“Much of the problem with religion is that it is based on

revelation and faith and authority rather than evidence.

Darwinism is based on evidence, and to that extent it is radically

different from religion.”

[“Evolving Theories”, Winds Magazine, December, 2002, p. 20]

RELIGION --

Based on

-Revelation

-Faith

-Authority

DARWINISM --

Based on

-Evidence

“Many people don’t realize that science basically involves

assumptions and faith. Nothing is proved. Wonderful things in both science and religion come from

our efforts based on observations, thoughtful assumptions, faith, and

logic.”

Dr. Charles Hard Townes, Los Angeles Daily Star, March 10, 2005

“We did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we

told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His

majesty….”

[2 Peter 1:16]

“That which was from the beginning, which we have

heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have watched, and with our hands

have handled,… that which we have seen and heard, THIS we

declare to you….

[1 John 1:1-3]

HISTORY --

deals with

-singular events

-non-repeatable

-verifiable only by

eyewitnesses

MIRACLES --

are

-singular events

-non-repeatable

-verifiable only by

eyewitnesses

Alleged MiracleJesus arose from

the dead

Assumption“Miracles are impossible”

Objection“There MUST be

another explanation”

Why?“Because...”

CAN the event happen?

DID the event happen?

CAN the event happen?

Speculative

Answer is determined by one’s

presuppositions

DID the event happen?

Evidence based

Dispassionate setting aside of one’s

presuppositions

“Now about the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land

unto the ninth hour….

And the earth did quake….”

[Matthew 27:45, 51-55; Mark 15:33]

[History, Book III, written in Rome, c. A.D. 55]

“This darkness which occurred at the death of Jesus

was caused by a solar eclipse.”

[History of the World, c. A.D. 220]

Sextus Julius Africanus responded to Thallos:

“Thallos cannot be right; Jesus died on Passover, at the time of the full moon.”

[History of the World, c. A.D. 220]

Sextus Julius Africanus responded to Thallos:

“Thallos cannot be right; Jesus died on Passover, at the time of the full moon.”

“In the fourth year of the two-hundred and second Olympiad

there was a great and extraordinary eclipse of the sun, distinguished among all that had

happened before.

[Olympiads, Book 13; quoted by Jerome, ]

“At the sixth hour the day was turned into dark night, so that the stars in the heavens were seen,

and there was a great earthquake in Bithynia which overthrew many

houses in the city of Nice.”[Olympiads, Book 13]

A Tanna has said,

[Talmud Bavli, Tractate Sanhedrin, 107a, Note 17Uncensored Edition.]

“Jesus the Nazarene practiced magic and led Israel

astray.”

[Talmud Bavli, Tractate Sanhedrin, 43a]

On the eve of Passover, Jesus [the Nazarene] was executed. For forty

days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and

cried,

“He is going forth to be executed because he has practiced sorcery

enticing Israel to apostacy.

[Talmud Bavli, Tractate Sanhedrin, 43a]

Anyone who can say anything in his favor, let him come forward

and plead on his behalf.”

But, since nothing was brought forward in his favor, he was

executed on the eve of Passover [and the Sabbath].

[Matthew 11:4-6]

“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind

receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to

life, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is

the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

[Matthew 11:4-6]

“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive

sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf

hear, the dead are raised to life, and the good news is preached to the

poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

[Talmud Bavli, Tractate Sanhedrin, 43a]

“Jesus…

was descended from

royalty.”

David-Bathsheba

Solomon

Jacob Heli

Nathan

????Joseph

Jesus

[Talmud Yerushalmi, Tractate Chagigah, 3a]

“Mary [was] the daughter of

HELI.”

David-Bathsheba

Solomon

Jacob Heli

Nathan

MaryJoseph

Jesus

Mary was a

harlot

who consorted with and

became illegitimately pregnant

by a

carpenter.

[Talmud Yerushalmi, Tractate Chagigah, 3a]

The Pharisees said to Him,

“WE were not born of fornication!”

[John 8:41]

“Is this not the carpenter’s son?

Is not his mother Mary?

And his brothers James,

Joseph, Simon, and Judah?

And his sisters, are they not all

with us?”

[Matthew 13:55-56]

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before

they came together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, being

a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example,

considered sending her away secretly.

[Matthew 1:18-19]

Behold! The angel said:

“O Mary! God gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name shall be Christ Jesus, the

son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the hereafter. And of the company of those nearest to

God.”[Qur’an, Sura III:45]

Muhammad

She said, “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched

me, and I am not unchaste?”

He said, “So it will be: The Lord says, ‘That is easy for Me. And

we wish to appoint him as a sign unto men, and a mercy from us.’”

[Qur’an, Sura XIX:19-22]

Muhammad

So she conceived him,

and then retired with him

to a remote place.

[Qur’an, Sura XIX:19-22]

Muhammad

All three western religions --

Christianity, Judaism, Islam

Admit to the unique nature of the birth of Jesus.

Rabbi Simeon ben Lakish said:

“Cursed be that man who raised himself from the dead by the

name of God.”

[Talmud Bavli, Tractate Sanhedrin, 106a]

And he said to him,

“If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone

rose from the dead.”

[Luke 16:31]

1. Verification of details

2. Confirmation of historicity

3. From non-believer sources

4. Rock-solid basis in EVIDENCE