Author: Surts

I see a pattern, but my imagination cannot picture the maker of that pattern. I see a clock, but I cannot envision the clockmaker. The human mind is unable to conceive of the four dimensions, so how can it conceive of a God, before whom a thousand years and a thousand dimensions are as one? (Albert Einstein)

Thinking about the musings from DAY 72: The Scientific Revolution – Part 2 – (Part 2)….

As discussed in earlier posts, when Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galilei and Newton, all began the process of transforming the way we view the universe, from a Geocentric to Heliocentric Model:

Day 67: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1.;

Day 68: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – (Part 2). and;

Day 69: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – Conclusion.

the conclusion one can make is clear:

The Geocentric Model of the Universe was scientifically proven to be wrong.

Now, fast-forward to the late 1800’s, as a scientist also interested in the universe, Albert Einstein, comes up with perhaps one of the most famous equations of the 20^th century, (and for all-time for that matter):

E = mc2.

Also known as the Theory of Relativity, this equation, ultimately proposed and then published between the years 1905 and 1915, changed the way scientists view the universe, and ultimately, Newton’s view of the universe.

I would submit to you that although the Theory of Relativity actually encompasses both ‘special’ and ‘general’ relativity, (I have no idea what any of that means…I am a history teacher), the bigger picture is the fact that Einstein’s famous E = mc2 was so impactful in the both fields of astronomy and physics, that scientists believe that it supersedes the theory of mechanics of Isaac Newton.

Therefore, the question that needs to be asked is this:

Does E = mc2 make Newtonian mechanics obsolete, the way that Newton, (and his cohorts mentioned above), made Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the Universe obsolete?

I would submit to you that in some ways the simple answer to those questions is…

Yes.

Consider the following. Ptolemy was limited by his views of the universe by among other things, the fact that he did not have a technology that many of us today take for granted.

Ptolemy did not have access to a telescope.

What if Ptolemy had access to the telescope in his lifetime?

It would most likely be an eye-opener…that is for sure.

So where is the evidence that would potentially make Newtonian mechanics obsolete?

Right here, in Newton’s book, Principia, he defines what we know today as gravity:

Every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of the masses of the particles and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Now, while the story of an apple falling directly on the head of Newton is still considered legend and up for debate today, what is not up for debate is three issues regarding Newton and gravity:

1) Mercury’s peculiar orbit around the sun and for that matter;

2) Newton’s concept of gravity doesn’t work for any planet because;

3) While Newton’s laws may work well in the real world under normal circumstances, it begins to break down when things aren’t too fast or when their gravitational field isn’t too strong.

Now, without getting lost in the weeds and over-complicating the nuances between Newton and Einstein regarding gravity, the basic takeaway to the point I am trying to make is ultimately this:

While some scientists may not consider Newton ‘wrong’ but rather, ‘not accurate for our purposes in today’s world’, this fact still remains:

There are many in the scientific field of physics that consider some of the fundamentals regarding Newtonian’s concept of gravity to be in conflict with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.

In other words…

Whether you conclude the Newtonian concept of gravity to be wrong…or…not accurate…or in conflict, in relation to E = mc2, the science regarding the field of gravity and how it affects the universe, from Newton to Einstein….

Has anything but remained constant.

Remember this, the Theory of Relativity was published between the years 1905 and 1915, just under 200 years after Newton’s Principia.

The next question that needs to be asked is this:

Is there a theory out there that is putting E = mc2 into question…that it may be wrong…or not accurate…or in conflict?

Yes there is.

But those issues will be discussed once we get into the Scientific Revolution – Part 3….

Remember…we still need to cover the scientific discoveries of one more individual before the Scientific Revolution – Part 2 is complete:

Charles Darwin.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to wrap your head about the discoveries of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to understand if the discoveries of Einstein proved Newton wrong or not accurate or in conflict.  Instead, embrace the idea that as you continue to learn more about these individuals, embrace the idea that all will eventually come full circle regarding science and the Holy Bible. 

“¹² It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.” Isaiah 45:12 KJV

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 73: The Scientific Revolution – Part 2 – (Conclusion)..

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

I want to know how God created this world. I’m not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts, the rest are details. (Albert Einstein)

Thinking about the musings from Day 71: The Scientific Revolution – Part 2.…

Of the three individuals that I group together to form what I call the Scientific Revolution: Part 2, the one that logistically makes the most sense to follow the discoveries of Isaac Newton is…

Albert Einstein.

Albert Einstein was born in 1879 in Germany and is considered to be one of the most influential scientists of all time regarding the field of physics. No matter what science class you were in, it is most likely that at least one time or another, Einstein’s famous theory, E = mc2, was brought up to some degree of conversation by either your teacher, your classmates, or you.

For me, as a student in school, discussing Einstein’s Theory of Relativity would be quickly ignored or deflected, to something of a greater, and more personal interest to me…

Like baseball cards or World War II or the futile attempt of the Chicago Cubs trying to advance to the World Series.

Physics is not my strong suit.

In fact…any branch of science…is not my strong suit.

And, as an added bonus…I never took a physics class in high school or college.

And I have absolutely no regrets about making those life decisions back then.

