session # 2. does absolute truth exist? a basic guide to christian apologetics
TRANSCRIPT
Session 1 Review – Slides # 1 - 23; Session 2 – Slides # 24 - ?
Does Absolute Truth Exist? A Basic Guide to Christian Apologetics
Welcome FriendsFPC Academy of Faith
Hey All: Thanks for attending our Sunday School Class on April 19th. I hope this copy of the PowerPoint for Session Two is helpful.
We want to encourage all adults to come and learn about the Bible on Sunday mornings. Please reach out to your FPC friends and anyone else who might not be in the habit of coming to class on Sunday mornings. We meet in the West Room at 9:45 AM.
Hope to see you next week.
Blessings, Kirk
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Thesis Statement
“Once one looks at the evidence, it takes more faith to be a non-Christian than it does to be a Christian.”
What is Christian Apologetics?
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology which attempts to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith against objections.
Name three things Christian apologists use to defend Christianity.
historical evidence
philosophical arguments
arguments from other disciplines
Sciences, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Archeology etc.
What is Christian Apologetics?
Apologists have based their defense of Christianity on historical evidence, philosophical arguments, and arguments from other disciplines like Science, Physics, Math, Chemistry plus others.
HomeworkCheck
Memorize the first three points of the The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True.
How did you do?
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2. The opposite of true is false.
3. It is true that the theistic God exists. This is evidenced by the :a. Beginning of the universe
(Cosmological Argument)b. Design of the universe
(Teleological Argument / Anthropic Principlec. Design of Life (Teleological Argument)d. Moral Law (Moral Argument
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True
Please Note 5 Points About the 12 Points
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is TruePlease Note 5 Points About the 12 Points
1. Twelve Points are not true by definition. Most points will need to be justified by evidence.
2. Our starting point is complete skepticism. We will try to start at the point where a person might not even believe in truth.
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True
Please Note 5 Points About the 12 Points
3. If our reasoning is sound it will disprove other religions where they differ with the Bible. This does not mean all other religions are completely false or have no truth. However, if the Bible is true, then any specific claim that contradicts the Bible must be false.
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is TruePlease Note 5 Points About the 12 Points
4. Christians should not be afraid to live their lives based on the truth. Christians do not get credit for being uninformed.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind” Matthew 22:37
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is TruePlease Note 5 Points About the 12 Points
5. If the Bible presents evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, than why don’t more people believe it? No amount of evidence can compel anyone to believe it. Belief requires assent of the mind and the will.
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True
1. Truth about reality is knowable.
2. The opposite of true is false.
3. It is true that the theistic God exists. This is evidenced by the :a. Beginning of the universe
(Cosmological Argument)b. Design of the universe
(Teleological Argument / Anthropic Principlec. Design of Life (Teleological Argument)d. Moral Law (Moral Argument
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True
4. If God exists, then miracles are possible.
5. Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
6. The New Testament is historically reliable. This is evidenced by:a. Early testimonyb. Eyewitness testimonyc. Uninvented (authentic) testimonyd. Eyewitnesses who were not deceived
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True
7. The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.
8. Jesus’ claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:a. His fulfillment of many prophecies about himselfb. His sinless life and miraculous deedsc. His prediction and accomplishment of his resurrection
9. Therefore, Jesus is God.
The Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True
10. Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.
11. Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.
12. Therefore, it is true that the Bible is the Word of God (and anything opposed to it is false).
Can Christian Apologists give 100% proof Christianity is true? No. An atheist cannot give 100% proof God does not exist either. But Christian Apologetics can give proof beyond a reasonable doubt, much more than an atheist can.
Lamb’s Players TheaterCoronado, California
John Stott. April 1921 – July 2011
Prager University VideoScientific Evidence/God
http://www.prageruniversity.com/Religion-Philosophy/God-vs-Atheism.html#.VSSnZrbVRVs
NASAAlien Life Will Be Found By 2025
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/08/nasas-head-scientists-predict-alien-life-will-be-found-by-2025
Questions, Comments, Concerns
Session 2. April 19th Can We Handle the Truth?
What Is truth? The Truth About Truth
Can Truth Be Known?
Can All Religions Be True?
Truth vs. Tolerance
“ Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.”- Winston Churchill
"What Is Truth?" - stylized inscription in Catalan, Barcelona at entrance to Sagrada
Familia Basilica.
