Buddhism - the Unverifiable Alternative

This is a quote taken from a booklet written by A.L. De Silva, "Beyond Belief: a Buddhist Critique of Christianity". It is taken from Chapter 7: Buddhism - the Logical Alternative.

QUOTE
If you have no satisfactory teacher, then take this sure Dhamma and practise it. For Dhamma is sure, and when rightly undertaken it will he to your welfare and happiness for a long time. (The Buddha)

Christianity is based upon certain supposed historical events (the virgin birth, the resurrection, etc), the only record of which is an allegedly reliable document called the Bible. If these events can he shown to have never occurred, and if the documents recording these events can he shown to be unreliable, then Christianity will collapse. In this book we have seen that the claims are at best highly doubtful and at worst demonstrably wrong.

When we examine the teachings of the Buddha we find an entirely different situation. Even if we were able to prove that the Buddha never existed or that there were mistakes in the Buddhist scriptures this would in no way undermine Buddhism. And why? Because Buddhism is not primarily about the historical Buddha or about events which happened in the past; rather, it is about human suffering, what causes that suffering, and how it can be overcome so that humans can be free, happy and radiant. If we wish to verify or understand Buddhism we don't pick through scriptures squabbling about the meaning of words or phrases; rather, we become sensitive to our own experience. Let us examine the four principles which are the doctrinal basis of Buddhism.
UNQUOTE

I just cannot believe what I am reading. Here the author is asking us not to trust in a religion based on verifiable events, but to trust Dhamma, something which is not objectively verifiable, yet has to be "rightly undertaken" and can only be subjectively experienced.

Truth Verification
There are two ways to verify truth. One is the legal way, and the other the scientific way. The legal way to verify truth are those used in the courts, based on eye witnesses and evidence. Scientific way is to come up with a hypothesis and prove it by doing experiments.

Christianity
Christianity is based on verifiable events, not cunningly devised fables. Christianity is based on the fact the God exists, and He had acted throughout history, and these actions are recorded in the Bible. These actions are recorded with witnesses and objective evidence, evidence that can be proven or disproved scientifically. Thus like what the author A.L. De Silva wrote, "If these events can he shown to have never occurred, and if the documents recording these events can he shown to be unreliable, then Christianity will collapse." Even apostle Paul knew that and he wrote it in the Bible.

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. (1 Corinthians 15:13-15 NASB)

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16 KJV)

Eye witnesses, truth, facts and faith based on facts. This is what Christianity is about.

Buddhism
A.L. De Silva did a very bad job in defending Buddhism. I believe what he is trying to say is that the Dhamma is like science and mathematics. Scientists and mathematicians can be wrong, but science and mathematics still exist, because it is true.

However, Dhamma is not science and mathematics. How can I know that the Dhamma is true? Tell me, how do you test your hypothesis of Dhamma by doing experiments? It is impossible.