How
I explain supernatural reality.
In order to explain supernatural reality, permit me to use a
completely unorthodox approach.
Supposing,
just supposing that I was granted an absolutely true answer to one specific personal
question, what would my question be?
As
I was curious what the answer would be, I ventured to pose this question to
various people.
The most common answers were 'Why am I alive?' and ‘What is the purpose of my life?’
If
I am given true answers to these questions, I guess I would adjust my priorities and live
my remaining life more purposefully.
Out
of curiosity, I
decided to see for myself what was already written on this subject. I found that
the body of knowledge was in two categories, the secular and the spiritual.
The
secular answer to the question, ‘Why am I alive?’
According
to my knowledge of science, I am alive because my parents conceived me. My
parents existed because their parents conceived them and so on until the very
first parents of human beings. This raises the question of how they came into
existence. The theory of evolution attempts to explain this by postulating that
humans evolved from monkeys. Even if I accept this theory, I still have further
questions. What did monkeys originate from and so on.
Finally,
I am confronted with the question of how did life forms originate from inanimate
matter. The theory of spontaneous development of primordial life forms from
inanimate matter by chance attempts to explain this. However, even if I were to
accept this answer, the next question is how did inanimate matter first come
into existence. The big bang theory attempts to answer this
question. Even if I were to accept this theory, my next question is what was
there before the big bang.
The
answer to this question is that there was nothing. Even if I were to accept this
answer, my next question is how did nothing give rise to something as massive as
the universe. At this point, I believe science is unable to explain any
further.
The
spiritual answer to the question, ‘Why am I alive?’
From
the beginning of recorded civilization, spiritual theories have been used to
explain natural events, health, political power, life, death and the thereafter.
Over
the years these beliefs have consolidated into what is recognized as the major
religions of the world. The answer to the above question is contained in their
written documents.
How
do I ascertain which of them would be closer to the truth?
Unless
I use an objective secular tool, my conclusion would merely reflect my
subjective preference.
I decided to use the mathematical tool of chance and probabilities.
If
I predict correctly all four digits in a four–digit lottery, the likelihood of
that occurring by chance is one in 10,000 because for each digit, the
probability is one in ten. If I
predict another four digits correctly, the likelihood of this event occurring by
chance is one in 100,000,000. If I predict correctly another four digits, the
probability of this occurring by chance is one in 1,000,000,000,000.
The
correct prediction of a four-digit lottery three times in a row is extremely
unlikely to occur by chance. It is more likely to have happened by design. This
could happen if I control the process of selecting the winning numbers. This
could happen if I have knowledge of the future (prescience). Where has this
ability come from? One explanation is that it is from an omniscient
intelligence.
I
apply this argument to the prediction of future historical events.
Predicting one specific historical event in the future is possible by
guessing. Predicting many specific historical events in the future is very
unlikely by guesswork. Predicting a series of specific historical events in a
specific order is even more unlikely by guesswork.
Contained
in the various religious texts are predictions of events in the future relative
to the time of the initial writing of these texts.
My
experimental model is to find the number of specific predicted events actually
coming to pass as recorded in secular history as the criterion for the relative
truthfulness (veracity) of the various religious texts. The degree of veracity
is increased if the specific predicted events occur in the predicted order.
From
my reading of the Bible, the Qur’an and the Bhagavad Gita,
I found that the Bible contained by far the most instances of correctly predicted events
recorded in secular history. (click here)
The
likelihood of these correct predictions occurring by chance is extremely remote.
In other words, it would be almost impossible for the predictions to happen
merely by coincidence. Hence it is more likely to have occurred by design.
I
believe that the designer is a prescient intelligence possibly from outside the
four dimensions that I exist in. I believe this prescient intelligence
revealed the events of the future to various people called prophets who recorded
their predictions. These predictions (prophecies) are compiled in a book called
the Bible.
I
believe the Bible contains clues to the identity of this prescient intelligence.
On re-examining the Bible I found many predictions about a man. These were
fulfilled in one person called Jesus. (click here)
Prescient intelligence is supernatural. This supernatural reality involves a personage called Jesus. The Bible indicates that the prescient intelligence is the designer responsible for bringing into existence the reality of space and time and all that exists and all that happens.
The
Bible also provides answers to the following questions.
Why
am I alive?
I am alive because Jesus created all existence and thus created me.
What
is the purpose of my life?
The purpose of my life is to know, fellowship with and glorify Jesus.
To see why I did not choose other religions, take a look at the last part of Which religion should I choose to believe in
Resource
material.
The Concise Oxford
Dictionary, Tenth Edition, 2001
Josephus,
Flavius. The Essential Works. Translated and edited by Paul L. Maier. Angus
Hudson Ltd, Concorde House. Grenville Place, Mill Hill. London NW7 3SA. ISBN
0-8254-3260-X. © 1994
The Holy Bible. King James Version.
The Qur’an. A modern English version. Translated by Majid Fakhry. Garnet
Publishing Limited. 8 Southern Court, South Street, Reading, RG1 4QS, UK. ISBN 1
85964 086 9 © 1997
The Bhagavad Gita. Translated by Paramahansa Yogananda. Self Realization
Fellowship, 3880 San Raphael Ave. Los Angeles, California 90065-3298, USA.
Second Edition. ISBN 0-87612-030-3 © 1999
Definitions.
Science
is the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of
the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation
and experiment.
Experiment is a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test
a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact.
Hypothesis is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of
limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
Theory is a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain
something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing
to be explained.
Truth is the quality or state of being true.
True is in accordance with fact or reality.
Fact is a thing that is indisputably the case.
Reality is the state of things as they actually exist.
Veracity is conformity to facts, accuracy, and habitual truthfulness.
Evidence is information indicating whether a belief or proposition is
true or valid.
Coincidence is a remarkable occurrence of events or circumstances without
apparent causal connection.
Prescient is having knowledge of events before they take place.
Omniscient is knowing everything.
Prophecy is a prediction.
Prophet is a person who predicts
the future, an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.
I understand that scientific method involves the
awareness that observation by my five senses supersedes any theory proposed to
explain the observation.
I test the validity of a hypothesis by experiment. If observations from
experiment are consistent with the results predicted by the hypothesis, then the
hypothesis becomes a valid theory. As long as fresh evidence continues to be
consistent with the theory, the theory remains valid. Otherwise the theory is
considered as untrue.
To see my answers to some challenging questions, click on the following hyperlinks.
Secular evidence for the existence of
supernatural reality (Home page)
How I explain supernatural reality
Bible prophecies have correctly predicted events in secular history
Predictions about Yeshua (Jesus)
Which religion should I choose to believe in
Why I believe Islam and Islamic
belief are false
Why I believe Hinduism and Hindu
belief are false
Why I believe
Buddhism and Buddhist belief are false
Why I believe
New Age and New Age belief are false
Why I believe Baha'i and Baha'i belief are false
Miracles performed by Jesus
Christ
Why things happen the way they do
Is there free will when exercising choice
How can three be one
Invitation to spread the message
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