Skip to content

Dinesh D’Souza’s Book, “Life After Death.”

Saturday, January 23, 2010

MY COMMENTS ON “EVIDENCES THAT THE SOUL HAS CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER DEATH OF THE FLESHLY BODY, ACCORDING TO DINESH D’SOUZA.”

1.  Mr. D’Souza says,  ”Near Death Experience (NDE) shows that clinical death may not be the end; there may be something more.” 

I have heard of a few near death experiences and reasoned that they were probably the dream state of someone whose body was very much alive.  However Mr. D’Souza has made a factual investigation and concluded (in the words of his book) “that the universality and uniformity of NDEs (and they happen far more often than I had imagined) suggest that consciousness can outlast the breakdown of the body.  These experiences cannot be explained away as the product of drugs or dying brains .  NDEs don’t say much about what life after death might be like.  But they do imply the real possibility of of some sort of afterlife.”

We are reminded that our Bibles, God’s Word, hold that the soul lives on after the body is dead.  “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul;”  (Matt. 10:28).

And the Bible mentions the diembodied souls that the Apostle John wrote about:  ”And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”  (Revelation 20:4).

THE POSSIBILITY OF THE EXISTENCE OF MATTER WHICH IS UNLIKE EARTHLY MATTER.

2.  Mr. D’souza says, “Modern Physics shows the existence of matter which is radically diffferent in its attributes from any matter that we are familiar with.  Physics also demonstrates the possibility of realms beyond the universe and modes of living unconstrained by the limits of our physical laws.  So there is nothing in physics to contradict the idea that we can live beyond death in other realms with bodies which are unlike the bodies which we now possess.”

Again we are reminded of a Biblical passage:  “So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, ‘The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.”  (1 Corinthians 15:42-48).

It should be evident to us that God has written more than one Book, the Bible; but He has written the book of the nature of our earthly home, which Mr. D’Souza calls “Physics” or “Science.”  The many ways God presents His creation to us do not contradict themselves.

IS TRANSITION FROM MATTER TO MIND BUILT IN TO THE SCRIPT OF GOD’S CREATION?

3.  Mr. D’ouza says, “Modern biology shows an evolutionary transition from matter to mind that does not seem random or accidental but rather built in to the script of nature.  This natural teleology from non-living matter to living things to contemplative minds is a vital clue that as nature progresses from the material to the immaterial, and from the perishable to the imperishable, so too may we.  Like nature itself, we may be in a natural transition from living beings made up of matter to minds that are not subject to the limitations of matter.”

Mr. D’Souza seems to speak of “evolution” and argues with atheists about the “evolution” that many hold to be millions of years long.  But I see the possibility that this evolution may be as swift as the “twinkling of an eye” when the Savior comes back to raise us and change us. 

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”  (1 Corinthians 15:52.  Read the entire chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians).

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIND AND THE BRAIN?

4.  Mr. D’Souza says, “Neuroscience reveals that the mind cannot be reduced to the brain, and that reductive materialism is a dead end.  The whole realm of subjective experience lies outside its domain, and outside the domain of objective science altogether.  Two features of the mind — specifically consciousness and free will — define the human soul.  These features seem to operate outside the laws of nature and therefore are not subject to the laws governing the mortality of the body.  The body dies but the soul lives on.”   

 Again I remind us that God’s Word, the Bible, tells us, “”And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul;”  (Matt. 10:28).  Therefore, the body dies but the soul lives on.  I have written an essay on this website (”Spirit and Soul and Body”) in which I state my belief that the Bible illustrates the functions of the soul to include volition (will), intellect, and emotion.  To my mind these three are equivalent to, or certainly include, Mr. D’Souza’s two functions:   ”consciousness” and “free will.”

DO WE LIVE IN AND EXPERIENCE THE AFTERLIFE REALITIES DURING THIS LIFE IN THE BODY OF FLESH?

5.  Mr. D’Souza says, “Modern philosophy makes a central distinction between experience and reality.  Empirical realists seem chronically unable to distinguish between the two, and this is their fatal flaw.  Once we abandon empirical realism, mature philosophical reflection … enables us to discover the existence of a noumenal or other world.  As humans we inhabit both worlds, and when we die, the unreal world of experience comes to an end for us, but a part of us lives eternally in the real world.”

