by James Bowles

Created on: June 29, 2009   Last Updated: June 30, 2009

Science, Scripture, Challenge and Faith

Science - Subduction is the term given to one of the principle tenets of tectonics. It states that ocean floor sinks into the earth along continental shorelines. The tenet has gone mostly unchallenged, but it's counter to everything we know to be true.

For who hasn't dug into stubborn clay? And who hasn't driven a tent stake into an unyielding earth, or hammered at a fossil rock so they might free the specimen for their collection? Experiences thus gained, are counter to the notion of subduction and hence worry at our comfort zone and lessen our faith in those who make the suggestion.

I choose to believe that faith is based on the knowledge that faith is warranted - and nothing about this tenet commands my faith.

Scripture - In like manner, but under another guise, the accounts in Matthew and Mark wherein the last words of Jesus are quoted, cause similar concern.

Matthew 27:46 Eli Eli lema sabachthani

Mark 15:34 Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani

The phrases are slightly different one from the other, but they are both said to mean, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

But if it's valid to justify faith on knowledge - where is the justification to love a God that has forsaken his only son? What would become of a lesser person who felt the need under stressful circumstances to call upon their God - knowing that Jesus Himself had been forsaken?

The last words of Jesus were deduced from what Matthew and Mark believed to be the Aramaic language. These were later transliterated into Greek, and on that score errors may have been made as the alphabets are different - and Matthew and Mark after all did disagree on the words spoken.

Challenge - Modernly, the last words of Jesus have been studied by those who know the language of the Maya. In that language the words would have been understood as: Hele, Hele, lamah zabac ta ni, and they mean: Now now, I am feinting; darkness covers my face (note.1)

If correct, this interpretation erases the concerns that Jesus had been forsaken. And it stands to restore the faith of lesser persons that God is indeed caring and worthy of love.

Faith - But the jump from Aramaic (the language of Jesus) to the language of the Maya is a broad one, and not immune to the test of faith and knowledge.

So it is with some gratification that on study the Scriptures of both Matthew and Mark confirm that darkness indeed fell upon Jesus as he spoke (note 2).

Mark - 15:33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani - "Now now, I am feinting; darkness covers my face" (note 3).

Faith has it's place among those that choose that route, and faith based on the knowledge that faith is warranted (a route that contains the obligation to challenge) fills the needs of others.

Notes:

1.) Augustus Le Plongeon, "Queen Moo and the Egyptian Sphinx," p 38.

2.) Matthew 27:45 And from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

3.) It's interesting to note that Mark offers some concern himself on the interpretation of Jesus's last words. The full phrase in Mark 15:34 reads :: And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is being interpreted, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

Mark's concern being expressed in his words :: "which is being interpreted"

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