WAR

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WAR Of the WORLDVIEWS
Christianity versus its challengers
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The Challengers- Naturalism

• It is widely believed
• that the only valid knowledge is science.
• that science has decisively disproved the
  Biblical worldview.
• that belief in God is irrational.

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Social Consequences

• God no longer belongs in modern society
• Richard Dawkins The God Delusion (2006)
• (religious) faith is one of the worlds great
  evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but
  harder to eradicate. (Dawkins 1996)
• 42 agree (2006 UK poll)
• Christopher Hitchens God Is Not Great How
  Religion Poisons Everything (2007)

USA and EU ban Intelligent Design Only
purposeless evolution may be taught in public
schools.
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The Challengers--postmodernity

• No absolute truths only human constructions
• Again,God has no place in society
• Steve Bruce. God Is Dead Secularization in the
  West (2002)

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Is God dead?
Friedrich Nietzsche(1844-1900) "God is dead,
we have killed him science has killed him .
. . science has killed Truth."
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How did science kill God?
It is alleged ? that science has
falsified Biblical miracles ? that scientific
explanations make God unnecessary
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Can science really kill God?
The Myth factual, objective, rational
science versus mythical, subjective,
irrational religion The Reality hard data
what we actually see versus subjective theory
how we explain what we see
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Same data but many theories
Galactic red-shifts caused by ? expanding
space ? motion through space ?
gravity ? decreasing speed of light ?
shrinking atoms ? increasing particle mass ?
tired light
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From data to theory
Carl Hempel, philosopher of science "The
transition from data to theory requires creative
imagination . . . Scientific hypotheses and
theories are not derived from observed facts,
but are invented in order to account for them." 
Piet Mondrian Composition in Blue
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From data to theory
Nebraska man artistic reconstruction (1922)
The actual data-a pigs tooth (4 views of same
tooth)
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Saving the theory
Any statement can be held true come what may, if
we make drastic enough adjustments elsewhere in
the system. The totality of our knowledge, from
the most casual matters of history to the
profoundest laws of atomic physics, is a man-made
fabric which impinges on experience only along
the edges. Willard Van Orman Quine
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From theory to critique
"Scientific theories are not only equally
unprovable, and equally improbable, but they are
also equally undisprovable." Imre Lakatos,
philosopher of science
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Choosing theories
? Which theories should we preferthe simplest? ?
How do we know that simple theories are more
likely to be true? ? We have no certain means of
separating true theories from false ones. ? We
choose theories that fit in best with our
worldview--our most basic assumptions about the
world. ? Only observational data can be accepted
as fact.
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Worldview Questions
Who is God? What exists?  Why does the world
exist? What is man? What can we know? What
should we do? What can we hope for?
religion metaphysics purpose anthropology epistemo
logy ethics eschatology
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Worldviews and Philosophy
The basic worldview questions are of a deeply
philosophical nature. It requires deep,
concentrated thought and is hard work. Philosophy
strikes most people as boring and useless.
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but

• Worldview Answers. . .
• DO have
• consequences

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Ideals and Values
Deeply held ideals can lead to drastic action
Deeply held ideals can lead to drastic action
Liberty Leading The People Eugene Delacroix 1830
Liberty Leading The People Eugene Delacroix 1830
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Critique
Ones worldview provides a platform to critique
other worldviews, such as the shallowness of pop
culture
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The Anti-thesis
The global conflict between faith and unbelief,
between Christian and non-Christian
worldviews. Science and culture are
God-glorifying or God-defying. Main issue does
the Bible reveals absolute truths? Gods Word
versus Satans deception Thus says the
Lord Did God Say? Genesis 315I will put
enmity between your (Satans) seed and her seed,
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise
his heel
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Science and the Anti-thesis

• Tertullian (160 - 220 AD)
• What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?
• Augustine (354 - 430 AD) Human history is
  dominated by a battle between the City of God and
  the City of Man.
• C.S. Lewis (1898 - 1963)
• There is no neutral ground in the universe
  every square inch, every split second, is claimed
  by God and counter-claimed by Satan
• Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) Principles of
  Sacred Theology Not faith and science,
  but two scientific systems Two scientific
  elaborations, are opposed to each other, each
  having its own faith.

