Christianity on Trial: A Lawyer Examines the Christian Faith by W. Mark Lanier

Author:W. Mark Lanier
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Religious Studies, Theology, Comparative Religion, Apologetics, Religious Studies & Reference, Religion & Spirituality, Christian Books & Bibles
ISBN: 9780830836673
Publisher: IVP Books
Published: 2014-05-22T22:00:00+00:00

7

Reality and the God of Truth

Tom Smith came to me with a huge case, explaining that he had negotiated a deal with a big oil company to buy several oil fields. In spite of a written contract, the oil company reneged on the deal. I had recently won a similar case, so this seemed like a golden opportunity.

I asked Tom what evidence he had of the agreement, and he produced contracts bearing signatures. Looking closely, I could see the signatures as “Tom Smith” and the name of the oil company’s vice president authorized to sign such deals. That seemed like strong evidence. I took the case.

Over the next few months, as discovery progressed in the case, the company’s position became obvious: it claimed no one had ever reached an agreement with Tom. The signatures, it asserted, were forged. My next move was to retain an expert in handwriting analysis. I needed that for the jury. I also needed it for me. The more I got to know Tom, the more suspicious I became that all was not right.

Tom made grandiose claims in my office. He told me he had been a CIA black ops man in charge of assassinating at least one foreign leader. (In fairness, he cried as he told me about it, saying it bothered him “to this day.”) He told me he had connections with some of the most powerful politicians of our day and offered to get me an audience with any I wished to talk to. These claims were not believable. They did not pass the smell test.

One day the final straw played out. I was set to take the deposition (sworn testimony) of the vice president who allegedly signed the contract. By accident, I had left the signed copy of the contract back in my office, and I needed it at the deposition. I was going to postpone things by an hour to get the contract, but Tom was in a hurry that day. He told me, “Don’t worry, Mark. I can handle this.” He then opened his briefcase to reveal several copies of unsigned contracts already filled in with the terms. With pen in hand, he forged the vice president’s signature right before my eyes. Tom proudly declared, “No one can tell the difference, and we can just substitute the one from the office when no one is looking.”

I withdrew from the case immediately.

Knowing what is true and knowing what is false—these are central needs for everyone, Christian or not. This is the focus in this chapter. We will examine whether it is reasonable that we can know reality or whether our entire process of knowing is flawed and misguided.

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