Christian Apologetics| Lecture 8 : BC212-CA-20260904

Yes, good morning and welcome everyone. >> Uh sorry for the abrupt uh end to yesterday's class. We uh had a situation where somebody uh needed quick medical attention. So I had to rush. So I know last class was too short. we could not complete but we'll pick up from where we stopped yesterday and we will uh try and finish this chapter chapter 4 we'll start with a word of prayer let me go ahead and pray heavenly father we thank and praise you for this time in your presence we thank you for uh grounding our faith oh god uh in in uh amazing ways and lord for all that we can understand through reason as well. Lord, Lord, we praise you that you are such a great God. And the more we we learn about the disciplines around us, Lord, it it is helping us know uh how immeasurable your wisdom and understanding is. Oh God, help us to um commit our lives to you in a greater way to worship and honor you. Lord, we speak your blessing upon all the students connected to this class. Father, we we pray uh may your name be glorified in each one of our lives. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. We are in chapter 4 of uh our course where we looked at I mentioned to us that there is a book called the case for creation and from that book we are looking at reasons for us to believe in what the Bible says. We looked at two uh majorly two of the reasons yesterday. one is evidence from cosmology and second is the evidence from physics. So today we will look at the evidence from astronomy and uh the other disciplines. So before we get into the other disciplines, could we summarize what we learned yesterday? What evidence did we look at? We were studying about >> Yes. Uh >> okay. >> Yes. So a very uh precise organization and the fact that things in the universe are in such great order which helps us recognize that uh what the Bible says is much more believable compared to uh what what we see science um say. Right? So let me just show some here. Okay. Yes. So we looked at the um reasons from cosmology and we said that there are parameters which which show us that God has put everything very accurately in the universe and um we also stated that based on what we have learned right uh there is a beginning to the universe us which obviously science also speaks about and we mentioned that Fred Hy is the one who proposed what is known as the big bang theory. But even if we discuss about the big bang theory, we have to ask the question how did those particles or that matter come about? How did the energy come about for the big bang to happen? So there are unanswered questions even if we were to go by the concepts provided in cosmology for the beginning of the universe. Secondly, we spoke about physics and from physics we had mentioned the anthropoic principle where there are uh arbitrary constants which sustain life here on earth. So it's impacting the universe and thereby the earth and life is possible because of all these constants. Gravity we examined that gravity cannot be adjusted even minutely. If it is if it is adjusted what will happen? either the universe will collapse or it will uncontroll controllably expand which will not be conducive for life here on earth. So gravity again is precise and we said cosmological constant which again is a particular number and uh uh that again is so very um apt and accurate. So if you look at such parameters there are I mentioned 28 but then even in our notes here it says there are more than 30 parameters that are very precise that make life possible here on earth. So this is something that we discussed yesterday. So more than 30 calibrated constants which are known in physics. So we are not talking uh about things that are wishy-washy. It's already discussed. It is a part of physics. And uh though science says that these things exist, again we can ask lot of questions. How do they exist? How did they become so uh specific? And all of them are specific and all of them work together and they make life possible. So if you have the time you can go check up there are videos where these uh constants are put together to demonstrate how the earth is suspended in a position and it's very interesting to see uh you know the these constants kind of working together. So we are not going so much into detail we are talking at a surface level. So now next one let us look at the evidence from astronomy. So astronomy u uh again you know we are talking about the universe but when it comes to cosmology it's about the origin of the universe. Astronomy is the existence of uh the universe and all the matter in the universe etc. So when it it comes to the earth, the positioning of the earth from the sun is so unique. There is a what is known as a habitable zone or a very very conducive zone between um the earth and the planets. So this zone, this habitable zone is where the earth is positioned. Now if we were to change it and maybe if the earth were to take the position of Mercury or Venus or some other planet, the earth will miss the habitable zone. That means things like existence of water and you know how science says right like water is so essential for life to exist and that's how the cells also uh uh were thriving all those factors will be eliminated if it is not in that habitable