The Bible tells us, “For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  (2 Corinthians 4:18).  Through “faith,” to a Christian the unseen things are real.  Through “faith, hope, and love,” the real world of a Christian consists of both the “seen and unseen.”  Without the “unseen,” the “seen” is hopeless.  Our salvation lies within the ”unseen.”  Through God’s gift of “hope,” the unseen things appear as though “seen.”  Thus both the seen and unseen are part of the Christian’s life in the flesh on earth.  

HOW DO WE EXPLAIN MORALITY IN OUR MATERIAL WORLD?

6.  Mr. D’Souza says, “Morality is best understood under the presupposition that there is cosmic justice in a world beyond the world; this would explain how we live even now in two realms:  the realm of “the way things are” and the realm of “the way things ought to be.”  Attempts to explain morality as a Darwinian survival strategy are not only inadequate but miss the point:  morality is not about how we do act but how we should act.  This normative aspect of morality only makes sense if we presume that it represents the legislative standard derived from a post-mortem existance.  The postulate of an afterlife enables us to make sense of this life.”

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there a few who find it.”  (Matthew 7:13-14).

“And the beast was siezed, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image; these two were thrown into the lake of fire which burns with brimsrtone.” (Revelation 19:20).

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  (Revelation 20:10).

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  (Revelation 20:15).

“But for the  cowardly and unbelieving and abominal and murderers and immoral persons and socerers and idolators and all liars; their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  (Revelation 21:8).

But concerning Christians, the Bible says, “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”  (1 Corinthians 11:3).

There is a “cosmic justice” as Mr. D’Souza theorizes.  This is shown clearly in the scriptures quoted above and especially in a study of Paul’s letter to the Romans.  We as Christians are not seeking justice but forgiveness, as the apostle Peter said in his first sermon after the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jezus, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  (Acts 2:38).

The quotations from Mr. D’ouza’s book that I have used above have come from the last chapter of his book and are short summaries of his conclusions.  The bulk of the book are in the preceding chapters in which he goes over his debates in detail with atheists and other unbelievers, arguing that there must be an afterlife and that the Christian religion is the only world religion which satisfies the requirements placed on the idea of an afterlife by other disciplines. 

I have searched the Biblical Scriptures and other thought disiplines to lend credence to my early conclusion that there must be a Creator God who has created us in His Own image to live with Him forever.  Mr. D’Souza’s book has strengthened my faith.  I recommend you read it.

With Love, F. M. Perry

     

 

Filed in Faith | Comments (0)

Rejoice, Isaiah’s Prophecy Continuously Fullfilled.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Copy of today’s post of gracEmail by Edward Fudge 

This Christmas I am impressed anew that we are seeing biblical prophecy fulfilled before our eyes. Not the kind of prophetic fulfillment about which the sensationalists talk and write best-seller books for the gullible masses — about Middle-eastern conflict and geopolitics and world banks and bar codes at the supermarkets. No, something far more solid and biblical than any of that. God’s word to Isaiah 2,700 years ago has come to pass: “The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

All you have to do is turn on the radio, or go to a mall. You will discover that throughout the Gentile world, in word and in song, people of all nations are celebrating the birth of the Jewish Messiah, the Light to the Nations, the descendant of Abraham through whom the whole world is blessed! “I make you a covenant mediator for people, and a light to the nations,” God said to Isaiah concerning the Messiah (42:6-7). “Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the LORD shines on you!” (Isa. 60:1) “Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light. Look all around you!” (Isa. 60:3). And so they have come — from the first Christmas, when Magi came from the East, until this very day!

This little e-mail message is traveling at lightning speed around the world — across North, Central and South America, throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, to the British Isles and islands in the Atlantic and Pacific, to the Near East and Far East and the Pacific Rim, to countries predominantly Moslem and Hindu and Shinto and Buddhist and animistic and communist and theoretically Christian. To a world that once sat in great darkness, whose inhabitants worshipped sticks and stones, or the sun and moon, or forces of nature. A world which once did not know the Creator, did not enjoy covenant with him, did not hope in his promises. But today, in every one of these places, people are serving God’s Messiah, the Christ-child, who became a man and died for our sins and rose again, who is coming again one day to establish peace forever!

