Alpha Omega |
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PrefaceWho is God? Where does God exist? Should one seek in the appropriate places, he or she will discover that there are many others who have made the above observations and sought to answer these questions and similarly related questions. There are literally thousands of books that attempt to answer these questions. One need only seek for them and they can be found. The three books presented within this trilogy are the answers that its author has discovered using the scientific method, which is by gathering information, carefully studying this information, and then making a logical interpretation of all facts. This is the precept used by Galileo Galilei when he came to understand that the truth about nature could only be understood by first disregarding religion. A similar precept prevailed in writing this trilogy. Since God is a logical being, one therefore knows that the truth about God can only be understood by first disregarding what is illogical. (This is not to insinuate that religion itself is illogical or that religious beliefs are illogical, but to suggest that the religious beliefs of many individuals are illogical.) This trilogy is an attempt by one person, using disciplined study, to answer theological questions in a scientific way. It is not an attempt to force science to obey the dictates of religion, for that would be fundamentalistic. There is no attempt herein to bring the heresy of fundamentalism into the realm of science. Nor is this book an attempt to abandon theological truths in favor of scientific discoveries, for that would be blasphemous. There is no attempt herein to bring scientific unknowns into the realm of religion. There is no attempt within this book to disregard truth, be it theological truth or scientific truth. This trilogy is an attempt to understand the truths of religion from a scientific point of view. The purpose herein is to bring theology — the study of God — into the realm of other disciplined studies. The purpose of this trilogy is to help the reader — layman or professional — to understand that theology is not just something to be taken lightly. It is understanding God from God’s point of view, the point of view of truth and justice. What has been attempted in this treatise is to do for science and religion what Aquinas has done for philosophy and religion; which is to bring science and theology together and to manifest that theology can be a disciplined study, not just the subjective, capricious beliefs of one person or even a group of people. The intention of this trilogy is to manifest that theology is not an unpredictable, impulsive set of doctrines and customs that many individuals believe religion to be. Theology is the study of God, and God is a logical being. Thus, God can be understood and learned, not just through dogma and revelation, but also through the scientific method. That the unknown can become known using the scientific method is a Newtonian concept. Also, this trilogy is an attempt to present clearly, in one convenient volume, and in terms that the amateur can understand, the complex history of the creation process, a treatise on the theological truths of the soul of man and a revelatory interpretation of the history of mankind since the age of the Renaissance. The information contained within this book is a philosophical and theological treatise that was obtained by building upon and expanding the works of numerous other people, investigators in the philosophies, in the sciences, in history, in theology and in many other fields of study. Countless learned men and women, many pioneers in their fields, have spent years of research, study and devotion to their fields of interest. Without their efforts this trilogy would not have been possible. For in a real sense this book is just an accumulated summary of their work and study. The writer of this trilogy does not claim to be an authority in any of these fields. This is a book written by an amateur scientist for the non-scientist, an amateur theologian for the non-theologian. The writer of this trilogy fully acknowledges that he is not a professional scientist nor a biblical scholar and that this trilogy is for the most part the outcome of secondary research. Also, much of the information contained herein is common knowledge. That is, it is obtainable through history and general science books. Thus, the bibliography for this trilogy is not very extensive. Only in a few places is there a footnote with a reference to another person’s work. Other references are listed within the trilogy itself and these are listed mainly for the novice. The reader would do well to read as many of these books and articles as possible (or information on the same subject matter) as they offer valuable insight into the subject matter discussed herein and they may help the reader to better understand the theories postulated within this trilogy. This is especially true for several of the works noted within the text, e.g., 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur Clarke, Best Evidence, by David Lifton, Life of Christ, by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, and Report on the Shroud of Turin by Dr. John H. Heller. The information given in this trilogy is presented as simply and as clearly as possible. The writer did the best he could with his limited knowledge, trusting in God for guidance in his own personal studies. (He did not turn to the Mother Church for guidance, because many of the clergy are either giving into the heresy of fundamentalism or rejecting Genesis and other biblical passages as myths.) This trilogy is not a literary work of art, for its writer is not an author. Just as Amos was not a prophet, but was called by God to prophecy. So too, the writer of this trilogy is not an author, but was called by God to write this manuscript. Also, this work does not give into political correctness, for its writer considers political correctness to be nothing more than renamed political double talk of the 1960s and 1970s, which in the final analysis is nothing more than a lie or an attempt to deceive. One fully acknowledges that what is written herein could be wrong. However, if what is written in this treatise is in error and if it cannot be confirmed with other works, then one asks only to be given this knowledge by those who have a greater knowledge of the various subjects than he has. If in the chance that what is written in this trilogy is in error, then one must “go back to the beginning,” so to speak, and follow another road to truth. In the words of the American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963), one must follow The Road Not Taken. For one knows that only by discarding what is inconsistent with the truth can the Impossible Dream ever be achieved. Only by believing in all truth can one ever hope to defeat the unbeatable foe. One must continue to follow this quest, this course of action, until he answers the question of Pontius Pilot: What is truth? (Jn.18:38). Finally, if what is written in this trilogy is found to
be truth, then one can only expound upon those words so often quoted
in relation to theological truths: |
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