reason4faith

reason faith4January 17th Knowledge, Tactics, AttitudesFebruary 14th God: the argumentsFebruary 28th God: the argumentsMarch 21stObjections to beliefApril 18th Problem of evil & sufferingMay 16th Religious pluralismJune 14th Miracles / Resurrection[Sunday]

Objections to the existence of God

Problem of evil and sufferingIntellectual

Logical [deductive ] Probabilistic [evidential ]

How could an all powerful and all loving god allow evil to exist?

Metaphysical

Emotional

Objections to the existence of God

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 existsTherefore –God does not exist

Logical or Deductive objection

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.

Probabilistic objection

Background informationGod’s existence more likely that not.Chaos theoryGod may well have a morally sufficient reason for the nature of the world – evil and good.

Objections to the existence of God

Why Christianity

is right!

Why Christianity

is right!

and all the other ‘isms are wrong. and all the other ‘isms are wrong.

"I am the way and the truth and the life.

John 14:6

"I am the way and the truth and the life.

John 14:6

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

"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!

Mormonism

Mormonism

Hinduism

Hinduism

Judaism

Judaism

Buddhism

Buddhism

Sikhism

Sikhism

TaoismTaoism

Confucianism

Confucianism

Animism

Animism

Pluralism

PluralismPluralismEveryone has a right to their beliefs.

One must not say that anyone else's belief is inferior or wrong.

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

Christianity is exclusive and particular

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

God is recognisable in nature and morality20For 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

Man’s response – the reality

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

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

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

God’s rescue plan

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

John’s viewpoint

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

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

Jesus viewpoint

1450 -1750

Every society had its own religionBeliefs were relative to the society in which people were raisedMade Christianity and its exclusive claim seem radical, dogmatic and cruelWidespread movement / telecommunications / internet

- heightened sense of the diversity of religious belief.

Marco PoloFerdinand Magellan Christopher Columbus

Christian particularism Politically incorrect?

ArrogantCulturally relative

Argument ad hominemGenetic fallacy

Pluralism does pose a significant challengeFate of the unbelievers

HeathenUnevangelised

Be inclusive and

tolerant

PluralismUnsophisticated

All religions are basically saying the same thingThere is some truth in all religions All roads basically point to GodThey are all equally valid

Koran / Qur'anMuslims believe that this is God's unfiltered message—teaching them how to

lead a good life and become a better, more moral people.

Islam

Islam

"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 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

Manuel II Paleologos 14th-century Byzantine Christian emperor

Manuel II Paleologos 14th-century Byzantine Christian emperor

The response?The response?

The response?The response?

Buddhism

IslamGod: Personal. Omniscient / Omnipotent / HolyMan : sinfulHeaven or Hell awaits each person after deathSalvation must be earned by faith and righteous deeds

BuddhismThere is no GodReality; impersonalWorld; uncreatedNo enduring self and no immortalityLife’s goal is annihilation of selfSin and salvation; irrelevantNo need to seek forgiveness or cleansing from God

God World Reality

ManMoral values

Salvation

Diametr ica l ly opposed / Contradictory v iews

PluralismUnsophisticated

All religions are basically saying the same thingThere is some truth in all religions All roads basically point to GodThey are all equally valid Ign

orance

PluralismUnsophisticated

All religions are basically saying the same thingThere is some truth in all religions All roads basically point to GodThey are all equally valid

SophisticatedAll religions are wrong!Just culturally relative ways of misconstruing reality

ArrogantCulturally relative

Argument ad hominemGenetic fallacy

Ignora

nce

What about those who have not heard?

Separated from the Good news

• Geography

• History

• Mentally Accident?

God’s knowledgeGod knows everything that …

could be

would be

will be

PluralismPluralismHow can I say that Christianity is right and the others are wrong?

Because reason and rationality demand it.

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

Truth - in classical philosophy

Aristotle contemplating a ust of Homer, Rembrandt, 1653 Aristotle contemplating a ust of Homer, Rembrandt, 1653

Key facts – Key evidenceKey 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

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 evidenceKey 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

Broken Roman Seal

Large stone moved

Empty tomb

Roman guard - AWOL

Grave clothes tell a tale

Jesus' appearances confirmed …

over 500 witnesses

"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

"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. Blaiklock Professor of Classics Auckland University

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. Blaiklock Professor of Classics Auckland University

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 Pinnock McMaster University

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 Pinnock McMaster 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

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

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