zone. Right? So you cannot push the earth any closer to the sun. You cannot push the earth any further away from the sun, not even 5%. If that happens, we'll all be gone because things will not be the same like the temperature, the oxygen and everything, everything gets affected. So again, we can ask the question, okay fine, science is stating these things, but how come it is so precise? There is no answer to that question, right? Science is only telling us about the existence of these things. Now, not just this, but also when we consider the sun, it is perfect. When we get deeper into astronomy, we will see that there are many stars in the universe. But any other star for the earth will not work out. We can't replace the sun with another star. When we consider the sun, it has the exact luminosity meaning the light required, exact mass, exact temperature, exact everything for the earth to have life in it. Now if we change a little bit of the mass of the sun the gravity will increase. Everything will get sucked into the sun and it'll just you know get destroyed. So again you can ask the question how come the sun is so perfect for the earth? Science doesn't have an answer for that question. It can only tell you that it is perfect. But why is it perfect? It's a hard question to answer. So these are some things that we can uh look at in the discipline of astronomy. Now if you guys are interested, you can go much deeper into it. We can even talk about the galaxy that we are in. We are in the Milky Way galaxy and the position of the Milky Way galaxy, the speed at which it is moving within the the universe, it's also perfect to sustain our solar system. If we change it again, there there will be issues. So this kind of perfection really leads to the question, how can all this happen? as an accident. Okay. So, cosmology is pointing to something, the beginning of the universe, how can it be an accident? And then physics, all the constants, how can it be an accident? Now, astronomy, astronomy is also talking about precision. How can it be an accident? These are the questions that we are asking. So are you ready for other disciplines? Okay, come let's see what we have uh in the next discipline that we are going to examine. This is biochemistry. So biochemistry is where we learn about uh cells their molecular structure uh about the chemicals that exist there and you know get um get the cell moving. So let us consider a single cell or the most basic form of living cell. So when we take up a single cell, what we see is that uh the simplest cell requires certain complicated functions to exist. We are saying it's the simplest form of a cell. But see when we take the human body, we need to be able to breathe. We need to be able to uh regulate temperature. We need to be able to digest the food so that the food will become energy and also we need to be able to get the waste out of our system only then we can be healthy. So we understand that in the human body if we take a single cell the similar functions are required in it as well. it it will not survive if any of these functions are not there. So considering the functions of a single cell, we will look at the movement of a single cell. Single cell moving in uh a uh liquid environment. So what we see is the single cell possesses what we call celia. All this is school science. So I'm sure you'll recall we have learned about these things. Celia is a important part of the cell and it helps the cell to move around right but based on what science says or evolution says everything came about gradually meaning little by little the cell became complex. But scientists are asking the question about celia. Are you with me? Celia, you got what celia is? Okay. So, celia is a part of the cell like you can see in the image here a hairike structure all around. Can we? Yes. So, this is the celia looks so simple, right? But you know what? Celia cannot function if it is not complete because it has a complex structure that makes it work uh celia and there is also something called as flagagulum. So let me show you that flagagulum also. Can you see here this is a bacterial flagagulum. Now you can see that there is a complicated mechanism that is used for movement. So you have some kind of a ring and then you have some rods, you have certain other portions. Again, if you look at a video presentation of this flagagulum, it's like a locomotive or a transport system that we have around us. Very complicated. We cannot have a car and say that the car is forming itself. So right now car doesn't have tires but it will work. Can it work? No. Car has to be full-fledged. It it needs an engine it needs the tires otherwise how will it move. So when evolution says that everything happened little by little little by little. Celia won't work if it is little by little. Flagulum will not work if it is little by little. So scientists are asking the question. If evolution is talking about gradual uh rising up in complexity, how did the most basic cell with celia work? Because celia needs all the parts. It cannot work half or you know 1/4 uh in construction. Flagulum cannot work. It needs the full motor system to be functional. So evolution cannot answer that question. How come it was already existing completely? Only then the cell can survive. So