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This document appears to be lecture notes or study material on apologetics and natural theology, covering topics such as evidentialism, presuppositionalism, natural theology, special revelation, general revelation, and different beliefs about God. It also discusses the cosmological argument and the teleological argument.
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Unit1:Introduction toApologetics &Natural Theology Introduction toNaturalTheology: 1. Whatareevidentialismandpresuppositionalism,andhowdotheydiffer? ○ Evidentialism:ThisapproacharguesfortheexistenceofGodthrough...
Unit1:Introduction toApologetics &Natural Theology Introduction toNaturalTheology: 1. Whatareevidentialismandpresuppositionalism,andhowdotheydiffer? ○ Evidentialism:ThisapproacharguesfortheexistenceofGodthrough evidenceandreason.Itreliesonpresentinglogicalarguments,historical data,andempiricalobservationstosupportbeliefinGod.Keyproponents includeWilliamLaneCraigandC.S.Lewis. ○ Presuppositionalism:ThisviewbeginswiththeassumptionthatGod existsandthatScriptureistrue.Itarguesthatallreasoningdependson presuppositions,andwithoutGod,logic,morality,andscienceare unintelligible. KeyproponentsincludeCorneliusVanTilandGreg Bahnsen. ○ Difference:EvidentialismemphasizesprovingGodthroughexternal evidence,whilepresuppositionalismassertsthatbeliefinGodisthe startingpointforinterpretingevidence. 2. WhatareNaturalTheology,SpecialRevelation,andGeneralRevelation? ○ NaturalTheology:ThestudyofGodthroughnaturalreasonandthe observationoftheworldwithoutrelianceonspecialrevelation(e.g., Scripture). ○ SpecialRevelation:God’sdirectcommunicationtohumanity,suchas throughtheBible,JesusChrist,andmiracles. ○ GeneralRevelation:God’sself-disclosurethroughnature,conscience, anduniversaltruths,accessibletoallpeople. 3. DifferentbeliefsaboutGod: ○ Theism:Beliefinapersonal,interactiveGod(e.g.,Christianity,Judaism, Islam). ○ Deism:BeliefinacreatorGodwhodoesnotinterveneintheworld. ○ Pantheism:BeliefthatGodisidenticaltotheuniverse(e.g.,Hinduism, someformsofNewAgespirituality). ○ Atheism:BeliefthatthereisnoGod. ○ Agnosticism:UncertaintyabouttheexistenceofGod. 4. AttributesofGod: ○ Godistraditionallydescribedasomnipotent(all-powerful),omniscient (all-knowing),omnibenevolent(all-good),immutable(unchanging), eternal(beyondtime),andpersonal(relational). TheCosmological Argument: 1. Whatistheessenceofthistypeofargument? ○ T heCosmologicalArgumentpositsthateverythingthatbeginstoexisthas acause.Sincetheuniversebegantoexist,itmusthaveacause,whichis identifiedasGod. . Whataretheversionsofthisargumentthatwediscussedinclass? 2 ○ KalamCosmologicalArgument:Emphasizestheuniverse’sbeginning. ○ ContingencyArgument:Assertsthateverythingcontingent(dependent onsomethingelse)musthaveanecessarybeingasitscause. ○ Leibniz’sArgumentfromSufficientReason:Arguesthattheremustbea sufficientreasonfortheuniverse'sexistence. 3. Howcanitbeattacked,andwhatarethetheisticresponses? ○ Objections: WhocausedGod? Theuniversemightbeeternal. Quantummechanicsshowseventswithoutclearcauses. ○ TheisticResponses: Godisuncausedandeternal,existingnecessarily. Scientificevidence(e.g.,BigBangtheory)supportstheuniverse havingabeginning. Quantumindeterminacydoesnoteliminatecausalitybutredefines itsscope. TheTeleological (Design) Argument: 1. Whatistheessenceofthistypeofargument? ○ Theuniverseexhibitsorder,complexity,andpurpose,suggestingthe existenceofanintelligentdesigner. 