Impossible Journey, A Tale of Times and Truth

CHAPTER 1: THE IDEA

Imagine if you will: The year is 2025. The possibility of time travel has been theoretically proven and is accepted without question by the scientific community at large, although it has yet to be demonstrated by actual experience. The world is standing on tiptoe.
Today is Friday, the first of June, the date set for the annual meeting of the World Scientific Society. This particular meeting is destined to be different from past meetings. Its outcome will affect certain of the society’s members in ways that they cannot now imagine. The revolutionary events detailed here will all happen as a direct result of a simple question which is about to be asked by the chairman Mr. John Sterghean of Switzerland. After the group has chatted idly for some time about various diseases illnesses and problems, he suddenly strikes the gavel on the table and cleared his throat. When everything is silent, he speaks.
"Gentlemen, we have been discussing various individual diseases, illnesses and problems. But let me set before you a question which is crucial to them all. Gentlemen, what do you see as the main cause of disease and evil in the world?"
The members sit in silence, each one pondering the answer to the question. The group includes Walter Bryant, from Germany, William Nifang, from Japan, Kerry Nadine, from Saudi Arabia, David Sung, from China and Allen Daniel Cohen from the USA. All of them have given their life to the betterment of mankind through scientific pursuit.
It is Cohen who finally speaks "It seems to me that the main cause of disease and evil in the world is sin."
"And, just what do you mean by 'sin'?" asks the chairman, smiling. "Please define your terms."
"By 'sin,’ I mean a failure to conform to the law and precepts of Almighty God."
"I’m sure we would all agree with that, responds the chairman. "We all believe in a God, although we may call him by different names. To you, he is JHWH, to Kerry, he is Allah, to Will, he is Buddha, and to David, he is Confucius. So then, my friends, we all agree with brother Daniel’s proposal do we not?"
All nod in agreement.
"But, objects Walt, "This is a scientific gathering, not a theological one. I’m sure you have a point."
"I do, affirms John, "and a very poignant one, if you’ll just bear with me.