the basic cell is not basic at all. It's very complicated. Now if we take other systems like here in our uh picture I put a photo of or image of blood clotting of the body. Blood clotting is very complicated. It has to go through an entire process. If any one part is missing, blood will not clot. So it's called as a cascade. So when we look at many organisms and the processes that are followed from the most basic cells to more complicated uh organisms, we would notice what is called as irreducible complexity. Meaning these things or these processes cannot be completed if they are not full. They cannot gradually develop themselves and function. No, from day one it has to be complete. Only then will function. Evolution is not able to explain these things. So biochemistry has the explanation of the flagagulumia. That's that's the most used example where we are asking the question how come the most basic cell started with a celia which is which has irreducible complexity. Okay. So that again is pointing us to wisdom, understanding, knowledge, power and it can only be what the Bible is saying. The Bible is saying God is so intelligent. God is so wise. He knows how to make the single cell work. He knows how to put the celia. Even today locomotives or vehicles can learn from the motor system of the celia and the flagulum. Think about it and we are saying no no no that is so basic that's the first cell first cell is so complicated till today we are taking notes and using it in our day-to-day lives okay so it's so beautiful to see God's creation and how amazing he is right it's pointing us to him okay so that is about biochemistry so let's look at the next discipline biological information. So in 1953 um um there were you know people Francis Crick and James Watson who discovered what we call as DNA. So we all know that DNA contains genetic information which is the blueprint of every organism. So in today's language we understand software right we understand programming. So if there's a particular kind of programming then you generate a typical software and it works in a particular way. Now this kind of programming genetic information is the basic programming for every organism and it contains all the necessary information about how that organism will live, how the organism will reproduce, what will be the characteristics etc. Okay. Now such a such a small part of the cell uh or of each organism is the DNA right but it carries so much information. So DNA let me see if I have the image for us. Okay here you can see the uh DNA image over here. This is how it looks. It's a um coiled structure like a double helix model and you can also see some formation of like uh like ladder. This is nothing but a sequencing of proteins. Now in the DNA so this this whole coil structure DNA we have genetic information of this kind with the sequencing. So the way that the the uh basic structures the genes sequence themselves will create an information based on which a characteristic of the organism will be decided. Right? So in every part of the body like if you take up the human body there are 100 trillion cells I don't know how many zeros go in trillion also right 100 trillion it's just big basically that's all I understood that's a big number so 100 trillion cells of my body have this DNA in it all have to have it otherwise I cannot function. Now in the DNA there are again all this technical stuff like there are something called as 23 chromosomes and 30,000 genes which produce about 20,000 proteins and these proteins are required for me to function. 20,000. Can you imagine? We have no idea all this is going on within us. But even the simplest smallest cell is working and God has u designed it to produce thousands of proteins to keep us alive to keep us functional. Now the beauty is even for a basic cell you need around 300 to 500 proteins. we we cannot miss them like if you miss any one protein the cell will die. So it's already complex don't you think? How is it that the uh sequencing is so appropriate that for a particular organism you have production of particular kinds of thousands and thousands of proteins on a daily basis to keep that organism alive. Now, if you're calling this an accident, I don't know. I mean, how how can we call it an accident? Even the simplest cell needs 500 proteins. One mistake gone. You see how complex um creation itself is. We'll see later on where evolution says that things became complex as time went by and uh so yeah now you have more complicated organisms fine but where did the understanding of the genetic code come from? I mean accidentally it's harder to believe that in a small cell 500 appropriate proteins exist accidentally. So for those proteins to exist the the genes are arranging themselves in order accidentally. Right? So it it's just beyond our understanding. How can all this be an accident? So again we can get deeper and deeper into this kind of information and be thrilled by it and know that you know God is so real. We cannot uh even fathom how amazing he is. So uh the probability here in our notes we we read that the linking of these these um molecules right the amino acids the there's a particular way there has to be a right bonding. Okay. So for a correct sequence to happen um the probability is calculated 10 raised to