Key Defenders of the Faith terminologies, views, thoughts and arguments in question and answer format. What is evidentialism? - Evidentialism is a method of defending the faith and defeating the non-Christian system of thought by facts and evidences drawn from science (history), reason, and personal experience. It seeks to destroy non-Christian concepts by arguing from evidences. It is based on historical events and facts that only the Bible can interpret. It primarily addresses biblical issues. What is presuppositialism? - Some apologists defend Christianity by arguing from presuppositions. Presuppositionalism attempts to destroy non-Christian presuppositions by proving them inconsistent, irrational, unlivable and so forth. It focuses on ones entire world view and the effect it has on practical everyday living. Presupposionalists want to show Christianity is superior to other world views and is the only one that meets all the tests of a valid system. What method does Schaffer use to defend the faith? - Schaffers method of defending the faith is by attacking the non-Christians presuppositions and pushing them to the logical conclusion of their system of thought. He hopes that by challenging the non-Christian to be consistent with their world view, they will come to realize that they are not living in the real world; that they live one way in theory but live another way in practice. To Schaffer, this is not the real world and is unlivable. Consistent living is that which one can live practically with ones theory without fear of contradiction. What is rationalism? - Rationalism is a broad doctrine usually used to designate the type of epistemological position of rationalists. It, more of less, defines truth as that which can be known only through human reason. Rationalists believe there are certain basic principles in the world which are recognized as true (a priori truth) by reason of man and from these truths man can acquire a deductive knowledge of the world and God. What is Irenaean Theodicys approach to the problem of evil? This is a rational approach to vindicating the goodness of God in respect to the existence of evil. It perceives evil as an ingredient for soul strengthening. In a sense, evil is considered beneficial in so far as it is seen as God trying to develop something worthwhile in us. The most striking problem seen with Irenaean theodicy is that it seems to neglect or address disteleological (antiteleological) events. What is the problem with evil? - The problem with evil is that it presents an eternal conflict with mans biblical concept of God. God is perceived as the embodiment of all that is good, righteous, loving, just and meaningful. Yet, there is so much that is pointless in this world; so much meaningless suffering and senseless evil. Can God be the Holy God of Scripture and permit all the wickedness in the world to exist? This is the eternal contradiction and the problem with evil. How does Van Til view the autonomous motive as being in dialectic tension? - According to Van Til, the non-Christian views himself as being absolutely autonomous. But, autonomy presupposes complete control and freedom. Yet, the non-Christian must obey rules and laws and there are many things over which he has no control. I believe this is the tension Van Til speaks of. Man cannot truly be free apart from God; and if man cannot truly control and truly be free, then neither can he be truly autonomous. It is impossible to be autonomous because facts reveal the will of God but non-Christians willfully reject the facts, even though deep down they know them to be true. What is the cosmological argument? - The cosmological argument is an argument from CAUSE for the existence of God. It is a deductive argument with premises that suggest that every effect demands a cause. An infinite regress is not possible because regardless of how long the chain of causes, there must be a first cause that was uncaused that would explain all subsequent causes. The first uncaused cause is God. What is the teleological argument? - The teleological argument is a deductive argument with an a posteriori first premise that attempts to prove the existence of God from external evidences. The universe manifests evidence of design. All design demands a designer. Therefore, there must be a designer of the universe. This designer is God of the Bible. What is the ontological argument? - The ontological argument is a deductive argument with an a priori first premise. Everyone can conceive of God. God is that being greater than which cannot be conceived because a greater God can be conceived. A non-existent God is not greater than that which cannot be conceived. Therefore, God exists. |
