"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalm 14:1)
We shouldn't be intimidated by unbelieving philosophers, professors, or sceientists. An intelligent, educated person can - and should - believe in God and in the Bible as His Word. Some of the world's greatest men (that we were always taught about in public schools) whose intelligence is indisputable, were believers.
Have you ever heard of these?
Sir Isaac Newton: "This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being. This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is want to be called Lord God... I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatever." http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/virtual/reading/core4-04r06.htm
Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Jesus is the most perfect of all men that have yet appeared." http://xmission.com/~fidelis/volume3/chapter26/tributes.php
Charles Dickens (in his will): "I commit my soul into the mercy of God, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and exhort my dear children humbly to try to guide themselves by the teachings of the New Testament." http://www.xmission.com/~fidelis/volume3/chapter26/tributes.php
William Shakespeare (in his will): "I commend my soul into the hands of God, my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing, through the on merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting." http://shakespeare.about.com/library/weekly/aa101000a.htm
George Washington: "It is impossible [for a man] to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible... The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obiligations." http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/founding.html#gw Washington's letter of August 20, 1778 to Brig. General Thomas Nelson.
John Adams: "The Bible is the best Book in the world." http://www.eadshome.com/JohnAdams.htm
Benjamin Franlin: "Young man, my advice to you is that you cultivate an acquaintance with and firm belief in the Holy Scriptures, for this is your certain interest. I think Christ's system of morals and religion, as He left them with us, is the best the world ever saw or is likely to see." http://bostonreview.net/BR30.2/nash/html
John Quincy Adams: "My custom, is to read four or five chapters [of the Bible] every morning immediately after rising... It... seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day...It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue." http://quotes.zaadz.com/John_Quincy_Adams.htm
Abraham Lincoln: "I am profitably engages in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book that you can by reason and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man." http://www.tentmaker.org/Quotes/biblequotes.htm
Woodrow Wilson: "I have a very simple thing to ask of you. I ask every man and woman in this audience that from this day on they will realize that part of the destiny of America lies in their daily perusal of this great Book." http://www.errantskeptics.org/Quotes_by_Presidents.htm
William Penn: "We believe the Scriptures to contain a declaration of mind and will of God...They ought also to be read, believed, and fulfille in our day... We accept them as the words of God himself." http://jcsm.org/AmericasFounders/WilliamPenn.htm
Daniel Webster: "From the time that, at my mother's feet or on my father's knee, I first learned to lisp verses from the sacred writings, they have been my daily study and vigilant contemplation." http://preceptaustin.org/2_timothy_314-15.htm
Douglas MacArthur: "Believe me, Sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed." http://www.thescriptures.org/quotes/index.html
William Gladstone: "I have known ninety-five great men of the world in my time, and of these, eighty-seven were all followers of the Bible." http://thescriptures.org/quotes/index.html
"Some doubt God's existence since He is not perceptible to our sensory system (seen, heard or felt). According to this reasoning, we would have to repudiate the human conscience, as well as molecular adhesion and gravity. Just because I have never seen Katmandu doesn't mean it is not at the base of Everest." (Allen Webster, author of original article noted below.
Thoughts and quotes are based on an article entitled "You gotta be dumb to believe the Bible, Right?" from the publication "House to House", which is sent to members of the Salisbury Church of Christ and the immediate neighborhood. Available in other areas by contacting www.housetohouse.com.
FREE ONLINE BIBLE STUDY IS AVAILABLE
These sites are available for any who are interested. We recommend, as always, that all readers carefully weigh all information and 'search the Scriptures daily to make sure these things are so' (Acts 17:11).
Please join us for "The Virtual Bible Study" on Thursday evening at 9pm Eastern / 8pm Central time. Go to www.TheVirtualBibleStudy.com and follow the link to hear the live broadcast. You can also check out archives of past programs and information about podcasting.
Recommended Web sites:
Gospel Broadcasting Network: www.gbntv.org
Spiritual Perspectives: www.SpiritualPerspectives.org
Apologetics Press: www.ApologeticsPress.org
Christian Courier: www.ChristianCourier.org
Truth for the World: www.tftw.org
World Radio: www.wfr.org
Gospel Gazette: www.gospelgazette.com
Discovery Magazine: www.discoverymagazine.com
In Search of the Lord's Way: www.searchtv.org
Other Educational Resources:
Ask your local Church of Christ congregation how to obtain DVDs from "Searching for Truth" (World Video Bible School) or get information from http://www.expage.com/gospelresources