the power of 25. So you know that that much um those are the chances right for the right kind of protein to be formed. So that if in that much chance it is happening again and again and again it's no accident right so in these ways like I said there are many layers even to the genetic information we can keep looking at it and figure out that uh there has to be God who is arranging these things and uh you know when the Bible says in Psalm 39 I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. God has arranged that DNA and every gene in a appropriate way for you to be you and me to be me. Right? So that is more believable than saying the probability of one arrangement which is 10 multiplied 25 times you know one in so many uh chances that accidentally it has happened. No it's harder to believe that. Okay. So this is the evidence from um our biological information or DNA. So we can go further from here. And finally the next evidence that leel talks about is consciousness. And we have discussed this earlier and we stated that science can explain the brain. So you know when you look at the brain maybe I have a an image here. Let me quickly go to it. One second. Okay. Yes. I'll come back to the chat. Uh some of the questions that have been put there. So yeah, so when we consider the brain biologically, we can talk about it and say what is it made up of? How are the how is the connectivity of the brain and the information in the brain triggers um the processes of the rest of the body and how quickly the electrical impulses uh work. Right? So if you and I were to see like if you were walking down the road from here and you saw a tiger, what would you do? How quickly would you run? >> Immediately, right? Like climb a tree or jump off from somewhere like that. Think about it. See how the brain is processing? There's there's a quick response like you looked at it all the electrical impulses just went through and your brain is giving you the message danger bring yourself to safe a safe place safety. So again like we can get into the uh science of this and see how um how quickly in terms of time how many seconds how many uh you know trillionth of a of a second that the impulse is moving in and we fascinated by the brain but what is the brain made up of it's mostly made up of fat right and I know in our generation today we don't we are not very happy with fat in our body cholesterol but the brain Bra is mainly made up of fat. But the way God has created the minute structure of the brain, you know, the neurons and the way they they carry the impulses is amazing. It's like a gate, right? If you get into the details of it, how the electrical impulse comes in and the message is carried from one neuron to the other neuron, it's all too wonderful. So yeah, we appreciate it based on what science says, but science does not explain consciousness. Consciousness refers to a more philosophical concept of ideas, creativity. We all have the same brain or you know same kind of content, size of the brain etc etc. But two people think so differently. One person is creating spacecrafts, you know, another person is interested in maybe painting. How is it that a brain is thinking in two different ways? There are no answers to such questions. Reasoning, emotions, decision making. Why some people are making quick decisions, some people are taking so long, why are some people overthinking? No answers. Science can only explain to a certain extent. But when it comes to consciousness, there are no answers. Also things like why does see brain is okay but what about the mind? Even when people are getting good jobs these days they ask the question what is the purpose of my life now you can go and talk to that person and say you have a good job right you are going to work every day you're getting paid you can live a happy life why are you asking a question about purpose and that person will tell you no it's bothering me consciousness people have these questions out there happiness, satisfaction in life. No, I'm not satisfied. Where is satisfaction coming from? I mean brain and electrical impulses we understand. But there's always something deeper which obviously science is not able to answer. And we know from the Bible that God is the one he made us in the image in his own image. And therefore we have such a strong sense of right and wrong. Our conscience when we do something wrong our conscience immediately pricks us. We said something or we we um you know made a decision. We are not at peace. Again if you talk about things like peace, what is peace? These things are a lot deeper. And obviously the Bible has answers for these questions as compared to the uh disciplines that we look at. So yeah that's a little bit about uh consciousness and what it means and uh you know we we uh understand that obviously there is a god and the bible has many uh passages and it's there in our notes also on page 20 where psalm 14:1 where the scripture says the fool has said in his heart there is no god But the Bible is showing us a path of wisdom and in that path we need to acknowledge that there is a God. That's how we uh you know we when we have the fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom. And we've seen other passages of scripture where Romans chapter 1 where it said that the