Have a blessed Christmas, my friends! May his Presence gently hover above the presents, and “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).

For more on the birth of Christ, click here.
__________________

Copyright 2009 by Edward Fudge. This gracEmail may be reprinted or redistributed by email without further permission provided no changes are made, this paragraph is included and no financial profit is involved.

__________________

The thoughts of Edward Fudge are offered today with love by F. M. Perry 

Filed in All | Comments (1)

Christians, Awake, Salute the Happy Morn.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

This is a Christmas Poem by John Byron who wrote it in 1745 for his little daughter Dorothy.  On Christmas morning she is said to have found the manuscript among her presents.  It became a Christmas Carol with the addition of the music by John Wainright in 1750. 

It is one of my favorite carols because it tells in the latter verses the whole New Testament story of God’s provision for the eternal salvation for mankind “From His poor manger to His bitter cross” -”Till man’s first heavenly state takes place.”  The line which says “Peace upon earth and unto men goodwill” is connected with “man’s first heavenly state” which I think is more Biblical and true than most Christmas Carols.  God, in His Bible has never promised peace to this earth in its present political state, but only when “God incarnate,” “the Virgin’s Son” returns to earth to resurrect and inaugurate the Christian’s “heavenly state.”  In this carol the first line, “Christians, awake, salute the happy morn” becomes a salute to the resurrection morn when “God incarnate,” “the Virgin’s Son” installs a new heaven and a new earth.

Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Saviour of the world was born
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the Virgin’s Son.

Then to the watchful shepherds it was told
Who heard the angelic herald’s voice: “Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour’s birth
To you and all the nations upon earth
This day hath God fulfilled His promised word;
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord.”

He spake, and straightaway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire
The praises of redeeming love they sang
And heaven’s whole orb with alleluias rang
God’s highest glory was their anthem still
Peace upon earth and unto men goodwill

To Bethlehem straight the shepherds ran
To see the wonder God had wrought for man
And found, with Joseph and the blessed Maid
Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid
Amazed, the wondrous story they proclaim
The earliest heralds of the Saviour’s name

Let us, like these good shepherds, them employ
Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss
From His poor manger to His bitter cross
Treading His steps, assisted by His grace
Till man’s first heavenly state again takes place

Then may we hope, the angelic thrones among
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song
He that was born upon this joyful day
Around us all His glory shall display
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Of angels and of angel-men the King

“Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord be with you all.”  (Revelation 22:20-21). With Love, F. M. Perry

Filed in Faith | Comments (1)

The Koran Calls It “The Book.”

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

During my Foreign Service Assignment with my family in Pakistan back in 1965 we had a large housing compound with several local Muslim servants.  We brought with us in our household effects  several small hand tools and an official game set of “Horseshoes.”  I mention these items in particular because they are the items that turned up missing shortly after we unpacked them and they came on display to the servants.  One day I mentioned this loss to our cook and head man, Ashgar, and told him I was very unhappy about the fact that these items seemed to have been pilfered.  The next day the items were right back in their place and never again did we experience any such loss.When speaking with Ashgar about this happening, Ashgar explained by saying, “Sahib, I told them (meaning the other servants) that you have a Book too!”

I had been trying to read and understand something of the book, “The Koran.”  I had advanced far enough to realize that the Koran speaks of ”The Book,” and usually means by that expression “The Judeo-Christian Bible.”  Evidently Ashgar was telling me and my family that the Muslims were not free to steal from my family because Allah had recorded in the Koran some good things about “The Book,” our Bible.  In other words, Ashgar thought we were O. K. as friends to Muslims because we were people of “The Book.”

I don’t know how much Ashgar knew and accepted about the Koran.  His wife was “in Purdah.”  I never saw them go to Mosque.  If Ashgar said prayers facing Mecca five times  day as other Muslims did, he did it in secret,  never in our view.  Thankfully many of the Muslims we knew in Lahore, Pakistan did not believe in the portion of the Koran which calls for violent Jihad against  Christians. 

