This document discusses the intersection of philosophy, science, and theology. It explores how these fields investigate topics like the origin of the universe, life, and consciousness. Philosophy examines existence, science studies the natural world, and theology investigates humanity's relationship with the divine. While these fields have different approaches, they sometimes overlap on certain issues. The document also evaluates atheism and Christianity based on their internal consistency, consistency with the world, and fruits born from each system of thought.

1. The Intersection of Philosophy,
Science, and Theology
DR. SARAH SALVIANDER
Defending Christianity
October, 2017

2. PHILOSOPHY
How do we know truth?
How should we live?
What is reality?
“Love of wisdom”
the rational investigation of logic, ethics, and metaphysics.

3. PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy = “organized speculation”
“Love of wisdom”
the rational investigation of logic, ethics, and metaphysics.

4. PHILOSOPHY
Deductive logic
Rules
If A = B and C = B, then A = C

5. PHILOSOPHY
What is the basic structure of the world?
Plato: the material world is an illusion
Aristotle: the material world is real
How do we arrive at truth?
Plato: reflection and deductive logic
Aristotle: observing and generalizing

6. SCIENCE
Science = “natural philosophy”
Latin scientia, “knowledge”
the systematic building of knowledge based on testable
explanations and predictions.

7. SCIENCE
Observe
Ask questions
Hypothesize
Predict
Test
Analyze
Theorize
Rules (the scientific method)

8. “JUST A THEORY”?
Common usage of “theory”:
A hunch, a guess
Usually untested
e.g. “I have a theory about that...”
Scientific usage of “theory”:
Based on facts and observation
Rigorously tested
e.g. Einstein’s theory of relativity

9. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
the rational investigation of the foundations, methods, and
implications of science.
What qualifies as science?
How reliable are scientific theories?
What is the ultimate purpose of science?

10. THEOLOGY
Theology = “science of the divine”
“Study of God”
the rational investigation of God and the nature of
religious ideas.

11. THEOLOGY
The word of God
Scripture
Direct communication
The world of God
Nature
Human experience

12. PHILOSOPHY
Man and existence
SCIENCE
The natural world
THEOLOGY
Man and the divine

13. PHILOSOPHY
SCIENCE THEOLOGY

14. PHILOSOPHY
SCIENCE THEOLOGY
PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE+RELIGION

15. Where do philosophy, science,
and theology meet?

16. Origin of
the universe

17. “’How it all began’ fits in with Bible story”
“The Bible was right”
POPULAR INTERPRETATION OF THE BIG BANG

18. Big bang theory is
philosophically
unacceptable.
Implies God
Philosophically messy

19. My fellow astronomers
are rushing off to join
the First Church of
Christ of the Big Bang.

22. So long,
Genesis!

23. the multiverse

24. God
the
multiverse
the Universe

25. “Universe 1”
“Universe 2”
“Universe 3”
“Universe 4”
“Universe 5” “Universe 6”

28. THE MULTIVERSE
Based on science
But not testable
“Science flavored”
Speculative
Philosophy, not science
Used by atheists to sow seeds of doubt

29. Origin of life

30. Origin of
consciousness

31. PHILOSOPHY
Existence is absurd
Make your own meaning
SCIENCE
Multiverse
Unguided evolution
No intelligence
No design
No purpose
THEOLOGY
There is no God
Man is the measure of all
things
ATHEIST RELIGION

32. Which religion is true?
We can’t know for certain, but we can
compare and contrast.

33. KNOW A TREE BY ITS FRUITS
Matthew 7:17: “Likewise, every good tree bears
good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
How do we take measure of a religion?
Its internal consistency
Its consistency with the world
The fruit it bears

34. INTERNAL CONSISTENCY
No basis for morality
Assume the moral high ground and denounce
Christianity as backwards and oppressive
There is no truth
Itself a truth statement
Boltzmann brains
How do you know what’s real?

35. Who am I?
What am I?
Why am I here?

36. CONSISTENCY WITH THE WORLD
Eternal universe: supernatural crisis
Principle of mediocrity: fine tuning crisis
Darwinian evolution: in the midst of quiet revolution
Marxism: total, abject economic failure
Freud: anti-science

37. LIFE IS ABSURD – SO WHAT DO WE DO?
Take the leap of faith Make your own meaning

38. If God does not
exist, everything
is permitted.

39. FRUITS OF ATHEISM

46. FRUITS OF ATHEISM
Declining birth rates
Breakdown of the family
Abortion rate
STD rate
Depression and anxiety rate
Mass killing rate
Suicide rate
Detachment from reality
Orwellian thought control:
Ontario and California pronoun laws
Push to criminalize denial of climate change
Absurdities coming out of academia

47. FRUITS OF CHRISTIANITY
Universities
Widespread literacy
Science
Industrial Revolution
Widespread prosperity
Rise of the middle class
Human rights
Sanctity of life
End of slavery
Greater happiness
Better health
Greater freedom and creativity

48. THE LEAP OF FAITH
despair
hope

49. THE LEAP OF FAITH
despair
hope