The Christian God, The Jewish God, or No God: A Meaningful Dialogue

I find it worthwhile to talk about God, whether it be through sharing how God has given us a good day, or a debate between Christopher Hitchens, Dennis Prager, and Dinesh D'Souza. This event was held at Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach.

The host started the event with this statistic: Although there are large populations of people of different faiths, the population of secular people is growing. More and more people are questioning the existence of God and developing a secular world view. Would this debate, termed "a meaningful dialogue", succeed in convincing unbelievers the infinite worth and glory of God?

I'll first present some statements by Christopher Hitchens, the atheist.

• Religion started from ignorance and still burdens us today.
• Most scientists agree that human civilization started about 100,000 years ago. If you believe in the God that most religious people believe today, you'll also have to believe that in the first 95,000 years, the Creator turned a blind eye to humanity, then out of the blue, started to intervene in the lives of people.
• There's no way to prove that Jesus existed. We can't even find his grave.
• The foundation of our Constitution is secular. That's why we have something that works. [You look at any nation where religion dominates and you see much problems.]
• Morality does not necessarily stem from religion. There could be some kind of universal morality. There's even research now showing that animals such as pigs abide by the golden rule.

Of course, Hitchens uttered much more intellectual statements than the ones I presented, as he captivated the audience with his knowledge of totalitarianism, fascism, and other historical facts, all to prove that antisemitism did not originate from atheism, but from other religions, namely Catholicism. Where there may be some truth to this theory, it is only a theory.

Dinesh D'Souza and Dennis Prager agreed on many points as they both believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They both agree that religious people are more rational and that people who drop God drop wisdom. Prager repeatedly and emphatically pointed out that the spread of atheism attributed to the downfall of beauty found in literature, art, and music. At one point Prager asked D'Souza, "Am I, a Jew who doesn't believe that Jesus is the Messiah, saved?" D'Souza responded, "In short, Jews who don't believe in Jesus as the Messiah, are saved." I must be honest and say that I was shocked to hear that response. With careful study of the scriptures, one must conclude that there is no other means of salvation but by Jesus Christ.

1. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
   
2. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all ..." (1 Timothy 2:5)
   
3. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
   
   
4. "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36)
   
   
5. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24)
   
   
6. "... And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11)
   
   
7. "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:14)

Of course, Dinesh had to clarify what he meant, but I don't think it was very clear. He pointed out that the Jews of the Old Testament never heard of Jesus, and it would be ludicrous to think they were not saved. Dinesh believes some people just don't have a certain knowledge of Jesus that other people have, and in short, it wouldn't be right if those people were condemned to hell just because they don't "know" Jesus. I admit I don't have cookie-cut answer to every controversial question, but I do know that I've been saved by God through Jesus Christ who paid for my sins, and I will continue to preach the Lord crucified. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends." (John 15:13 ESV) Thank you Jesus.