This document discusses and compares different worldviews, focusing on their ability to answer life's hard questions about evil, suffering, sin, and morality. It argues that naturalism/materialism is inadequate because it cannot account for concepts like consciousness, morality, or purpose. Christianity is presented as a worldview that can satisfactorily address these questions, with evil and suffering explained as consequences of free will and the hope of an afterlife where suffering is abolished. The Christian worldview is also said to have positive social impacts and be consistent with scientific findings.
Dr. John Oakes taught a class on Modernism and Scientific Materialism at the 2015 International Christan Evidence Conference at York College in York, Nebraska, June 19-21. He gave a brief overview of the history of modern science and then give a world view critique of the philosophy, comparing it to Christianity. Here are notes and power points from the presentation.
John Oakes and Robert Carrillo are team teaching a class on the history of Christianity for the staff of the San Diego Church of Christ over the next couple of months. The notes and power point for the class are available here. John Oakes has a book on the topic “The Christian Story: Finding the Church in Church History” available at www.ipibooks.com
Dr. John Oakes taught a lesson for teens on the Christian World View and the Christian answer to the most common hard questions which all human beings ask. Why is there evil? Why is there suffering? Why does God allow killing of nations in the Old Testament? Why did God make hell?
Dr. John Oakes taught a class on Modernism and Scientific Materialism at the 2015 International Christan Evidence Conference at York College in York, Nebraska, June 19-21. He gave a brief overview of the history of modern science and then give a world view critique of the philosophy, comparing it to Christianity. Here are notes and power points from the presentation.
John Oakes and Robert Carrillo are team teaching a class on the history of Christianity for the staff of the San Diego Church of Christ over the next couple of months. The notes and power point for the class are available here. John Oakes has a book on the topic “The Christian Story: Finding the Church in Church History” available at www.ipibooks.com
Dr. John Oakes taught a lesson for teens on the Christian World View and the Christian answer to the most common hard questions which all human beings ask. Why is there evil? Why is there suffering? Why does God allow killing of nations in the Old Testament? Why did God make hell?
A power point for a titled What is Truth? A talk about Postmodernism, Naturalism and the Christian World View, given by Dr. John Oakes at Rutgers University 11/20-09.
Dr. John Oakes taught a class on Presuppositional Apologetics at the 2015 International Christan Evidence Conference at York College in York, Nebraska, June 19-21. He gave a brief overview of the types of apologetics, followed by an analysis of the strong and weak points of presuppositional apologetics, followed by a discussion of world view apologetics. Here are the notes and power point for the class.
The Apologetics Research Society, along with the South Florida Church of Christ put on a Christian Evidence weekend in Miami/Dade and Broward County, including at Florida International University Sept. 18-20, 2015. The audio and some of the power points and outlines are attached.
This public lecture was given by Dr. John Oakes at the University of Stockholm in Sweden 9/5/2010. It discusses atheist arguments against the existence of God, why atheism fails and logical arguments for theism.
Christian and Other World Views: A Power Point. A lesson on world views, including the Christian world view, and the world views of naturalism, postmodernism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jaina, Sikkhism, Confucianism and Islam. First taught by John Oakes in Manila 1/16/2010.
Dr. John Oakes taught a class titled Christianity in a Postmodern World at the 2013 ICEC at San Diego State University. He proposes a rational Christian response to both the good and the bad which comes with postmodern thinking. The class covers the history of modernism and why it was replaced by postmodernism, as well as a brief bio of the major influences in the movement as well as suggesting both the strengths and weaknesses of the postmodern mood.
Kedron Jones, a member of the ARS board, gave a lesson recently titled “Know How to Answer: Conversational Apologetics” The class was taught 10/18/14 at Los Angeles Church of Christ campus ministry. The notes and power point are attached.
A power point by Dr. John Beggs, professor at Indiana University for 2010 ICEC on his research in neuroscience and the philosophical and theological questions of the existence of the human soul.
Notes to Accompany "A History of Science and Christianity"
The ancient world: Chaos vs Cosmos
1. Thales (585 BC) Predicted a Solar Eclipse: Nature is predictable. Cosmos
and the human mind.
Melvin Calvin (atheist expert on the chemical origin of life): ?The fundamental conviction
that the universe is ordered [cosmos] is the first and strongest tenet [of scientists].