Although, trying to understand the theory of relativity today, makes my head spin.

For me, it is not about the E…or the m…or the c…or even why the 2 after the c is supposed to hang suspended in the air after the c…

For me, when I am trying to explain the Theory of Relativity in my AP World History classes, I am bringing E = mc 2 for its historical context, not for its scientific significance.

Believe me, it’s really for the best interest for my students anyway.

So here is some historical context needed in order to try to understand the significance of the Theory of Relativity:

Historians refer to time period from 1875-1900 as the Second Industrial Revolution. (There are some that will claim that the dates are actually from 1870-1914, however, I do better with round numbers when trying to teach the significance and impacts of certain time periods).

It is during the Second Industrial Revolution, when industrialization and mass production quickly transitioned from the advances of the textile, (clothing), and transportation industries, (steam engine), of the First Industrial Revolution, to the advancements relating to the: combustion engine, cheap steel and electricity.

Among other things, it was not just the series of discoveries, inventions and technologies that separated the First and Second Industrial Revolutions. It was also the advancements in science that also separated these two time periods.

In addition to the advancements made in modern psychology thanks to Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein was making discoveries in the scientific realm of physics…

And that is where I come back to Isaac Newton and his discoveries regarding the field of physics that he wrote about up until his death in 1727.

The ultimate question that needs to be addressed is this…

Did the Theory of Relativity make the discoveries of Newton obsolete?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to figure out the connections to science and how it relates to the Holy Bible. Do not feel discouraged if you cannot yet see a connection with Newton, Einstein, and your world.  Instead, embrace the idea that as you learn more about science, embrace the idea that as these concepts build one upon another, it will eventually in the end, make sense.

“¹³ I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind!” Ecclesiastes 1:13 KJV

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 72: The Scientific Revolution – Part 2 – (Part 2)..

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh heavier than lead, and with their wings exceedingly small. He did not, and that ought to show something. It is only in order to shield your ignorance that you put the Lord at every turn to the refuge of a miracle. (Galileo Galilei)  

Thinking about the musings from Day 70: Rest…Relax…Reflect.…

I would suggest to you that although the Scientific Revolution was more diverse than just astronomy, from a student perspective taking AP World History, the content is actually quite narrow in scope. The focus for the Scientific Revolution includes the following:

1) The scientific field of astronomy, and more specifically, Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the universe;

2) The years covered are from roughly 1543-1727 and;

3) The scientists of note are: Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galilei and Newton.

For more details regarding the content covered regarding the Scientific Revolution, please refer back to the following posts:

Day 67: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1.;

Day 68: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – (Part 2). and;

Day 69: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – Conclusion.

So the question that needs to be asked is this:

Is there more to discover in the realm of science beyond the Scientific Revolution?

The short answer is…yes.

In class, I refer to it in class as:

The Scientific Revolution – Part 2.

After finishing up the basic facts regarding what transpired in the field of astronomy, (and anatomy, for the students taking my Advanced Placement European History class), I continue on for several minutes briefly bringing up the following 3 individuals who I group together, to create what I like to call the Scientific Revolution – Part 2:

1) Sigmund Freud;

2) Albert Einstein and;

3) Charles Darwin.

I now wish to submit to you, a brief summary of Sigmund Freud, whose ideas begin what I refer to as The Scientific Revolution – Part 2:

Sigmund Freud…Czech Republic…1856-1939.

Freud is known as the father of psychoanalysis. Wishing to treat what he considered ‘nervous disorders’, Freud came to the conclusion that at that time, there were only two means of doing so:

1) Electrotherapy and;

2) Hypnosis.

Freud believed that it was the unconscious mind that drove human behaviors. His ideas were put together in his book released in 1900 called The Interpretation of Dreams. Freud came to the conclusion that dreams were the answer to unlocking the unknown in the unconscious mind.

Freud divided the human mind into 3 parts:

1) Id;

2) Ego and;

3) Superego.

Id. This is the unconscious part of the human mind, which is focused on basic needs, urges and desires. Based off of the ‘pleasure principle’, Freud claimed that the id demands immediate gratification, by any means necessary. The id operates under a ‘I want it now!’ principle.

If left unchecked, the id would ruin society as we know it as humans, driven only the id would descend into chaos, anarchy and lawlessness in an effort to satisfy these basic needs.

Ego. This is the conscious mind where reason and mediation exists to keep the id in check. Based off of the ‘reality principle’, Freud claimed that the ego applies reason to satisfy the needs, urges and desires of the id. The ego operates under a ‘Plan first.’ principle, as it tries to deal with the realities of real world experiences and consequences to the actions of the id. 

The ego is in constant conflict with the id as it is constantly compromising and delaying gratification in order to avoid the negative consequences of societal norms and customs.

Superego. This is the semi-conscious mind where the experiences of the values and morals of society are accumulated from their parents and other influential members of society  from ages 3 to 5. The superego operates under a ‘You can’t have it, it is not right.’ principle, trying to control the id’s impulses, while at the same time persuade the ego to engage in goals that are morally acceptable rather than achieving a realistic end that may or may not be acceptable to the society’s norms and customs.

