1. Apologetics in Academia: Bringing the Gospel to the University Dr. Neil Shenvi Duke University

2. Talk outline I. From Pharisee to Christian II. The post/modern worldview A. Naturalism B. Relativism C. Scientism D. Pluralism III. Obstacles in academia A. Intellectual pride B. Cultural pressure C. Self-sufficiency IV. Engaging academia A. The God who is there B. The Trilemma C. The gospel V. Practical tips A. Live out the gospel B. Never jeopardize credibility C. Always point to Jesus

3. From Pharisee to Christian

9. Talk outline I. From Pharisee to Christian II. The post/modern worldview A. Naturalism B. Relativism C. Scientism D. Pluralism III. Obstacles in academia A. Intellectual pride B. Cultural pressure C. Self-sufficiency IV. Engaging academia A. The God who is there B. The Trilemma C. The gospel V. Practical tips A. Live out the gospel B. Never jeopardize credibility C. Always point to Jesus

10. Naturalism is the belief that nature is all that exists What is nature? How do we know that nature is all that exists? Hume’s paradox: could any report of a truly supernatural phenomenon overturn naturalism?

11. Relativism is the belief that good and evil are social constructs How do we know that objective moral values and duties do not exist? Is social outrage consistent with moral relativism? Is a moral emotional life (empathy, guilt, duty) consistent with moral relativism?

12. Scientism is the belief that science is the only way to know truth Science is the only way to know truth Do you know that truth through science?

13. Pluralism is the belief that all religions are equally true

14. Talk outline I. From Pharisee to Christian II. The post/modern worldview A. Naturalism B. Relativism C. Scientism D. Pluralism III. Obstacles in academia A. Intellectual pride B. Cultural pressure C. Self-sufficiency IV. Engaging academia A. The God who is there B. The Trilemma C. The gospel V. Practical tips A. Live out the gospel B. Never jeopardize credibility C. Always point to Jesus

15. Intellectual pride: we often assume that expertise in one area entails expertise in all areas I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome I am

16. Cultural pressure: academia is generally hostile towards -and suspicious of- evangelical Christianity Tobin and Weinberg, Religious Beliefs Behavior of College Faculty (2007). 1,269 faculty members were asked: “What are your overall feelings toward the following groups using a scale of 0-100, which goes from 100, very warm or favorable feeling, to 50, neutral, to 0, very cold or unfavorable?”

17. Cultural pressure: academia is generally hostile towards -and suspicious of- evangelical Christianity Yancey, Youtube video: “Anti-Christian Bias in Academia and Beyond” (2013).

18. Self-sufficiency: success hardens us against grace

19. Talk outline I. From Pharisee to Christian II. The post/modern worldview A. Naturalism B. Relativism C. Scientism D. Pluralism III. Obstacles in academia A. Intellectual pride B. Cultural pressure C. Self-sufficiency IV. Engaging academia A. The God who is there B. The Trilemma C. The gospel V. Practical tips A. Live out the gospel B. Never jeopardize credibility C. Always point to Jesus

20. If the biblical God exists, then the implications are drastic

21. Lewis’ Trilemma confronts us with the central question of Christianity: who is Jesus?

22. The gospel itself provides an existential argument for Christianity

23. Talk outline I. From Pharisee to Christian II. The post/modern worldview A. Naturalism B. Relativism C. Scientism D. Pluralism III. Obstacles in academia A. Intellectual pride B. Cultural pressure C. Self-sufficiency IV. Engaging academia A. The God who is there B. The Trilemma C. The gospel V. Practical tips A. Live out the gospel B. Never jeopardize credibility C. Always point to Jesus