As I try to discern the origin of that conviction, I seem to find it in a
basic notion discovered 2000 or 3000 years ago, and enunciated first in the
Western world by the ancient Hebrews: namely that the universe is governed by
a single God, and is not the product of the whims of many gods, each governing
his own province, according to his own laws. This monotheistic view seems to be
the historical foundation of modern science.?...
Dr. John Oakes taught on Calvinism–its history, basic theology and reasons to reject its basic tenets–in Manila Jan 23, 2016. The notes and power point are included.
http://evidenceforchristianity.org/answering-calvinism/
Dr. John Oakes gave a presentation for the South Florida Church of Christ in Miami on 9/1/13 on answering the hard questions (the question of evil, the question of suffering and the question of hell). The power point is attached.
Dr. John Oakes gave a public lecture on God and Science/Science and the Bible at the University of Connecticut 10/15/2015. The power point and audio are attached.
Dr. John Oakes did a sermon on God and Science recently in San Diego. There were multiple requests that the audio be made available. The class was not recorded, but we are posting a nearly identical class taught in London, England in June, 2014.
A power point for a titled What is Truth? A talk about Postmodernism, Naturalism and the Christian World View, given by Dr. John Oakes at Rutgers University 11/20-09.
Dr. John Oakes taught a class on Presuppositional Apologetics at the 2015 International Christan Evidence Conference at York College in York, Nebraska, June 19-21. He gave a brief overview of the types of apologetics, followed by an analysis of the strong and weak points of presuppositional apologetics, followed by a discussion of world view apologetics. Here are the notes and power point for the class.
The Apologetics Research Society, along with the South Florida Church of Christ put on a Christian Evidence weekend in Miami/Dade and Broward County, including at Florida International University Sept. 18-20, 2015. The audio and some of the power points and outlines are attached.
This public lecture was given by Dr. John Oakes at the University of Stockholm in Sweden 9/5/2010. It discusses atheist arguments against the existence of God, why atheism fails and logical arguments for theism.
Christian and Other World Views: A Power Point. A lesson on world views, including the Christian world view, and the world views of naturalism, postmodernism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jaina, Sikkhism, Confucianism and Islam. First taught by John Oakes in Manila 1/16/2010.
Dr. John Oakes taught a class titled Christianity in a Postmodern World at the 2013 ICEC at San Diego State University. He proposes a rational Christian response to both the good and the bad which comes with postmodern thinking. The class covers the history of modernism and why it was replaced by postmodernism, as well as a brief bio of the major influences in the movement as well as suggesting both the strengths and weaknesses of the postmodern mood.
Kedron Jones, a member of the ARS board, gave a lesson recently titled “Know How to Answer: Conversational Apologetics” The class was taught 10/18/14 at Los Angeles Church of Christ campus ministry. The notes and power point are attached.
A power point by Dr. John Beggs, professor at Indiana University for 2010 ICEC on his research in neuroscience and the philosophical and theological questions of the existence of the human soul.
Notes to Accompany "A History of Science and Christianity"
The ancient world: Chaos vs Cosmos
1. Thales (585 BC) Predicted a Solar Eclipse: Nature is predictable. Cosmos
and the human mind.
Melvin Calvin (atheist expert on the chemical origin of life): ?The fundamental conviction
that the universe is ordered [cosmos] is the first and strongest tenet [of scientists].
As I try to discern the origin of that conviction, I seem to find it in a
basic notion discovered 2000 or 3000 years ago, and enunciated first in the
Western world by the ancient Hebrews: namely that the universe is governed by
a single God, and is not the product of the whims of many gods, each governing
his own province, according to his own laws. This monotheistic view seems to be
the historical foundation of modern science.?...
Dr. John Oakes taught on Calvinism–its history, basic theology and reasons to reject its basic tenets–in Manila Jan 23, 2016. The notes and power point are included.
http://evidenceforchristianity.org/answering-calvinism/
Dr. John Oakes gave a presentation for the South Florida Church of Christ in Miami on 9/1/13 on answering the hard questions (the question of evil, the question of suffering and the question of hell). The power point is attached.
Dr. John Oakes gave a public lecture on God and Science/Science and the Bible at the University of Connecticut 10/15/2015. The power point and audio are attached.
