Evidence for God to Answer Challenges Archives

August 29, 2025August 29, 2025

Prayer Changes Things

As Paul concluded his first epistle to the Thessalonians, he gave them a list of instructions (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22). Among these is the admonition to “Pray without ceasing” (verse 17). That does not mean to be constantly on your knees or even with your eyes closed. The idea is to maintain a constant attitude of prayer. Prayer changes things, starting with the person who prays.

In Acts 12:5, we read about what the early Church did when Peter was imprisoned for preaching the gospel. “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (NKJV). They prayed without ceasing for Paul, and God answered their prayer with a miracle. God doesn’t always answer with miracles. Miracles, by their very definition, are extremely rare. However, that does not mean that prayer can’t change things.

Recently (August 27, 2025), a gender-confused person with wicked motives opened fire on children in a Minnesota Catholic school during mass, killing two and injuring 15, plus 2 adults. The deranged shooter apparently harbored major anger toward Christianity and a desire to kill children. This incident also prompted many politicians and media personalities to display their hostility toward prayer. They demonstrated that they can’t believe prayer changes things.

In a press conference, the mayor of Minneapolis criticized people who were calling for prayer in response to the shooting. “Don’t say this is about ‘thoughts and prayers’ right now. These kids were literally praying…they were in a church.” Other Democratic officials and liberal media figures also disparaged faith-based responses to the tragedy. Dana Bash on CNN repeated the mayor’s call to “forget about thoughts and prayers.”

Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary under President Biden, in a rant on X, stated, “Enough with the thoughts and prayers.” Then, on her MSNBC show, Psaki criticized President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance for calling for prayer for the families involved. Vance had defended prayer by writing on X, “We pray because our hearts are broken. We pray because we know God listens.”

As I said, prayer changes things. Living in an attitude of prayer will change your life. It will change your attitude toward others. It will make you concerned for their needs and their pains. It will ease your own burdens and lead you to demonstrate God’s love for others. Perhaps it will bring a miracle, and maybe that miracle is a change in your life. Pray without ceasing.

August 21, 2025August 20, 2025

Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater Connection?

For years, the Does God Exist? ministry took groups of people on apologetics training tours of geological features in the southwestern United States. The Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater (also known as Barringer Crater) were among the places visited in northern Arizona. A recent paper in the journal Geology, written by researchers from the University of New Mexico, suggests a Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater connection.

Scientists have long known about driftwood and lake sediments found in Stanton’s Cave in Marble Canyon in the eastern Grand Canyon. Since the mouth of the cave is 150 feet (46 m) above the Colorado River that runs through the canyon, how the driftwood got there was a mystery. Additionally, explorers have discovered ancient beaver tracks in Vasey’s Cave, 121 feet (37 m) above the river—much too high for beavers to access today.

The proposed explanation for these discoveries in the caves is that, in the distant past, a lake existed in the Colorado River. Geologists estimate the lake was about 50 miles (80 km) long and 300 feet (91 m) deep. Something must have created a dam that held back the river, causing the water to rise to the level of the caves. The dam was eventually overtopped and eroded away, possibly less than 1,000 years ago.

What could have caused such a large dam to hold back the Colorado River? It could have been a volcanic flow or a massive rockslide that sent debris into the canyon. But what could cause a rockslide of that magnitude? New dating methods used by two labs in Australia and New Zealand determined the age of the driftwood to be 55,600 years. David Kring, the science coordinator for Meteor Crater, had estimated the age of the crater to be between 53,000 and 63,000 years. Researchers saw a possible Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater connection.

Kring calculated that the impact at Meteor Crater would have caused an earthquake of magnitude 5.4 or greater. In seconds, a shock wave of around 3.5 would have reached the canyon 100 miles away, potentially shaking loose rocks from the steep cliffs of the canyon and damming the river.

So far, the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater connection is only speculation, but the dates seem to align. As we study the canyon, we can learn a great deal about the area’s geologic history. God gave us curiosity to seek answers about our planet’s past. While we don’t have all the answers about the Grand Canyon’s formation, one thing we know for certain is that the canyon was not formed by the flood of Noah’s time.

References: space.com and news.unm.edu

July 30, 2025July 29, 2025

Free Will: Is It an Illusion?

Did you decide to read this article, or do you just think you made that decision? Do you have the ability to choose or reject any action? When we hear about someone murdering another person or a group of people, did that person choose to do it? Those who deny that we have free will argue that we cannot make our own decisions because the molecules in our brain neurons, our environment, and circumstances control us. This is the view held by atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Stephen Hawking.

