TrueU - Lesson 1 - Faith & Reason

The Unauthorized Outline Notes for TrueU
DOES GOD EXIST? //01
01 - Faith & Reason

BIG QUESTIONS:
- Does God exist?
- Who is God?
- Is the Bible reliable?

From the point of
- Evidence
- Logic
- Reason

“Without an infinite reference point
nothing finite has any lasting meaning.”
-- Jean-Paul Sartre

SORT OUT THE BIG ISSUES:

- Is there purpose in the universe?
- Is there a God?
- Can you know Him?

WALKING BY FAITH AND BY SIGHT

FAITH
When you think of faith, what is the connotation that you associate with that term?

Definition of faith
1. Belief in something uncertain
2. Belief in presuppositions
3. Trust or belief in God’s presence and power
4. Belief in a system of thought, a personal philosophy, a worldview
 
SEEING THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY
What is the definition of a worldview?

WORLDVIEW QUESTIONS ARE ABOUT:
- What is the nature of ultimate reality?
- What is the nature of human nature?
- What is the nature of the world around us?

Most Important Question
What is the prime reality?
- What’s the THING from which EVERYTHING else comes?

What is some of the possible answers?

Stuff in the Physical Universe

Pendulum Representing the
Laws of Nature

Matter is the Prime Reality
MATERIALIST SAY:
Matter and energy are the thing from which everything else came.












A personal God is the prime reality
Classic Theist believe God Created the World,
He Upholds His creation and He sometimes enters
or acts as an agent within His creation.













A personal but remote God is the prime reality.
Modified Theism – God created the world, but then
left it or is not involved within the creation












An Impersonal god is the prime reality.
Mystical idea of god is with everything.












THE REASON FOR REASON

- DEDUCTIVE: General rule to a particular case
to get a certain outcome
All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Socrates is mortal and will die

- INDUCTION: Generalization from observation
See a number of cases and make statements based
on observation

- ABDUCTION: Effects back to causes
If A, then C
C Occurred
A Occurred

But this form of reasoning cannot be absolute
If it rains, the
streets will be wet
The Streets are wet.
Therefore, it rained.

There may be more than one cause of the same effect

- INFERENCE TO THE BEST EXPLANATION
The best explanation is one that provides the
most adequate CAUSAL explanation.
 

Multiple Competing Hypotheses
Effect


Cause1 Cause2 Cause3


Adjudicate: to hear and settle (a case) by judicial procedure
Beyond a reasonable doubt

A common form of reasoning used in science, law and philosophy.











… always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
-- 1 Peter 3:15

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord
-- Isaiah 1:18