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Apologetics in Academia: Bringing the Gospel to the University
Dr. Neil ShenviDuke University
Talk outlineI. From Pharisee to ChristianII. The post/modern worldview
A. NaturalismB. RelativismC. ScientismD. Pluralism
III. Obstacles in academiaA. Intellectual prideB. Cultural pressureC. Self-sufficiency
IV. Engaging academiaA. The God who is thereB. The TrilemmaC. The gospel
V. Practical tipsA. Live out the gospelB. Never jeopardize credibilityC. Always point to Jesus
From Pharisee to Christian
From Pharisee to Christian
From Pharisee to Christian
From Pharisee to Christian
From Pharisee to Christian
From Pharisee to Christian
Talk outlineI. From Pharisee to ChristianII. The post/modern worldview
A. NaturalismB. RelativismC. ScientismD. Pluralism
III. Obstacles in academiaA. Intellectual prideB. Cultural pressureC. Self-sufficiency
IV. Engaging academiaA. The God who is thereB. The TrilemmaC. The gospel
V. Practical tipsA. Live out the gospelB. Never jeopardize credibilityC. Always point to Jesus
Naturalism is the belief that nature is all that exists
• What is nature?• How do we know that nature is all that exists?• Hume’s paradox: could any report of a truly
supernatural phenomenon overturn naturalism?
Relativism is the belief that good and evil are social constructs
• How do we know that objective moral values and duties do not exist?
• Is social outrage consistent with moral relativism?
• Is a moral emotional life (empathy, guilt, duty) consistent with moral relativism?
Scientism is the belief that science is the only way to know truth
Science is the only way to know truth
Do you know that truth through science?
Pluralism is the belief that all religions are equally true
Talk outlineI. From Pharisee to ChristianII. The post/modern worldview
A. NaturalismB. RelativismC. ScientismD. Pluralism
III. Obstacles in academiaA. Intellectual prideB. Cultural pressureC. Self-sufficiency
IV. Engaging academiaA. The God who is thereB. The TrilemmaC. The gospel
V. Practical tipsA. Live out the gospelB. Never jeopardize credibilityC. Always point to Jesus
Intellectual pride: we often assume that expertise in one area entails expertise in all areas
I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of how
awesome I am
Cultural pressure: academia is generally hostile towards -and suspicious of- evangelical Christianity
Tobin and Weinberg, Religious Beliefs Behavior of College Faculty (2007).
1,269 faculty members were asked: “What are your overall feelings toward the following groups using a scale of 0-100, which goes from 100, very warm or favorable feeling, to 50, neutral, to 0, very cold or unfavorable?”
Cultural pressure: academia is generally hostile towards -and suspicious of- evangelical Christianity
Yancey, Youtube video: “Anti-Christian Bias in Academia and Beyond” (2013).
Self-sufficiency: success hardens us against grace
Talk outlineI. From Pharisee to ChristianII. The post/modern worldview
A. NaturalismB. RelativismC. ScientismD. Pluralism
III. Obstacles in academiaA. Intellectual prideB. Cultural pressureC. Self-sufficiency
IV. Engaging academiaA. The God who is thereB. The TrilemmaC. The gospel
V. Practical tipsA. Live out the gospelB. Never jeopardize credibilityC. Always point to Jesus
If the biblical God exists, then the implications are drastic
Lewis’ Trilemma confronts us with the central question of Christianity: who is Jesus?
The gospel itself provides an existential argument for Christianity
Talk outlineI. From Pharisee to ChristianII. The post/modern worldview
A. NaturalismB. RelativismC. ScientismD. Pluralism
III. Obstacles in academiaA. Intellectual prideB. Cultural pressureC. Self-sufficiency
IV. Engaging academiaA. The God who is thereB. The TrilemmaC. The gospel
V. Practical tipsA. Live out the gospelB. Never jeopardize credibilityC. Always point to Jesus