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I believein Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lordon the third day he rose again from the
dead

• Please have your catechisms and Bibles this week

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Whats at Stake?

• Christians ought to realize how difficult, how
  scandalous, how objectionable, how apparently
  unbelievable and absurd this doctrine is bound to
  appear to others -Kreeft

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Whats at Stake? Only the whole of Christianity

• From an objective standpoint, and therefore
  something all of us should admit, these events
  are the craziest things (literally most insane,
  lock me up and throw away the key, ridiculous),
  the stupidest things (most unintelligent, most
  idiotic, most foolish, silliest, most
  irrational), or the biggest lies (shams, tales,
  untruths, fraudulent stories) a person has ever
  told or believedUNLESS

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If they are true

• Then the Incarnation, the Paschal Mystery, and
  Resurrection are the most sane, least ridiculous,
  most brilliant, most beautiful, most rational,
  most amazing, most truthful, etc. things that
  have ever or will ever happen in the history of
  the universe.
• Is Jesus Lord, lunatic, or liar?

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The Four Essentials about Christp. 129-132

• His name
• What does his name teach us about his mission?
• Is it enough to call him a great man, prophet,
  teacher, leader, example, philosopher, moralist,
  etc?
• His origin
• What natures does Christ have?
• 464, 469

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The Four Essentials About Christ

• His life
• How do Christians celebrate Christs agony and
  death?
• Where do Christians and non-Christians cease to
  have common ground?
• What is the great but? What 2 things does it
  accomplish?
• What is the good (incredible) news?
• What in Christianity has as its point the
  resurrected Christ?

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The Four Essentials About Christ

• His destiny
• What do Christians expect and wait in hope for?

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Probative Force

• Probative (adj.) tending to prove something. 
• When a legal controversy goes to trial, the
  parties seek to prove their cases by the
  introduction of evidence. All courts are governed
  by rules of evidence that describe what types of
  evidence are admissible. One key element for the
  admission of evidence is whether it proves or
  helps prove a fact or issue. If so, the evidence
  is deemed probative. Probative evidence
  establishes or contributes to proof.
• We will be examining the evidence concerning
  Jesus and weighing it to make a judgment about
  him.

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Proof for Christs Divinity

• Miracles
• 547-550
• Invite and strengthen faith
• Resurrection
• 651, 653-655
• Confirmation of all of Christs works and
  teachings
• Closely linked to the Incarnation
• His death liberates us from sin and his
  Resurrection opens for us the way to a new life
• Our future resurrection

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Proof for Christs Divinity

• Prophesies
• 439, 652, 601
• The Messiah was promised by God to Israel
• in accordance with the Scriptures
• divine plan of salvation and Isaiahs suffering
  servant
• Road to Emmaus (Lk 2413-35)
• Heartburn!
• Catholicism and Reason (ch. 6)

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Proof for Christs Divinity

• History
• Gamaliel (Acts 517-42)
• Ch. 8 in Handbook (63-66) Impossibility of the
  alternative
• 2 premises
• Christ is trustworthy
• Christ claimed to be God
• Conclusion
• Therefore, Christ was God
• SAINTS
• Fr. Richard Veras article
• The Resurrection (2) is a proven historical event
  (4) that proves Christs divinity

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Weighing the Evidence

• FOR
• Miracles
• Resurrection
• Prophesies
• History

• AGAINST

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p. 66-68 in Handbook

• If the logical evidence against Christs divinity
  is strongest then the logical and honest thing to
  do is
• If, however, the logical evidence for Christs
  divinity is strongest then the logical and honest
  thing to do is
• If we admit that the logical evidence for
  Christs divinity is strongest, why do so many
  still disbelieve?

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Motives for Unbelief (p.66-68)

• Not for rational reasons
• Rejecting Christians not Christ
• Fear of the Church
• Morality
• Afraid of the mysterious and uncontrollable
• Pride
• Not intellectually fashionable to believe Christ
  as a teacher above all other teachers
• Equality
• Other

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Motives for Unbelief

1. Choose one of the 8 motives listed that you think
   is the most compelling, that is, what is the most
   popular motive for not believing?
2. In your group, someone should be the recorder for
   the following
3. Discuss why you think it is the most compelling
   motive.
4. What rational arguments can you make to disprove
   the motives?
5. What can we do to specifically address these
   motives when rational arguments do not seem to
   suffice?

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Reply to Motive 1

• "I put up with this Church, in the hope that one
  day it will become better, just as it is
  constrained to put up with me in the hope that
  one day I will become better.
• -Erasmus 

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