"The Professor and the Student" - But, which one is which?

   I came across this little homily on the existence of God in my email this weekend. I believe it addresses a serious question this nation has been attempting to answer for the past 30, or so, years.

   I've also seen this topic debated, sometimes ferociously, right here on Gather. I personally believe in the existence of God and that He is the Supreme Power over all His creation. I understand and respect the fact that others don't necessarily see things in the same light.

   I would ask everyone, regardless of your perspective on the question, to read this little story, and then contribute your thoughts if you'd like.

The Professor and the Student

   An avowed atheist science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students.

   "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The professor pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

   "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

   "Yes sir," the student says.

   "So you believe in God?"

   "Absolutely."

   "Is God good?"

   "Sure! God's good."

   "Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

   "Yes."

   "The Bible says I'm evil."

   The professor grins knowingly.

   "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment.

   "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

   "Yes sir, I would."

   "So you're good...!"
 

   "I wouldn't say that."

   "But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

   The student does not answer, so the professor continues.

   The student remains silent.

   "No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

   "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

   "Er...yes," the student says.

   "Is Satan good?"

   The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

   "Then where does Satan come from?"

   The student falters. "From God"

   "That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

   "Yes, sir."

   "Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

   "Yes."

   "So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

   Again, the student has no answer.

   "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

   The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

   "So who created them?"
 

   The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question.

   "Who created them?"

   There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

   "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

   The student's voice betrays him and cracks.

   "Yes, professor, I do."

    The old man stops pacing.

   "No sir. I've never seen Him."

   "Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

   "No, sir, I have not."

   "No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

   "Yet you still believe in him?"

   "Yes."

   "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

   "Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

   The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of his own.

    "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

   "Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

   "And is there such a thing as cold?"

   "Yes, son, there's cold too."

   "No sir, there isn't."

   The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet.

   The student begins to explain.

   "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees.

   "Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

   Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

   "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

   "Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

   The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester.

   "So what point are you making, young man?"

   "Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

   The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time.

   "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

   "You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains.

   "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure.

   "Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.

   "Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

   "If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

   "Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

   The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

   "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

   The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

   "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

   The student looks around the room.

   "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?"

   The class breaks out into laughter.

   Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.

   "Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

   The professor sat down.