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reason 4 faith. 4. f aith. r eason. January 17 th Knowledge, Tactics, Attitudes February 14 th God: the arguments February 28 th God: the arguments March 21 st Objections to belief April 18 th Problem of evil & suffering May 16 th Religious pluralism
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4 faith reason January 17th Knowledge, Tactics, Attitudes February 14th God: the arguments February 28th God: the arguments March 21st Objections to belief April 18th Problem of evil & suffering May 16th Religious pluralism June 14th Miracles / Resurrection [Sunday]
Objections to the existence of God Problem of evil and suffering Intellectual Metaphysical Logical [deductive ] Probabilistic [evidential ] How could an all powerful and all loving god allow evil to exist? Emotional
Objections to the existence of God Logical or Deductive objection It is not possible for an all powerful and all loving God to co-exist with evil. If God is all powerful he could arrange a world in which free creatures would always choose the good option. If God is all loving, He would prefer a world in which evil does not exist. Evil exists Therefore –God does not exist Contradiction Presumption
The Free Will Defence Just because God is all powerful does not mean that he can do anything. He cannot do things which are logically impossible.
Objections to the existence of God Probabilistic objection Background information God’s existence more likely that not. Chaos theory God may well have a morally sufficient reason for the nature of the world – evil and good.
Why Christianity is right! and all the other ‘isms are wrong.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Why Christianity is right! Hinduism Judaism Buddhism Mormonism Confucianism Sikhism Taoism Animism Pluralism
Pluralism Everyone has a right to their beliefs. One must not say that anyone else's belief is inferior or wrong.
Christianity is exclusive and particular 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.“ Acts 4 NIV
God is recognisable in nature and morality 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) Romans 2
Man’s response – the reality 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1 9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3
God’s rescue plan 21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3
John’s viewpoint 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3 11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5
Jesus viewpoint 8"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. Luke 12 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7
1450 -1750 Ferdinand Magellan Marco Polo Christopher Columbus Every society had its own religion Beliefs were relative to the society in which people were raised Made Christianity and its exclusive claim seem radical, dogmatic and cruel Widespread movement / telecommunications / internet - heightened sense of the diversity of religious belief.
Christian particularism Politically incorrect? Arrogant Culturally relative Argument ad hominem Genetic fallacy Pluralism does pose a significant challenge Fate of the unbelievers Heathen Unevangelised
Pluralism Unsophisticated All religions are basically saying the same thing There is some truth in all religions All roads basically point to God They are all equally valid
Islam Koran / Qur'an Muslims believe that this is God's unfiltered message—teaching them how to lead a good life and become a better, more moral people.
Manuel II Paleologos 14th-century Byzantine Christian emperor "The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war, he said, I quote: 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."' Pope Benedict XVI September 2006 The response?
Islam God: Personal. Omniscient / Omnipotent / Holy Man : sinful Heaven or Hell awaits each person after death Salvation must be earned by faith and righteous deeds Buddhism There is no God Reality; impersonal World; uncreated No enduring self and no immortality Life’s goal is annihilation of self Sin and salvation; irrelevant No need to seek forgiveness or cleansing from God God World Reality Man Moral values Salvation Diametrically opposed / Contradictory views
Pluralism Unsophisticated All religions are basically saying the same thing There is some truth in all religions All roads basically point to God They are all equally valid Ignorance
Pluralism Unsophisticated All religions are basically saying the same thing There is some truth in all religions All roads basically point to God They are all equally valid Sophisticated All religions are wrong! Just culturally relative ways of misconstruing reality Ignorance Arrogant Culturally relative Argument ad hominem Genetic fallacy
What about those who have not heard? • Separated from the Good news • Geography • History • Mentally Accident? would be could be God’s knowledge God knows everything that … will be
Truth - in classical philosophy Aristotle contemplating a ustof Homer, Rembrandt, 1653 Pluralism How can I say that Christianity is right and the others are wrong? Because reason and rationality demand it. 'to say of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not, is true.' Aristotle
Key facts – Key evidence 12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 1 Corinthians 15
Key facts – Key evidence Broken Roman Seal Large stone moved Empty tomb Roman guard - AWOL Grave clothes tell a tale Jesus' appearances confirmed … over 500 witnesses
There exists no document from the ancient world, witnessed by so excellent a set of textual and historical testimonies . . . Scepticism regarding the historical credentials of Christianity is based upon an irrational bias. Clark PinnockMcMaster University If the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt. FF Bruce Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism, University of Manchester "Had there been any tendency to depart from the facts in any material respect, the possible presence of hostile witnesses in the audience would have served as a further corrective." FF Bruce Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism, University of Manchester I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical. And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history . . . E. M. BlaiklockProfessor of Classics Auckland University
