The disciples had nothing to gain by lying and starting a new religion. They faced hardship, ridicule, hostility, and martyr's deaths. In light of this, they could never have sustained such unwavering motivation if they knew what they were preaching was a lie. The disciples were not fools and Paul was a cool-headed intellectual of the first rank. There would have been several opportunities over three to four decades of ministry to reconsider and renounce a lie.
J.P. MorelandGod maintains a delicate balance between keeping his existence sufficiently evident so people will know he's there and yet hiding his presence enough so that people who want to choose to ignore him can do it. This way, their choice of destiny is really free.
J.P. MorelandThe soul is the ego, the โI,โ or the self, and it contains our consciousness. It also animates our body. Thatโs why when the soul leaves the body, the body becomes a corpse. The soul is immaterial and distinct from the body.
J.P. MorelandReligion is now viewed by many as a placebo or emotional crutch precisely because that is how we often pitch the gospel to unbelievers
J.P. MorelandFrom space travel to organ transplants, one of the most important influences shaping the modern world is science. Amazingly, people who lived during the Civil War had more in common with Abraham than with us. If Christians are going to speak to that world and interact with it responsibly, they must interact with science.
J.P. Moreland