Dr. John Oakes did a sermon on God and Science recently in San Diego. There were multiple requests that the audio be made available. The class was not recorded, but we are posting a nearly identical class taught in London, England in June, 2014.
Jesus and Christian Apologetics. A class taught by John Oakes PhD 9/26/09, on question, Who is Jesus Christ and evidence that the real Jesus is the Jesus of the gospels. See the notes below and the attached Power Point.
The attached power point is for a lesson given by Dr. Douglas Jacoby at the 2012 ICEC at UCLA October 20, 2012. Doug taught about the biblical doctrine of heaven, Hades and hell. He also presented a number of the important views on this subject in Judaism and in the early church, as well as reflecting on some of the views held today on this important topic.
Apologetics Class: Biblical Reliability, Inspiration and Inerrancy The class has now been taught by Dr. John Oakes, Dan Conder and Brian Colon. Notes and Power Point are attached.
This lesson was given by Dr. John Oakes for the Iglesia de Cristo de Tijuana April 20, 2012. Translation is by Mauricio Garcia. The class is about hte reasons that the early church, starting with a small group of poor, uneducated people without power were able to conquer the entire Roman and Greek world.
Power Point: Apologetics Without Apologies (March, 2005, San Antonio)evidenceforchristianity
Notes to accompany Apologetics Without Apologies
Apologetics: Explaining and defending the reasons for belief in God and in
the Bible.
Jonathan Swift: ??It is impossible to reason a person out of a thing which they were
not reasoned into in the first place.??
Epistemology: How do we know.
William of Ockham:
Nothing is assumed as evident unless it is known per se, is evident by experience,
or is proved by authority of scripture.
This lesson was taught by John Oakes, PhD in Bergen, Norway 9/2/2010. Norway is a mainly atheist or agnostic country where traditional Christian apologetics may not work. The lesson uses Acts as a model for how to do Christian apologetics depending on the culture.
This lesson was taught by Dr. John Oakes May, 2012. It is about prophecies of the Messiah, as well as foreshadows and prefigures of the Messiah which show that Jesus is who he claimed to be.
This is a presentation given by Dr. John Oakes in Hong Kong 1/11/2012. John acknowledges that, although all the notes and power point are his, many of the thoughts come from a similar presentation by Dr. Douglas Jacoby at the 2011 ARS Christian evidences conference. Audio will be in the ARS store soon.
Reasons For Belief: A class taught by John Oakes, PhD at Harvard University 10/16/2009. The subject is reasons to believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. See EFC store for the recording
Who Said Jesus is a Myth? A class by Brian Colon from 2012 ICEC at UCLAevidenceforchristianity
Brian Colon taught a class at the 2012 ICEC at UCLA refuting the oft-heard accusation that the Jesus of the New Testament is principally a myth. Brian both presents hard evidence for the reliability of the New Testament picture of Jesus and explains why the Jesus myth arguments are extremely weak.
John and Jan Oakes taught classes for a singles conference in Tijuana focusing in on the claims of Jesus. Notes and Power Point in English and Spanish and audio in Spanish.
The author examines available evidence to examine the question of "Are we alone?", i.e., whether humans are the only intelligent species in the Milky Way, or if the galaxy is teeming with advanced civilizations. The author discusses barriers to physical contact with extra-terrestrial beings and addresses Fermi's paradox "Where is everybody?" using the Drake Equation. The final answer is surprising, disturbing, and inspirational all at the same time. The appendix analyzes the strategy of the SETI project from and engineer's point of view, and offers some advice to maximize the chances of finding alien civilizations who may be transmitting beacon signals to announce their presence: Look for them in the Andromeda galaxy.
We see pain, suffering and death all around us
Holocaust wipes out 6 million Jews during WWII
September 11, 2001 attack on World Trade Center resulted in the death of 3000
Tsunami kills more than 250,000 in Dec. 2004
2 million Sudanese Christians have been martyredfor their faith
Earthquakes, floods, accidents cause thousands of deaths
Earthquake in Haiti kills more than 150,000 in Jan. 2010
Human suffering
Toothaches to broken limbs and cancer
Infant deaths
Wars
Famines
Etc…
Suffering caused by man, natural disasters, & disease
Human suffering
Toothaches to broken limbs and cancer
Infant deaths
Wars
Famines
Etc…
Suffering caused by man, natural disasters, & disease
Three main categories:
Suffering caused by man,
Natural disasters,
Disease
This power point was used by Dr. John Oakes as a follow-up lesson at the 2012 ICEC in Los Angeles on October 21, 2012. It is about the reasons the church in the first three centuries was able to conquer the known world for Jesus and a suggestion of how faithful Christians today can see the same thing happen in our world.
