reason4faith

1 Peter 3:13-16

Colossians 1:6-10

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

1 Peter 3:13-16”

“

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

Colossians 1:6-10”

“

3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5”

“

reason faith4Knowledge, Tactics, AttitudesGod: the argumentsGod: the argumentsObjections to beliefProblem of evil & sufferingReligious pluralismResurrection

Positive: presents a rational case for Christian truth claims.

• Natural theology

• Christian evidence

Apologetics apologia

Negative: deals with objections to those claims.

• Objections to God’s existence

• Objections to Christianity in particular

Positive Apologetics

Natural theologyGeneral revelation not special revelation

God has revealed himself in the world apart from his revelation in Scripture.

Provides evidence and arguments for God’s existence

It seeks to disqualify atheism or pantheism

Positive Apologetics

Natural theology

Arguments for the existence of God

Cosmological [contingency and temporal]

Teleological

Moral

Ontological

Positive Apologetics

Christian evidence

To get beyond mere theism we need to show that the god demonstrated by natural theology is in fact the Christian God.

• Fulfilled prophecy

• Jesus of Nazareth

• Jesus miracles and resurrection

Negative Apologetics

Objections to God’s existenceThe problem of evil and suffering

The logical version

The probabilistic version

The hidden-ness of God

Objections to Christianity in particularBiblical criticism

Religious pluralism

Tactical scenariosDetective Columbo approach

Ask a questionBuy time, get information, take control

What do you mean? Why hold that view?Burden of proof

How did you come to that conclusion.Tell me a little more about what you mean

Lead the discussion.I’m not sure I agree with you, why not think

about it this way…

Discussions with those who choose not to believe in God

Believing in God is like believing a fairy storyScience has disproved God or at least removed the need for God.

The the origin of life has been explained – it all resulted from blind chance.

The universe was not created – that is just nonsense – it has always been there.

Discussions with those who choose not to believe in God

Darwin sorted out the mystery of life with the theory of evolution.

Being a Christian is just believing in stuff which is fanciful, like leprechauns, the Loch Ness monster, Fairies or Santa Claus.

There is no real evidence for God’s existence – where is God?

Discussions with those who choose not to believe in God

Humans are just part of the animal kingdom – advanced apes!

Good and evil are just ideas which arose from human culture. Morality just provides a convenient way to live in harmony.

If an all powerful all loving God existed – there would be no pain and suffering in the world.

The existence of GodThe Kalām Cosmological Argument

Whatever begins to exist has a cause

The universe began to exist

Therefore ….

The universe has a cause

The existence of God

The Moral Argument

If God does not exist, objective moral values do not existObjective moral values do existTherefore ….

God exists

The existence of God

The fine-tuning of the universe is due to either physical necessity, chance, or design.

It is not due to physical necessity or chance.

Therefore

The universe is due to design

The Design Argument

The existence of God

Design in natureNeo-Darwinism

Mutation and natural selection

Fossil record

Origin of life

Irreducible complexity

Information

Why Christianity

is right!

Why Christianity

is right!

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

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

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

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

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

The evidence for the historical accuracy of the

record of the resurrection.

"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

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 - overcome

Grave clothes tell a tale

Jesus' appearances confirmed …

over 500 witnesses

Broken Roman Seal

Large stone moved

Empty tomb

Roman guard - overcome

Grave clothes tell a tale

Jesus' appearances confirmed …

over 500 witnesses

•A collection of first century Greek documents •No assumption as to their reliability other than the way any sources of ancient history would be regarded.

The problem is – the Bible is not reliable and you cannot take the content as history.

Author

Homer

Herodotus

Thucydides

Caesar

Tacitus

Pliny Secundus

Book

Iliad

History

History

Gallic Wars

Annals

Natural History

Written

800 B.C.

480-425 B.C.

460-400 B.C.

100-44 B.C.

