A Challenge for Skeptics

In the direct sales profession, when a customer hesitates before making a buying decision, the savvy salesperson will often use what is called the Ben Franklin method to close the sale. On a sheet of paper, the advantages and disadvantages are listed side by side so the customer can see why buying the product or service being presented is a good choice. Similarly this method can be used to examine evidence to determine the existence of God. Simply by listing evidence in columns for and against his existence side by side will yield the greater probability case for or against his existence. As part of the methodology, the proper categories of researched evidence must be cited, namely the following categories, although they are not exhaustive:

1. Statistical/Mathematical probability of chance origins of the universe and intelligent life.

2. Ancient World History

3. Roman, Greek and Jewish writings by 1st & 2nd century historians.

4. Modern Cosmology

5. Contemporary Molecular Biology

6. Biblical prophecy fulfillment and scientific foreknowledge in the Bible.

7. Archeology

8. Physics

10. Laws of logic and reasoning

11. Paleontology/fossil records.

Anyone who will objectively go through this process will indeed discover that the scope of the evidence, both quantity and quality overwhelmingly points to monotheism. For honest truth seekers this journey should be worth the time and effort, since your eternal destiny may hang in the balance, even if it takes a year or more. To ensure an objective investigation, I encourage honest truth seekers to read the works of Charles Darwin, Bertrand Russell, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, and also the writings of C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, Sir William Ramsay, Simon Greenleaf, Francis Collins and most recently Antony Flew.

Finally, take the empirical revelation challenge. Jesus Christ's claim that all seekers will find is testable by experiment. If you are an honest, open minded agnostic investigator, pray the skeptic's prayer:

God, I don't know whether you exist. I think you may only be a myth. However, I am not certain. So if you do exist, and you really did promise to reward all seekers, you must hear me now. I hereby declare myself a seeker of the truth, whatever it is and wherever it is. I want to know and live by the truth. If you are the truth, please show me.

Remember, he promised you would find him, he didn't promise a schedule so be patient. Be deliberate in your investigation, pray this prayer daily and follow the evidence where it leads as you record your findings using the Ben Franklin method.

Learn more about this author, John Guidone.
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