WORLDVIEW AND APOLOGETICS -- MIDTERM CONT. -- MR. SLEETH

-Coherence

-Correspondence

-Experiential relevance

what does a worldview must require in order to be credible?

Coherence

Core beliefs must be logically consistent

— Contradictory truth claims reveal either a lack of though or a lack of conviction in respect to core beliefs

correspondence

truth claims must correspond to objective reality

— elements of a worldview should be repeatable and demonstrable

experiential relevance

— it meaningfully answers the "big questions"

— it naturally leads to resultant behavior

A. Developing a biblical worldview requires careful and intentional thought

B. We must identify and correct the inconsistencies between our core beliefs and our behavior

C. We should be open to having our worldview challenged.

what are some of the challenges for our worldview?

the nature of God

logic is based on what?

reason / logic

a God given capacity to seek the truth and to acquire genuine knowledge. It is a tool for engaging in c careful thinking such as drawing sound conclusions from true premises.

- the law of noncontradiction

- the law of identity

- the law of excluded middle

what are the three laws of logic?

the law of noncontradiction

- A is not non A-

- a statement cannot be both true and false at the same time

- example: there are many legitimate ways to God

The law of identity (numbers 23:19)

- A is A -

- the law states that if a statement is true, then the statement is true

- important when defining terms

- example: what is marriage? What is gender? What is a man? What is a woman? What is truth?

- Numbers 23:19

The law of excluded middle

- either A or non A -

- a statement is either true or false . There is no other alternative.

- example: saved/unsaved, righteous/ unrighteous, married/unmarried

-straw man argument

-false dichotomy

-redefining terms

what are the three logical fallacies?

-straw man argument

- creating and attacking an absurdly distorted position.

- Response: correct the person's misunderstanding of your position

- Avoid: be sure to thoroughly research your opponents position or ask for clarification.

-straw man argument : response and avoid

-false dichotomy

incorrectly applying the law of the excluded middle

- Response : identify additional factors and options that reveals the inconsistencies in their arguments

- Avoid : resist the urge to oversimplify to make a point

-false dichotomy : response and avoid

redefining terms

- ignoring historical/ common definitions of key terms

- Response : clarify the discussion by appealing to historically held definitions

- Avoid : allowing the other person to frame the discussion with redefined terms.

redefining terms : response and avoid

TRUTH

that which corresponds to the reality and nature of God

Reject truth

those that reject God...

Romans 1:19-20 truth

God has revealed the truth

Romans 1:18 truth

"Hold" the truth in unrighteousness

Romans 1:25 truth

Change the truth into a lie

romans 1:28 truth

God gives them over to a "reprobate mind"

- skepticism

-evasive agnosticism

-cynicism

-naive optimism

-narrow mindedness

-open mindedness

-emotional argumentation

seven results of rejectting the truth

- skepticism

dismisses truth claims without reasoned consideration and examination

-evasive agnosticism

: avoids examining truth c claims by claiming a lack of evidence

-cynicism

: vehement and irrationally negative rejection of truth claims

-naive optimism

irrational positive ignorance of truth claims

-narrow mindedness

Unwilling to consider opposing truth claims

-open mindedness

indiscriminately accepting truth claims already proven to be false

-emotional argumentation

emotion rather than reason, feelings rather Thant facts drives conclusions regarding truth claims

Evidence

-is data

-Data must be collected , analyzed, and conclusions drawn.

: many times, the conclusions of experts disagree

Proof

--: the evidence is so abundant and so concluslusive that no reasonable person can deny the truth it presents.

: it is rare to be able to prove something with absolute certainty

Preponderance of Evidence

what is the standard for reasonable faith?

Preponderance of Evidence

— the standard of proof in most civil cases in which the party bearing the burden of proof must present evidence which shows that the fact to be proven is more probable than not.

"A-Priori"

Latin "From the earlier" refers to arguments based in logic rather than empirical evidence. They present "self evident" truths.

The Cosmological Argument

1.) whatever begins to exist has a cause of its existence (the impossibility of traversing the infinite regress"

2.) the universe began to exist

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause for its existence

The Teleological Argument

1.) Order and Design must have an orderer and a designer

2.) the problem of irreducible complexity

The Ontological Argument (the inherent nature of a thing)

1.) the ability to conceive of God points to His existence

the moral argument

1.) a universal sense of morality is present in mankind

2.)if God does not exist , objective moral values and duties do not exist

3.) Objective moral values and duties do exist

4.) therefore, God exists

- Cosmological argument

- Teleological Argument

- Ontological Argument

- Moral Argument

existence of God: what are our arguments? there are four

- Universal

- Invariant

- Abstract

the laws of logic are...

- Universal

laws that apply everywhere, at all times and to all people)

- Invariant

laws that do not change over time

- Abstract

laws that are conclusions based in observed realities)

-- They do not specifically point to the God of the Bible

-- They are evidence of existence, not identity

The limits to the arguments for the existence of God

The Bible Presupposes God's existence (cosmological argument is strengthened)

Gen 1:1, John 1:1

Cosmological argument: support

The bible supports God's existence: God claims to be "an uncaused" cause

Teleological argument: support

The bible supports God's existence: God points tot he design of creation as testimony himself

ontological argument: support

The bible supports God's existence: God states that his existence is so reasonable and obvious that only a fool would reject it.

moral argument: support

The bible supports God's existence: God claims that his nature is the basis for human morality

God has revealed Himself through General Revelation

--Information form God or about God that is "generally" available to man.

--It is available to EVERYONE

-- It leaves mankind without excuse

II Peter

GOD DESIRES ALL TO BE SAVED

creation and human conscience

General Revelation includes the

external testimony

general revelation includes creation as its...

Psalm 19: 1-6 (creation)

creation bears witness to God's glory

Romans 1:19-20 (creation)

General revelation is clear and understandable

Internal Testimony

general revelation includes conscience as its...

Romans 2:14-15 (conscience)

human nature includes an intuitive sense of morality

A. We have common ground with others

B. We have a starting point for evangelism

Implications for General Revelation for apologetics and evangelism...

- Ontological Gap

- Epistemological Gap

- Moral Gap

special revelation: how are we different from God, what are our "gaps"?

Ontological Gap

God is a self existing , eternal, and all powerful creator, whereas we human beings are dependent , temporal and feeble creatures.

Epistemological Gap

we are limited in our capacity to know and understand , especially to know and understand a being who is transcendent and radically different from us.

Moral Gap

God is a holy and morally perfect being, and we are deprived and self centered creatures and our sin separates us from God and darkness our minds to truth.

special revelation

information about God that we cannot discern from general revelation

the Bible

what is the primary avenue of Special revelation currently available to man (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

-Given to all, intended for all

-Sufficient for condemnation

-Declares God's greatness

General Revelation Comparisons

-Given to few, intended for all

-Sufficient for salvation

-Declares God's grace

Special Revelation Comparisons

- Blessing

- Accountability

special revelation gives us a higher level of ...