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Science operation and historical
Operation science Common ground? ? Basic
science laboratory, repeatable events, laws,
applications ? Most of science physics,
chemistry, biology ? All the science needed for
technology ? Justified under the cultural
mandate of Gen.128 Historical Science Highly
Worldview Dependent ? Speculative extrapolation
into distant past ? Geology, astronomy,
paleontology (prehistoric life) archaeology ?
Data collection versus interpretation ?
Worldview plays a large role in interpretation

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Science and origins
? All observations are made at the present time,
so any conclusions about origins must rely on
theory. ? No scientists were present at the
beginning, so only God knows what really
happened. ? The origins debate is not about
facts, but their proper interpretation. ? NOT
science versus Christianity but naturalistic
explanations versus Christian explanations
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Worldviews
A worldview consists of ? presuppositions ? a
story a framework A worldview serves as ?
spectacles ? a map
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Assessing Worldviews
Consistency Experience Livability Common
sense and science
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Naturalism
William Provine, historian of science "Evolutiona
ry biology tells us there are no purposeful
principles in nature, no gods and no designing
forces that are rationally detectable. . .
Second, there are no inherent moral or ethical
laws. . . Third, human beings are marvelously
complex machines. Fourth, when we die, we die
and that is the end of us, no hope of
everlasting life. Free will simply does not
exist, evolution cant produce a being that is
truly free to make choices The universe cares
nothing for us . . . There is no ultimate
meaning for humans.
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Naturalism versus Christ
The Two Crowns Frank Dicksee 1900 A pagan king
parades past Christ
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Naturalist presuppositions
Story full evolution Metaphysics only
natural causes purposeless materialism Knowledg
e empiricism no divine revelation Anthropo
logy man is an accident no soul, no hope
after death Ethics no universal norms no
mathematical entities Religion God is
irrelevant
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Three worldsthree mysteries
Roger Penrose, Shadows of the Mind
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The physical world is mathematical
General relativity Mechanics
Maxwells equations Electricity Magnetism
Schrödinger equation                   .
Chemistry
If science is true, so is mathematics
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Naturalist problems
Math to matter Matter to mind Mind to
math Self-refutation
Monument to the Third International Vladimir
Tatlin 1919
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Math to matter problems
Why does the universe exist? Why does it have
order uniformity? Why is it mathematically
intelligible? Why does it have a particular
mathematical form? How are mathematical forms
actualized?
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Matter to mind problems
How can purposeless matter give rise to
purposeful life? How can chance give rise to
complexity? How did information arise? How can
matter become conscious? The unity
of the self How do non-physical factors
influence the mind? What transforms mental
choice to physical action?
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Mind to math problems
Why should we trust our minds? How can
non-physical absolutes exist? How can is give
rise to ought? How do we access norms? Why is
math applicable?
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Self-refuting beliefs
Sir Francis Crick, Nobel prize biologist "The
Astonishing Hypothesis is that "You", your joys
and your sorrows, your memories and your
ambitions, your sense of personal identity and
free will, are in fact no more than the
behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells...
If all your beliefs are illusions caused by brain
neurons, as Crick believes, where does that leave
Cricks belief that all beliefs are illusions??
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Why should we punish crime?
Given our best scientific theories, factors
beyond our control ultimately produce all our
actions .we are therefore not morally
responsible for them. Philosopher Derk Pereboom
(Living Without Freewill)
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Self-refutation
Arguing that naturalism Is true presumes
reliable minds objective truth purposeful selfs
rational norms mental causation
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Why are we here?

