dealing with the atheist, skeptic & intellectual presented by: kedron jones
TRANSCRIPT
Dealing With the Atheist, Skeptic & Intellectual
Presented By: Kedron Jones
A Brief History In Philosophy
• Philosophers have attempted to answer 3 foundational questions in life.
A Brief History In Philosophy
• Questions in Epistemology (i.e., How do we know what we know is true?).
A Brief History In Philosophy
• Questions in Metaphysic (What is the origin of the universe?).
A Brief History In Philosophy
• Questions in Ethics (i.e., What is good and what is evil?).
A Brief History In Philosophy
All Men Do Philosophy!!!
A Brief History In Philosophy
• The philosophical assumptions of Christianity were challenged.
Worldviews In Conflict
• “A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.”
-James Sire-
Worldviews In Conflict
• The book of Proverbs 26:4-5 gives us sort of a guideline for approaching the unbeliever.
Worldviews In Conflict
• “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself (v.4).”
• Solomon says not to answer the fool according to his worldview or you will be like him. God is our standard for all reasoning and we must answer him according to the Christian outlook on life.
Worldviews In Conflict
• “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes (v. 5).”
• Show the unbeliever that given his own worldview he cannot justify reality, knowledge, logic, morality, value, meaning, purpose or anything. You want to show him the outcome of his worldview when his principles are fully followed out. In this you’re answering a fool according to his folly to show him the error of his ways.
Dealing With The Atheist
• The atheist worldview is self-contradictory.
• God is a necessary being.
• Ultimately it takes more faith to be an atheist than a Christian.
Dealing With The Skeptic
• The Bible is reliable.
• Jesus Claimed to Be Both Fully Human and Fully God.
• Other worldviews are contradictory.
Dealing With The Intellectual
• The intellectual has a heart and mind problem.
• Try to avoid intellectual conversations and deal with their heart.
• It’s important to be patient and build a friendship.
Concluding Remarks
• C.S. Lewis said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because I see everything else.”