2. Whataretheversionsofthisargumentthatwediscussedinclass? ○ Paley’sWatchmakerAnalogy:Thecomplexityofawatchimpliesa designer;similarly,theuniverserequiresone. ○ Fine-TuningArgument:Thepreciseconstantsandconditionsofthe universenecessaryforlifepointtointentionaldesign. 3. Howcanitbeattacked,andwhatarethetheisticresponses? ○ Objections: Evolutionexplainsbiological complexitywithoutadesigner. Themultiversetheorysuggestsouruniverseisoneofmany,making itsfine-tuningstatisticallylikely. ○ TheisticResponses: Evolutiondoesnotaccountfortheoriginoflifeorthefine-tuningof physicallaws. Themultiversetheorylacksempiricalevidenceanddoesnot explainwhyamultiverseexists. TheMoralArgument: 1. Whatistheessenceofthistypeofargument? ○ ObjectivemoralvaluesanddutiesexistonlyifGodexists.Sinceobjective moralityexists,Godmustexist. 2. Howcanitbeattacked,andwhatarethetheisticresponses? ○ Objections: Moralityissubjectiveorculturallyrelative. Moralitycanarisethroughevolutionandsocialconditioning. ○ TheisticResponses: Objectivemoralityrequiresatranscendentsource,whichcannotbe explainedbyevolutionorsocialconsensus. Moralrelativismleadstomoralchaos,asnoact(e.g.,genocide) couldbeuniversallycondemned. 3. MoralRelativism: ○ Thebeliefthatmoralstandardsarenotuniversalbutvarybasedonculture orindividual preference. 4. TheNaturalistic/EvolutionaryAccountofMorality: ○ Suggeststhatmoralbehaviorevolvedasasurvivalmechanism.Theistic critiquearguesthatthisaccountcannotexplainwhycertainactionsare objectivelyrightorwrong. Unit2:Natural Theology TheArgumentfromReligiousExperience: 1. Religiousexperiencesgenerally: ○ Religious experiencesrefertopersonalencountersthatindividuals interpretasinteractionswiththedivine.Theseexperiencescanrangefrom feelingsofaweinnaturetovisions,voices,ortransformativeevents. 2. Whatisaveridicalreligiousexperience? ○ Averidicalreligiousexperienceisonethataccuratelyreflectsanactual interactionwiththedivine,asopposedtobeingillusory,hallucinatory,or purelysubjective. 3. ThePrincipleofCredulity: ○ ProposedbyphilosopherRichardSwinburne,itstatesthatweshould generallyacceptpeople'sexperiencesastrueunlesswehavegood reasonstodoubtthem.Inotherwords,ifsomeoneclaimstohave xperiencedGod,weshouldtaketheirtestimonyatfacevalueunless e thereisevidencetothecontrary. . WhatareNearDeathExperiences(NDEs),andhowaretheyrelevantto 4 Apologetics? ○ NDEsareexperiencesreportedbyindividuals whohavecomecloseto deathorbeenclinically deadbutlaterrevived.Commonfeaturesinclude seeingabrightlight,feelingpeace,ormeetingdeceasedrelatives. ○ RelevancetoApologetics:NDEsareoftencitedasevidenceforthe existenceofanafterlifeandatranscendentreality,supportingbeliefinGod andimmortality. 5. Yourownreligiousexperiencevs.thereligiousexperiencesofpeople generally: ○ Individualreligiousexperiencesprovidepersonalevidenceforfaith,while thecollectivetestimonyofpeoplefromdiverseculturesandbackgrounds addsweighttotheclaimthatsuchexperiencesareuniversalandpointtoa divinereality. 