More than faith

When it comes to his religious beliefs, author Frank Turek doesn't rely solely on faith.

Turek is the author of the book, "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist."

"The focus of the book is giving evidence that indeed truth exists," Turek said. "You can know it, and the Bible is true."

Turek will discuss the four major points of his book this weekend at La Croix United Methodist church. He will also talk about his trip in June to northwest Iran where the expedition he was with found what he said may be the remnants of Noah's ark. He will bring with him some of those remnants.

Turek will also discuss the other three major points from his book: that miracles are possible, that there is a God who created the universe and that the New Testament is reliable. It's not just a matter of faith, he said.

"Either you have evidence for our views or you have faith," he said. "Atheists say there is no God; that's their view of reality. A person who says he is Christian has to have less faith than a person who isn't. We have very good evidence for Christianity and thus don't need a lot of faith."

Turek says the stories of Noah's ark or Jonah and the whale, or other seemingly incredible Biblical stories handed down through generations are not the greatest miracles in the Bible. The most important verse in the Bible, he says, is the first verse: that God created the universe.

"If that miracle is true, every other miracle is possible," he said.

According to Turek, there is now evidence that the first verse is true. Scientists have already acknowledged the Big Bang theory, where the universe was formed from nothingness. Something had to be behind it all; it was not a random event, he says.

"Einstein's theory of general relativity shows that time, space and matter are co-relative; they all came into existence together," he said. "Time and space were created. If they are not finite they must be infinite, unlimited. The creator is powerful because the universe was created with nothing. The creator is moral because we have a moral law prescribed on us so that we intuitively know right from wrong. It's interesting, through science and philosophy arguments about the beginning of the universe can get many of the attributes theists call God."

Writers such as Turek point to three major arguments to support the existence of God: the beginning of the universe, the design of the universe and the existence of a moral law.

"The most amazing miracle anywhere is that God created the universe out of nothing," he said. "When you look at the evidence you realize how incredibly well put together everything is. So many things point to the existence of an intelligent divine being. You have to have more faith to say that being doesn't exist."

Turek has been on national news recently for being part of an expedition that believes it has found Noah's ark. Other expeditions have searched in Turkey, Turek said, but the evidence may actually point to northwest Iran. Petrified wood was found at the site, which is 5,000 feet higher than the highest trees on the mountain. The object found fits the approximate dimensions of Noah's ark. Explorers also found fossilized sea life in a nearby rock sample.

Rob Mehner of La Croix United Methodist church said David Limbaugh, who wrote the book's foreword, recommended Turek as a speaker. Turek will have copies of this book, and another, "Legislating Morality," for purchase.

Turek has earned a doctorate in apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary and a master's degree in public administration from George Washington University. He is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served as a naval aviator in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.

lredeffer@semissourian.com

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