Does Absolute Truth Exist? A Basic Guide to Christian Apologetics

First Presbyterian Adult Sunday School

Does Truth Exist? A Basic Guide to Christian Apologetics

Sundays April 12th thru May 24th

Led by Kirk J .Rogers

Thesis Statement

“Once one looks at the evidence, it takes more faith to be a non-Christian than it does to be a Christian”

What I am…

Follower of Jesus Christ

Middle School Teacher for 25 years

What I am not…

Pastor

Theologian

Christian Apologist

Book is basis for our class study together

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church Camarillo, CA * Est. 1913

Juan & Adolfo Camarillo

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church Camarillo, CA

Germany 1913Installed 1919

CatechismWed. Afternoon & Saturday Morning

Catechism (Greek) is a summary or exposition of doctrine and served as as learning introduction to the Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church.

First Confession and First Holy Communion

I learned the stories of the Christian Faith at an early age… but I will not accept them totally as true until later in life.

Thankful for to my parents and adults who taught me the Christian story. But all must decide for themselves if they accept them as true.

FPC San DiegoHousehold of Faith

FPC College Bible Study 1980’s

What is Christian Apologetics?

Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology which attempts to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defending the faith against objections.

What is Christian Apologetics?

Apologists have based their defense of Christianity on historical evidence, philosophical arguments, and arguments from other disciplines.

What is Christian Apologetics?

Faith Trumps Apologetics

Christian apologetics, proof, historical evidence is not a substitute for faith. Faith in the Creator God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is essential to our salvation.

You can still be saved (by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) without knowing any Christian apologetics.

So why should we be concerned with Christian apologetics?

So why should we be concerned with Christian Apologetics?

“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..”1 Peter 3:15

Help fellow believers be prepared to give reasons for their Faith in Jesus Christ

Help skeptics who are open to listening and evaluating the historical evidence of Christianity.

Religion and the (jigsaw puzzle) Box Top

Could you put this puzzle together?

What would help you?

Finding the Box Top to the Puzzle of Life

Wow! If only I had the time.

Five Most Consequential Questions in a Person’s Life

1. Origin: Where did we come from?

2. Identity: Who are we?

3. Meaning: Why are we here?

4. Morality: How should we live?

5. Destiny: Where are we going

Answers to the Big Questions of Life

Depends on the existence of God.

If God exists, there is ultimate meaning and purpose to your life.

If God exists, life has a real purpose – real right and wrong way to live your life.

Choices affect the here & now and eternity.

Answers to the Big Questions of Life

No God.

Life ultimately means nothing, no purpose, no right or wrong way to live it.

World Religions –Answer Box Top ???Three Major Religious Worldviews

Theism: God Made AllJudaism, Christianity, and Islam

Pantheism: God is AllZen Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age

Atheism: No God At AllReligious Humanism

TheismGod Made All

PantheismGod Is All

AtheismNo God At All

“One, who claims to be a skeptic of one set of beliefs is actually a true believer in another set of beliefs.”

Every religious worldview requires faith. Even the worldview that says there is No God! Atheism.

Refer back to our thesis statement: “Once one looks at the evidence, it takes more faith to be a non-Christian than it does to be a Christian”

Phillip E. Johnson. UC Berkeley law professor and author, father of the intelligent design movement.

Religious WorldviewsTruth Claims

Many truth claims can be evaluated through scientific and historical evidence.

Theists: Claim the Universe had a beginning.

Pantheists: Universe is eternal. Always existed.

Mutually exclusive claims. They can’t both be right.

Investigating nature, science, and history of the universe, we can conclude one view is right and one is wrong.

All Religious Worldview Require Faith – Even Atheism

Limited human beings, we do not possess the type of knowledge that will provide us with absolute proof of God’s existence or nonexistence.

Apologetics try to reach conclusions that are true beyond a reasonable doubt.

Empirical, forensic, and philosophical evidence strongly supports conclusions consistent with Christianity and inconsistent with atheism.