6. TheArgumentfromReligiousExperienceanditsstrengthsand weaknesses: ○ Strengths: Universality:Religious experiencesoccuracrossculturesandtime periods. Transformativepower:Manyreportlifechanges,moral improvements,andhealing. Coherencewithotherarguments:Supportsothertheisticarguments liketheMoralorOntologicalArgument. ○ Weaknesses: Subjectivity:Experiencesarepersonalanddifficulttoverify. Alternateexplanations:Psychological orneurologicalfactorsmay accountforthem. Diversity:Conflictingreligiousclaimsbasedonexperiences(e.g., Christianvs.Hinduexperiences)challengetheiruniversality. TheOntologicalArgument: 1. Whatistheargumentgenerally? ○ TheOntologicalArgumentisadeductive,aprioriargumentforGod’s existence.ItassertsthatGod’sexistencecanbelogically demonstrated fromtheveryconceptofGodasabeingthanwhichnonegreatercanbe conceived. 2. Anselm’sversionandcriticismsofit: ○ Anselm’sArgument: G odisdefinedasthegreatestconceivablebeing. Abeingthatexistsinrealityisgreaterthanonethatexistsonlyin themind. Therefore,Godmustexistinreality. ○ Criticisms: Gaunilo’sPerfectIslandObjection:Thelogiccouldapplyto anything,likeaperfectisland,leadingtoabsurdconclusions. Kant’sCritique:Existenceisnotapredicateorqualitythatmakes somethinggreater. . Descartes’version: 3 ○ Descartesreformulatedtheargument,claimingthatexistenceis inseparablefromtheconceptofaperfectbeing,justashavingthree anglesisinseparablefromtheconceptofatriangle. 4. InsightsoftheArgument: ○ Whilecontroversial,theOntologicalArgumenthighlightstheuniquenature ofGod’sexistenceandinvitesreflectionontherelationshipbetween existence,logic,andperfection. TheArgumentfromMeaning(TheAbsurdityofLifeWithoutGod): 1. BlaisePascal’sApproach: ○ Hisbackground,accomplishments,andconversion:Pascalwasa mathematician,physicist,andphilosopherwhoconvertedtoChristianity afteramysticalexperience. ○ Theproblemwithagnosticism:Pascalarguedthatremainingundecided aboutGod’sexistence(agnosticism)isimpracticalbecauseliferequires choices. ○ Pascal’sWager:BeliefinGodisarational“bet.”IfGodexists,thebeliever gainsinfinitehappiness.IfGoddoesn’texist,thebelieverloseslittle. Responsestocriticisms:CriticsarguethatPascal’sWagerisa pragmaticratherthanevidentialargument.Pascalrepliedthatit’s stillrationaltoactbasedonpotentialoutcomes. ○ Argumentsfromtheconditionofhumanity:Pascalnotedthathumans havealongingfortranscendence,whichsuggestswearemadefora relationshipwithGod. 2. OverviewoftheArgument:What’sthePoint? ○ ThisisnotstrictlyanargumentforGod’sexistencebutratherareflection onlife’smeaning.WithoutGod,lifelacksultimatepurpose,value,and hope. 3. BertrandRussell’sAFreeMan’sWorship: ○ R ussellarguedforcreatingmeaninginauniversedevoidofintrinsic purpose,thoughheadmittedthisisemotionallyunsatisfying. . Whatdowewant? 4 ○ Humansdesire: EternallifewithGod. Atranscendentsourceofvalue,meaning,andpurpose. Justiceandmercyforwrongsintheworld. 5. Theanalogyofthetwo-storyhouse: ○ WithoutGod,lifeoperatesonthe“groundfloor”ofmaterialexistence, devoidofultimatemeaning.Christianityprovidesthe“upperfloor”of purposeandtranscendence. 6. TheanswerofChristianity: ○ Christianityassertsthatmeaning,value,andpurposearegroundedin God,whoofferseternallife,justice,andredemption. ArgumentsAgainsttheExistenceofGod: 1. TheProblemofEvil: ○ Overview: Whatis“evil”?:Evilreferstosuffering,injustice,orwrongdoing.It challengesbeliefinanomnipotent,omnibenevolentGod. Problemforatheists:Ifobjectivemoralitydoesn’texist,calling anything“evil”becomesincoherent. ○ TheisticResponses: GreaterGoodPrinciple:Godallowseviltoachieveagreatergood. Soul-BuildingTheodicy:Sufferingdevelopsvirtueslikecourage andempathy. Free-WillDefense:Evilresultsfromhumanfreedom,whichis necessaryforgenuinelove. BiblicalAnswers:ScripturepointstoGod’sjusticeandultimate plantodefeatevil. 