Title: The Complete and Utter Farce of Evangelical "Scholarship"
1The Complete and Utter Farce of Evangelical
"Scholarship"
2- BEWARE OF PHILOSOPHYA WARNING TO BIBLICAL
SCHOLARSby Norman L. Geisler, Ph.D. - An address to The Evangelical Theological
Society November 19, 1998
3Favorite Howler (of many) "Historical evidence
that Jesus was supernaturally conceived of a
virgin is more than substantial. Indeed, there
are more eyewitness contemporary records of the
virgin birth than for most events from the
ancient world." (Geisler, _Baker Encyclopedia of
Christian Apologetics_, pg. 764)
4Can the Bible be wrong?
- The answer to this question is found in another
Can Jesus be wrong? Absolutely not! Jesus is the
Son of God. He said that the Bible is the Word of
God. The Word of God cannot err. Therefore, the
Bible cannot err. - --Billy Grahams Decision magazine, January 1995.
5Beware of Philosophy?
- philosophy Love and pursuit of wisdom by
intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
--American Heritage
6Beware of Wisdom?
- wisdom
- The ability to discern or judge what is true,
right, or lasting insight. - American Heritage
7Geislers Intro
- Why We Must Beware of Philosophy
- Paul's exhortation to beware of philosophy
(Col. 28) are appropriately applied to other
alien systems of thought that have invaded
Christianity down through the centuries since
then.
8Current Philosophies
- Beware of Naturalism
- Naturalism is the philosophy that denies there
are supernatural interventions in the world. It
is at the root of modern negative biblical
criticism
9Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677)
- Spinoza's naturalism led directly to the first
modern systematic negative criticism of the
Bible. It has had a devastating effect on
biblical interpretation.
10David Hume
- The results of Hume's philosophical naturalism
have been disastrous for Christianity. As they
say, the rest is history. Or better, the rest is
the destruction of history--particularly
miraculous history recorded in Scripture.
(1711-1776)
11Rudolph Bultmann
- Rudolph Bultmann (1884-1976) turned Gospel
history into religious mythology. Why? Because,
in his words, he believed it would be both
senseless and impossible not to recognize the
Gospels as myth.
12Beware of Agnosticism
- The great German thinker, Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804) claimed to have been awakened from
his dogmatic slumbers by David Hume, not to
skepticism but to agnosticism. . -
- Considering the immense influence of Kant on the
modern world, we see once more the importance of
our thesis to beware of philosophy.
13Beware of Evolutionism
- Many thinkers labor under the illusion that
evolution is an empirical science when in fact it
is a philosophy. - The result of the philosophy of evolutionism
has been catastrophic for biblical and
theological studies. The historicity and
scientific accuracy of the Genesis record has
been denied.
14Beware of the Philosophy of Progressivism
Beware of Existentialism few have done more from
within the evangelical fold to methodologically
undermine historic orthodoxy than Kierkegaard.
15- Beware of Conventionalism
- since this truth claim all meaning is
relative is itself both self-defeating and
incompatible with evangelical theology, then we
must beware of the philosophy of
conventionalism.
16Beware of Processism
- in the name of proper biblical exegesis many
evangelical theologians have forsaken the
absolutely omniscient and unchanging God of
historic orthodoxy for a God who not only changes
His mind but who does not even know for sure what
will happen in the future.
17Momentary digressionGod might not know the
future?
- And it repented the LORD that he had made man on
the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Gen. 66 - And the LORD repented of the evil which he
thought to do unto his people. - Exod. 3214
18- ...and the LORD repented that he had made Saul
king over Israel. 1 Sam. 1535 - And God saw their works, that they turned from
their evil way and God repented of the evil,
that he had said that he would do unto them and
he did it not. Jonah 310
19- ...for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing
thou hast not witheld thy son, thine only son
from me. Gen. 2212 - ...the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in
the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove
thee, to know what was in thine heart... - Deut. 82
20- Beware of Ockhamistic Nominalism
- the fact that some evangelicals have bought
into this alien view reveals the need to beware
of philosophy.
21- Beware of Platonic Allegorism
- Beware of Aristotelianism
- Beware of the Philosophy of Anthropological
Monism
22How to Beware of Philosophy
- My first piece of advice is this
- Avoid the Desire to Become a Famous Scholar
- There seems to be an almost irresistible
temptation among many scholars, particularly
younger ones, to make a name for themselves. In
biblical terms this is the sin of pride of which
Holy Scripture warns us.
23Avoid the Temptation to Be Unique
- by its very nature a doctoral dissertation is
usually supposed to be an original contribution
to knowledge. But if the scholar is to make a
discovery that no one else has ever made, then it
is an almost irresistible temptation to
congratulate oneself for being the originator of
this new truth.