This power point was used by Dr. John Oakes as a follow-up lesson at the 2012 ICEC in Los Angeles on October 21, 2012. It is about the reasons the church in the first three centuries was able to conquer the known world for Jesus and a suggestion of how faithful Christians today can see the same thing happen in our world.
Outline for From Shadow to Reality
OT Theme: The Messiah is coming
NT Theme: The Messiah is here
Jesus is priest, prophet and king. Jesus brings together the entire OT.
Jesus says: Everything must be fulfilled that was written about me Luke 24:44
These are the scriptures that testify about me. Jn 6:39,40 I am the fulfillment of the OT...
Notes to accompany "Reflections on the Passion of the Christ."
Many have been shocked by the movie, The Passion of the Christ.
Not the kind of movie to see many times. Not bringing in popcorn.
Rev 13:8 In God?s eyes, Jesus is a ?lamb, slain from the creation of the world.?
God had this in mind all along.
We should have know it was coming...
Notes to accompany HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE
Many have claimed that the Old Testament contains a number of myths and legends which were created by Jewish writers in the two or three centuries before the time of Christ or soon thereafter. Others would claim that most of the New Testament was written well into the late second century AD by Christian apologists who were creating a Jesus very different from the historical person. They would claim that the gospels are not an eye-witness account at all. Another common claim is that the original writings of the apostles were radically edited by the Catholic Church in the period after the conversion of the Roman Empire, to reflect Catholic doctrine. These people would claim that the doctrines found in the New Testament are very different from the original teachings of Jesus Christ. Still others will claim
that there were additional gospels written by the apostles which were excluded by leaders in the early church because of their bias against certain teachings...
Notes to accompany Daniel Power Point Presentation
Background to Daniel:
Theme: God Rules the Nations, Do Not Fear!
Main messages:
1. How to stay pure and uncorrupted?to maintain your integrity in a world
in which you are surrounded by unbelievers.
2. God is in control. He will protect his people. Do not fear. God will deal
with those who persecute or otherwise oppose your service for him...
Notas para Daniel, Profeta a Las Naciones abajo
Destinatarios principales de la carta: los jud?os que sufr?an durante la persecuci?n
de Ant?oco Ep?fanes. Hay que notar que este es un paralelo cercano a Apocalipsis,
cuyos destinatarios principales eran los disc?pulos que sufr?an bajo la intensa
persecuci?n del Imperio Romano durante los primeros dos siglos...
Notes to accompany: JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Background and History.
Founded by Charles Russel
Russel was influenced by the Adventist movement (let to the 7th DayAdventistChurch)
The Adventist/Millerite movement began in the 1830?s
William Miller used Daniel 8:14and Daniel 9:25(a very odd connection) to calculate
that the millennial reign would come in October, 1844...
Notes to accompany MORMONISM (The Churchof Jesus Christof the Latter Day Saints)
Founder: Joseph Smith (1805 – 1844)
HISTORY:
Joseph Smith
Born in Vermont, 1805, raised in rural New YorkState...
Notas para
Mormonismo / LA IGLESIA DE JESUCRISTO DE LOS SANTOS DE LOS ULTIMOS DIAS
? Fundador: Jos? Smith (1805-1844)
HISTORIA:
? Jos? Smith. Nacido en Vermont, 1805, criado en el ?rea rural de Nueva
York.
? No fu? conocido por haber tenido un trabajo regular.
? Se volvi? estafador de la gente. Era un charlat?n religioso.
? Adivinando, cazador de tesoros...
Notes to accompany ISLAM (literally, submit the will in Arabic)
Founder: Muhammad. About 570 ? 632 AD, in Mecca, in modern Saudi Arabia.
Roughly 1 billion Muslims in the world.
Location: Northern Africa, almost the entire Middle East, Pakistan Afghanistan,
Bangaladesh, India, Albania, Indonesia and the Phillipines, with scatterings elsewhere...
