Rene Descartes “I think, therefore I am.”

Rene Descartes

“I think, therefore I am.”

Proverbs 23:7

As a man thinks within himself, so is he.

Cognitive Evaluation

Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by

faith from first to last, just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.” The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth

by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

Romans 1:16-19

For 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. For 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. Although they claimed to be

wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and

animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:20-23

Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with

one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Because of this, God gave them over to

shameful lusts … Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over

to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

Romans 12:24-28

They have been filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent,

arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do

such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 12:29-32

What may be known about God is plain to them,because God has made it plain to them.

Romans 1:19

For although they knew God, they neitherglorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him.

Romans 1:21

Two Types of Revelation

1. General revelation• Broad principles on display for all to see.• Nature displays a God of might, intelligence, and

intricate detail.• A God of order and beauty.• A God who controls powerful forces.

2. Special revelation• God speaks directly to you.• Usually happens through studying Scripture.• This is where we learn about God’s love, forgiveness,

and promise of eternal life.

For 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. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools … They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,

and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever praised.

Romans 1:21-22, 25

Idolaters worship the things God made rather than God Himself.

They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:23

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky … Let the land produce living creatures according to

their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind …

Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.”

Genesis 1:20, 24, 26

You are either worshiping or idolizing.

Harold Best

We were created continuously outpouring. Not that we were created to worship, but that we were created worshiping.

N.T. Wright

Christians are not defined by skin colour, by gender, by geographical location, or even, shockingly, by their good behavior. Nor are they defined by the particular types of

religious feelings they may have. They are defined in terms of the god they worship.

What are we worshiping?

What We Worship

GOD SOMETHINGELSE

okay?

What We Worship

GOD SOMETHINGELSE

They have been filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent,

arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Romans 12:29-31

Roco & Bainbridge, 2002Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance

“Understanding the mind and brain will enable the creation of a new species of intelligent machine systems that can

generate economic wealth on a scale hitherto unimaginable. Within a half-century, intelligent machines might create the wealth needed to provide food, clothing, shelter, education,

medical care, a clean environment, and physical and financial security for the entire world population.”

Roco & Bainbridge, 2002Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance

“Intelligent machines may eventually generate the production capacity to support universal prosperity and

financial security for all human beings. Thus, the engineering of mind is much more than the pursuit of scientific curiosity. It is more even than a monumental

technological challenge. It is an opportunity to eradicate poverty and usher in a golden age for all humankind.”

Tim ChalliesThe Next Story

“A heavenly vision of humanity – but one devoid of God. Technology has become our Savior.”

No problems = no need for God!

Carver YuTruth & Authentic Humanity

“What strikes us as a possible sign of cultural dilemma is the gulf between technological optimism and literary pessimism.

Amidst great scientific achievements of which the human person should be proud, we hear some of the most

passionate indictments against the human person as well as laments for the human condition among literary artists.”

The Degenerative Process

1. We reject God (1:21)2. We make up our own ideas of what a god should be and do

(1:22, 25)3. We fall into sin (1:26, 28)4. We grow to hate God (1:30)5. We encourage others to do the same (1:32)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. For in the

Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is

written, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17