''Ten Good Reasons: Why Benjamin Buchanan Believes in God''

By Graeme D. Buchan

This book provides, through the semi-fictional character Benjamin Buchanan, strong but simply presented evidence for the existence of God. Benjamin's 'ten good reasons' are argued from the perspective of a scientist and Christian. They are based on a combination of a) logical reasoning, and b) his observations on the awesome (literally!) combination of factors which have combined to make life possible on planet Earth including God's human family. The book should inspire readers to see Earth, its rich resources and lifeforms, from a more reverential perspective - essential in an environmentally and socially stressed planet!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris NZ
• Release date: Nov 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479746156

Graeme D. Buchan

Graeme Buchan, originally from Bonnie Scotland, is a recently retired Professor at Lincoln University, New Zealand. Previously a theoretical (quantum) physicist, he made a ‘leap’ into environmental science, lecturing and researching in soil, water and atmospheric sciences; and also ‘education for sustainability’. He has co-authored over 70 papers and book chapters. These include his three science-based but reader-friendly papers ‘Ode to Planet Earth’, ‘Ode to H2O’ and ‘Ode to Soil’ (featured as Appendices in this book). These papers reverence the wonders of planet Earth and its resources. Graeme is also Guest Professor at BOKU University, Vienna, Austria.

Book preview

Ten Good Reasons:

Why Benjamin Buchanan believes in God !

- His ideas, and evidence from the world, supporting the existence of a Christian God

Graeme David Buchan, FIEnvSci, FRMetS

- Physicist and environmental scientist

(Associate Professor of Environmental Physics, and Environmental Education,

Lincoln University, New Zealand)

No one has ever seen God ....

John 1: 18 (also I John 4:12) (Good News Bible)

No one has ever seen Him. No one can ever see Him.

I Timothy 6:16 (Good News Bible)

Copyright © 2013 by Graeme D. Buchan. 700441-BUCH

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-4797-4614-9

ISBN: E-book 978-1-4797-4615-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 04/10/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0800-891-366

www.xlibris.co.nz

[e-mail]

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

BENJAMIN’S IDEAS (or PRINCIPLES)

Benjamin’s 1st reason : The Idea of ‘Duality’

Benjamin’s 2nd reason : The Idea of Love

Benjamin’s 3rd reason : The idea of Provision for Life

Benjamin’s 4th Reason : The Idea of Absolute Laws

Benjamin’s 5th reason : The idea of Self-Consistency

Benjamin’s 6th reason : The Subtle Idea of Paradox

Benjamin’s 7th reason : The Idea of Authenticity

Benjamin’s 8th reason : The Idea of ‘Inverse Values’

Benjamin’s 9th reason : The Idea of the Infinity of Knowledge

Benjamin’s 10th reason : The Idea of Ultimate Justice

CONCLUSIONS

APPENDIX 1 : In praise of our life-giving resources: Planet Earth, Water and Soil

APPENDIX 2 : Explaining some ideas: ‘Paradox’ and ‘Mystery’

APPENDIX 3 : Great God Believers

REFERENCES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is dedicated to my wonderful family. They have been the soul and substance of my life: my dear wife Anna (based on the first time we met at an Aberdeen University student dance, I will always remember her as my ‘Dancing Queen’ – in the sense of the song by Abba); my three children Jill Christian, Matthew Andrew, and Daniel Kennedy – all with names reflecting strong Celtic and biblical connections. To this add the blessing of two grandchildren, beautiful testimonies to God’s creative power. How could such life come about by the random throwing of ‘chemical dice’ in the development of the Universe?

A man (and a family patriarch) can die happy with such a wonderful family around him!

The ideas behind this book were first sown years ago, as my progress as a physicist and environmental scientist increased my awe of Nature. The book has been completed in (for myself) medically challenging times. But amazingly additional support has gathered around me from some great ‘teams’ of supporters. 1) My Christian and spiritual companions in life: Rev. Phyllis Harris and others in my local church (Lincoln Union Church, near Christchurch, New Zealand). I also acknowledge the support of Glenda Hicks, Lincoln University Chaplain. She has given me both personal spiritual support, and critical advice in my final writing of this book. 2) My medical teams, who have tended to my health issues – all of the oncology specialists and guardian nurses, plus my local GPs, Dr Jeff Shortt and Dr Denise Dumaine. 3) My Lincoln University colleagues, who have rallied so strongly around me as I dealt with declining ability to perform academically, and the need to seek early retirement.

Finally, I also dedicate this book to my stalwart Scottish parents (now deceased): Christopher Shephard Buchan and Helena Irvine (nee Barron). I yearn in the next life re-join them, along with the whole lineage of my forebears – that ‘umbilical chain’ which through womb and womanhood connects us with the misty past history of our families.

Graeme David Buchan

Lincoln, New Zealand, 2012

PREFACE

Look at the history and development of the last four or more centuries. Without doubt, the greatest successes in science, technology, engineering and medicine; and in invention, discovery and exploration have flowed like a gushing well from Christian-based societies. Is that by accident? The author believes not. If there is a God, His greatest power is the ability to create – not necessarily in sudden acts, but mostly by a slow process of development. If there is a faith which is closest to God, surely something of that creative capacity will be reflected in God’s followers, and in their supporting societies! Witness the huge progress in science, technology, engineering, architecture, medicine, music and art – and in democracy - of a largely Christian-based Europe in the 18th to 20th centuries; and then later in the ‘new worlds’ which followed the European models. (For some examples of Christians or God-believers who have contributed to such progress, see Appendix 3).

Humans today are inclined to believe that, thanks to science and technology, we’ve got the planet ‘sorted’. So - there is no more need for God or Christianity (or indeed for any other faith-based worldview) – they are anachronisms which are not consistent with our modern worldview. But ask yourself this every morning when you awake: Is planet Earth a better or a worse place than it was yesterday? The honest answer is WORSE: we are NOT managing things well under our ‘self-control’. Our uncontrolled use of science and technology is not the answer. (Remember the wise words of Albert Einstein: We do not have to use all the technology we know.)

Humans have a strong tendency to convergent thinking. That is, their thinking and behaviour converge towards the ‘norms’ or standards set by wider society. (A norm is a standard or pattern of behaviour commonly accepted or followed in a society). At the extreme, we might call this ‘orchestrated thinking’ – as if society formed one large orchestra, with almost everyone playing the same music under the ‘conduction’ of the current norms of thinking or behaviour. Basically, it is ‘swarm to the norm’ behaviour!

The evidence for this is strong. Look back through the last few thousand years of history and see how drastically things have changed ! – how people dress, what passes as acceptable fashion, the codes of behaviour, the changes in ‘authorities’ that people turn to, and the acceptance or rejection of religious belief. Yet humans have not really changed biologically – so what has changed? Answer – our norms have changed. It is as if we are fish all swimming together in unison from place to place; or teams of players, all following the ball together as its position changes in the field; or ‘synchronised swimmers’ moving together in harmony in the pool.

The author’s idea of convergent thinking is accompanied by his second idea – the inverse values principle. There is a tendency in society for people to value least the things which matter most (and vice versa). (See Benjamin’s 8th idea in Section 8 below).

These two rather subtle ideas are critical for the world’s current view of the Christian faith. The current norms are to regard Christianity as trivial or obsolete,