invisible attributes of God are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and godhead so that they are without excuse. Verse 20 of Romans 1 where the Bible tells us God has revealed himself. You remember the statement of an atheist which we heard earlier. God, if you exist, why is there so little evidence? But is it true that there is less evidence? Not at all. There's a lot of evidence and glaring uh evidence. How is it that we are missing all this evidence and saying there is no God? Everything in creation is is screaming out there is a God. And uh 1 Corinthians chapter 1 20 and 21. It's again there in our notes on page 20. And the scripture says, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God." So man thinks he's intelligent and man is attempting to use his intelligence and thinking that his intelligence is topnotch. It is the greatest. But the Bible is questioning man's wisdom and saying the wisdom of God is much greater. Where is your wisdom? God's wisdom is much higher, much greater. Even for us to have that intelligence, where did it come from? God only gave us that intelligence. But now we are using that intelligence to say there is no God. Right? So it's so complicated. Anyway, uh so we've just looked at the case for creation which is an interesting read and uh you can please go and study it further and I'm sure your faith will be strengthened. So I'm going now to the chat section and Joshua is sharing some okay so he's just shared the discussion that we had earlier and Rajie why is DNA compared to an information storage system. So as we said Rajie the information we need for um information we need for our functioning has to be programmed somewhere right. So only then can we we uh be the way that we are. So it is required without a plan nothing will work. So it is stored for creatures. It is stored in the cells and it is stored in this part called as the DNA. Okay Sam, thank you for letting me know. Yeah. So, I I need to get back to you on this. Sure. Any other questions or maybe even comments because for some of us what we discussed today might be very new. So please feel free to share. >> Yeah. >> Um many people h like who don't believe in God have this attitude of I don't want to care about anything. Right. it's simpler not to care maybe from hurt or anything. So even something like a single cell that is so complex >> maybe they don't want to find a reason as to why it's so complex. So even something like this wouldn't really come through right >> I agree with you. Yeah. So when when somebody does not want to hear these things, they will not. Even if you present the best information uh to prove that God exists, if they don't want to believe it, then they will not. Now why is it that people don't want to believe? What do you think are the reasons for that? because they have to take responsibility for their lives and do things a certain way and >> absolutely >> face certain things that they don't want to face in life. >> True. So that is the biggest challenge. When we say there is a God, we automatically become accountable to that God and we need to align our life purpose to his which obviously our flesh doesn't agree with. And we want to do our own thing which is easier and people prefer that. >> Yeah. And another thought was you know just as we said some of these things like consciousness and all of that are not explained in science. >> Yes. >> I'm just thinking for someone who would ask that question to me. Right. Okay. So science doesn't prove certain things. But maybe that's why we have philosophy. Maybe that's why we have the arts. Maybe that's why because there are different studies on different things, right? And so just as we're trying to prove this and of course we know that God explains all those things, >> right? >> Uh a question can kind of deviate from science and go into okay >> we do have different studies of different things just as we have different subjects to study or different >> so we can't say that everything is explained in one. >> Yes. Sure. So um a seeker will journey through different disciplines hopefully like if they are really a seeker and they didn't find the answers in science they're not satisfied they'll probably look at philosophy and if they're not satisfied in today's world people are getting into what is called spirituality right because they are seeking and uh you know many times such people are the ones who who will listen to the to what we share because they are really looking. Yeah. So it may resonate with them when we share the information that we have about God. Yeah. Great. Yes. Any other thoughts, questions? Please feel free to ask. There are no wrong questions. We are all learning. >> Yes, please. That's good. Sorry. >> So, how should we response when someone say I only believe uh on science? Uh I think we can ask our questions not uh not to corner the person or not to uh make them feel bad but whenever they're ready to listen we can always say okay great you know science gives us these these answers but what about like we said big bang big bang happened but what about the beginning itself where did all that come from so when we ask those questions hopefully it'll make them think that science is also still discovering right and it doesn't have all the answers. So