The big take away from all of this is the following…

All the actions of the Id, Ego and Superego are all occurring at the subconscious level….

And most of the time, you don’t even realize it.

Freud was born to Jewish parents in a majority Roman Catholic region in the Austrian Empire. In 1925 at the age of 69 Freud said the following regarding his Jewish heritage:

“My language is German. My culture, my attainments are German. I considered myself German intellectually until I noticed the growth of anti-Semitic prejudice in Germany and German Austria. Since that time, I prefer to call myself a Jew,”

Despite this claim regarding Judaism, Freud considered religion to be an illusion, a form of neurosis, and an attempt to gain control over the external world. Freud also suggested that “religion is an attempt to get control over the sensory world”.

Freud saw God in these terms, adults view god the way children view their parents….

So, I guess, when someone says that they are losing their mind…are they losing their Id, Ego, or Superego?

I guess a student of Psychology and more specifically Freud, may wish to try to answer that question. However for us, a more important question would be the following:

What about Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin?

Albert Einstein will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to wrap your head about the Scientific Revolution, Part 2 and how it relates to, if at all, to the Holy Bible. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to understand the possible links between Freud and the Holy Bible.  Instead, embrace the idea that as you learn more about these individuals, embrace the idea that as you gain more context and background knowledge regarding their impact in the realm of science, and that at some point, it all will eventually come full circle regarding the Holy Bible…and science. 

³¹ Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:31 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 71: The Scientific Revolution – Part 2.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

As important as it is to have a plan for doing work, it is perhaps more important to have a plan for rest, relaxation, self-care, and sleep. (Akiroq Brost)

Thinking about the musings from Day 69: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – Conclusion.…

I would submit to you that it is important to take some rest. 

Just like the tenth week winding down at school, week 10 is winding down here.  I end with the quote: “I will give you Sunday’s off, it’s a God thing….”

The more I think about it, I don’t really know if it is really just a ‘God thing’.  I mean, don’t animals, insects, birds, plants, the rest of Mother Nature and even Atheists, believe in the importance of rest?  Whether they think it’s a ‘God thing’ or not, rest is necessary for all of us on this Earth, to restore, and to rejuvenate, our hearts, minds, bodies and souls.  I think, most importantly, because Monday’s can be brutal, on a good Monday….

Bottom line no matter where you stand on the issue of God…get some rest.

Spend some time if you want to do some reviewing, reflecting, and/or meditating, on the week that has just ended.  To be mindful perhaps of the from last week:

Day 64: Resurrection Theories – Part 5. – After concluding that the first 4 counter-resurrection theories regarding Jesus of Nazareth are not possible, a final theory is presented, the Conspiracy Theory. The Conspiracy Theory focuses on the views of Eusebius of Caesarea regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth;

Day 65: Resurrection Theories – Part 5 – Continued. – The Conspiracy Theory is broken down even more here. In particular, the significance of the transition from the Gregorian to Julian Calendar and its potential impact on this theory;

Day 66: Resurrection Theories – Part 5 – Conclusion. – The final installment of the Conspiracy Theory is presented here. In order for the Conspiracy Theory to work, 6 mathematical odds must be overcome…and then deny the eyewitness accounts of over 500 people over a period of 40 days;

Day 67: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1. – There is a case to be made that the Scientific Revolution may be broken up into 3 distinct time periods regarding among other things, astronomy. However, the concept that ignited the first Scientific Revolution, Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model, must be covered in detail first;

Day 68: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – (Part 2). – The Geocentric Model of the universe was considered fact for over 1,500 years. However, despite the similarities between Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model and the first chapter in the Book of Genesis, what if this model is in reality…wrong?;

Day 69: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – Conclusion. – The Geocentric Model, considered scientific fact by the Catholic Church for over 1,500 years, has been overturned. The discoveries of Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galilei, and Newton, from 1543 to 1727 are clear, the Heliocentric Model of the universe is the new reality.

Are you ready to get some rest?

Do not feel discouraged if you don’t know how to rest. Do not feel discouraged if you power down your mind and body that wishes to forge ahead, so many things to do, so little time.  Instead, embrace the idea that rest is rejuvenating.  Embrace the idea that rest restores and recharges.  10-15 minutes.  Do nothing regarding the upcoming workweek…for 10-15 minutes.  Then, 7 days later, extent your rest time out 5 minutes.  Deep breathing exercises.  Simple yoga poses.  Watching cute little puppies on your social media feed.  All unrelated to work and your job(s).  Something, some things, to clear your mind.     

¹² Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. (Exodus 23:12 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 70: Rest…Relax…Reflect.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

The bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heavens go. (Galileo Galilei)

Thinking about the musings from Day 68: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – (Part 2).…

I would submit to you that although Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the universe may appear to match up nicely with the Book of Genesis regarding Earth and its place in the universe, the reality is that this model is still flawed. I would submit to you that this flaw regarding Ptolemy’s claims regarding the Earth, is about to be uncovered by several individuals…from several locations…and from several time periods…

Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the universe was so influential in the field of astronomy, this model was the basis for how astrological and astronomical charts were created for over 1500 years.

