Faith That Answers the Hard Questions

John Oakes, PhD

2010 ICEC

Christian and Other World Views

Jesus Christ: “I came to testify to the truth.”

Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?”

The Hard QuestionsThe Hard Questions

Evil: What is Evil and Why is There EvilEvil: What is Evil and Why is There Evil

Why is There Suffering?Why is There Suffering?

The Problem of JudgmentThe Problem of Judgment

The Problem of Sin.The Problem of Sin.

World ViewWorld View

One's world view is the One's world view is the perspective one uses to perspective one uses to process and interpret process and interpret information received about information received about the world.  the world. 

James W. Sire put it this James W. Sire put it this way, "A world view is a set way, "A world view is a set of presuppositions (ie. of presuppositions (ie. assumptions) which we hold assumptions) which we hold about the basic makeup of about the basic makeup of our world." our world." 

James W. Sire, James W. Sire, The Universe Next The Universe Next Door Door (InterVarsity Press, 1997)(InterVarsity Press, 1997)

A Jain World View

Other World Views: The Leading Philosophies Other World Views: The Leading Philosophies of Our Dayof Our Day

Naturalism/Scientism/MaterialismNaturalism/Scientism/Materialism

Postmodernism: The Loss of TruthPostmodernism: The Loss of Truth

Delos B. McKown:“Christianity is scientifically unsupported

and probably insupportable, philosophically suspect at best and disreputable at worst, and historically fraudulent.”

A “Good” World View DefinedA “Good” World View Defined

A. It is true.A. It is true. It is consistent with reality. It works.It is consistent with reality. It works.

B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really B. It answers satisfactorily the questions people really want answered.want answered.What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of What is prime reality/the ultimate cause/the nature of

God?) God?) What is my value as a human being?What is my value as a human being?What happens to a person at death? What happens to a person at death? How do we know what is right and wrong? How do we know what is right and wrong? What is my purpose? What is my purpose? What is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime What is the nature of my relationship, with the "prime

reality?" reality?"

C. It causes those who hold to it to be better people C. It causes those who hold to it to be better people than they would otherwise have been if they held to than they would otherwise have been if they held to competing alternative world views.competing alternative world views.

Naturalism/Scientism/MaterialismNaturalism/Scientism/Materialism

The belief that the only reliable or valid The belief that the only reliable or valid instrument to deciding the truth or even instrument to deciding the truth or even the value of any proposition is the the value of any proposition is the scientific method.scientific method.

No basis for ethics or morality, no No basis for ethics or morality, no supernatural, no God, no truth (except supernatural, no God, no truth (except that found by science), no consciousness, that found by science), no consciousness, no “I.” Justice is a figment of our no “I.” Justice is a figment of our imagination.imagination.

MaterialismMaterialism ““We exist as material beings in a material world, all We exist as material beings in a material world, all

of whose phenomena are the consequences of of whose phenomena are the consequences of material relations among material entities." In a word, material relations among material entities." In a word, the public needs to accept materialism, which means the public needs to accept materialism, which means that they must put God in the trash can of history that they must put God in the trash can of history where such myths belong.”where such myths belong.”

Richard LewontinRichard Lewontin Retrospective essay on Carl Sagan in the January 9, 1997 Retrospective essay on Carl Sagan in the January 9, 1997 New York Review of BooksNew York Review of Books,,

Postmodernism: The Loss of TruthPostmodernism: The Loss of Truth

Truth, if such a thing exists, is the property Truth, if such a thing exists, is the property of culture. There is no absolute truth. All of culture. There is no absolute truth. All truth is relative. It is created by societies. truth is relative. It is created by societies. There is no ultimate moral authority or There is no ultimate moral authority or moral absolute. moral absolute.

A Response to Naturalism/Materialism/ScientismA Response to Naturalism/Materialism/Scientism

It is a faith/religious belief based on circular It is a faith/religious belief based on circular reasoning.reasoning.

It cannot answer the questions human It cannot answer the questions human beings care about.beings care about.

It is patently and demonstrably false.It is patently and demonstrably false.

Does accepting naturalism make us better?Does accepting naturalism make us better?

Questions Science Can AnswerQuestions Science Can Answer

When?When? What?What? Where?Where? How many?How many? By what means?By what means?

Questions Science Cannot Answer:Questions Science Cannot Answer:(That Christianity Does Answer)(That Christianity Does Answer)

– Why am I here?Why am I here?– Is that the right thing to do?Is that the right thing to do?– How valuable am I?How valuable am I?– Does God exist? Does God act (theism)?Does God exist? Does God act (theism)?– Will that God respond if I pray?Will that God respond if I pray?– Do supernatural events (miracles) happen?Do supernatural events (miracles) happen?