A.D. 100

A.D. 61-113

Earliest copy

400 B.C.

A.D. 900

A.D. 900

A.D. 900

A.D. 1100

A.D. 850

Time Gap

c. 400 yrs.

c. 1,350 yrs.

c. 1,300 yrs.

c. 1,000 yrs.

c. 1,000 yrs.

c. 750 yrs.

New Testament 27 +50 yrs.

100 yrs.

225 yrs.

A.D.114(portions)A.D. 200(books)A.D. 325(complete)

A.D. 50-100

Authenticity and accuracyAuthenticity and accuracy

Authenticity and accuracyAuthenticity and accuracy

Series10

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Homer

Herodotus

Thucydides

Caesar

Tacitus

Pliny

643643

20

Authenticity and accuracyAuthenticity and accuracy

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

HomerHerodotusThucydidesCaesarTacitusPlinyNT

NT

5366

643

Homer

"In real terms, the New Testament is easily the best attested ancient writing in terms of the sheer number of documents, the time span between the events and the documents, and the variety of documents available to sustain or contradict it. There is nothing in ancient manuscript evidence to match such textual availability and integrity."

Ravi Zacharias

Accepted factAfter his crucifixion, Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea.   3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

1

Accepted factAfter his crucifixion, Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea.

This probably goes back at least to Paul’s fact-finding visit to Jerusalem around AD 36, when he spent two weeks with Peter and James.

 18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

Galatians 1

1

Accepted factAfter his crucifixion, Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea. • Earliest account – Mark

Smooth continuously running narrative.Age lends authenticity.

• As a member of the Jewish court that condemned Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea is unlikely to be a Christian invention.• No other competing burial story exists!

“one of the earliest and best attested facts about Jesus”

1

Accepted factJesus’ tomb was found empty by a group of his women followers.

The fact that women’s testimony was discounted in first century Palestine stands in favour of the women’s role in discovering the empty tomb.

Testimony of women was regarded as so worthless that it could not even be admitted into a Jewish court of law. [Josephus]Any later legendary story would certainly have made male disciples discover the empty tomb.

2

Accepted factJesus’ tomb was found empty by a group of his women followers.

The earliest Jewish allegation that the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body (Matt 28:15) confirms that the it was missing.

The location of Jesus burial place would have been common knowledge in Jerusalem.

“most exegetes hold to the reliability of the biblical statements

about the empty tomb.”

2

Accepted fact Multiple post mortem appearances of Jesus

It may be taken as historically certain that Peter and the disciples had experiences after Jesus’ death in which Jesus

appeared to them as the risen Christ.” Gert Lüdemann

he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also,

1 Cor 15

3

Accepted fact Disciples believed that Jesus was risen from the dead “some sort of powerful, transformative experience is required to generate the sort of movement earliest Christianity was . . . .”

Luke Johnson, Emory University

“that is why, as a historian, I cannot explain the rise of early Christianity unless Jesus rose again, leaving an empty tomb behind him.”

NT Wright

4

Accepted facts

• Disciples believed that Jesus was risen

• Multiple post mortem appearances

• Jesus’ tomb was found empty

• Jesus was buried by Joseph of Arimathea

Swoon theoryTwin theoryHallucination theoryWrong tombStolen bodyLegendQuranic account

Alternative ideas

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Acts 2:24

It has great explanatory scope

It has great explanatory power

It is plausible

It is not ad hoc or contrived

It is in accord with accepted beliefs

It far outstrips any of its rival hypotheses

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Acts 2:24

reason4faith

What atheists cannot explain …The origin of the universe out of nothingThe design of the universeThe source of the fine tuning in the universeThe explanation of the numerous constantsThe laws of logicThe laws of mathematicsThe laws of causalityThe origin of objective moral values The origin of human rightsThe origin and design of lifeThe origin of intelligenceThe origin of loveThe origin of beautyThe resurrection of Jesus from the dead

31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

Acts 17:29-31

Why do you believe what you believe?

Because it makes sense of the world

How do you show that what you believe is true?

Evidence and reason