Those who deny the existence of free will are materialists, believing that matter is all that exists. What we call our mind is merely the accidental activity of atoms and molecules in our nerve cells. Since these accidents direct our actions, free will is just an illusion. The atheist attorney Clarence Darrow, of Scopes trial fame, wrote, “It has been generally assumed that man was created different from all the rest of animal life; that man alone was endowed with a soul and with the power to tell good from evil; … that man not only knew good from evil, but was endowed with “free will,” and had the power to choose between good and evil…As a matter of fact, every scientific man knows that the origin of life is quite different from this; that the whole current conception of the individual and his responsibility is a gross error…”

Darrow’s views stem from his belief in materialistic evolution. We must ask, “If we have no free will to choose our actions, why do we think we do?” Of course, the atheist would say that blind and undirected evolution has planted within us the illusion that we can make free will choices. If we are nothing but accidental collections of atoms, the mind is an illusion, and free will cannot be possible. If what we perceive as design in the natural world is only an illusion, then free will is also an illusion. If there is an ultimate MIND that created this universe, life, and our minds, that would explain why we see design in the universe, our solar system, planet Earth, life, and our bodies. If God does not exist, there is no design, no purpose, and no free will.

As I consider this scenario, I wonder how anyone can truly live life believing there is no design, purpose, or free will. Most casual atheists probably have not considered the implications of their worldview, or they choose not to dwell on them. They simply say, “There is no God, so just enjoy life.” But how can you choose to enjoy life if you have no real choice? It seems to me that this whole atheist mindset, worldview, philosophy—whatever you want to call it—denies reality. Design in the universe and in nature is real, and so is our ability to choose. Therefore, choose wisely.

Reference: “Crime: Its Cause and Treatment” by Clarence Darrow

July 21, 2025July 20, 2025

Trial of the Century?

In July 1925, what is known as the “Scopes Monkey Trial” was held in Dayton, Tennessee. Now, 100 years later, the battle over evolution continues. USA TODAY ran a 12-page special edition on July 13, 2025, giving an excellent historical exposé and claiming that what was at stake was “modern science versus religion.” The article also addresses current issues, including the representation of LGBTQ+ books in schools today. The paper claims that the so-called “trial of the century” was America’s first major culture war battle.

In an era when American education is undergoing massive change, there are many questions: Do schools have the right to ban certain books? Who should write the curriculum? Can the Bible be displayed in public schools? Should school prayer be allowed? Are vouchers the answer for school choice? Should schools be involved in sex education? Should the 10 commandments be displayed? Should schools have chaplains? These issues are being battled in courts, school board meetings, PTA presentations, and churches.

Many churches have established their own schools, and private schools are increasingly replacing public schools in various locations. One side effect is that money and teachers are being pulled away from the public schools. How do you teach a lab course when you have no funds to purchase equipment for students to use?

The sad part of all of this is that most of the conflict is unnecessary. The “Does God Exist?” ministry is based on the simple fact that science and faith are friends, not enemies. Modern science may disagree with some denominational teachings, but it does not contradict the Bible. If you read the Bible carefully, you will see that it consistently deals with evidence. Science is knowledge, and if God is the source of knowledge, the two MUST BE SYMBIOTIC – mutually supportive of each other.

The Scopes “trial of the century” centered on the topic of evolution. It is foolish to think that change does not occur in living things. How many different breeds of dogs, cats, chickens, cattle, and corn exist today? How did they come into being? The answer is “evolution,” but this was guided evolution. This is not to be confused with naturalism, which holds that blind chance can explain all that we observe in the natural world. Evolution is simply unfolding change, and it is undeniable, as evidenced by adaptive changes within species.

We urge our readers to go to our website doesgodexist.org or watch our video series on doesgodexist.tv for more information. Enroll in our correspondence course or read our free books. None of this requires any money – it is all free. It is essential to understand why you believe what you believe and be able to support it with evidence. We are here to help as you wade through the “trial of the century” media presentations.

June 27, 2025June 26, 2025

Magnificent Church Buildings

Many of us have been in some incredibly beautiful church buildings. Living in the South Bend, Indiana, area since 1952, I attended the University of Notre Dame on a National Science Foundation grant. When the family came to visit, I would take them on a tour of the beautiful church, including the grotto in the basement where Catholic heroes are entombed. When I gave lectures in London and visited France, I had the opportunity to see the magnificent church buildings in those countries. I have also seen the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. The human ability to build magnificent church buildings is without question, but is that what God called us to do?