• There is no ultimate meaning for humans.
  William Provine
• "We are machines built by DNA whose purpose is to
  make more copies of the same DNAThat is exactly
  what we are forIt is every living object's sole
  reason for living". Dawkins 199458
• "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy
  Him forever." Westminster Shorter Catechism

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Basics of the Christian worldview
Story Creation, Fall, redemption
Metaphysics God is the ultimate reality
all-powerful, all-knowing. He sets physical
laws and performs miracles Knowledge God
reveals truth to us through the
Bible AnthropologyWe are created in Gods
image to serve Him. Body soul. Absolutes
God sets all norms
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A Christian view of knowledge
God
Math
Physical world
Bible
Scientific theories are fallible human inventions
that should agree with observation, logic and
Bible.
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Christianity Enabled Science
The God said, let us make man in our
image And God said to them, Be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over
the birds of the heavens, and over every living
thing that moves on the earth. (Gen.126-28) ?
The cultural mandate provided motivation to study
Gods creation. ? Belief in a rational God, Whom
man imaged, made science feasible
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Christianity enabled science
The Reformation stressed everyday life and the
importance of all occupations
Hunters in the Snow Pieter Bruegel 1565
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Founders of Science Praise the Creator
For as all works do shew forth the power and
skill of the workmanso it is of the works of
God, which do shew forth the omnipotency and
wisdom of the maker Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
I give thanks to Thee, O Lord Creator, Who hast
delighted me with Thy makings and in the works of
Thy hands have I exalted. Johannes Kepler
(1571-1630)
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Founders of Science Praise the Creator

The laws of nature give clear testimony of a
lawgiver Nature is written in the language of
mathematics Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
This most beautiful system of sun, planets, and
comets could only proceed from the counsel and
dominion of an intelligent and powerful
Being. Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
Astronomer by Candlelight Gerrit Dou 1665
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Science needs God
Physicist Paul Davies For 300 years, science
has based itself on materialism, leading
inevitably to atheism and the meaninglessness of
physical existence. Even the most atheistic
scientist accepts as an act of faith that the
universe is not absurd, that there is a rational
basis to physical existence. So science can
proceed only if the scientist adopts an
essentially theological worldview.
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Materialism is a belief
Richard Lewontin, biologist We take the side of
materialism - in spite of the patent absurdity of
some of its constructs, because we have a prior
commitment to materialism... We are forced by
our a priori adherence to material causes to
create a set of concepts that produce material
explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive,
Moreover, that materialism is absolute, for we
cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door... To
appeal to an omnipotent deity is to allow that at
any moment the regularities of nature may be
ruptured, that miracles may happen.

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Why believe in materialism?
John Searle, philosopher How can so many
philosophers and scientists say so many things
that seem obviously false? Acceptance of the
current views is motivated not so much by an
independent conviction of their truth as by a
terror of what are apparently the only
alternatives.
The choice we are tacitly left with is between a
"scientific" approach-- Materialism and an
"antiscientific" approach--some traditional
religious conception of the mind.

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The fear of God
Thomas Nagel, philosopher I am talking about
the fear of religion itself. I speak from
experience, being strongly subject to this fear
myself I want atheism to be true and am made
uneasy by the fact that some of the most
intelligent and well-informed people I know are
religious believers.
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The Last Judgment Michelangelo
The fear of God
Thomas Nagel, philosopher It isn't just that I
don't believe in God. It's that I hope there is
no God! I don't want there to be a God I don't
want the universe to be like that. . . My guess
is that this cosmic authority problem is
responsible for much of the scientism of our
time it supports the ludicrous overuse of
evolutionary biology to explain everything about
life, including everything about the human mind.
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The tower of modernity
consumerism
economics
technology
science
human autonomy
Tower of Babel Pieter Bruegel 1563
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Rationality is Not the Issue
Richard Rorty, postmodern philosopher I do not
think that Christian theism is irrational. I
entirely agree that it is no more irrational than
atheism. Irrationality is not the question,
but rather, desirability.
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Post-modern Blues
Atheistic existentialismstates that if God does
not exist then man is only what he makes of
himself. Jean-Paul Sartre
It is very distressing that God does not exist,
because all possibility of finding values
disappears along with Him. Hence, man is
forlorn, because neither within him nor without
does he find anything to cling to.
Jean-Paul Sartre
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The Demise of Reason
Critical human reason, once uncorked, is an
insatiable acid that dissolves all absolutes,
eventually eroding its own foundation.
The Dream of Reason Produces Monsters Francesco
Goya 1799
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Is Truth Dead?
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) "God is dead,
we have killed him science has killed him . .
. science has killed Truth." Where is the
debater of the age? Has not God made foolish the
wisdom of the world? 1 Cor.120
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The Futility of Atheism
The centre of me is always and eternally a
terrible pain--a curious wild pain--a searching
for something beyond what the world contains,
something transfigured and infinite Bertrand
Russell
The soul finds no rest until it finds its rest in
God Augustine
Man has a God-shaped void that only God can
fill Blaise Pascal
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A long war against God
Rebellion in paradise You will not die. For God
knows that when you eat of it your eyes shall be
opened, and you will be like God, knowing good
and evil. (Gen.3 4-5) Consequences Since they
exchanged the truth about God for a lie and
worshipped and served the creature rather than
the CreatorGod gave them up to a debased mind
and improper conductClaiming to be wise, they
became fools... (Romans 1) God shall send them a
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
that all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2
Thess. 211)
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Christian warfare