- Why is there evil and suffering in the world? - Why is there evil and suffering in the world?

Materialism is Patently FalseMaterialism is Patently False

If Materialism/Naturalism is right then;If Materialism/Naturalism is right then;

““I” do not exist. Consciousness is just I” do not exist. Consciousness is just random moving around of chemicals.random moving around of chemicals.

No soul, no spirit, no non-physical reality.No soul, no spirit, no non-physical reality.

Life has no value. Human beings have no Life has no value. Human beings have no value. What is value?value. What is value?

Love is chemicals moving around (vs. God Love is chemicals moving around (vs. God is love)is love)

Naturalism is Patently False Because….Naturalism is Patently False Because….

The universe was created.The universe was created.

Life was created.Life was created.

The Anthropic Principle. The universe is The Anthropic Principle. The universe is ridiculously well fine-tuned for us to exist.ridiculously well fine-tuned for us to exist.

No one in their right mind can deny the No one in their right mind can deny the existence of right and wrongexistence of right and wrong

The Bible is inspired by God. The Bible is inspired by God.

Does Naturalism tend to make its believers better Does Naturalism tend to make its believers better people?people?

If the naturalist is right then:If the naturalist is right then:

Good and evil are meaningless ideas.Good and evil are meaningless ideas.

Our purpose, if it exists at all, is to pass on Our purpose, if it exists at all, is to pass on our DNA.our DNA.

Any kind of sexual behavior is as right as Any kind of sexual behavior is as right as any other. Stealing is probably good.any other. Stealing is probably good.

There is nothing inherently evil about There is nothing inherently evil about genocide, racism, slavery, etc.genocide, racism, slavery, etc.

Postmodernism: Cultural RelativismPostmodernism: Cultural Relativism

Truth: It is true for you, but it is not true Truth: It is true for you, but it is not true for me.for me.

Meaning, if it exists, lies in a community of Meaning, if it exists, lies in a community of believers.believers.

No rational way to discover which is the No rational way to discover which is the best world view.best world view.

Problems With PostmodernismProblems With Postmodernism

Self-refuting.Self-refuting.– If nothing is true, then postmodernism is If nothing is true, then postmodernism is

not true.not true.– Its authors insist on authorial privilege.Its authors insist on authorial privilege.

I do not care what they say, some things are I do not care what they say, some things are just true.just true.

Either God is real or he is not. Even if I Either God is real or he is not. Even if I cannot prove it one way or another.cannot prove it one way or another.

The Christian World View Is TrueThe Christian World View Is True

The Universe is RealThe Universe is Real

The creation is good.The creation is good.

Evil exists.Evil exists.

Despite what Naturalists say, there is a spiritual Despite what Naturalists say, there is a spiritual reality. For example, “I” exist. Consciousness is not reality. For example, “I” exist. Consciousness is not simply an epiphenomenon.simply an epiphenomenon.

Science and the Christian world view do not Science and the Christian world view do not contradict.contradict.

Christianity Offers Solutions to the Big Problems of Christianity Offers Solutions to the Big Problems of Human BeingsHuman Beings

The Problem of EvilThe Problem of Evil

The Problem of Suffering The Problem of Suffering

The Problem of DeathThe Problem of Death

The Christian World View Has Given Us:The Christian World View Has Given Us:

ScienceScience

Abolition of Slavery (Wilberforce)Abolition of Slavery (Wilberforce)

Civil RightsCivil Rights

Women’s RightsWomen’s Rights

Christian groups do a majority of all Christian groups do a majority of all benevolent work in the world (James 1:27, benevolent work in the world (James 1:27, Micah 6:8)Micah 6:8)

Two Good QuestionsTwo Good Questions

Does evil exist?Does evil exist?

If God is all-loving and all-powerful and all-If God is all-loving and all-powerful and all-good, then why is there evil?good, then why is there evil?

The answer: God’s love.The answer: God’s love.

Free Will: God Gives Us a ChoiceFree Will: God Gives Us a Choice

Why? Because he loves us.Why? Because he loves us.

The result: We rebelled and brought evil into the The result: We rebelled and brought evil into the world. Is this God’s fault? What is the alternative?world. Is this God’s fault? What is the alternative?

Deuteronomy 30:15-20Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Joshua 24:15Joshua 24:15

Free Will, An Illustration: The Prodigal Son

Apologetics and Evil: What are the Apologetics and Evil: What are the alternatives?alternatives?