For centuries, Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model was in fact endorsed by the Catholic Church at the university level throughout Europe in large part because of the book of Genesis.

(Earth is mentioned 21 times in 17 verses relating to the first 6 days of the creation of the universe in Genesis, as can be seen in the following post: Day 68: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – (Part 2).)

However, as the 1300’s turned into the 1400’s, the Italian Renaissance began to take root and the questioning of astronomy, (and anatomy for that matter), began with a trickle…

And ultimately this flood of knowledge would change the landscape in the fields of both astronomy and anatomy forever.

In the end, the Scientific Revolution Part 1 had 5 scientists throughout Europe stacked like dominos…that once the first fell over, the rest eventually fell.

And with it, Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the universe fell with them.

I now wish to submit to you, a brief summary of the main events of the major scientists that were involved in creating collectively what I refer to as the Scientific Revolution – Part 1:

Nicolaus Copernicus; Poland; (1473 – 1543); A Polish, Catholic monk and astronomer, he proposed that the sun was motionless, not earth, and as such, the sun was the center of the universe, and we revolve around it. The Heliocentric Model, (or Heliocentrism), was now a viable option to not only compete with, but ultimately replace, Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model;

Tycho Brahe; Denmark; (1546 – 1601); Brahe collected 20 years of data of what he observed in the night time sky. The 20 years of data collected would ultimately prove to be invaluable to in confirming the Copernicus and his Heliocentric Model;

Johannes Kepler; present day Germany; (1571 – 1630); Kepler combined the 20 years of data collected from Brahe, (Brahe lived with Kepler his last year of life), and applied his knowledge of math to this data. Kepler came up with, among other things, the elliptical orbits of the known planets. Ellipses are irregular shapes, which contradict the claims of Ptolemy’s geocentric view of the planets, claiming they all moved in perfect circles around Earth;

Galileo Galilei; Italy; (1564 – 1642); Galilei, confirmed the following, in large part with the new technology created at the time, the telescope:

1) Confirmation of the phases of Venus;

2) Observing 4 moons orbiting Jupiter;

3) Observing Saturn’s rings;

4) Observing sunspots and;

5) Observed the imperfections of the surface of the moon.

It is important to note that although historians credit Francis Bacon as the first to formalize the concept of the modern, scientific method, Bacon would have been unable to be credited with this discovery without both the work of Copernicus and more importantly, Galileo, in the field of astronomy.   

Isaac Newton; England (1643 – 1727); Newton used math and physics to confirm Kepler’s laws regarding elliptical orbits, and Galileo’s laws regarding motion for things on Earth.  These discoveries, confirmed the theory that Copernicus had first opined in his book released in the year of his death in 1543, the Heliocentric Model of the universe.

The discoveries of Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo and Newton, in the field of astronomy regarding the earth and its position in the universe were right. Combined these 5 astronomers, data-collectors, mathematicians, and scientists, over a period of just under 200 years, proved that Ptolemy’s Geocentric, Earth-centered view of the universe…

Was wrong.

So what these scientists did in the field of astronomy, (while similar discoveries were taking place in the field of anatomy by the likes of Vesalius, Harvey, Leeuwenhoek and Boyle), confirmed, was that Ptolemy, (and his equal in the field of anatomy, Galen), were wrong, regarding where we are in the universe, (and among other things, confirmed that the human heart acted like a pump, not like Galen claimed, a furnace, to move the blood around the body).

If Ptolemy was wrong with the Geocentric model of the universe in anatomy, and Galen was wrong with the function of how the human heart moves blood around the human body in anatomy, doesn’t that lead to the idea that the Catholic Church was wrong, in endorsing both of these scientists?

For well over 1000 years?

We have been led to believe that the science, as we know today…tomorrow…or how far into the future you choose to read this…is settled.

Or is it?

So what happened in the Scientific Revolution Part 2?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to figure out the basics regarding the Scientific Revolution – Part 1. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to understand what some scientists over in Europe over 500 years ago in these scientific fields relate to your reliance on the Holy Bible today.  Instead, embrace the idea that as you continue to learn about the Earth and the universe, there is a peace that comes knowing that it will all eventually make sense. 

¹⁶ The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.  (Psalm 115:16 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 69: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – Conclusion.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

The Universe has been wrought for us by a supremely good and orderly Creator. (Nicolaus Copernicus)

Thinking about the musings from Day 67: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1.…

I would submit to you that although Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the universe on the surface appears to make logistical sense, one must remember that there is an inherent flaw with his model. I would submit to you that it is this flaw is not so easy to detect if you do not know what to look for…

And ultimately this flaw will overturn over 1,500 years of teaching…

And change the way we view the universe, and all other branches of science, forever.

If you have already read: Day 67: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1., then you are already familiar with the basic facts regarding the Geocentric Model of the universe presented by Ptolemy. The logical conclusions that Ptolemy came to were pretty clear:

Part A – Ptolemy stands in the same location, at the same time, in the same place, and thus he does not move;

Part B – Ptolemy looks up and sees stars, planets, and the moon all around him, and they are all moving throughout the sky over time;

Part C – Ptolemy concludes that the Earth does not move because he is standing still, while everything up above him in the sky is moving over time.

