Science and worldviewsScience and worldviews

Review from last week Review from last week ……

Resource listResource list

Specific topics of interestSpecific topics of interest

Larry’s summary of the Larry’s summary of the lessonlesson

What is a worldview?What is a worldview? Basic philosophy that explains:Basic philosophy that explains:

Why the world/universe is the way it isWhy the world/universe is the way it is The place, purpose, and value of other The place, purpose, and value of other

people in the worldpeople in the world My own place in the worldMy own place in the world

A religion is just a worldview based on A religion is just a worldview based on god/gods, an ideal, or on the spiritualgod/gods, an ideal, or on the spiritual

Based on this definition of religion, Based on this definition of religion, what are some examples of various what are some examples of various worldviews?worldviews?

What worldview do we believe in?What worldview do we believe in? Acts 17:24-28Acts 17:24-28 Galatians 4:4-5Galatians 4:4-5

What is a worldview?What is a worldview?

Implications of a worldviewImplications of a worldview

Center – What is here?

Beliefs – What is true?

Values – What is important?

Confession – What is the summation of beliefs?

Behavior – What are the actions?

Artifacts – What are the material possessions?

WORLDVIEW DIAGRAM

What is science?What is science? Study and conclusions of how and why Study and conclusions of how and why

the physical world worksthe physical world works i.e., cause and effecti.e., cause and effect Based on observationBased on observation Cannot answer the question of the first causeCannot answer the question of the first cause

Two categories of scienceTwo categories of science Repeatable science (testable)Repeatable science (testable) Historical science (non-testable or Historical science (non-testable or

hypothetical)hypothetical)

God and scienceGod and science

Science is not the enemyScience is not the enemy

What the Bible tells us about God’s What the Bible tells us about God’s creationcreation Colossians 1:17Colossians 1:17 First sentence of the Nicene CreedFirst sentence of the Nicene Creed Genesis 1:4-5Genesis 1:4-5 Acts 14:17Acts 14:17 Psalm 104: 1-5Psalm 104: 1-5 Job 38:31-33Job 38:31-33

Examples of types of Examples of types of sciencescience

Testable scienceTestable science Can be tested over and overCan be tested over and over

E.g., Theory of gravity, chemical reactions, E.g., Theory of gravity, chemical reactions, human behaviorhuman behavior

Hypothetical scienceHypothetical science Tells a story based on already existing Tells a story based on already existing

factsfacts E.g., Theory of evolution, paleontology, origin E.g., Theory of evolution, paleontology, origin

of lifeof life Both can overlap a great dealBoth can overlap a great deal

i.e., much testable science is couched in i.e., much testable science is couched in theories based on historical sciencestheories based on historical sciences

The Peppered MothThe Peppered Moth 1919thth century England century England Smoke from factories coated Smoke from factories coated

treestrees Result: fewer white moths and Result: fewer white moths and

more black moths survivedmore black moths survived

Interpretation:Interpretation: Evolutionists: Proof of Evolutionists: Proof of

rapid evolution to suit rapid evolution to suit an environmentan environment

Creationist: Proof of a Creationist: Proof of a God who designed his God who designed his creatures with enough creatures with enough genetic variation to genetic variation to adapt to new conditionsadapt to new conditions

Not a conflict between science Not a conflict between science and religion, but rather a and religion, but rather a

conflict between the center of conflict between the center of one’s worldviewone’s worldview

Implications of a worldviewImplications of a worldview

Center – What is here? God vs. ME

Beliefs – What is true? God’s word vs. man’s reason

Values- What is important? God’s commands vs whatever works

Confession- What is the sum of beliefs? Christ crucified vs. on our own

Behavior – What are the actions? Living for our beliefs,

e.g., understanding how the world works

Artifacts - What are the material possessions? Icythus vs. a Darwin fish on your car

WORLDVIEW DIAGRAM

Challenging a worldviewChallenging a worldview

Why do evolutions get so upset when Why do evolutions get so upset when Christians reject evolution?Christians reject evolution?

Why should we as Christians Why should we as Christians sometimes be more upset than we sometimes be more upset than we are about the doctrine of evolution?are about the doctrine of evolution?

Why do people reject God?Why do people reject God?

Romans 2:15Romans 2:15

Two reasonsTwo reasons 1. explaining the suffering in our fallen 1. explaining the suffering in our fallen

worldworld 2. being held accountable for one’s 2. being held accountable for one’s

actionsactions

SufferingSuffering““That sort of thing is revolting because it That sort of thing is revolting because it

passes our human understanding. But passes our human understanding. But perhaps we should love what we cannot perhaps we should love what we cannot understand.” Rieux straightened up slowly. understand.” Rieux straightened up slowly. He gazed at Paneloux, summoning to his He gazed at Paneloux, summoning to his gaze all the strength and fervor he could gaze all the strength and fervor he could muster against his weariness. Then he shook muster against his weariness. Then he shook his head. “No, father. I’ve a very different his head. “No, father. I’ve a very different idea of love. And until my dying day I shall idea of love. And until my dying day I shall refuse to love a scheme of things in which refuse to love a scheme of things in which children are put to torture.” children are put to torture.”

– – The Plague by Albert CamusThe Plague by Albert Camus

Answering to GodAnswering to God

““We affirm that moral values derive We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. their source from human experience. Ethics is autonomous and situational, Ethics is autonomous and situational, needing no theological or ideological needing no theological or ideological sanction.”sanction.”

- Humanist - Humanist Manifesto IIManifesto II

How do we respond?How do we respond?

Why is it hard for an atheist to Why is it hard for an atheist to maintain faith?maintain faith? Romans 1:20Romans 1:20

What is the basis of a Christian’s What is the basis of a Christian’s testimony to others?testimony to others? 1 Corinthians 1:18-251 Corinthians 1:18-25

WitnessingWitnessing

True conflict between evolution and True conflict between evolution and creation is the conflict between creation is the conflict between worldviewsworldviews

In order to combat evolution, you In order to combat evolution, you have to start at the center: the have to start at the center: the worldviewworldview

We must learn what, how, and why We must learn what, how, and why an evolutionist believes in order to an evolutionist believes in order to effectively witness to him or hereffectively witness to him or her