This document summarizes a workshop on defending the Christian faith and worldview. It discusses how we got here through creation, examining two primary views of naturalism and Christianity. It explores implications of different ideas about creation and practical implications. It also covers Darwinism and the attacks on Christianity as well as intelligent design arguments. The workshop included a session on the philosopher C.S. Lewis and his defense of Christianity.
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REL228Workshop2
1. Workshop 2
Truth & Worldview
REL 228 - Defending
The Faith
The Impact of a
Christian Worldview
Glenn Johnson
2. 14:1
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust
also in me.
14:2
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I
would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place
for you.
14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I
am.
14:4
You know the way to the place where I am going."
14:5
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are
going, so how can we know the way?"
14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
BIBLICAL WISDOM & PRAYER
3. OVERVIEW
WS 1: What is Truth?
WS 2: How Did We Get Here?
WS 3: What Has Gone Wrong With The World?
WS 4: What Can We Do To Fix Things?
WS 5: How Now Shall We Live?
Defending The Faith:
The Impact of a
Christian Worldview
4. INDIVIDUAL NEWS ARTICLE PRESENTATIONSINDIVIDUAL NEWS ARTICLE PRESENTATIONS
Include In Your Presentation:
-Article Title and Where You Found It
-Brief Summary
-Why You Think It Supports/Attacks A Christian Worldview
-Not Everyone Will Be Called Upon To Present In Each Workshop
Defending The Faith:
The Impact of a Christian
Worldview
5. HOW WE GOT HERE: CREATIONHOW WE GOT HERE: CREATION
Defending The Faith:
The Impact of a Christian
Worldview
OR…
6. Two Primary Views on Creation
Naturalism Christianity
Natural—without God God created all things
No beginning Universe begun by G
Life created by “accident” God created life
Life has evolved God created all speci
Leads to humanism Leads to awe & worshi
of the one true Go
7. Christianity & Science Not In Conflict
1. Nature exists because it was created by God.
2. Love and honor are given to God by understanding
his handiwork.
3. God is perfect, thus his work functions in accord with
immutable principles.
4. Using our God-given powers of reason and observation
we ought to be able to discover these principles.
(Rodney Stark, For The Glory of God, Princeton University Press, 2003)
8. Myth of Christianity & Science Conflict
Denis Diderot & Jean D'Alembert compiled
de L'Encyclopedie (1751-72 – fiercely anti-cleric,
Promoted concept Dark Ages & Enlightenment)
John William Draper, president University of
the City of New York – History of the Conflict
between Religion and Science (1874)
Andrew Dickson White, founding president of
Cornell University - History of the Warfare of
Science with Theology in Christendom (1896)
Carl Sagan, Astronomer, The Demon Haunted
World: Science as a Candle in the Dark (1995)
9. Naturalism concludes that humans can achieve
The knowledge needed to become “god” and
Control the universe.
Star Trek: Wrath of Khan
“Genesis Project”
10. 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. 2
He was with God
in the beginning. Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made.
4
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness
has not understood it.
John 1
11. The observed basic characteristics of the cosmos
appear to be remarkably fine-tuned for producing life.
Anthropic Cosmological Principle
12. Physical ConstantsPhysical Constants
Magnetic Constant 4π × 10-7
N·A-2
= 1.2566 370 614... × 10-6
N·A-2
Newtonian constant of gravitation 6.6742(10) × 10-11
m3
·kg-1
·s-2
speed of light in vacuum 299 792 458 m·s-1
The premise of the fine-tuned universe assertion is that any small change in the twenty
or so physical constants would make the universe radically different:
13. The Universe isThe Universe is
PrecisePrecise
Expansion of the UniverseExpansion of the Universe
If larger, no galaxy formationIf larger, no galaxy formation
If smaller, universe collapsesIf smaller, universe collapses
before star formationbefore star formation
In fact, it’s precise to a factor ofIn fact, it’s precise to a factor of
1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (one1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (one
hundred quadrillion)hundred quadrillion)
Dr. Joong “Jonathan” Lee, Centurion (Biochemist)
14. Strong nuclear force – binds subatomic particles
2 percent stronger hydrogen would fuse too easily-no stars
Weak nuclear forces – allows radioactive decay, fission,
and fusion possible—slightly stronger and no planets
would have existed
Electromagnetic force – binds electrons to nuclei—slightly
weaker electrons would fly away—slightly stronger and
electrons couldn’t be shared, thus no molecules
Gravitational force – stronger and stars would be so hot
they’d burn out very quickly—weaker and fusion wouldn’t
ignite stars and generate planets
Even More Precise
15. Probabilities for Earth’s Existence
Kind of Way Out There…..: Dr Hugh Ross (Astrophysicist)
He took 123 separate parameters (factors) and calculated the odds that all
123 factors, which had to be present for the earth to exist as we know it,
could have come together—“just happened”—on their own
He computed an exact value for:
galaxy size, type, location,
birth date of the sun,
proximity of solar nebula to a supernova eruption,
number of moons,
mass and distance from moons,
tidal force,
axis tilt of planet,
planetary distance from star,
global distribution of continents,
thickness of planet crust,
atmospheric transparency, pressure, viscosity, carbon dioxide level,
amount of chlorine, cobalt, copper, fluorine, nickel, potassium (and many other elements in
the earth’s crust),
oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio,
volcanic activity
16. Probabilities for Earth’s Existence
Odds of planet that can support life:
The results of his calculation — of finding all 123 of his
parameters on a single earth are: “less than one chance in 10
to the 139th power (ten thousand trillion trillion trillion trillion
trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion) exists that
even one such planet would occur anywhere in the universe.”
