Presuppositionalism

Session 6

THE DEFENSEOF THE FAITH

A particular method for defending the faith.

Presuppositionalism

pre = before, prior to in rank

supposition = a proposition made for explaining certain facts

ism = a system of beliefs

A presupposition is a belief or propositionthat we accept as true from the beginning; we use it as a foundational truth by which we prove or test other things.

What Is A Presupposition?

It is impossible to reason about anythingwithout using presuppositions.

Example

“Do you think logic exists? Prove it to me.”

What is wrong with this statement?

I don’t believe in logic.

Example

The ChairThe Chair

How would you prove to

someone that the chair actually

exists?

Can’t it be an illusion or a

hallucination?

“The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be.”

Atheism

Creator God “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Two Presuppositions

Two examples of how atheisticpresuppositions operate

1. The question of God’s existenceIn 1988, Christian apologist J.P. Moreland debated atheist scholar Kai Nielsen on the campus of the University of Mississippi

2. The Second Humanist Manifesto, or Humanist Manifesto II

1973, edited by Paul Kurtz and Edwin H. Wilson

Analyzing Example 1

What is Nielsen’s presupposition?

How does his presupposition control his view of the evidence?

What might he say if he were to see someone rise from the dead?

Analyzing Example 2

What does atheism’s presupposition rule out?

What about future discoveries?

The Christian Presupposition

God exists, and the Bible is His Word.(see Genesis 1:1)

You are assuming something which you need to prove.

Objection

Worldview

Every worldview makes use of faith commitments.

Only an omniscient being is exempt from faith commitments.

Because of the nature ofpresuppositional commitments,

are we at an impasse with non-Christians?

Is one presupposition as good as another?

How to Test Presuppositions

We test presuppositionsindirectly by looking

for internal consistency.

WHY DO YOU

BELIEVEWHAT YOU

BELIEVE

The Bible and Assumptions

If we assume, for the sake of the argument, that Genesis 1:1 is true, does Genesis 1:2 – Revelation 22:21 logically follow?

Assumption About the Universe

If we assume, for the sake of the argument, that the universe exists by chance, without purpose or design, and that the material universe is all that is, do laws of logic, morality, and science make sense?

Proof and Persuasion

Refers to a type of rational/logicalargument that joins propositions in a way which leads to some sort of indisputable truth.

Proof

Proof and Persuasion

Refers to a person becoming convinced of something. Many times a perfect proof fails to persuade because we are dealing with spiritual matters and emotional beings.

Persuasion

Apologetics

We know God exists because…

We know the Bible is God’s word because…

We know Jesus Christ is Lord because…

Examples of Challenges (Apologetics)

God is unjust (the problem of evil)

Christianity is intolerant (contra pluralism)

It is true for you, not for me (postmodernism)

Disproved by science (evolution)

The Bible is not God’s Word (skepticism)

The universe is naturalistic (atheism)

Conclusion

The great thing about presuppositional apologetics is that you do not have to be a professionally trained scientist,

historian, philosopher or theologian to make a powerful case for Christianity.

Creation Training Initiative

Provide reasons for believing that Christianity’s core presupposition is

completely trustworthy. Our faith commitments are reasonable because of

our presuppositions. The faith commitments of non-Christians, based on their presuppositions, are not reasonable.

End Session 6