2. HorrendousorPointlessEvilandTheisticResponses: ○ Someevilsseemgratuitous,buttheistsarguehumanslacktheperspective toseetheirroleinGod’splan. 3. Hell: ○ DifferentChristianviewsonHell: Eternalconscioustorment,annihilationism,oruniversal reconciliation. ○ Fateoftheunevangelized: Inclusivism:God’sgracemayextendtothosewhohaven’theard theGospelbutliveaccordingtotheirconscience(e.g.,Hebrews11). 4. TheExistenceofManyDifferentReligions: ○ ReligiousPluralistArguments: “Manydisagreewithus,soweshouldn’tbelieveChristianity.” Response:Disagreementdoesn’tinvalidatetruth. “WebelieveinChristianityduetoculturaldominance.” Response:Peoplefromdiverseculturesembrace Christianity,showingittranscendsgeography. Unit3:TheReliabilityoftheBible:TheCanon&Manuscripts NewTestamentCanon: 1. P opularmythregardingtheformationoftheNTcanon(e.g.,TheDaVinci Code): ○ ThemythpromotedbyTheDaVinciCodesuggeststhattheNew Testamentcanonwasselectedinthe4thcenturybyEmperorConstantine andchurchcouncilsforpoliticalpurposes,andthatnon-canonicalGospels, liketheGospelofThomas,weresuppressed. ○ Reality:TheformationoftheNewTestamentcanonwasagradualprocess overseveralcenturies,andthecorebookswererecognizedas authoritativemuchearlier.Keycouncils,suchastheCouncilsofHippo (393AD)andCarthage(397AD),affirmedthecanonthathadalready beeninwidespreaduseinthechurch.Thesedecisionswerebasedon historicalconsensus,notpoliticalmanipulation. 2. MuratorianCanonandotherearlylists: ○ TheMuratorianCanon(ca.170AD)istheearliestknownlistofNew Testamentbooks.Itincludes22ofthe27booksofthemodernNew Testament,thoughitexcludesHebrews,James,1and2Peter,and3John, anditincludessomedisputedbookssuchastheApocalypseofPeter. ○ OtherearlylistsincludeOrigen'slist(ca.240AD),whichacknowledged mostofthebookswenowhave,andEusebius’slist(ca.325AD),which dividedbooksintoaccepted,disputed,andrejectedcategories.The processwasnotabruptbutreflectedthegradualrecognitionof authoritativebooks. 3. Processforapprovalofthese27books: ○ Theearlychurchdidnot"create"thecanonbutrecognizeditbasedon usageandauthority. A postolicity:Thebookneededtobewrittenbyanapostleora closeassociateofanapostle(e.g.,Mark,associatedwithPeter,or Luke,withPaul). Orthodoxy:Thetexthadtoalignwiththecoreteachingsofthe Christianfaith,whichwerealreadydevelopingbythetimethefirst documentswerebeingwritten. Catholicity:ThebookneededtobewidelyacceptedinChristian communities,notjustinoneregion. Inspiration:Therewasarecognitionthatthebookwasinspiredby Godandhaddivineauthority. ○ ChurchcouncilslikeHippo(393AD)andCarthage(397AD)confirmedthis canonbutdidnotcreateit. . Criteriausedtoseparatecanonicalfromnon-canonicalbooks: 4 ○ Apostolicity:Bookswrittenbyorassociatedwiththeapostleswere consideredauthoritative.ThisiswhybooksliketheGospelofMark,written byJohnMark,andtheGospelofLuke,writtenbyLuke,acompanionof Paul,wereaccepted. ○ Orthodoxy:BooksthatalignedwiththecoredoctrinesofChristianitywere accepted.IfabookintroduceddoctrineslikeGnosticism(e.g.,theGospel ofThomas),itwasnotincluded. ○ Catholicity:BooksthatwereacceptedbyabroadspectrumofChristian communities,ratherthanbyasinglelocalchurch,werepreferred. ○ Inspiration:Theearlychurchbelievedthatcanonicalbooksdemonstrated divineinspiration,evidencedbytheirspiritualimpactandconsistencywith thefaith. 