if they believe only in science they'll have many unanswered questions. So just present our questions to them in a nice way. Secondly what we discussed when we started apologetics we said it's a spiritual battle. So that blindness that people have is not just because of information. It's because there are forces of darkness that are holding them back also. Keep praying for them and God will uh minister to them. So I don't know if I shared it uh in prayer in intercession class when we had it uh last year but uh there was a friend of mine who didn't believe in God okay she just didn't her whole family came to Christ but she was not willing to she would even come to the prayer sessions that you know we were having those days her family would come to one prayer group that I was attending she'll come to pick them But she never believed. So her family would keep saying, you know, we need to pray. We need to pray. And we've had these kind of discussions telling her why God exists and this and that, but no use, right? Years went by, but everybody was praying for her. And what happened is um she she went for some retreat because she was forced to go for it. Somebody told her you have to just two days go. She went even there whatever was being preached she she was not accepting it. But that night she had a dream and in that dream she saw herself in a very peaceful calm place like the ocean. She's standing in front of the ocean and thinking and then she saw Jesus came and spoke to her and he just asked her what are your reasons for rejecting me and she looked at Jesus in that dream and she's like I don't have any that's it that was the dream and that was the changing point of her life she from because of that dream it made her think It made her process. She gave her life to Christ. Today she and her husband are pastors serving the Lord so passionately. And like for me whenever I think of her I feel like people who are running away from God all they need is an encounter. And for her it was like this. It was a dream because we were all praying and one day God just met her in the dream and uh she her whole life transformed. So please remember that it's not only at the level of giving answers but we have to pray let God encounter them. See different people have different needs and only God knows what is that need. So when he touches them uh they will respond. Okay. So Rohit great. Thank you. Any other comments? sister. Is it because uh they are wired in such a way they're thinking >> it uh they don't believe that God is there. It's in their mind. They're thinking it's been wired in such a way for them that they don't accept it. >> Wired in such a way. Yes. Partly yes. But when we learn about evangelism, we also learn that the way God has created us all people whether they are you know now following Christ or not is we have a spirit and the spirit is on a quest for God. So can I put it this way? Every human being is spiritual. They are wired okay in their mind but what we are saying will touch them. It will appeal to them because they carry a spirit and the message of Christ will strike accord with their spirit. So even if they listen and and don't respond, even if they listen and say, "No, I don't believe, go ahead and share anyway because it's like putting a seed." >> Yes. >> Right. Into their spirit and let God do the rest of the work. Uh maybe at this point, you just swed the seed. Two years down the line, they may respond once God has uh you know, taken them through the journey. So that's how so every person is spiritual. Every unbeliever is spiritual. So don't worry just go ahead just share it will it will strike a chord with their spirit man. >> Yes. >> Okay. So uh if there are no further questions we can wrap up here and uh in the next week we will look at the questions that you have all been itching to ask. You know how did the earth get created? Uh how did creation happen in six days? Were they days of 24 hours each or was it something else? Right? What was the order of creation? what God created first and what God created next. So if God created the sun later on day four, where was the light coming from? You see, so some scientific minds ask all these questions. So you can also um come prepared with your questions. I don't promise to answer them, but yeah, we will try our best and it's going to be interesting. Okay. All right. So, anything else to add to Okay, nothing yet. All right. So, let's pray and we shall close. I will request one of our online students to lead out in prayer. Please unmute and pray aloud. I'll pray. >> Yes. Yes, sir. >> Father, I thank you for this day and uh as you come into your presence, I commit this time and class into your hands. Oh, Lord. Thank you for helping us to understand whatever ma'am taught us today. Uh help us to grow in knowledge and enlighten our understanding. Lord uh bless ma'am and all the students uh that are in the class and in online help us to go from strength to strength. We thank you and we glorify you in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. Thank you Sam. Thank you everyone. God bless you. Have a great weekend. We'll meet next week. Sure. Sure. I am posting them on uh Yeah, you can download it from there. I missed posting last weeks. I'll update it. Sure. Sure. Yeah. No problem.