Dr. Hugh Ross
17. “The odds against a universe like ours emerging out of
Something like the big bang are enormous..I think clearly
there are religious Implications whenever you start to
discuss the issues of the universe.”
Professor Steven W. Hawking
“A commonsense interpretation of the facts suggests that
a super Intellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as
chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces
worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one
calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming
as to put this conclusion beyond question.”
Sir Fred Hoyle, Astrophysicist
Conclusions of Prominent Scientists
19. Darwinism: The Attack on ChristianityDarwinism: The Attack on Christianity
Inherit The Wind
Ignorant
Christians?
•Insight into the myth that secularists
propagate: conflict between science and
religion
•Depicts how naturalists view Christians
as ignorant
•Wm Jennings Bryan: (Brady in movie)
read Origin of Species in 1906…and feared
it would be used to justify EUGENICS
(which found application with Nazi
Germany and today)
21. Principles of Darwinism
Mutation occurs within all species
imited resources, disease, and predation creates a
struggle for survival
ome mutations increase survivability
ariations that increase survivability are passed on to offspring
hese offspring tend to survive better and leave more offspring
(this is called natural selection)
nough mutations result in development of a new species
orces encourage divergence over time and elimination of
ntermediate varieties
22. Darwin’s Beliefs
Long before having arrived at this part of my work, a crowd of difficulties will have
occurred to my reader. Some of them are so grave that to this day I can never reflect
on them without being staggered ....….
“.....scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume on which the facts cannot be
adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directly opposite to those at which
I arrived.
“And to think that the eye could evolve "by natural selection seems, I freely confess,
absurd to the highest degree.”
“Why then is not every geological formation full of such intermediate links. Geology
assuredly does not reveal any finely graduated organic change, and this is the most
obvious and serious objection that can be urged against the theory.”
Often a cold shudder has run through me, and I have asked myself whether I may
have not devoted myself to a phantasy
Man in his arrogance thinks himself a great work. worthy the
interposition of a deity, more humble & I believe true to consider
him created from animals.
23. The Finch Mistake
Beaks vary from one season
to another due to food supply
5% variation between seasons
Finches begin favoring larger
beaks but then reverted to smaller
beaks
No correlation between beak size
and food availability
Indicating this as proof of
evolution doesn’t follow science
but rather ideology
24. Peppered Moth Deceit
Theory
White peppered moths prospered in normal
times
Black peppered moths prospered when trees turned
black from pollution
Birds were able to see them and preyed on them
Evidence came from experiments
Truth
Correlation doesn’t occur in wild
Moths hide under branches not on tree trunks
Primary predator bats not birds—birds don’t
see the same way we do
Pictures are taken by gluing moths on trees
26. Fossil Record Doesn’t Support Evolution
Different time periods, different geography, not in order fraud perpetrated
by Othniel C. Marsh (1874)
27. Macroevolution Conference at Chicago in 1980
Paleontologists to Darwinists: There is no evidence of
one species evolving to a new species.
28. Intelligent Design
1. The universe, earth, and life are so complex and the
probabilities against their existence so great that the
only reasonable explanation is that they exhibit an
intelligent design.
2. An intelligent design can only be the result of an
intelligent being.
3. That intelligent being is best explained by the Christian
God.
4. This is a wedge that opens a thought process that
can be used to challenge the naturalistic worldview.
29. 1. Both artifacts and natural objects display orderly adjustment of
constituent parts to each other.
2. Artifacts have this property as a result of being designed.
3. Of two classes of things, x and y, if the members of x and y share some
property p1, and members of x have p1 as a result of having a property
p2, then, probably, members of y have p1 as a result of having p2.
4. Therefore, natural objects display orderly adjustment of constituent
parts to each other as a result of being designed.
(Natural objects are designed.)
5. If natural objects are designed, then some god designed them.
6. If some god designed natural objects, then God designed them.
7. If God designed natural objects, then God exists.
8. Therefore, God exists.
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
David Hume-British Philosopher
30. Irreducible Complexities in Life
Michael Behe-Darwin’s Black Box
3 billion base pairs on single
human DNA molecule
Human eye
Bacterial Flagellum
240 distinct proteins
32. Author:
Theology and Falsification and The Presumption of Atheism
“I think that the most impressive arguments [for God] are
those supported by recent scientific discoveries," he said,
even contending that the argument for ‘intelligent design’
is enormously stronger than it was when I first met it.”