5. Churchcouncilsthatwediscussed: ○ TheCouncilsofHippo(393AD)andCarthage(397AD)confirmedthe listof27booksthathadbeenwidelyacceptedintheChristianchurchfor centuries.Thesecouncilswereimportantbecausetheydemonstratedthe consistencyofthecanonacrossregions,thoughthecanonitselfwas alreadyinuseandrecognized. TheWritingoftheOriginalNewTestamentBooks: 1. W hatisthetimegapbetweenwhentheeventsrecordedintheNToccurred andwhentheoriginalNTbookswerewritten? ○ TheeventsoftheNewTestament,particularlythelifeofJesus,His crucifixion,andresurrection,occurredbetween30-33AD. ○ TheNewTestamentbookswerewrittenoveraspanofabout50to100 AD,withPaul'slettersbeingtheearliestwritings(ca.50-60AD).The Gospelswerewrittenlater,withMarklikelybeingthefirstGospelwritten round65-70AD,followedbyMatthewandLuke(ca.80-90AD),and a John(ca.90-100AD). . Whydoesn’tthattimegapposeasignificantproblemforthereliabilityof 2 theNT? ○ Thetimegapbetweentheeventsandthewritingsisshortbyancient historicalstandards.Incomparison,ancientbiographiesoffigureslike AlexandertheGreatwerewritten300-400yearsafterhisdeath,yetare acceptedasreliablesources. ○ Theoralcultureofthetimewashighlyeffectiveatpreservingstoriesand teachings.Jewishtraditionvaluedoraltransmission,andtheapostlesand earlyChristianshadfirsthandknowledgeoftheeventstheyrecorded, ensuringaccuracy. ○ Eyewitnesstestimony:ManyoftheauthorsoftheNewTestamentwere eyewitnessestotheeventstheydescribe(e.g.,Peter,John,andPaul).The proximityintimeandtheavailabilityoflivingwitnessesprovidestrong groundsforbelievinginthereliabilityoftheNewTestament. IntrototheGospels: 1. WhatistheorderinwhichmostscholarsbelievetheGospelswerewritten? ○ MarkisgenerallyconsideredthefirstGospeltobewritten,around65-70 AD. ○ MatthewandLukewerewrittennext,around80-90AD,withbothlikely usingMarkasasource,alongwithothersourcessuchastheQsource(a hypotheticalcollectionofJesus’sayings). ○ John,writtenlast,around90-100AD,offersamoretheologicalreflection onJesus’life,withlessemphasisonchronology. 2. WhatevidenceandargumentssupporttheclaimthatJohntheApostle wrotetheGospelthatbearshisname,andwhydosomescholarsthink someoneelsewroteit? ○ EvidencesupportingJohn'sauthorship: Earlychurchtradition:FigureslikeIrenaeus(2ndcentury)and Polycarp(adiscipleofJohn)attesttoJohn’sauthorship. Internalevidence:TheGospelitselfshowsintimateknowledgeof eventsonlyaneyewitnesswouldhaveknown(e.g.,detailsabout theLastSupper). Theologicalcoherence:Thetheologicalthemesalignwithwhatis knownofJohnfromotherNewTestamentwritings,suchas1John andRevelation. ○ Alternativeviews: L ateauthorship:SomescholarsarguethattheGospelwaswritten byaJohanninecommunity,ratherthanJohnhimself,dueto differencesinstyleandcontentwhencomparedtotheSynoptic Gospels. Pseudonymousauthorship:Somesuggestitwaswrittenunder thenameofJohntolendauthoritytotheGospel,thoughthisviewis generallyrejectedbytraditionalscholars. . Paul’slettersandPaul’sreliabilityasawitness: 3 ○ Paul’slettersaretheearliestChristianwritings,manyofthempenned within20-30yearsoftheeventstheydescribe. ○ Paul’stransformationfromapersecutorofChristianstoapassionate advocateforthefaithprovidesevidenceoftheauthenticityoftheeventshe recounts.Hisfirst-handknowledgeandinteractionwithearlyChristian communities,includingPeterandJames,addscredibilitytohisaccounts. ○ HisdetailedexplanationsoftheresurrectionandothercoreChristian beliefsmakehimacrucialwitnesstotheeventsofearlyChristianity. NewTestamentManuscripts: 1. O ldGreekmanuscripts(datesandtypesofmaterialsonwhichtheywere written): ○ TheearliestmanuscriptsoftheNewTestamentwerewrittenonpapyrus, acommonwritingmaterialintheancientworld. P52,afragmentoftheGospelofJohn,istheoldestknown manuscript,datingtoaround125AD. Bythe4thcentury,manuscriptswereincreasinglywrittenon parchment(animalskins),whichpreservedthetextsbetterover time. NotableancientmanuscriptsincludeCodexSinaiticusand CodexVaticanus,bothfromthe4thcenturyAD,whichcontain mostoftheNewTestamentandareamongthemostimportant witnessestothebiblicaltext. 2. OtherevidenceforthecontentoftheNTbooks(e.g.,ancienttranslations, writingsofchurchfathers): ○ AncienttranslationsoftheNewTestament,suchastheLatinVulgate (4thcentury)andSyriacPeshitta(2ndcentury),confirmthecorecontent oftheNewTestament. ○ ChurchfatherslikeIgnatius,ClementofRome,andPolycarp frequentlyquotedtheNewTestamentbooks,providingadditionalearly testimonytothecanonicalbooksandtheircontents. 3. VariantsbetweenNTmanuscripts: ○ T extualvariants:Whilethereareover400,000variantsinthemanuscripts (largelyduetocopyingerrors),thevastmajorityoftheseareminoranddo notaffectcoredoctrines. ○ Majoritytext:Thesheervolumeofmanuscripts(over5,800Greek manuscripts)allowsscholarstocompareandreconstructtheoriginaltext withahighdegreeofconfidence.Mostvariantsarespellingerrorsorslight differencesinwordorder,butmeaningfulvariations(e.g.,indoctrine)are extremelyrare. EvidenceofJesus’sExistencefromNon-ChristianSources: 1. Non-ChristiansourcesconfirmingJesus’sexistence: ○ Tacitus(c.116AD)wasaRomanhistorianwhomentionedChristus,the founderofChristianity,whowasexecutedunderPontiusPilateduringthe reignofTiberius. ○ Josephus,aJewishhistorian,referredtoJesusintwopassages(though oneiscontestedasalaterChristianinterpolation,theotheriswidely accepted).Inthesecondpassage,hereferstoJesusasa“wiseman”and “Christ.” ○ PlinytheYounger,inalettertoEmperorTrajan(c.112AD),described ChristiansasworshipingChristasagod. TheResurrection: 1. WhydoesitmatterwhetherornotJesuswasactuallyresurrected? ○ TheresurrectionisthecentralclaimofChristianity,anditvalidatesJesus’ identityastheSonofGod.ItalsoaffirmsthetruthofChristianteachings andprovidesthefoundationfortheChristianhopeofeternallife. ○ Paul’sargumentin1Corinthians15emphasizesthatwithoutthe resurrection,Christianfaithisinvain,andbelieversarestillintheirsins. 2. WhichbiblicalauthorsgiveanaccountoftheResurrectionofJesus? ○ TheGospels(Matthew,Mark,Luke,andJohn)eachprovideaccountsof theresurrection,thoughwithvaryingdetails. ○ Paulin1Corinthians15:3-8offersasummaryofearlyChristiantestimony, assertingthatJesusappearedtoPeter,theTwelve,andothers, includinghimself,asaneyewitness. 3. WhyisitimportantthatmanyofthefirstChristianswerekilledfortheir faith? ○ ThewillingnessofearlyChristianstodiefortheirfaithsuggeststhatthey wereconvincedofthetruthoftheresurrection.Unlikeothermartyrswho dieforbeliefspasseddowntothem,theearlyChristianmartyrsdiedfor hattheypersonallybelievedtobetrue—aneventtheyclaimedtohave w witnessed. . HowarethefirstChristiansdifferentthanothermartyrs? 