1. Philosophy and God

2. Theism – the assertion that there is a God theos = God (Greek) –Implications: o Life here on earth has an eternal dimension. o Purpose of life is to love God in an eternal relationship.

3. Philosophy and God Atheism –There is no God. –Implications: o All meaning derives from human values. o The purpose of life is what we bring to it. o The purpose of my life is what I decide it should be.

4. Philosophy and God Agnosticism –it cannot be known whether God exists or not. –gnosis = knowledge (Greek)

5. Philosophy and God Polytheism –There are many gods. –Implications: o Rather than focusing all of life around a single center of value, as monotheism does, this idea presents life in fragments. o One never experiences life as a whole – only a little at a time.

6. Philosophy and God Monotheism –There is one God. –Implications: o Tries to relate all the fragments of life to a single center.

7. Philosophy and God Pantheism –God is everything and everything is God. –God and the universe are identical. –Implications: o God cannot be understood as separate from the universe. o To know nature is to know God. o Life is about exploring and seeking to understand the divine within the world and within oneself.

8. Other Perspectives Deism –An impersonal, mechanical genius began the world and has since left it alone. –Implications: o Popular in the late 18 th century. o Tried to make religion compatible with the new scientific understanding of nature. o Rejects revelation, miracles, the divine nature of Jesus, etc. Philosophy and God

9. Copernicus (1473-1543) –On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres –demonstrated the earth is not the center of the universe. Philosophy and God

10. ̶ Inventor of calculus. ̶ Wrote Mathemacical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687) Philosophy and God Isaac Newton (1642-1726)

11. Laws of Physics First law – Inertia. Third law – for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. Philosophy and God Isaac Newton (1642-1726)

12. ̶ Founding Father, author, inventor, politician, printer… ̶ Deist. Philosophy and God Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

13. Philosophy and God ̶ Founding Father ̶ Third President ̶ Author of Declaration of Independence ̶ Deist Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

14. When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

15. Pascal’s Wager Blaise Pascal – 17 th cen. Mathematician I believe God exists I don’t believe God exists God exists God doesn’t exist Win! Lose! Meh

16. Pascal’s Wager Blaise Pascal – 17 th cen. Mathematician I believe the plane will crash I don’t believe the plane will crash The plane crashes The plane doesn’t crash Win! Lose! Meh

17. Two basic methods exist to discover truth –Reason Using our intellect to evaluate truth claims –Faith Trusting in God’s revelation Seeking Truth

18. Some truths are known only by reason –Math –Chemistry –Biology –Physics Seeking Truth

19. Some truths are known only by faith –Deity of Christ –Atonement – God working through Christ to redeem mankind from evil –Existence of Heaven –Inspiration of Scripture

20. Some truths are known by faith and reason –Existence of Jesus Reason –testimony of non-Christian sources Faith – testimony of Scripture Seeking Truth

21. Traditional view of faith and reason: –Both are seeking truth –They are compatible –By understanding creation we better understand our creator Seeking Truth

22. The challenge is to know the relationship between the two. Is there ever a time when reason takes the lead? –Math, chemistry, physics, etc. Is there ever a time when faith would take the lead? –In matters where reason is limited Realm of the spirit, intuition Seeking Truth

23. Do reason and faith ever conflict? –Yes – because of incomplete understanding on both parts. –Neither our use of reason or faith is perfect. –Scientists are revising ideas constantly based on new discoveries – incomplete nature of science. –Our understanding of scripture may not be complete either. We need to approach scripture in humility realizing that our understanding is subject to our imperfect use of reason.