Dualism: Good and Evil in an unending Dualism: Good and Evil in an unending more or less equal balancemore or less equal balance

Pantheism: The physical world is evil. Evil Pantheism: The physical world is evil. Evil is being tied down to the physical—it is is being tied down to the physical—it is missing the god-likeness in you.missing the god-likeness in you.

Naturalism: There is no evil.Naturalism: There is no evil.

Postmodernism: Evil??? Postmodernism: Evil???

Determinism/Fate God is the cause of evil.Determinism/Fate God is the cause of evil.

Christianity and the Problem of EvilChristianity and the Problem of Evil

Evil is very much real. Quite indirectly, it is Evil is very much real. Quite indirectly, it is the product of God’s love. God loved us so the product of God’s love. God loved us so much that he loved us and that he gave us a much that he loved us and that he gave us a choice. We chose evil, and thus evil came choice. We chose evil, and thus evil came into the world.into the world.

Remember your alternatives: Remember your alternatives: – Predestination/Determinism God is the cause of Predestination/Determinism God is the cause of

evil.evil.– Deny evil existsDeny evil exists– Physical creation is evil, but you are GodPhysical creation is evil, but you are God– An unending battle/balance between good and evil.An unending battle/balance between good and evil.

The Problem of SufferingThe Problem of Suffering

Suffering is not evil. Sin is evil, but much Suffering is not evil. Sin is evil, but much suffering is caused by our choice to sin.suffering is caused by our choice to sin.

Not all suffering is due to sin. (Job, John 9)Not all suffering is due to sin. (Job, John 9)

Christianity’s answer to suffering: Christianity’s answer to suffering: Compassion.Compassion.

Jesus Wept Jesus Wept

Matt 9:35-38Matt 9:35-38

Julian “the apostate.” (332-363) Julian “the apostate.” (332-363)

““Atheism (i.e. Christian faith) has been Atheism (i.e. Christian faith) has been specially advanced through the loving specially advanced through the loving service rendered to strangers, and through service rendered to strangers, and through their care for the burial of the dead. It is a their care for the burial of the dead. It is a scandal that there is not a single Jew who is scandal that there is not a single Jew who is a beggar, and that the godless Galileans a beggar, and that the godless Galileans care not only for their own poor but for ours care not only for their own poor but for ours as well; while those who belong to us look as well; while those who belong to us look in vain for the help that we should render in vain for the help that we should render them.”them.”

The Problem of JudgmentThe Problem of Judgment

Romans 3:10f There is no one righteous, not even Romans 3:10f There is no one righteous, not even one.one.

Revelation 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found Revelation 20:15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 21:8 …the fiery lake of burning sulfur. of fire. Rev 21:8 …the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Rev 20:10 … They will be This is the second death. Rev 20:10 … They will be tormented day and night for even and ever.tormented day and night for even and ever.

Does God choose to send us to hell? No! We choose Does God choose to send us to hell? No! We choose hell and God, in his justice, accepts our decision.hell and God, in his justice, accepts our decision.

Is suffering in hell literally eternal? Is joy in heaven Is suffering in hell literally eternal? Is joy in heaven literally eternal?literally eternal?

Love and JusticeLove and Justice

For God so loved the world…For God so loved the world…

The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23 The law of sin and death Rom 8:2The law of sin and death Rom 8:2

We like God’s love, but we are not so fired We like God’s love, but we are not so fired up about his justice.up about his justice.

When we reach heaven, we will understand When we reach heaven, we will understand and fully appreciate, on an emotional level, and fully appreciate, on an emotional level, God’s justice. Rev 11:17-18 Rev 16:5-6 God’s justice. Rev 11:17-18 Rev 16:5-6 The elders are thankful that God’s The elders are thankful that God’s judgement has finally come. You are just, O judgement has finally come. You are just, O God.God.

Attributes of GodAttributes of God

EternalEternal OmnipresentOmnipresent OmniscientOmniscient OmnipotentOmnipotent Righteous, HolyRighteous, Holy LoveLove JusticeJustice

God is not merely loving, he is loveGod is not merely loving, he is loveGod, in his awesomeness is fully love and fully God, in his awesomeness is fully love and fully

justjust

The Problem of SinThe Problem of Sin

God’s love met God’s justice at the cross. God’s love met God’s justice at the cross. As far as we are concerned, love won.As far as we are concerned, love won.

Romans 3:21-26Romans 3:21-26