It's always wonderful to be at Ave Maria.

I'm very honored to be asked to speak, and it's always fun to listen to Dr. Long,

play with English language.

Let me begin with a famous citation from Gotthold Blessing.

If no historical truth can be demonstrated, then nothing can be demonstrated by means of historical Let me begin with a famous citation from Godhold Blessing.

If no historical truth can be demonstrated, then nothing can be demonstrated by means

of historical truths.

That is to say, accidental or contingent truths of history can never become the proof

of necessary truths of reason.

Now it is said, the Christ of whom, on historical grounds you must allow that he raised the dead,

that he himself rose from the dead, said himself that God has a son of the same essence as himself,

and that he is this son. This would be excellent. If only it were not the case that it is not

more than historically certain that Christ said this. If you press me still further and say,

oh yes, this is more than historically certain,

for it is asserted by inspired historians who cannot make a mistake.

Ah, but unfortunately, that also is only historically certain.

That these historians were inspired and could not err.

That then is the ugly broad ditch, which I cannot get across however often and however

earnestly I have tried to make leap.

We've come to Lessing's ditch.

Which way should we go?

Part one.

...