PROFECIAS MESIANICAS
Prop?sito: ayudar a aquellos que son esc?pticos o les falta suficiente fe a
moverlos m?s all? de alg?n punto en su estudio b?blico.
Juan 5:39,40 Pregunta: ?qu? es lo que Jes?s est? afirmando aqu??. Que el AT escrito
cientos de a?os antes de que naciera hablaba de ?l. Imagina las implicaciones
de lo que afirmaba.
Lucas 24:44 Jes?s est? afirmando que en ?l se han cumplido todas las profes?as
del Mes?as...
NOTES FOR FULL DANIEL CLASS
Background to Daniel:
Theme: God Rules the Nations, Do Not Fear!
Main messages:
1. How to stay pure and uncorrupted-to maintain your integrity in a world
in which you are surrounded by unbelievers.
2. God is in control. He will protect his people. Do not fear. God will deal
with those who persecute or otherwise oppose your service for him.
Principle Audience:
Jews who suffered under the persecutions of Antiochus Epiphanes (167-164 BC)
Things that make Daniel unique...
De La Sombra a la Realidad
Tema del AT: el Mesías viene.
Tema del NT: el Mesías está aquí.
Jesús es sacerdote, profeta y rey. Jesús junta consigo todo el AT.
Jesús dice: "Que había de cumplirse todo lo que está escrito de mí". Lc 24:44.
Estas son las escrituras que testifican sobre mí. Juan 6:39-40. Yo soy el cumplimiento del AT.
I. Prefiguras históricas. 2 P 2:4-8. Dios nos enseña. 1 Co 10:11. Ro 15:4...
Stone/Campbell Movement: Reformation or Restoration? (Church History)evidenceforchristianity
The Stone/Campbell Movement: Reformation or Restoration?
Background: The religious atmosphere in the early 19th century on the Western
Frontier:
1. Puritans. British Dissenters. Strongly Calvinistic. Independent church structure.
The Great Awakening: Jonathan Edwards 1740?s, 50?s, ?Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.?
A revivalist.
(The Puritans became the Congregational
Church)
2. Methodists. John Wesley (1703-1791) (and George Whitefield) Sought to reform Anglicanism. Ho
liness/Pietism movement Arminian theology. Emphasis on conversion, personal relationship with
God. Led to the idea of adult confirmation...
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
Homily: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday 2024.docxJames Knipper
Countless volumes have been written trying to explain the mystery of three persons in one true God, leaving us to resort to metaphors such as the three-leaf clover to try to comprehend the Divinity. Many of us grew up with the quintessential pyramidal Trinity structure of God at the top and Son and Spirit in opposite corners. But what if we looked at this ‘mystery’ from a different perspective? What if we shifted our language of God as a being towards the concept of God as love? What if we focused more on the relationship within the Trinity versus the persons of the Trinity? What if stopped looking at God as a noun…and instead considered God as a verb? Check it out…
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptx
Power Point: Faith That Answers the Hard Questions
1. Faith That Answers the Hard Questions
John Oakes, PhD
2010 ICEC
Christian and Other World Views
2. Jesus Christ: “I came to testify to the truth.”
Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?”
3. The Hard QuestionsThe Hard Questions
Evil: What is Evil and Why is There EvilEvil: What is Evil and Why is There Evil
Why is There Suffering?Why is There Suffering?
The Problem of JudgmentThe Problem of Judgment
The Problem of Sin.The Problem of Sin.
4. World ViewWorld View
One's world view is theOne's world view is the
perspective one uses toperspective one uses to
process and interpretprocess and interpret
information received aboutinformation received about
the world.the world.
James W. Sire put it thisJames W. Sire put it this
way, "A world view is a setway, "A world view is a set
of presuppositions (ie.of presuppositions (ie.
assumptions) which we holdassumptions) which we hold
about the basic makeup ofabout the basic makeup of
our world."our world."
James W. Sire,James W. Sire, The Universe NextThe Universe Next
DoorDoor (InterVarsity Press, 1997)(InterVarsity Press, 1997)
A Jain World
View
5. Other World Views: The Leading PhilosophiesOther World Views: The Leading Philosophies
of Our Dayof Our Day
Naturalism/Scientism/MaterialismNaturalism/Scientism/Materialism
Postmodernism: The Loss of TruthPostmodernism: The Loss of Truth
Delos B. McKown:
“Christianity is scientifically unsupported
and probably insupportable, philosophically
suspect at best and disreputable at worst, and
historically fraudulent.”