• Be prepared
• Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be
  able to stand against the schemes of the
  devilthe belt of truth, breastplate of
  righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of
  salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
  the word of God. Ephesians 6
• 2. Be thoughtful
• For the weapons of our warfare are not of the
  flesh but have divine power to destroy
  strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty
  opinion raised against the opinion of God, and
  take every thought captive to obey Christ. II
  Corinthians 10 4-5
• 3. Be discerning
• Do not be conformed to this world, but be
  transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by
  testing you may discern what is the will of God,
  what is good and acceptable and perfect.
  Romans122

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The Need for Consistency

• ? Worldviews come as package deals, as
  all-encompassing systems
• ? You shall love the Lord your God with all your
  heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 1230)
• ? No one can serve two masters (Matt.624)
• ? Compromising Christianity with naturalism
  introduces an inconsistency that will eventually
  undermine our commitment to God
• ? We destroy arguments raised against the
  knowledge of God and take every thought captive
  to Christ (2 Cor.104)

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Apologetics Defending the Faith

• Two aspects
• 1. Defense clarifying the Biblical worldview
• Be ready always to give an answer to every man
  that asks you a reason for the hope that is in
  you with meekness and fear" (I Pet.315).
• Positively - proclaiming the gospel, clear up
  misunderstandings, respond to objections.
• Outline how the biblical worldview offers a
  cohesive and comprehensive explanation of
  reality, particularly concerning man, with all
  his problems.

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Apologetics Defending the Faith

• 2. Offense Show deficiencies in other
  worldviews
• Unmask the foolishness of unbelief.
• "For the preaching of the cross is to them that
  perish foolishness...I will destroy the wisdom of
  the wise" (I Cor.118 -19).
• Hence we must be busy with, "Casting down
  imaginations and every high thing that exalts
  itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
  into captivity every thought to the obedience of
  Christ" (2 Cor.105).

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Presuppositional Apologetics

• Transcendental Argument for Christianity
  Cornelius van Til The Defense of the Faith
  (1967).
• 1. Stress worldview presuppositions.
• 2. Show that the Christian worldview gives a
  coherent explanation of man and his experiences.
• 3. Show that the unbeliever's worldview makes
  nonsense out of history, science and even
  reasoning itself.

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Presuppositional Apologetics

• ? The transcendental argument is primarily a
  reductio ad absurdum of the unbeliever's
  worldview.
• ? Only the truth of Christianity can rescue
  meaningful logic, science, and morality
• ? Only Christianity provides the philosophical
  basis necessary for man's reasoning and knowledge
  in any field whatever.

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Conclusions
? Science is worldview-driven ? Worldviews are
based on presuppositions ? Naturalism
Post-modernity are ultimately self-refuting ?
Christianity gives coherence, meaning, purpose
hope ? A heart choice obey or rebel? For the
day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone
who is proud and loftyand the haughtiness of man
shall be made low and the Lord alone shall be
exalted in that day. (Isaiah 212, 17)
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The Challenge
? To articulate your worldview What are your
most basic beliefs, presuppositions, and
priorities? ? To work it out consistently World
views come as package deals, as all-encompassing
systems. Compromising Christianity with
naturalism introduces an inconsistency that
will eventually undermine your commitment to God.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, mind, soul and strength Mark 1230
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Gods Covenant Faithfulness
Rainbow over Niagara Falls Steve Jones,Ontario
We know that in everything God works for good
with those who love Him, who are called according
to His purpose. Romans 828