4 ○ EarlyChristianmartyrswereuniqueinthattheydiedforawitnessed event—theresurrectionofJesus.Theirpersonalexperienceswiththe risenChrist,combinedwiththeirwillingnesstodieforthistestimony,lend credibilitytotheirclaims. 5. WhatwasPaul’sbackground,andhowdidithelphisministryand credibility? ○ Paul,onceaPhariseeandpersecutorofChristians,underwentadramatic conversionafterexperiencingtherisenChristontheroadtoDamascus. HisbackgroundasaRomancitizenandhisknowledgeofbothJewishlaw andGreco-RomanculturemadehimaneffectivemissionarytobothJews andGentiles.HisradicaltransformationfromenemyofChristianitytoits mostpassionateadvocateaddssignificantweighttohistestimonyof Jesus'resurrection. Unit4:OldTestamentIssues OTWarfare: 1. Whatarethestoriestoldbythesepassagesandwhyaretheyproblematic? ○ StoriessuchastheconquestofCanaaninJoshuaandGod’scommands toIsraeltodestroyentirecities,includingmen,women,andchildren(e.g., Joshua6:21,1Samuel15:3),raisemoralconcerns. ○ Theproblem:Thesepassagesappeartoconflictwiththeimageofaloving, mercifulGod,andtheyraisequestionsaboutdivinejusticeandthemorality ofsuchactions. 2. Threedifferentgeneralapproachestothesepassages: ○ Literal-HistoricalApproach:Thecommandswereliteralandspecificto theancientcontext,withafocusonGod’sjudgmentagainstwickednations (e.g.,Canaanitesengaginginchildsacrificeandidolatry). ○ HyperbolicWarfareLanguage:AncientNearEasterntextsoftenused exaggeration(e.g.,“utterlydestroy”)ascommonmilitaryrhetoric.The languagedoesnotnecessarilymeancompleteannihilation. ○ Non-LiteralInterpretation:Thesepassagesmaybemetaphoricalor allegorical,illustratingthespiritualbattleagainstsinratherthanphysical warfare. 3. Thesolutionsdiscussedinclass: ○ D ivineJudgment:God,astheultimatejudge,hasthemoralauthorityto bringjudgmentonsinfulnations.Thiswasnotgenocidebutaspecificact ofjustice. ○ CulturalContext:Ancientwarfareandtribalcustomsdiffersignificantly frommodernethicalstandards.Understandingthehistoricalandcultural settinghelpscontextualizethesepassages. ○ God’sPatience:GodwaitedforcenturiesfortheCanaanitestorepent (Genesis15:16).Thewarfarereflectsbothjusticeandmercy. Science&Genesis: 1. ArgumentsregardingwhethersciencehasdisprovedChristianity: ○ Somearguethatscience(e.g.,evolution,theBigBang)contradictsthe biblicalaccountofcreation.However,manyChristianscholarsand scientistsmaintainthatscienceandfaithcanbeharmonized. ○ Keycounterpoints: Scienceaddressesthe“how”ofcreation;theBibleaddressesthe “who”and“why.” Manyearlyscientists(e.g.,Newton,Galileo)weredevoutChristians. 2. WhatarethethreedifferentviewsofGenesisthatwediscussed? ○ YoungEarthCreationism: BeliefthatGenesis1describesaliteral6-daycreation approximately6,000-10,000yearsago. Arguments:ThegenealogiesinGenesissuggestashorthistorical timeline. ○ OldEarthCreationism: Beliefthatthe“days”inGenesis1representlongperiodsoftime, aligningwithscientificevidenceforanancientEarth. Arguments:TheHebrewwordyom(day)canmeananunspecified period. ○ TheisticEvolution: BeliefthatGodusedevolutionaryprocessestobringaboutlifeon Earth. Arguments:Genesis1-2isnotintendedasascientificaccountbut asatheologicalnarrativeemphasizingGodasCreator.
