Fabricating Jesus: Can We Trust the Bible?

featuring Dr. Craig Evans

Remember the children's song, "Jesus Loves Me"? The song teaches children that "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so." That simple, yet profound statement encapsulates a foundational belief in Christian theology. It is the greatest news Christians want to share with others.

Fabricating Jesus

However, the idea that we can trust what the Bible tells us is one that most Canadians no longer accept. We live in a culture where religious claims, even ones that teach about God's love for humanity, are viewed skeptically.

According to a Gallup Poll, 51% of Canadians say that "the Bible is the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally." 1 The poll doesn't tell us which biblical teachings most Canadians think should be trusted but it is clear that even those who say the Bible is inspired by God, don't take what is taught in it seriously.

For example:

  • 64% of Canadians say they seldom or never attend church or synagogue2, where this Bible is read and studied.
  • 54% of Canadians believe, "Human beings evolved from less advanced life forms over millions of years."3
  • Only 8% of engaged women agree that "sex before marriage is not a good idea." Only half of those said they strongly agree with that statement.4

These numbers show a declining rate of Canadians who take what the Bible teaches seriously. Consider these facts:

  • In 1961, only one half of 1% of Canadians told census takers they were not attached to any religious body. The figure rose to 4.3 % in 1971 and 16.2% in 2001.
  • After the Second World War, 67% of Canadians told Gallup they had been in a church or synagogue over the previous seven days. By 1990 this figure had fallen by nearly two thirds to 23%. Gallup says it's now less than 20%.5

Worse, even young people who grow up in Christian families are rejecting its teachings. A recent survey by Lifeway Research found that 7 in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 - both evangelical and mainline - who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23. Moreover, 34% of those said they had not returned, even sporadically, by age 30. This means about one in four Protestant young people have abandoned the church6, including its biblical teaching about the importance of Christian fellowship.7

Christians then, can no longer assume that others will accept the message that "Jesus loves me" just because the "Bible tells me so." We need to show how the Bible is a reliable source for truth, whose message is still worth considering. This means Christians need to know why we trust the Bible in order for us to live it out and to share it.

That is what this series of lectures by respected scholar Dr. Craig Evans will do: equip us with the knowledge of the history of the Bible, to demonstrate its reliability and to help instill confidence in the soundness of believing in it.

To RSVP for any of these events, please email info@faithbeyondbelief.ca or call (403) 689-5890.


References and notes

  1. U.S. vs. Canada: Different Reads on the Good Book, Gallup Poll, January 4, 2005 http://www.gallup.com/poll/14512/us-vs-canada-different-reads-good-book.aspx
  2. Ibid.
  3. Canadians Choose Evolution Over Creationism, Aug. 7, 2008 http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/canadians_choose_evolution_over_creationism/
  4. Poll: 9 out of 10 Canadian women accept pre-marital sex, June 12, 2010 http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue10021.html
  5. Church attendance in the U.S. is now double the Canadian average, Ted Byfield, Jan 2007 http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/faith-religion/52176-church-attendance-u-s-now-double-canadian-average.html
  6. Young adults aren't sticking with church, Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today, Aug. 6, 2007 Young adults aren't sticking with church, Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today, Aug. 6, 2007 http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-08-06-church-dropouts_N.htm
  7. Hebrews 10:25 among others