24Do Not Dance on the Edges
- Do not see how far the borders of evangelicalism
can be stretched to accommodate the latest
scholarly fad. Do not flirt with the latest
critical methodology.
25Steer Right to Go Straight
- The only way to keep on the straight orthodox
path is to keep turning to the right. Churches,
schools, and even evangelical scholarship will
naturally go left, unless they are deliberately
turned to the right. The prevailing winds of
doctrine blow against us. And if we are to resist
them we must have a firm grip on the wheel of the
Good Ship Evangelism and steer it to the right.
26Do Not Trade Orthodoxy for Academic Respectability
- As evangelical scholars we must learn to bear,
if necessary, the offense of being called
fundamentalists, obscurantists, and
theologically dinosauric, along with the
offense of the Gospel.
27Reject any Methodology Inconsistent with the
Bible or Good Reason.
one philosophy after another led those who
embrace the wrong method into undesirable and
even disastrous cul-de-sacs.
28Always Choose Lordship Over Scholarship
- If Jesus was the Son of God which the New
Testament confirms that He was, then whatever He
affirmed about the Old Testament, is absolutely
true. Indeed, Jesus claimed divine authority for
His teaching (Matt. 2818-20). Since every true
evangelical believes this, there should be no
hesitation, whenever there is a conflict to
choose ancient Lordship over modern scholarship.
Circular reasoning a use of reason in which the
premises depends on or is equivalent to the
conclusion, a method of false logic by which
"this is used to prove that, and that is used to
prove this" also called circular logic
29Do Not Allow Morality to Determine Methodology
Herein stands the great challenge of the
Christian scholar not only to live
Christocentrically but to think
Christocentrically.
Goosestep n. a special way of marching with the
legs lifted high and straight
30Conclusion
- In the final analysis, preserving orthodoxy is
not a purely intellectual matter. It is spiritual
warfare. - The enemy of our soul wants also to deceive
our minds. He desires to destroy good teaching
which leads to good living. - To use a medical analogy, the person most
likely to catch a disease is one who does not
understand it and thus takes no precautions
against it. After all, doctors do not wear gloves
and masks to hide warts and moles.
31- William Craig deserves special mention, since he
not only did master's and doctoral work in
philosophy but also in New Testament and
theological studies. Younger scholars like this,
with their orthodox theological commitment and
philosophical sophistication, are in a position
to avoid the theological errors into which
philosophically untrained biblical scholars too
often fall.
32Is W. L. Craig interested in wisdom and truth?
- "The Bible says all men are without excuse. Even
those who are given no good reason to believe and
many persuasive reasons to disbelieve have no
excuse, because the ultimate reason they do not
believe is that they have deliberately rejected
God's Holy Spirit." - William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith Christian
Truth and Apologetics, (Revised edition),
Wheaton, IL Crossway, 1994, p. 37.
33- "Should a conflict arise between the witness of
the Holy Spirit to the fundamental truth of the
Christian faith and beliefs based on argument and
evidence, then it is the former which must take
precedence over the latter, not vice versa." - William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith Christian
Truth and Apologetics, (Revised edition),
Wheaton, IL Crossway, 1994, p. 36.
34- "...the role of rational argument in knowing
Christianity to be true is the role of a servant.
A person knows Christianity is true because the
Holy Spirit tells him it is true, and while
argument and evidence can be used to support this
conclusion, they cannot legitimately overrule
it. W.L. Craig, Ibid., p. 37-8
35- Some people... say that reason can at least be
used... at least by the unbeliever. They ask how
else could we determine which is true, the Bible,
the Koran, or the Baghavad-Gita, unless we use
argument and evidence to judge them? Now I've
already answered that question the Holy Spirit
teaches us directly which teaching is really from
God... - Reasonable Faith Christian Truth and Apologetics
William Lane Craig (Wheaton, Ill Moody Press,
1994), p. 37
36- The ministerial use of reason occurs when reason
submits to and serves the gospel. Only the
ministerial use of reason can be allowed. Reason
is a tool to help us better understand and defend
our faith." - Reasonable Faith Christian Truth and Apologetics
William Lane Craig, Crossway Books, Wheaton, Ill,
1984, pg. 37
37When these evangelical scholars are cornered.
- GEISLER HOWEs favorite circular argument
- Because,"the Bible clearly declares itself to be
theWord of God."And since,"It the Bible
also informs us that Godcannot err."We are to
believe,"The conclusion, then, is inevitable.
TheBible cannot err."
38- Your complete inability to think critically
renders your responses laughable. Your prejudice
is the only thing you have, and you will cling to
it to the bitter end. I am not interested in the
least in debating or conversing with you. Contact
me when you actually learn something about Greek,
Hebrew, and logical thinking. - Tom Howe
39"There are Bible scholars, and there are
fundamentalists." Nick Cardell, Unitarian
Minister