6. A “Good” World View DefinedA “Good” World View Defined
A. It is true.A. It is true.
It is consistent with reality. It works.It is consistent with reality. It works.
B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people reallyB. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really
want answered.want answered.
What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature ofWhat is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of
God?)God?)
What is my value as a human being?What is my value as a human being?
What happens to a person at death?What happens to a person at death?
How do we know what is right and wrong?How do we know what is right and wrong?
What is my purpose?What is my purpose?
What is the nature of my relationship, with the "primeWhat is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime
reality?"reality?"
C. It causes those who hold to it to be better peopleC. It causes those who hold to it to be better people
than they would otherwise have been if they held tothan they would otherwise have been if they held to
competing alternative world views.competing alternative world views.
7. Naturalism/Scientism/MaterialismNaturalism/Scientism/Materialism
The belief that the only reliable or validThe belief that the only reliable or valid
instrument to deciding the truth or eveninstrument to deciding the truth or even
the value of any proposition is thethe value of any proposition is the
scientific method.scientific method.
No basis for ethics or morality, noNo basis for ethics or morality, no
supernatural, no God, no truth (exceptsupernatural, no God, no truth (except
that found by science), no consciousness,that found by science), no consciousness,
no “I.” Justice is a figment of ourno “I.” Justice is a figment of our
imagination.imagination.
8. MaterialismMaterialism
““We exist as material beings in a material world, allWe exist as material beings in a material world, all
of whose phenomena are the consequences ofof whose phenomena are the consequences of
material relations among material entities." In a word,material relations among material entities." In a word,
the public needs to accept materialism, which meansthe public needs to accept materialism, which means
that they must put God in the trash can of historythat they must put God in the trash can of history
where such myths belong.”where such myths belong.”
Richard LewontinRichard Lewontin
Retrospective essay on Carl Sagan in the January 9, 1997Retrospective essay on Carl Sagan in the January 9, 1997 New York Review of BooksNew York Review of Books,,
9. Postmodernism: The Loss of TruthPostmodernism: The Loss of Truth
Truth, if such a thing exists, is theTruth, if such a thing exists, is the
property of culture. There is no absoluteproperty of culture. There is no absolute
truth. All truth is relative. It is created bytruth. All truth is relative. It is created by
societies. There is no ultimate moralsocieties. There is no ultimate moral
authority or moral absolute.authority or moral absolute.
10. A Response to Naturalism/Materialism/ScientismA Response to Naturalism/Materialism/Scientism
It is a faith/religious belief based on circularIt is a faith/religious belief based on circular
reasoning.reasoning.
It cannot answer the questions humanIt cannot answer the questions human
beings care about.beings care about.
It is patently and demonstrably false.It is patently and demonstrably false.
Does accepting naturalism make us better?Does accepting naturalism make us better?
11. Questions Science Can AnswerQuestions Science Can Answer
When?When?
What?What?
Where?Where?
How many?How many?
By what means?By what means?
12. Questions Science Cannot Answer:Questions Science Cannot Answer:
(That Christianity Does Answer)(That Christianity Does Answer)
– Why am I here?Why am I here?
– Is that the right thing to do?Is that the right thing to do?
– How valuable am I?How valuable am I?
– Does God exist? Does God act (theism)?Does God exist? Does God act (theism)?
– Will that God respond if I pray?Will that God respond if I pray?
– Do supernatural events (miracles) happen?Do supernatural events (miracles) happen?
- Why is there evil and suffering in the world?- Why is there evil and suffering in the world?
13. Materialism is Patently FalseMaterialism is Patently False
If Materialism/Naturalism is right then;If Materialism/Naturalism is right then;
““I” do not exist. Consciousness is justI” do not exist. Consciousness is just
random moving around of chemicals.random moving around of chemicals.
No soul, no spirit, no non-physical reality.No soul, no spirit, no non-physical reality.
Life has no value. Human beings have noLife has no value. Human beings have no
value. What is value?value. What is value?
Love is chemicals moving around (vs. God isLove is chemicals moving around (vs. God is
love)love)
14. Naturalism is Patently False Because….Naturalism is Patently False Because….
The universe was created.The universe was created.