“I’m thinking of a God very different from the God of the
Christian and far and away from the God of Islam, because
both are depicted as omnipotent Oriental despots, cosmic
Saddam Husseins,” he said. “It could be a person in the
sense of a being that has intelligence and a purpose, I
suppose.”
Anthony Flew
• British Philosopher
• Prominent Atheist
33. Christian Views on Creation
Creation Science
• God created all things
• Young earth—30,000 years or less
• Six literal 24 hour days
• Literal interpretation of Genesis
• Noah and flood explain sedimentation & fossils
• No macroevolution
34. Christian Views on Creation
Progressive Creationism
• God created all things
• Old earth—4.5 billion years
• Days in Genesis may be millions of years
• Believe in Genesis but some verses must be
understood as figurative rather than literal
35. Christian Views on Creation
Theistic Evolution
• Little or no historical significance to Genesis
• Old earth
• God either created the evolutionary process or guides
the evolutionary process
• Some doubt that there were a literal Adam & Eve
• Accept almost all scientific evidence
36. Implications of Ideas About Creation
• View of God
• Humanity’s Purpose
• Sanctity of Life
• Origin of Sin
• Humanity’s Condition
• Humanity’s place in the universe
38. Application of Worldview Lesson
1. The evidence for creation is confirmed by Intelligent
Design. Look for complexities and ask the skeptic
to provide a natural explanation.
2. Naturalism and Darwinism are nothing more than
belief systems. Ask a person that believes these ideas
to explain why they must start with the assumption
that science must arrive at facts and theories that
exclude the existence of God. (This is a belief.)
3. The difference between Christians and their view of
creation are less important than understanding that
God created the world and everything in it.
39. At the moment, then, of Man's victory over Nature, we
find the whole human race subjected to some individua
men, and those individuals subjected to that in
themselves which is purely `natural'—to their irrational
impulses.
Man's final conquest has proved to be the abolition of
Man.
C. S
Lewis
40. 13
He who forms the mountains,
creates the wind,
and reveals his thoughts to man,
he who turns dawn to darkness,
and treads the high places of the earth-
the LORD God Almighty is his name.
Amos 4
17
Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
Job 4
43. TIME WITH LEWIS
•HIS INTELLECT
•ENCOUNTER WITH HOLINESS
•ELECTED TO OXFORD IN 1916
•BECOMING A THEIST
44. TIME WITH LEWIS
• LEWIS AS AN APOLOGIST….
1. Present the Christian faith to unbelievers
2. Defend the Christian faith on behalf of uneducated believers
3. Defend traditional orthodoxy
45. TIME WITH LEWIS
MERE CHRISTIANITY: Book 1
First Point: a universal moral sense, an agreed-upon standard of
morality runs throughout the human race
There are certain things that people have always regarded as
honorable or desirable behaviors
46. TIME WITH LEWIS
MERE CHRISTIANITY: Book 1
In 1943 England, he gave a series of radio
addresses focusing on the issues of
Christianity.
Spoke of the Law Of Nature
(objective right/wrong)
ROMANS 2:14-15; 3:20 and 23
-When Gentiles who have not the law do by
nature what the law requires, they are a law to
themselves, even though they do not have the
law. They show that what the law requires is
written on their hearts, while their conscience
also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts
accuse or perhaps excuse them . . . . For no
human being will be justified in [God’s] sight by
works of the law, since through the law comes
knowledge of sin . . . All have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God. (Revised Standard
Version)
47. TIME WITH LEWIS
MERE CHRISTIANITY: Book 1
Lectures later published as 3 books
and combined into “Mere
Christianity”
C.S. Lewis proves that "at the center
of each there is something, or a
Someone, who against all
divergences of belief, all
differences of temperament, all
memories of mutual persecution,
speaks with the same voice,"
rejecting the boundaries that
divide Christianity's many
denominations.
48. TIME WITH LEWIS
LEWIS REACTION: WHAT DO YOU
THINK?
What about Lewis’ observations of
universal Law of Nature?
Do you agree with Lewis when he
says that none of us are keeping
that Law of Nature?
How do you think that Lewis would
respond to contemporary moral
relativism of today (i.e., that
actions are right or wrong insofar
as they benefit me and “hurt” no
one else)
50. Workshop 3…Next Week
WS 3: The Problem of Evil
1. Write News Article Analysis: What has gone wrong with the world?
2. Write Movie Analysis Prepare a 5 minute presentation for Workshop
3. Provide a 2 minute synopsis and then spend 3 minutes comparing
and contrasting the movie’s worldview with a Christian worldview.
3. Keep working on worldview interviews. You should have identified a
person to interview by now and made arrangements to conduct the
interview.
4. Read: How Now Shall We Live: Chapters 15-21
5. Read: Mere Christianity: Book Three, Chapters 1-6
