Universe Next Door ch. 2-3

Christian Theism: What is prime reality?

Prime reality is the infinite, personal God revealed in the Holy Scriptures. This God is triune, transcendent and immanent, omniscient, sovereign, and good.

Deism: What is prime reality?

A transcendent God, as a First Cause, created the universe but then left it to run on its own. God is thus not immanent, not triune, not fully personal, sot sovereign over human affairs, not providential.

Christian Theism: What is the nature of external reality?

External reality is the cosmos God created ex nihilo to operate with a uniformity of cause and effect in an open system.

Deism: What is the nature of external reality?

The cosmos God created is determined, because it is created as a uniformity of cause and effect in a closed system; no miracle is possible.

Christian Theism: What is a human being?

Human beings are created in the image of God and thus possess personality, self-transcendence, intelligence, morality, gregariousness and creativity. Human beings were created good, but through the Fall the image of God became defaced, though not so ruined as not to be capable of restoration; through the work of Christ, God redeemed humanity and began the process of restoring people to goodness, though any given person may choose to reject that redemption.

Deism: What is a human being?

Human beings, though personal, are a part of the clockwork of the universe.

Christian Theism: What happens to a person at death?

For each person death is either the gate to life with God and his people or the gate to eternal separation from the only thing that will ultimately fulfill human aspirations.

Deism: What happens to a person at death?

Human beings may or may not have a life beyond their physical existence.

Christian Theism: Why is it possible to know anything at all?

Human beings can know both the world around them and God himself because God has built into them the capacity to do so and because he takes an active role in communicating with them.

Deism: Why is it possible to know anything at all?

Through our innate and autonomous human reason and the methods of science, we can not only know the universe but we can infer at least something of what God is like. The cosmos, this world, is understood to be in its normal state; it is not fallen or abnormal.

Christian Theism: How do we know what is right and wrong?

Ethics is transcendent and is based on the character of God as good (holy and loving).

Deism: How do we know what is right and wrong?

Ethics is intuitive or limited to general revelation; because the universe is normal, it reveals what is right.

Christian Theism: What is the meaning of human history?

History is linear, a meaningful sequence of events leading to the fulfillment of God's purposes for humanity.

Deism: What is the meaning of human history?

History is linear, for the course of the cosmos was determined at creation. Still the meaning of the events of history remains to be understood by the application of human reason to the data unearthed and made available to historians.

Christian Theism: What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview?

Christians theists live to seek first the kingdom of God, that is, to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Deism: What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview?

Cold deists use their own autonomous reason to determine their goal in life; warm deists may reflect on their commitment to a somewhat personal god and determine their goal in accordance with what they believe their god would be pleased with.