Prager University Video

http://www.prageruniversity.com/Religion-Philosophy/God-vs-Atheism.html#.VSSnZrbVRVs

Class Sessions Introduction: Finding the Box Top to the

Puzzle of Life

Can We Handle the Truth?

Why Should Anyone Believe Anything at All?

In the Beginning There was a Great SURGE

Class SessionsDivine Design

The First Life: Natural Law or Divine Awe?

New Life Forms: From Goo to You via the Zoo?

Mother Teresa vs. Hitler

Class SessionsMiracles: Signs of God or Gullibility?

D0 We Have Early Testimony About Jesus?

Do We Have Eyewitness Testimony About Jesus

The Top Ten Reasons We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth

Class SessionsDid Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?

Who is Jesus: God? Or Just a Great Moral Teacher

What Did Jesus Teach About the Bible?

Conclusion: The Judge, the Servant King, and the Box Top

The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True

Truth about reality is knowable.

The opposite of true is false.

It is true that the theistic God exists. This is evidenced by the :a. Beginning of the universe

(Cosmological Argument)b. Design of the universe

(Teleological Argument / Anthropic Principlec. Design of Life (Teleological Argument)d. Moral Law (Moral Argument

The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True

If God exists, then miracles are possible.

Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.

The New Testament is historically reliable. This is evidenced by:a. Early testimonyb. Eyewitness testimonyc. Uninvented (authentic) testimonyd. Eyewitnesses who were not deceived

The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True

The New Testament says Jesus claimed to be God.

Jesus claim to be God was miraculously confirmed by:a. His fulfillment of many prophecies about himselfb. His sinless life and miraculous deedsc. His prediction and accomplishment of his resurrection

Therefore, Jesus is God.

The Twelve Points That Show Christianity is True

Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.

Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.

Therefore, it is true that the Bible is the Word of God (and anything opposed to it is false).

The Twelve Points : That Show Christianity is True

Please Note Five Points

The Twelve Points : That Show Christianity is True

Please Note Five Points

1. Twelve Points are not true by definition. Most points will need to be justified by evidence.

2. Our starting point is complete skepticism. We will try to start at the point where a person might not even believe in truth.

The Twelve Points : That Show Christianity is True

Please Note Five Points

3. If our reasoning is sound it will disprove other religions where they differ with the Bible. This does not mean all other religions are completely false or have no truth. However, if the Bible is true, then any specific claim that contradicts the Bible must be false.

The Twelve Points : That Show Christianity is True

Please Note Five Points

4. Christians should not be afraid to live their lives based on the truth. Christians do not get credit for being uninformed. “Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind” Matthew 22:37

The Twelve Points : That Show Christianity is True

Please Note Five Points

5. If the Bible presents evidence beyond a reasonable doubt , than why don’t more people believe it? No amount evidence can compel anyone to believe it. Belief requires assent of the mind and the will.

The Twelve Points : That Show Christianity is True

Please Note Five Points

There is a difference between proving a proposition and accepting a proposition. Moral creatures are allowed free will. That includes the will to accept or reject Christianity.

The Twelve Points : That Show Christianity is True

Please Note Five Points

Evidence alone cannot convince someone to become a Christian. Some choose not to believe not because the evidence in lacking but because they don’t want to accept it.

“We humans have a fatal tendency to try to adjust the truth to fit our desires rather than adjusting our desires to fit the truth.”

Prager University Video

http://www.prageruniversity.com/Religion-Philosophy/God-vs-Atheism.html#.VSSnZrbVRVs

NASAAlien Life Will Be Found By 2025

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/08/nasas-head-scientists-predict-alien-life-will-be-found-by-2025

Next Week: Can We Handle the Truth?

“ Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.”- Winston Churchill

Next Week: Can We Handle

the Truth?

Next WeekCan We Handle the Truth?

What is truth? The Truth About Truth

Can Truth Be Known?

Can All Religions Be True?

Truth vs. Tolerance

End