There were many Pakistani Christian citizens around Lahore where we lived.  Some were enlisted in the Pakistani Army.  Some Christians even flew as Air Force pilots.  But when war erupted between India and Pakistan in 1965, these Christian pilots were taken off active duty.  There was no official confidence that Christian soldiers could be depended upon.

History records that when Muhammad began to compose the Koran he lived in Mecca and he had some good things to say in that part of the Koran about Christians and their Book.  But the portion of the Koran which Muhammad received later in Medina reversed his policy concerning Christians and he “received from Allah” a new policy which has been a part of Islam for the past 1400 years.  It says, 

“Slay the idolaters (including Christians) wherever you find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Qur’an 9:4-5).

In other words, Muhammad said,  ”Become a second class Muslim or die!”  That is how Muhammad and his followers conquered the Arabian Peninsula, the countries of the Middle East,  North Africa, and even Spain and parts of Europe.

Bill Warner, who has specialized in a study of Islam, tells us that Islam (a politicized religion) has never been defined by merely what is in the Koran, but must also include the Sira (Mohammad’s biography), and the Hadith (Mohammad’s traditions).  The Golden Rule is not in these texts.  Instead, Islam has dualistic ethics, one set for Muslims and one set for non-Muslims (kafirs).  This means that Islam dictates brotherhood between Muslims, but not between Muslims and non-Muslims (kafirs).

Bill also tells us that the Koran defines kafirs.  He says  the word “unbeliever” does not remotely carry the meaning of “kafir.”  A kafir is less than human.  The word “kafir” is the worst word in the human language.  Kafirs can be hated, assassinated, deceived, enslaved, robbed, plotted against, raped, tortured, mocked, and demeaned in every way.  I understand the Koran holds all non-Muslims to be kafirs.

Let there be no doubt, the Koran is anti-Christ.  Although it mentions Jesus and holds him to have been a prophet, it declares multiple times that Jesus was not the Son of Allah (God), that Allah has no Son or more than one spiritual aspect.  The God of the Bible Who consists of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is denied by the Koran.  Although the Koran says that Allah can be merciful if He wants, it intimates He does not really love His creation.  A study of the Koran  makes it clear that someone wrote it in an effort to destroy the influence of the Bible.  Then Muhammad’s Political Islam was contrived to carry out the destruction of the Christian people themselves.

Islamists brag that their minds dwell on death, while the Christian minds dwell only on life.   It seems that reference is to the Islamist suicide bomber who truly expects his murders and his  death will result in his afterlife in a spiritual paradise.   He thinks the Christian seeks to remain in the flesh because God has doomed him to a spiritual hell. 

With such a reversal of God’s love for mankind, the devil has trapped many potential children of God.  Would that the Islamist could learn that Islam’s philosophy leads one to eternal death while God’s loving Word leads one to eternal life.  In the mind of Muhammad the devil has changed God’s message of love and salvation to a message of hate and eternal destruction.

Because most Americans were not brought up to hold dualistic ethics, one concerning religion, and a different one concerning politics, and because many of us as Americans erroneously hold all religions to be good,  we have declared it politically incorrect to make war against “a religion.”  We deem Islam to be a religion  but Mohammad long ago turned it into a Political Force.  Because we deem Islam to be merely a religion, we have also made it politically incorect to “profile” the background of any adherant to Islam.  This has hindered us in our so-called War on Terrorism.  It has allowed Islamists, or potential Islamists, to settle in our country and  begin a foothold which they intend to eventually turn into a complete takeover of our government.   (It was refreshing last night to hear Ex-Governor Sarah Palin defend the use of “profiling” n cases where it is obviously necessary to protect innocent citizens.)

We tend to think of Islamic Jihad as bloody terroristic war in which innocent people die.  It eventually becomes that, but it is also secret warfare by deception in the use of money, pen, and speech (the implements of politics).  These implements are being employed by Islamists in our country right now.  They are serious in their desire to obey Allah according to their “prophet” Mohammad’s Koran, Sira, and Hadith.  Their willingness, even desire, to die themselves in order to kill Jews and Christians reveals the height of devilish passion they have imbibed!

