1. Week 12 Review

2. From Last Week…
When dealing with the problem of evil, pain, and suffering in the world, do you believe that the objections from most people are emotional or intellectual? Why?

3. From Last Week…
When talking about the objection against the existence of God due to evil, pain, and suffering, why is it important to remember who bears the burden of proof?

4. From Last Week…
If you began discussing the problem of evil, pain, and suffering with someone and you determined that their problem with God was emotional, not intellectual, what would you do?

5. Religious Pluralism
Is Jesus the Only Way?

6. A Summary of Our Case Existence of God Reliability of the Bible
Philosophical, scientific
Reliability of the Bible
Scientific, historical
Jesus as Christ
Historical, Biblical

7. However… “Only” We will use some previous ideas
Jesus as the “only” way to salvation
Many people get stuck here
Religious diversity, emotion
We will use some previous ideas
Moral arguments, Hume’s arguments

8. Religious Pluralism Multiple viable belief systems
Geographical barriers
Cultural influences
Colonialism/Enlightenment era
Exposure to non-“Christian” cultures
North America, China, Middle East

9. Religious Pluralism… Discourages evangelism
Offensive, insensitive to convert others
Promotes false doctrine/teaching
Brings Christianity down to all other religions
Disregards the pursuit of Truth
Conflicting belief systems can’t be true

10. What does the Bible say? Jesus is unique Chosen by God
John 3:13, I Tim 2:5, Phil 2:9
Chosen by God
1 Pet 2:14, John 17:3
Jesus is the only way
John 14:6, Acts 4:12

11. Common Objections Arguments for Pluralism Implications of “Jesus only”
Ad hominem, genetic fallacies
Implications of “Jesus only”
Problem of Hell/exclusive salvation
Those that don’t have the Bible
Question of “why?”

12. Arguments for Pluralism
Ad hominem fallacy
Arrogant/elitist to say Jesus only
Fallacy—attacking the person, not the argument
Genetic fallacy
“You were raised in America”
Fallacy—again does not address the argument

13. Problem of Hell Salvation through Jesus alone  everyone else is lost
Implies Hell for nonbelievers
God desires all to be saved (II Pet 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4)—who sends?
We “control our destiny”

14. Problem of Ignorance
Those who have never heard of Jesus/the Gospel lost?
Sin vs. Ignorance
Ignorance cannot save (Romans 2:12)
Neither can sincerity (2 Sam. 6)
Ultimately, God will be just

15. “Why?”
Why didn’t God make a world where everyone obeyed him? (free will)
Why would God even create the world if some would be lost?
Why wouldn’t God bring the Gospel to people directly?