(Aristotle would have come to the exact, same conclusions as well if he were alive to read Ptolemy’s conclusions: DAY 11: There Has To Be A Way To Make It All Make Sense…Right?)

There is a case to be made however, that as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, they still would have endorsed the idea of a Earth centered universe even without the Geocentric Model.

So why did the Catholic Church endorse the Geocentric Model brought forth by Ptolemy? 

Consider the evidence presented in the book of Genesis.

Notice the one word that I have italics that is consistent throughout the verses from Genesis:

¹ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ² And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters…¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called the Seas: and God saw that it was good. ¹¹ And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good…¹⁵ And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so…¹⁷ And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,…²⁰ And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven…²² And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth…²⁴ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth…²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. ²⁹ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. ³⁰ And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. ³¹ And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.  (Genesis 1:1-2, 10-12, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24-31 KJV)

So what is the most logical conclusion one can come to after reading these verses?

God spent the first 6 days creating the universe focusing his time specifically on…

Earth.

How do we know this?

Earth is mentioned 21 times in 17 verses relating to the first 6 days of the creation of the universe in Genesis.

(Please feel free to re-read those verses again and see if I missed an Earth or two. I would imagine that it would be pretty difficult to miss something as big as our Earth, but I suppose it is possible….)

So, if God spent the first 6 days with his entire focus on Earth, doesn’t it make logistical and scientific sense, that we are in fact living in a geocentric, Earth centered, universe?

The science of Ptolemy and the Catholic Church seems to lean in that direction.

But…what if Ptolemy and the Catholic Church are both wrong?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to figure out Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the universe. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to understand the relationship between the Geocentric Model and the Catholic Church.  Instead, embrace the idea that as you continue to gather scientific facts, as you learn more, the more solid the foundation you are creating for yourself not only for the creation of the universe, but many more things than that. 

¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (Colossians 1:16 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 68: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 – (Part 2).

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion. (Isaac Newton)

Thinking about the musings from Day 66: Resurrection Theories Part 5 – Conclusion.…

I would submit to you that after presenting the 5 most common theories trying to disprove the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth:

Day 55: Resurrection Theories – Part 1.;

Day 57: Resurrection Theories Part 1 – Conclusion.;

Day 58: Resurrection Theories – Part 2.;

Day 59: Resurrection Theories – Part 3.;

Day 60: Resurrection Theories – Part 3 – Conclusion.;

Day 61: Resurrection Theories – Part 4.;

Day 62: Resurrection Theories – Part 4 – Conclusion.;

Day 64: Resurrection Theories – Part 5.;

Day 65: Resurrection Theories – Part 5 – Continued. and;

Day 66: Resurrection Theories – Part 5 – Conclusion.;

ultimately, none of them make sense. I would also submit to you that no matter what you believe, (or don’t believe), after all that has been presented, there is still more out there will help you to come to a more solid conclusion regarding Jesus of Nazareth.

And where you and your soul fit into all of this….

It is at about this point in the semester that we have gotten to the mid-1500’s. One of the items that must be covered in order for my students to be successful on the AP World History exam is the Scientific Revolution.

One of the most enjoyable, historical time periods that I cover in my AP World History class is the Scientific Revolution.  One of the reasons that it is enjoyable is the fact that I take a single concept/time period that CollegeBoard expects the students to know on exam day, and expand it into three concepts/time periods:

1) The Scientific Revolution – Part 1;

2) The Scientific Revolution – Part 2 and;

3) The Scientific Revolution – Part 3;

I broke up the Scientific Revolution into 3 distinct time periods to help prove the following:

Part A – All humans are flawed;

Part B – All science is created by humans;

Part C – Therefore, all science is flawed.

(For a better understanding of how I came to the conclusion above, please visit my earlier post covering Aristotle and his concept of syllogism: DAY 11: There Has To Be A Way To Make It All Make Sense…Right?).

So now, let’s begin the process of breaking down the Scientific Revolution into 3 parts…

The Scientific Revolution – Part 1. 

The Scientific Revolution – Part 1 covers the fields of both astronomy and anatomy, however, due to time constraints relating to the AP World History Exam, I only have time to cover the content regarding astronomy in class. The content and analysis that I cover includes the discoveries of Nicolaus Copernicus, whose book: On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, was first printed in 1543, to the discoveries of Isaac Newton, who died in 1727.

However, in order to understand the concepts, observations and conclusions brought forth by Copernicus, Newton and others from 1543 to 1727, we must go back in time…

Almost 1,500 years earlier in fact.

From around 100 – 170 CE, a Greek astronomer living in Alexandria, Egypt named Ptolemy, put forth a scientifically sound theory, at least at the time, regarding the known universe. Ptolemy claimed that the science proved that we, planet Earth, sits in the center of the known universe. 

This theory is known in the scientific world as the geocentric model.

The geocentric model, on the surface, makes perfect sense.  After all, just a few centuries before, the Greek philosopher Aristotle, (384-322 BC), presented the concept of syllogism to not only philosophy, but also to astronomy. In fact, many historians agree that it is Aristotle and his concept of syllogism, that created the foundations of Western science itself.