Many years ago, we took a large group of Christians down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. On Sunday morning, we held a church service on a sandbar, complete with communion, a sermon, singing, and prayer. As we began our worship, the preacher held up his hands and said, “This is how the Lord’s church met for a long time before the first church building was erected.”

What is the justification for the expense of magnificent church buildings? If it is to glorify God, the Bible does not tell us that is what God desires. First Corinthians 3:16 tells us, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” In Acts 2:46, we see the first-century Church meeting in homes. In Acts 16:14-15, we see Lydia, a woman, converted to Christ, and in verse 40, we read that the Church was meeting in her home. In John 2:19-22, Jesus tells His adversaries, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was talking about His resurrection, not the physical building in Jerusalem.

The emphasis of Catholicism, Mormonism, and virtually all protestant denominations on constructing magnificent church buildings contradicts the focus of Christ and the Bible on building beautiful lives. The Church is not a building. If the construction of a building for the Church to meet in becomes the purpose of the Church, it is misguided. It is essential for the Church to meet together to worship, pray, and encourage one another. (See Matthew 18:20, Acts 2:46, and Hebrews 10:25.) However, a simple structure will meet that need.

Atheists and skeptics have a valid point when they criticize the wasted money. How many hungry children could we feed, and how many needy people could we help with that money? Following the example and teaching of Jesus, the Church’s emphasis should be on building lives, not constructing buildings.

May 26, 2025May 25, 2025

Microplastics and Dementia

You may have noticed that dementia is much worse today than it was in the past. Part of that is probably due to people living longer, but life expectancy has not increased enough to fully explain the growth rate of dementia. Perhaps there is a connection between microplastics and dementia.

Researchers from the University of New Mexico have found an amazing correlation between dementia and the concentration of microplastics in human brains. A study of specimens from autopsies found that the brains of people with dementia had as much as five times more microplastics than normal brains. Comparisons of brain tissues from 2016 and 2024 show 50% higher concentrations in the 2024 samples.

Global plastic production doubles every 10 to 15 years, so the problem is only going to get worse. The human brain is designed with a barrier between blood vessels and brain tissue, but some people have weak blood-brain barriers. Skeptics suggest there is a design failure in the human brain because it evolved by chance over time. A better explanation involves human failure to protect our health.

The fact is that pollution is apparently a significant cause of dementia. Like cancer, brain problems are linked to human greed and a failure to use what God has given us as a tool for successful living. Reducing the flow of microplastics into the environment is going to be an uphill battle because cheap alternatives to plastics are not available. Meanwhile, more studies are needed on the connection between microplastics and dementia.

Reference: Nature Medicine at nature.com

May 22, 2025May 20, 2025

I WAS an Atheist

Yesterday, we looked at John N. Clayton’s answer to the question, “Were you really an atheist?” He said, “I WAS an atheist,” and explained two points about why. He concludes here with two final points:

My third point is that you cannot scare faith into a person. I have heard people say, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” That is not true. I have seen atheists who went through the worst of combat experiences continue their belief that there is no God. I had a few experiences as an atheist where I thought my life was about to end, and it never scared me into believing in God.

What finally changed my parents’ belief system was their response to Christians who ministered unselfishly to them when they could no longer take care of themselves. An atheist views death as part of life. What does not make sense to an atheist is someone who sacrifices when there is no personal gain for themselves. Survival of the fittest can explain death, but it cannot explain altruistic service to others. When my wife and I decided to keep and raise a multi-handicapped baby we had adopted, my parents were enraged. Our action violated their position, producing a major breach in our relationship for many years.

My fourth point is that helping someone out of atheism is never a fast process. I was never in a church building or worship service of any kind until I was nearly twenty years old. Hearing words like “Jesus Christ” used in any way but profanity was very strange to me. Prayer was a meaningless waste of time in my view.

When science forced me to recognize that my atheistic assumptions about the cosmos were inadequate, I started doubting my atheism. It was seven years until I was finally willing to ask questions and share my struggles with someone else. My father was not willing to discuss his atheism until he was seventy years old and faced leukemia. My mother was ninety years old before she would rationally discuss the existence of God.

People do not get out of atheism overnight, but if they accept the evidence and get to know God, their faith will be on fire like no person of inherited faith will ever be. I WAS an atheist because I inherited that belief system. Now I have my own faith, which is supported by evidence that I can see, and it is much better and more fulfilling.

May 21, 2025May 20, 2025

Were You Really an Atheist?

Were you really an atheist? People have asked this question incredulously, as if they couldn’t believe someone like me existed. Some will say, “I don’t think atheists really exist.” I have four points in answer to this challenge.