It was just this kind of devilish passion which caused the Jews of Jerusalem to call on the Roman government to crucify our Lord Christ.  But in achiving Christ’s death, the devil defeated himself.

  In the tradegy of Christ’s death, mankind’s loving God caused it to work for good to those Jews who were still alive and repented.  Our Christ, the Son of God, had died for mankind, so the loving God raised Him and is carrying out His plan to cause the vissitudes of life to work out for good to those of mankind who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 

But, to gain salvation, one has to approach God while one is alive.  How tragic that the devil has conned Islamic terrorists to kill themselves in their state of evil passion and thus make themselves unavailable for the loving God’s salvation. 

One of God’s creation, Nidal Hasan, should consider himself fortunate to remain alive after the enactment of his devilish passion at Fort Hood.   He had intended it to end in his death.  God has given him life with another chance to repent.  That is the message Christians have been commissioned by God to bring to all mankind, including Islamic terrorists.  That is what the “Sword of God’s Spirit” means in the warfare waged by true Christians.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8).

Bill Warner has written about the problem that the collision of Islamic political doctrine and American political doctrine reveals beyond the dead and wounded at Fort Hood.  I think it would be good for Christians to read Bill’s article in order to understand what they are up against in their ministry.  To read the article click here.

With Love, F. M. Perry.    

Filed in World | Comments (0)

A Christian Considers Islam.

Monday, November 9, 2009

In my opinion Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who is suspected of killing 13 and wounding 29 people at Fort Hood, Texas, did so in order to extract himself from a lie which he felt he was living before his god Allah.  All Muslims know what violent jihad means and that it is a part of Allah’s provision for Muslims of deepest Islamic faith.  I am told that he is an American, born in America.  But he was educated in his Islamic religion right here in America.  The Islamic religion combines both religion and politics.  He sincerely believed in an integral part of his religion, the 1400 year history of violent jihad, which is the same today as espoused by Muhammad 1400 years ago.  Violent jihad is actively taught in many Mosques today and is especially focused on the U. S.  So apparently he was caught between American Army law and his deep belief in Islam.            

One cannot obey both the constitution of the US and the Islamic faith.  He did the only thing that he felt could get him saved from Hell in the afterlife.  If he went to the war zone in Afganistan as an American to fight Muslims he would be lost eternally.  Apparently he had thought earlier in his life that he could be educated in an American profession of Doctor of Psychiatry, and never come up against the lie which he was living.  In the end, he followed his faith which was to engage in violent jihad.  (I just heard a News report from his former Mosque teacher who congraulated him on doing what was right.)  Dr. Hasan, a devout Muslim, did what he did to protect his afterlife in paradise.  He fully expected to die in the encounter.  So it could be considered a desparate act to save himself.

In Christianity we are sometimes called upon to face death rather than give up our faith.  We may be highly commended to accept death rather than to give up our faith.  God calls on us to do that and many past Christians have  died rather than to denounce their faith. 

 We have two Muslim Congressional Representatives who took their oath to obey the constitution with their hand on the Koran.  In doing so they lied, which, incidentally  is recommended  to do by the Koran to accomplish a good purpose.) 

 The worse thing happened in Dr. Hasan’s case.  He did not die as he wished.  The Islamic religion was designed by Satan Himself and it covers all bases, except, perhaps, that of a jihadist that does not die in his killing of Kafirs. Now he will face hell on earth instead of immediate comfort in Paradise.

It is politically distasteful and politically incorrect to make war against a religion.  Satan, who designed Islam, knows that.  The Christian hope is to influence the world with the message of God’s love and convert the Islamist to eternal life as a Christian.  But Satan has done all he could to thwort God’s plan by introducing through Muhammad the chaotic Koran which condemns every important Christian doctrine.  He also has taught them that they don’t have to have nuclear bombs to defeat the Kafirs.   And the western Kafirs would not dare use a nuclear bomb against them.  But they can interupt our nation with an airplane full of fuel as a bomb.  Even two handguns will win for an Islamist. 

Politically the US will eventually have to make war against a religion.  A Muslim wanting to come to America should be required to denounce Islam and ignore its oposition of the American Constitution.

 With love, F.M. Perry.

Filed in All | Comments (0)