Ptolemy I would imagine, would have used Aristotle’s syllogism to help present his case regarding where we are, literally, in the universe.

To help the students to understand Ptolemy’s conclusions, I present the following to my students in class:

I point to the clock in the room. For sake of argument, the clock currently says 10:30am. I then wave my hand and tell the students to imagine that it is in fact 10:30pm, so that it is nighttime.

I then move both of my feet so that they are both within a single floor tile at the front of the room, which measures one foot by one foot.

I then look up, and wave my hand again, and tell the students to imagine the following:

There is no ceiling above us and that it is a clear sky.

After we all agree to the following conditions in order to view the night time sky, I ask the students a question:

“When I, (or you), look up, what do you see in the nighttime sky?”

Over 17 years of answers from 15 and 16 year olds are always the same, yet not always in the same order when I ask them to respond:

“Planets…stars…and the moon.”

Once the class has come to these conclusions regarding what they would see above them, while gazing up at a clear sky at 10:30pm, I then ask the following to the class:

“Ok, now that you have come to these conclusions regarding what I, and you, would see now on this day in class, what were to happen if I were to come to the exact same floor tile and stand in it, at the exact same time, 10:30pm every night, for the rest of the week…and month…and year…and decade…for the rest of time?”

“Or put another way: what I am doing, or not doing, over that time period, versus what the planets, stars and moon are doing above me, over that same time period?”

Again, over 17 years of answers from 15 and 16 year olds are always the same, yet not always in the same order when I call on them:

I am not moving…while the planets, stars and moon, are moving above.

These conclusions from 15 and 16 year olds in the 21st century in the United States, are pretty much the same scientific conclusions that Ptolemy came to in the second century in Alexandria, Egypt.

How is these scientific conclusions possible?

By using syllogism:

Part A – Ptolemy stands in the same location, at the same time, in the same place, and thus he does not move;

Part B – Ptolemy looks up and sees stars, planets, and the moon all around him, and they are all moving throughout the sky over time;

Part C – Ptolemy concludes that the Earth does not move because he is standing still, while everything up above him in the sky is moving over time.

The science is pretty clear using Aristotle’s scientific logic. By using syllogism it is clear to see that the universe revolves around Earth.

And thus, Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model of the known universe has now been created in the second century over in Alexandria, Egypt…

Almost 2,000 years ago as I write this today.

Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model makes perfect sense, right? 

The science is obviously settled…while we here on Earth are not moving, the items up in the sky…planets, stars and the moon, are all moving over time. 

You really don’t need to be a scientist to understand that we are the center of the known universe…

Right? 

In fact, the Catholic Church endorsed Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model regarding the known universe.

For over 1,000 years….

Why did the Catholic Church endorse and teach throughout the universities in Europe, that the Geocentric Model was correct regarding astronomy and the universe?

That will be covered next time.  

Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to reconcile your thoughts regarding Ptolemy’s Geocentric Model. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to figure out what astronomy has to do with Jesus of Nazareth. Instead, embrace the idea that as you gather scientific facts, embrace the idea that as you learn more, the more solid the foundation you are building once you do come to a final conclusion regarding science. 

¹The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”  (Ecclesiastes 19:1 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 67: The Scientific Revolution – Part 1.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

We live and die; Christ died and lived! (John Stott)

Thinking about the musings from Day 65: Resurrection Theories – Part 5 – Continued.…

I would submit to you that when considering the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, one must be open to the counter arguments. I would further submit to you that as I conclude the 5th of the major counter arguments that are out there, the choice should be clear on your final decision regarding this matter.

In order to finish off the Conspiracy Theory regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, it is important to continue where we left off in Day 65: Resurrection Theories – Part 5 – Continued., and the claim made by Eusebius of Caesarea, the author:

Let us band together to invent all the miracles and resurrection appearances which we never saw and let us carry the sham even to death! Why not die for nothing? Why dislike torture and whipping inflicted for no good reason? Let us go out to all the nations and overthrow their institutions and denounce their gods! And even if we don’t convince anybody, at least we’ll have the satisfaction of drawing down on ourselves the punishment for our own deceit.

In other words, Eusebius of Caesarea is making the claim that the disciples conspired to lie about the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

How would the disciples be able to conspire to pull off arguably the number one conspiracy theory in the history of mankind? 

If the disciples were considering the Conspiracy Theory in order to explain away the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, there were two potential issues that would have to be accept regarding themselves:

1) Either the disciples were deceived by Jesus of Nazareth regarding his resurrection or;

2) They were themselves deceivers regarding his resurrection.

Where the disciples deceived or were the disciples deceivers?

Is there any documented evidence that would corroborate deception by either Jesus of Nazareth of his disciples?

For sake of argument, assume that the second issue is proven true and that the disciples themselves were the deceivers. If true, how would you explain the next two questions?

1) How would they be able to live with themselves knowing that they did this?

2) How would you be able to live with yourself if you knowingly conspired with the disciples?

