What if the saints of old walked among us today-would we honor their triumphs, or whisper about their secrets?
Zarinna knows the weight of hidden truths. Once devoted, now marked by choices she cannot undo, she carries shame like a shadow she cannot...
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ZARINNA'S GAZE drifted across the classroom, lingering on each student who had sat before her these last three months. "Once again, class," she began, her tone calm but commanding, "I present these views to you objectively. I will not persuade you to believe in a particular one, but I will require you to examine them closely—to see how each aligns with reality, and how its logical outworkings might shape the way you live."
A few students straightened in their seats, pens ready.
"Every worldview has an implication," she continued, pacing slowly. "Every belief has a consequence. That's why it's crucial for us to reconsider all that we believe—whether theistic or not—because our beliefs dictate the kind of life we live."
She turned to the board, writing as she spoke. "By the end of this chapter, I want you to be able to answer three questions: What exactly is my worldview? Is it coherent? And does it answer the four main questions of life—Origin, Meaning, Morality, and Destiny?"
Pens scratched furiously. The room was quiet except for the hum of ceiling fans.
"Got it?" she asked, glancing back. A wave of nods followed.
"Good. Let's begin with the Evolutionary Theory by Charles Darwin. We'll look at how this worldview works."
A murmur of anticipation rippled through the room. Some students leaned forward, curiosity gleaming in their eyes. Zarinna smiled faintly.
"I believe most of you have heard this theory tied closely to science," she said. "Many educated people today regard it as the most rational explanation—because it doesn't demand a 'leap of faith.' Because, as they say, it has scientific evidence."
She inhaled slowly. "But before we get into this, let me tell you something that few teachers will: believing we evolved from apes—without ever witnessing it firsthand—is also a leap of faith."
The class fell silent.
"So, let's begin," she said, opening her book. "The Evolutionary Theory believes that in the beginning, there was nothing. And from this nothingness came everything."
She explained patiently, guiding them through the concepts of the Big Bang and Natural Selection, careful to ensure understanding rather than mere memorization. As she spoke, her thoughts flickered briefly to her own college years—to the professors who had preached tolerance for all beliefs, except the one she held dear.
How ironic, she thought. How eager they were to tolerate everything but Christianity.
That irony had become the fuel for her calling. She vowed to teach differently—to be fair, patient, unbiased. To guide her students toward Truth, not merely toward opinion. She didn't want to force belief; she wanted to awaken hunger. After all, she believed what Scripture said—those who seek will find.
"Alright," she said at last, setting her book down. "Let's examine this worldview's implications, coherence, and consequences."
She wrote the words Big Bang on the board. "According to this theory, everything began with an explosion. But one of the primary principles of science is this: something never comes from nothing."
