Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Space (01/23/06)
TITLE: Order in the Court
By Rachel Burkum
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Mr. Hampton nodded to his lawyer. “Yes.”
“Can you tell the court?”
“I’m here to defend my belief.”
Mr. Jenkins sifted through a stack of papers. “And what might that belief be?”
“That God exists.”
A low stirring of murmurs traveled across the stuffy courtroom.
“Thank you.” Mr. Jenkins approached the stand. “Do you have any proof?”
“I have evidence of my faith,” Mr. Hampton answered with confidence.
“Objection!” The young prosecuting attorney flailed his arm in the air in attempt to attract the judge, in case his loud announcement failed to reach his ears. “The witness didn’t answer the question!”
“Sustained,” the judge declared. “Please restate the question.”
The defense lawyer apologized. “I’m sorry. Mr. Hampton, do you have proof that God exists?”
Whispers and nudges again made their rounds. The judge tapped his gavel on his desk. “Order, please.”
Mr. Jenkins nodded. “Your Honor, may the witness freely explain himself?”
“Of course. Please proceed. “
Mr. Hampton shifted in his seat. “What I have done has proven bad enough to have me arrested and brought here. But despite this treatment, I cannot back down.”
“He’s admitting his guilt!” The prosecution attorney spouted.
“Mr. Figs,” the judge reprimanded, “let him continue.”
Mr. Figs plopped back down in his chair, crossing his arms to pout.
“I cannot prove the existence of God,” Mr. Hampton continued, “because He does not manifest Himself in a way that our minds can comprehend. I can only give a tangible example of God’s power. Take space, for example. It has been said that it all simply ‘happened.’ That everything came to being as a result of an accident. But I beg to differ.”
“Objection!” Mr. Figs was on his feet again. “The witness has already stated he has no proof!”
“Overruled,” the judge stated sharply. “Mr. Hampton, continue.”
Mr. Hampton rubbed a sweaty palm on his pant leg. “Yes, take space for example. How many stars are there? Billions. We think we’ve counted them all, and then find more. We thought our galaxy was the only one, then we discovered there were more. Think of how our planets hang together in orbit. Now scientists even believe a planet exists beyond Pluto.”
“Objection!” By now, Mr. Figs was red in the face from his exhausting jumps out of his chair. “They haven’t yet proven a planet exists!”
“Sustained.” The judge looked at Mr. Hampton. “Please state facts when referring to scientific discovery.”
Mr. Hampton tried to start again. “I need not use more evidence than the few plants we have discovered. None orbit too fast or slow. They never collide. They never get too far away from the sun. And all are so very different. Take Mars and Jupiter. And then Earth. Earth has every element perfect for human life.”
“Objection!” Mr. Figs desperately interrupted. “If Earth is perfect, why do humans die?”
“Overruled,” the judge ordered.
Mr. Hampton ignored Mr. Fig’s observation. “Outer space is full of wonder and majesty. Just the fact that we don’t burn up from the sun or freeze to death should be evidence enough of God’s ultimate wisdom, whether He used a big bang or not. Think of the moon that reflects the sun just right to guide us at night. The sun that sustains its heat and light without man’s help.”
“Objection!” Mr. Fig fought to loosen his tie. “That the sun sustains itself is beside the point.”
The judge rolled his eyes. “Overruled.”
Mr. Hampton concluded. “I chose space to talk about because it is the best example of God’s power I could think of. But there’s evidence out there that we can see every day. Trees, mountains, oceans, new life. Everything working together to sustain us. I may not be able to prove God’s existence, but I challenge anyone to disprove it. It says in the first book of the Bible that God created the Heavens and the Earth. I believe it with my whole heart and will not deny His power.”
Mr. Jenkins glanced at the prosecution. “Your witness.”
Mr. Figs stared at Mr. Hampton in defeat. “I…have no further questions.”
The judge rapped his gavel on the desk. “I find the defendant guilty of expressing his belief in God. However, there will be no sentence served until one can disprove his theory. This court is adjourned.”
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