Life was created.Life was created.
The Anthropic Principle. The universe isThe Anthropic Principle. The universe is
ridiculously well fine-tuned for us to exist.ridiculously well fine-tuned for us to exist.
No one in their right mind can deny theNo one in their right mind can deny the
existence of right and wrongexistence of right and wrong
The Bible is inspired by God.The Bible is inspired by God.
15. Does Naturalism tend to make its believers betterDoes Naturalism tend to make its believers better
people?people?
If the naturalist is right then:If the naturalist is right then:
Good and evil are meaningless ideas.Good and evil are meaningless ideas.
Our purpose, if it exists at all, is to pass onOur purpose, if it exists at all, is to pass on
our DNA.our DNA.
Any kind of sexual behavior is as right asAny kind of sexual behavior is as right as
any other. Stealing is probably good.any other. Stealing is probably good.
There is nothing inherently evil aboutThere is nothing inherently evil about
genocide, racism, slavery, etc.genocide, racism, slavery, etc.
16. Postmodernism: Cultural RelativismPostmodernism: Cultural Relativism
Truth: It is true for you, but it is not true forTruth: It is true for you, but it is not true for
me.me.
Meaning, if it exists, lies in a community ofMeaning, if it exists, lies in a community of
believers.believers.
No rational way to discover which is the bestNo rational way to discover which is the best
world view.world view.
17. Problems With PostmodernismProblems With Postmodernism
Self-refuting.Self-refuting.
– If nothing is true, then postmodernism isIf nothing is true, then postmodernism is
not true.not true.
– Its authors insist on authorial privilege.Its authors insist on authorial privilege.
I do not care what they say, some things areI do not care what they say, some things are
just true.just true.
Either God is real or he is not. Even if IEither God is real or he is not. Even if I
cannot prove it one way or another.cannot prove it one way or another.
18. The Christian World View Is TrueThe Christian World View Is True
The Universe is RealThe Universe is Real
The creation is good.The creation is good.
Evil exists.Evil exists.
Despite what Naturalists say, there is a spiritualDespite what Naturalists say, there is a spiritual
reality. For example, “I” exist. Consciousness is notreality. For example, “I” exist. Consciousness is not
simply an epiphenomenon.simply an epiphenomenon.
Science and the Christian world view do notScience and the Christian world view do not
contradict.contradict.
19. Christianity Offers Solutions to the Big Problems ofChristianity Offers Solutions to the Big Problems of
Human BeingsHuman Beings
The Problem of EvilThe Problem of Evil
The Problem of SufferingThe Problem of Suffering
The Problem of DeathThe Problem of Death
20. The Christian World View Has Given Us:The Christian World View Has Given Us:
ScienceScience
Abolition of Slavery (Wilberforce)Abolition of Slavery (Wilberforce)
Civil RightsCivil Rights
Women’s RightsWomen’s Rights
Christian groups do a majority of allChristian groups do a majority of all
benevolent work in the world (James 1:27,benevolent work in the world (James 1:27,
Micah 6:8)Micah 6:8)
21. Two Good QuestionsTwo Good Questions
Does evil exist?Does evil exist?
If God is all-loving and all-powerful andIf God is all-loving and all-powerful and
all-good, then why is there evil?all-good, then why is there evil?
22. The answer: God’s love.The answer: God’s love.
Free Will: God Gives Us a ChoiceFree Will: God Gives Us a Choice
Why? Because he loves us.Why? Because he loves us.
The result: We rebelled and brought evil into theThe result: We rebelled and brought evil into the
world. Is this God’s fault? What is the alternative?world. Is this God’s fault? What is the alternative?
Deuteronomy 30:15-20Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Joshua 24:15Joshua 24:15
24. Apologetics and Evil: What are theApologetics and Evil: What are the
alternatives?alternatives?
Dualism: Good and Evil in an unending moreDualism: Good and Evil in an unending more
or less equal balanceor less equal balance
Pantheism: The physical world is evil. EvilPantheism: The physical world is evil. Evil
is being tied down to the physical—it isis being tied down to the physical—it is
missing the god-likeness in you.missing the god-likeness in you.
Naturalism: There is no evil.Naturalism: There is no evil.
Postmodernism: Evil???Postmodernism: Evil???
Determinism/Fate God is the cause of evil.Determinism/Fate God is the cause of evil.