My first point is that I was an atheist for the same reason many people are believers. I inherited my atheist faith. Most Catholics are Catholic because they were born into a family with that conviction. My parents were atheists, so that is what I was. They indoctrinated me to believe that religion is a destructive and ignorant system that no intelligent person would believe. Ask yourself why you are what you are religiously. If you are what your parents were, is it because you have studied it and know it to be true, or have you just accepted the family faith as the line of least resistance?

My second point is that I did not doubt that there was no God. My only exposure to religion was negative, and my parents took advantage of every opportunity to reinforce the belief that religion was wrong and destructive. My father taught for several years at Talladega State Teachers College, an all-black school in Talladega, Alabama. I remember crosses burning in our front yard. I remember doctors refusing to give us quality medical treatment because of my father’s occupation. I remember my mother being refused service in a restaurant because we were sitting with a black member of the college faculty. Every time something like that happened, I was told that the prejudice was due to religion.

When newspapers carried the story of a religious figure doing something wrong, my parents told me that is what religion produces. Today, there are many examples of actions by religious people doing things that reflect badly on religion. That is why our ministry focuses entirely on scientific evidence for God, not on what “religious” people do. Many of today’s atheists are former Christians or even ministers of churches. They have seen people who are supposed to be Christians do destructive things, and they have thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

These two points are adapted from John N. Clayton’s book Frequently Asked Questions © 2007. John has two more points in answer to the question “Were you really an atheist?” We will look at those tomorrow.

May 14, 2025May 13, 2025

Why We Have Four Gospels

When I was an atheist, it seemed ridiculous to me for there to be four accounts of the same story. Why not have one good account instead of four shoddy ones? The answer to why we have four gospels did not come to me for many years.

The old explanation that four different witnesses reported different things did not hold up well. Having one complete account made more sense to me. I finally came to see why we have four Gospels is because of the readers, not the writers. One of the problems that many Americans have with the Bible is that they assume it was written for Americans. The Bible is not an American book, and it is not about Americans.

We have three synoptic gospel accounts written by different authors, specifically designed for different groups of readers. In spite of that, there is an amazing accord between them. The synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke give a general view, or synopsis, of the events of Christ’s ministry.

The scholars who study the gospels tell us that 606 of the 661 verses of Mark appear in Matthew and that 380 of the verses of Mark are found in Luke. Mark is the oldest and shortest of the synoptic gospels. Matthew is very Jewish and contains much material that would be of interest to the Jewish culture, as well as covering the material in Mark. Luke was a well-educated Greek and a physician. His writing does not contain the Jewish slant of Matthew, and his approach would appeal to the Gentile, or Greek, population.

The Gospel of John is not synoptic but evangelistic. John’s purpose is to convince his readers that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God. The very nature of Jesus as the logos in John 1:1 is expanded and carried throughout the gospel. Much of the information in John is not in the other Gospels, because it has a different purpose and intent. It is an apologetic gospel to address the skeptic and the uninformed.

Suggesting that the reason why we have four gospels is to prevent details from being left out is a vast oversimplification. The four gospels together give us a logical, reasonable, and essential understanding of what and who Jesus was and what He came to do. The Bible gives us an accurate record of the gospel.

April 18, 2025April 18, 2025

Christ Has Indeed Been Raised from the Dead

Only one thing can explain the birth and growth of the Christian faith, and it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The entire New Testament centers on the resurrection. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14 and 20, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith…But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Factors that verify the truth of the resurrection story include the testimony of direct eyewitnesses recorded soon after the events, which include embarrassing details. The direct sources were the eyewitnesses, especially Matthew, Mark, and John. They were recorded soon after the events while other eyewitnesses would have been alive to refute the information, but they didn’t. Paul was also an eyewitness, and he wrote within 20 years of the resurrection and recorded an early Christian creed that believers were reciting perhaps as early as a few months after the resurrection. (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-7.)

What about the embarrassing details? They are details that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John included in their gospels that a writer making up the story would surely have left out because they reflect badly on the apostles. They include:

When Jesus was arrested, the disciples deserted in fear.

Matthew 26:31, 56; Mark 14:50-52

Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus.

Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62

The disciples doubted the resurrection reports.

Mark 16:9-14; John 20:24-29

The disciples hid from the Jewish leaders.

John 20:19

Women were the first to testify of the resurrection at a time when the testimony of women was considered less reliable.

Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10

Many other evidences support the truth of the resurrection story, but these embarrassing factors are worth considering. As Paul wrote, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.”