Next, consider these 6 items that would have to take place for the Conspiracy Theory to work:

1) You just can’t take the body of Jesus of Nazareth, lying in a tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers. Consider that these soldiers are under penalty of death if these soldiers fail their job, which is to guard his tomb…in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work;

2) You would have to bribe these Roman soldiers so that they will let the disciples take the body. Consider how many potential soldiers are at and around the tomb that would need to be bribed…in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work;

3) The disciples would have had to have gotten into the tomb and removed the body with absolutely no witnesses observing them. Consider that there must have been other people in addition to the Roman soldiers both immediately around or in the general area of the tomb…in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work;

4) Several people would then have to conspire to carry or drag the body from the original tomb, to an undisclosed location where no one would ever find it, in order to claim that Jesus of Nazareth was resurrected. Consider the amount of people that would be needed to move the body from the tomb to its new and final resting place, a place that no one would ever know about…in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work;

5) In order to have the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth appear legitimate, outsiders would need to be involved, so as to reduce the bias factor surrounding his disciples since they were so close to all that had just occurred. Consider the potentially hostile individuals, (to the disciples, the Roman soldiers, etc), that would be required to be a part of this…in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work;

6) These outsiders that the disciples convince to re-bury the body of Jesus of Nazareth, if found out, would have their social, economic, and overall lives of not only them, but their families, utterly and completely destroyed. Consider the risks that all of these individuals would be willing to take on, for a lie regarding the faked resurrection…in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work;

I am not a math person. Never was and never will be. If you know someone who is good at math and more specifically, with odds and statistics, perhaps you can show them these 6 items in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work.

After showing them these 6 items, ask them a simple question:

What are the mathematical odds that all 6 of these items would be successful?

Next, please consider the following in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 (KJV):

⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

And from Acts 1:3 (KJV):

³ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Now, based on the above verses, Jesus was seen after he died by:

1) Cephas, then;

2) Of the twelve then;

3) Above 500 at once then;

4) James, then;

5) All of the apostles then;

6) ‘He was seen of me also’.

All happening over the course of forty days.

Finally, based off of the claims made in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 (KJV) and Acts 1:3, please consider the last two items that would have had to have taken place in order for the Conspiracy Theory to work:

1) How is it possible that 1, (Cephas), then 12, then 500, then James, then all of the apostles, then ‘he’, over a period of 40 days, all saw the exact same thing regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, if the resurrection never happened?

2) How is it possible that over 500 people, all different ages, gender, occupations, social, economic and educational levels, on multiple days, at multiple times, all saw the exact same thing?

(Feel free to go back to your math friend as well and ask them about the statistical odds regarding these two questions….)

So, let’s summarize the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth with two statements:

1) The Gospels. The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as written in the 4 Gospels from the Middle East over 2,000 years ago, or;

2) The Conspiracy Theory. The idea that the 12 disciples of Jesus of Nazareth stole his body and lied about the resurrection.

Now, a question for you to consider:

Which set of facts takes more faith to believe in?

Maybe the answer is more obvious than you ever realized.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still having a difficult time believing what to make regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Do not feel discouraged if you are still confused even after reading even more about the Conspiracy Theory. Instead, embrace the idea that there is more to learn and more to accomplish in your life.

⁸ He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 25:8 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 66: Resurrection Theories Part 5 – Conclusion.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

I myself have read the writings and teachings of the heretics, polluting my soul for a while with their abominable notions, though deriving this benefit: I was able to refute them for myself and loathe them even more. (Eusebius)

Thinking about the musings from Day 64: Resurrection Theories – Part 5.…

I would submit to you that when considering the Conspiracy Theory as a possible option to counter the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, there is still more evidence that must be presented. I would further submit to you that after you finish reading today’s writing regarding this theory, you will be much closer to coming to a conclusion regarding your soul and eternity.

Eusebius of Caesarea is considered ‘the father of church history’. Being the first to write about the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, outside the Gospels and outside the New Testament of the Holy Bible, Eusebius of Caesarea also believed that the resurrection was a…

Conspiracy Theory.

I would submit to you that of the 5 potential complications regarding the Conspiracy Theory covered in Day 64: Resurrection Theories – Part 5., the 5th one stands out the most:

5) The calendar and the dates of these events were in dispute back then.

How exactly would a disputed calendar and dates affect the Conspiracy Theory presented by Eusebius of Caesarea?

Consider the following.

At the time of the writing of the Conspiracy Theory regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, Eusebius of Caesarea was writing almost 3 centuries after the events had taken place. On the surface that may not sound like an issue, however over time, it will become an issue.

In order to understand why we use the calendar that we use today, a brief history of calendars needs to be covered….

The internationally accepted calendar that is used today is known by three names: the Western, Christian and, Gregorian Calendar.

(Going forward, I will refer to this calendar as the Gregorian Calendar).

The Gregorian Calendar was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII of the Catholic Church.

The Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar, which was first introduced to the world over 2,000 years ago, (46 BC), by Julius Caesar, ruler of the Roman Empire. Just a few decades later, and lasting for almost 500 years, from 27 BC to 476 AD, the Roman Empire will rule large parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, creating the foundation of the Western world that we recognize today.

About a 1,000 years later, when the Catholic Church changes to the calendar in 1582, the Conspiracy Theory brought forth by Eusebius of Caesarea, becomes less clear.

