking forward to more testimony.
Zechariah