25. Christianity and the Problem of EvilChristianity and the Problem of Evil
Evil is very much real. Quite indirectly, it isEvil is very much real. Quite indirectly, it is
the product of God’s love. God loved us sothe product of God’s love. God loved us so
much that he loved us and that he gave us amuch that he loved us and that he gave us a
choice. We chose evil, and thus evil camechoice. We chose evil, and thus evil came
into the world.into the world.
Remember your alternatives:Remember your alternatives:
– Predestination/Determinism God is the cause ofPredestination/Determinism God is the cause of
evil.evil.
– Deny evil existsDeny evil exists
– Physical creation is evil, but you are GodPhysical creation is evil, but you are God
– An unending battle/balance between good andAn unending battle/balance between good and
evil.evil.
26. The Problem of SufferingThe Problem of Suffering
Suffering is not evil. Sin is evil, but muchSuffering is not evil. Sin is evil, but much
suffering is caused by our choice to sin.suffering is caused by our choice to sin.
Not all suffering is due to sin. (Job, John 9)Not all suffering is due to sin. (Job, John 9)
Christianity’s answer to suffering:Christianity’s answer to suffering:
Compassion.Compassion.
Jesus WeptJesus Wept
Matt 9:35-38Matt 9:35-38
27. Julian “the apostate.” (332-363)Julian “the apostate.” (332-363)
““Atheism (i.e. Christian faith) has beenAtheism (i.e. Christian faith) has been
specially advanced through the lovingspecially advanced through the loving
service rendered to strangers, and throughservice rendered to strangers, and through
their care for the burial of the dead. It is atheir care for the burial of the dead. It is a
scandal that there is not a single Jew who isscandal that there is not a single Jew who is
a beggar, and that the godless Galileansa beggar, and that the godless Galileans
care not only for their own poor but for ourscare not only for their own poor but for ours
as well; while those who belong to us look inas well; while those who belong to us look in
vain for the help that we should rendervain for the help that we should render
them.”them.”
28. The Problem of JudgmentThe Problem of Judgment
Romans 3:10f There is no one righteous, not evenRomans 3:10f There is no one righteous, not even
one.one.
Revelation 20:15 If anyone’s name was not foundRevelation 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found
written in the book of life, he was thrown into thewritten in the book of life, he was thrown into the
lake of fire. Rev 21:8 …the fiery lake of burninglake of fire. Rev 21:8 …the fiery lake of burning
sulfur. This is the second death. Rev 20:10 … Theysulfur. This is the second death. Rev 20:10 … They
will be tormented day and night for even and ever.will be tormented day and night for even and ever.
Does God choose to send us to hell? No! We chooseDoes God choose to send us to hell? No! We choose
hell and God, in his justice, accepts our decision.hell and God, in his justice, accepts our decision.
Is suffering in hell literally eternal? Is joy in heavenIs suffering in hell literally eternal? Is joy in heaven
literally eternal?literally eternal?
29. Love and JusticeLove and Justice
For God so loved the world…For God so loved the world…
The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23
The law of sin and death Rom 8:2The law of sin and death Rom 8:2
We like God’s love, but we are not so firedWe like God’s love, but we are not so fired
up about his justice.up about his justice.
When we reach heaven, we will understandWhen we reach heaven, we will understand
and fully appreciate, on an emotional level,and fully appreciate, on an emotional level,
God’s justice. Rev 11:17-18 Rev 16:5-6God’s justice. Rev 11:17-18 Rev 16:5-6
The elders are thankful that God’sThe elders are thankful that God’s
judgement has finally come. You are just, Ojudgement has finally come. You are just, O
God.God.
30. Attributes of GodAttributes of God
EternalEternal
OmnipresentOmnipresent
OmniscientOmniscient
OmnipotentOmnipotent
Righteous, HolyRighteous, Holy
LoveLove
JusticeJustice
God is not merely loving, he is loveGod is not merely loving, he is love
God, in his awesomeness is fully love and fullyGod, in his awesomeness is fully love and fully
justjust
31. The Problem of SinThe Problem of Sin
God’s love met God’s justice at the cross. AsGod’s love met God’s justice at the cross. As
far as we are concerned, love won.far as we are concerned, love won.
Romans 3:21-26Romans 3:21-26