Once the transition from the Gregorian to Julian Calendar began, 3 major flaws appeared:

1) There was a flawed system used to formulate leap years;

2) Days from the Julian Calendar had to be dropped in order to sync back up with the various vernal equinoxes and winter solstices that it did not account for and;

3) Getting all of Christendom and later the rest of the world, to accept the new calendar, took a process of over 300 years.

Now that you have some background regarding Eusebius of Caesarea, and the transition from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar, please consider the following that he wrote claiming that the disciples conspired to lie about the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth:

Let us band together to invent all the miracles and resurrection appearances which we never saw and let us carry the sham even to death! Why not die for nothing? Why dislike torture and whipping inflicted for no good reason? Let us go out to all the nations and overthrow their institutions and denounce their gods! And even if we don’t convince anybody, at least we’ll have the satisfaction of drawing down on ourselves the punishment for our own deceit.

According to the writings of Eusebius of Caesarea, does it sound like that this plan the disciples were creating to lie about the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth…

Was ever going to work? 

At the end of the day, how would the disciples be able to conspire to pull off arguably the number one conspiracy theory in the history of mankind? 

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still having a difficult time believing in the resurrection of Jesus after more information regarding the Conspiracy Theory was introduced. Do not feel discouraged if you are still confused as to the relationship between the change in calendars and the Conspiracy Theory.  Instead, embrace the idea that you are coming closer to it all making sense.

⁸ Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. ⁹ For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. (John 20:8-9 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 65: Resurrection Theories Part 5 – Continued.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three. (Billy Graham)

Thinking about the musings from Day 63: Rest…Relax…Reflect.…

I would submit to you that after covering the first four, counter-resurrection theories regarding Jesus of Nazareth:

The Swoon:

Day 55: Resurrection Theories – Part 1. and;

Day 57: Resurrection Theories Part 1 – Conclusion.

Hallucination or Vision:

Day 58: Resurrection Theories – Part 2.

Stolen Body:

Day 59: Resurrection Theories – Part 3. and;

Day 60: Resurrection Theories – Part 3 – Conclusion. and;

The Falling Asleep And/Or Bribed Theories:

Day 61: Resurrection Theories – Part 4. and;

Day 62: Resurrection Theories – Part 4 – Conclusion.

The only conclusion that one can come to is that they are all seemingly falling apart.  

I would further submit to you that there is one question that you have to consider while reading the final theory that tries to discredit the Gospels account of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth….

Will this fifth theory, make any more sense than the previous four theories?

The final theory that will be covered that tries to discredit the Gospels account of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the Conspiracy Theory.

5) Conspiracy Theory. This theory is on the surface quite simple, Christ’s disciples stole the body and then made up the resurrection story. 

There is in fact historical evidence for the Conspiracy Theory, presented by Eusebius of Caesarea, who was alive from 260-340 CE.

Or at least…the absurdity of the Conspiracy Theory was presented by Eusebius of Caesarea….

Eusebius of Caesarea argued that the idea that the disciples would steal the body and then make up the resurrection story was in fact…

Impossible.   

Is the Conspiracy Theory possible?  Does it make logistical sense?

Let’s look at the evidence.

There was a man, named Eusebius of Caesarea, who lived approximately from 260-340 CE. Here is what he said regarding Christianity:

“I feel inadequate to do [church history] justice as the first to venture on such an undertaking, a traveler on a lonely and untrodden path.”

Why did he feel ‘inadequate’? Why was he ‘lonely’? 

He tells you, it is because he was the first to ‘venture’ down this ‘untrodden path’.

So what is this ‘untrodden path’ that he is about to ‘venture’ down?

I would submit to you that it is because Eusebius of Caesarea is ‘the father of church history’. And being the first would help us to understand him going down this ‘untrodden path’.

To be the first of anything is no small task indeed. It appears that Eusebius of Caesarea is fully aware of the weight on his shoulders being ‘the father of church history’. He is considered the first to write about the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, outside the Gospels and outside the New Testament of the Holy Bible.

So what did Eusebius of Caesarea write about?

1) He was considered by historians as the first ever to write a comprehensive history of the church’s first three centuries;

2) He was writing it without any collection of documentation easily accessible and available to him at the time;

3) There were no books available documenting any of the figures surrounding these events;

4) There was no documentation or timeline, surrounding these events and;

5) The calendar and the dates of these events were in dispute back then.

Regarding the issue with the calendar dates, back then no one could have possibly anticipated the potential issues that would eventually come….

Over 1,000 years later.

So what is the calendar issue that comes up 1,000 years later and how does it relate to the Conspiracy Theory regarding the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still having a difficult time believing in the resurrection of Jesus after reading about Eusebius of Caesarea. Do not feel discouraged if you are still confused and you are still unsure as to whether the Gospels still stand up to the: Swoon, Hallucination or Vision, Stolen Body, Falling Asleep And/Or Bribed and Conspiracy Theories. Instead, embrace the idea that after this heavy reading, you are that much closer to the truth.  

¹⁷ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:¹⁸ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17-18 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 64: Resurrection Theories – Part 5.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?