Catalan, Barcelona Sagrada Familia Basilica
Google the word “Truth”
All People Want(Demand) Truth
From advertisers
From teachers
From politiciansFrom law enforcement officersFrom the government
From doctorsFrom books, news sources
From road signs
From food labels
From loved ones
From employers
From financial advisors
From the judicial systemFrom friends
Morality and Religious TruthNot So Much!
“That’s true for you but not for me”
Today’s CultureIt’s All Relative
Relative Truths or Absolute Truths
Many people today believe “All truth is relative.” This is a self-refuting statement.
This cannot logically be true.Self-refuting ideas or self-defeating ideas are ideas or
statements whose falsehood is a logical consequence of the act or situation of holding them to be true.
Relative Truths or Absolute Truths
If everything were relative (including truths), then it would be absolutely true (an absolute truth) everything is relative and that would be self-refuting.
Self- Defeating Truth Claims
“All Truth is relative”“Is that a relative truth?”
“There are no absolutes”“Are you absolutely sure?”
“It’s true for you but not for me!”Is that statement true just for you, or is it true for everyone?”
Relative Truths or Absolute Truths
Relative Truths
Does Absolute Truth Exist?
According to Geisler and Turek there are only absolute truths, no relative truths.
For an Example
Only Absolute TruthsAn Example:
Even truths that appear to be relative are really absolute truths. “I, Kirk Rogers was joyful on Sept. 4, 1997” (Abby’s birth) may appear to be a relative truth, but it is actually absolutely true for everyone, everywhere that Kirk Rogers had feelings of joy on that day.
Does Absolute Truth Exist? A Basic Guide to Christian Apologetics
Do we have an answer?
What Is Truth?For something to be true it must be a factually and logically correct statement.
Truth is not error.Truth is not self-contradictoryTruth is not deception
What is Truth?Truth is discovered, not invented.
Truth exists independent of anyone’s knowledge of it.(Gravity existed prior to Newton)
What is Truth?Truth is transcultural. If something is true,
it is true for all people, in all places, at all times. (2 + 2 = 4)
Truth is unchanging. Beliefs about truth may change, but not truth. (Earth is flat)
Truth is not affected by an attitude of one professing it.(An arrogant person does not make the truth he professes false, and a humble person does not make the error he professes true.)
What Is Truth?Beliefs cannot change a fact, no matter how sincerely they are held. (Sun revolves around the Earth or Earth revolves around the Sun)
All truth excludes their opposites.
All truths are absolute.
What is Truth?Beliefs vs. Truths. Many people
believe these are the same.
Contrary beliefs are possible.
Contrary truths are not possible.
What Is Truth?We can believe everything is true.
We cannot make everything true.
Can you come up with examples?
Do you feel this happens a lot today?
Saint Augustine - 354 C.E.- 430 C.E.Christian theologian and philosopher
“We love the truth when it enlightens us, but we hate it when it convicts us.”
John Stott. April 1921 – July 2011Preached at F.P.C. San Diego. Oct. 4, 1998
John Stott was an English Christian leader and Anglican cleric who was noted as a leader of the worldwide Evangelical movement.
John Stott. April 1921 – July 2011Preached at F.P.C. San Diego. Oct. 4, 1998
“Truth is the only authority.”
“Mind is the last stronghold of deciding Jesus is Lord.”
Can All World Religions Be True?
Religious Pluralism: The belief that all religions are true.
World Religions have more contradictory beliefs than complementary beliefs.
World Religions that are contradictory teach opposites.
Remember Point 2 of “The 12 points…?”
Can All World Religions Be True?
World Religions disagree on almost every issue.
Nature of God
Nature of humankind
Sin
Salvation
Can All World Religions Be True?
World Religions disagree on almost every major issue.
Heaven
Hell
Creation
Can All World Religions Be True?
Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in different versions of a theistic God.
Hindu and New Agers believe everything that exists is part of an impersonal, pantheistic force they call God.
Can All World Religions Be True?
Jews, Christians and Muslims believe evil is real.
Hindus believe evil is a complete illusion.
Can All World Religions Be True?
Christians believe a person is saved by grace, while all other religions, if they believe in salvation at all, teach some type of salvation by good works.
Definition of “good” and what one is saved from varies greatly.