Chapter 44: Believers’ Dilemma

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” —Galileo Galilei

Larnaca Antiquities Office 

It was midmorning when a weary Jana arrived to meet with Dr. Petrou and the translation team, along with Barney, Chip, and Steve, camera in hand.

She was met with hugs and tears of joy. “Thank you for accepting me back, even though I am the one responsible for the codex being given to Carlos. I thought I was taking sufficient precautions. I’m ashamed I allowed myself to be in a position to be abducted.”

Wearing a grin, Father Barney said, “No need to beat yourself up over this, Jana. Despite the blood, sweat, and tears it took to finally possess the artifact, at this point, the relic is important but not critical thanks to your wisdom in convincing U.S. customs officials to photograph the legible codex pages.”

The time had come. For two hours, Jana, Barney, Chip, and Steve were given a verbal report by Dr. Petrou and the translation team about their completed work and a preliminary verdict on the artifact’s authenticity. They also listened by speaker phone to Dr. Janice Vargas of the University of Arizona Spectrometry Lab as she explained the carbon dating results. Jana, Chip, and Barney were stunned at what they heard. For many minutes, all were silent.

Finally looking at her colleagues, Jana said, “We must tell no one what we just heard. This information must be presented to the world without any of us leaking these findings ahead of time.”

Barney seemed especially excited and said, “It’s clear to me that curious scholars, concerned clergy, and the public in many nations deserve this presentation about the infamous codex—one in which our experts, in front of live and televised audiences, will again make the amazing presentation we just heard. Drs. Bukhari and Karros will project their translations on a screen and explain the interpretation. Equally fascinating is the carbon dating report that should also be delivered in person by Dr. Vargas. There are so many paradigm altering revelations in this codex!”

***

Barney and Chip were walking back to the hotel in search of a place to buy lunch. As the hostess welcomed them into the Athenian’s outdoor restaurant, Chip’s phone chirped.

“It looks like this call is from Karen,” he said. “Let me call her, and I’ll join you at the table in a few.”

The priest sat and waited, surprised that Chip’s conversation with his wife was so lengthy. 

Finally, with a solemn look, Chipman Kimball slowly moved to the table, sitting across from Barney. 

The priest looked in his eyes, “Professor, what’s wrong? Is Karen all right?” 

 Chip paused, “She is fine, but she told me about the death of someone who lives two cabins up the canyon from us—a wife and mother of three little kids who was killed in a terrible accident. Her funeral was yesterday. It’s one of those tragedies that messes with your head. Why did that evil have to happen to that family?”

Hoping to offer comfort, Barney said, “All things happen for a reason, right?”  

“I’m not sure I believe that anymore.”

“Are you implying God is not in control?”

“Perhaps God allows the world to operate without His involvement in our affairs. The lady who died—Sister Jenni Anderson—thirty-one years old, was on her way home from a church meeting in Provo when she somehow drove into the path of a fast-moving freight train. Killed instantly. Left a devastated husband and traumatized young children.”

“I see where you’re headed,” the priest said respectfully. “Did God cause the wreck, right?”

“Exactly. Karen said that at the funeral—Mormon funeral—each speaker said, in effect, that God did cause the wreck. They didn’t use those words. They used comforting words like, ‘God had a special work for Jenni to do in the hereafter, which is why he called her home.’  I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this. What is it that an omnipotent God could not accomplish without taking this mother from her children? I think the answer is that Jenni did not die because Heavenly Father needed her services elsewhere; she died because she drove into the path of a freight train—end of story.”

“I’m so sorry, Chip. I suspect you’re now wondering why God did not prevent the accident.”

“Exactly. If God is omnipotent, He could have prevented the wreck. But He chose not to protect her.” 

The priest bowed his head and then, looking up, said, “I have a confession. I’ve said the same kind of things you heard in that funeral when comforting the bereaved.  Attaching some divine meaning to their tragedy helps them feel a bit better.”

“So, they go on believing that whatever happens is what God wanted. Do you believe that, Father?”

“I don’t know.” 

“My point exactly. I’ve come to think ‘everything happens for a reason’ is not even rational thinking.”

“It’s comforting to people. Most want to believe a divine being is in control,” Barney said. 

“I’m still on the records of the Mormon church, but I’m increasingly having Deistic leanings. As you know, Deists believe God created the universe, including our earth, but allows it to function without His attention or involvement.”

The priest paused, “I too have doubts. I’ve often wondered how a loving God could allow evils like tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes to kill countless thousands. Especially troubling are mass shootings—children in schools or worshipers in churches who I’m sure were desperately praying to be protected but were slaughtered anyway.”

Looking his priestly friend in the eyes Chip said, “Using rational thinking rather than relying on a religious paradigm for answers can be disconcerting for believers, including me. And even as I believe God led us to the codex, why would He let good men like the Mosque Imam and our kind and brave driver be murdered? And why is a dangerous man like Carlos Moriotto now in possession of the artifact?”

Barney knew there was nothing more to say. Silently, they finished lunch.