24-0814wc - Detailed Summary

The study is based on the book Apologetics from the Cross. The group is nearing the end of the study.

Another person, Scott, may lead the next study. They have about a chapter and a half left to cover.

The focus has been on how to respond to "defeaters"—objections to Christianity. Defeaters address the tough questions people raise against Christianity.

The speaker notes that objections to Christianity are becoming more frequent in society.

Objection: Christianity is seen as too restrictive and denies personal freedom. Response: God’s rules are meant to give a more abundant life, not restrict it.

Objection: The Christian sexual ethic is seen as dehumanizing, and Christians are labeled homophobic. Response: Christians are following Biblical teachings, not targeting homosexuality specifically, and the focus is on all sexual relations outside of marriage.

Objection: Christians are hypocrites due to their failures to live up to their own moral standards. Response: Humans are imperfect, but that doesn’t make Christianity wrong. Growth in virtue takes time, and the church was made perfect by God.

Christian growth is a lifelong process. The church has had historical issues, such as slavery, but the Bible did not endorse slavery as a permanent or divine institution.

Slavery in the Bible was allowed under specific conditions but was not preferred by God. Paul advocated for the freedom of slaves, as demonstrated in the story of Onesimus.

The abolition of slavery and the desegregation movement were led by Christians using Biblical principles. Christian leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. were deeply rooted in their faith.

Jesus, not imperfect disciples, should be the focus when evaluating Christianity.

Objection: Faith contrasts with reason and science. Response: Science and faith are not opposed; science itself relies on faith in certain principles, and Christianity offers a more comprehensive view of reality.

Scientism, the belief that science is the only source of truth, is self-undermining since it cannot justify itself through science.

Scientific methods cannot account for many basic beliefs, like logic, ethics, or the reliability of cognitive faculties, which require faith.

Science cannot address questions of morality, beauty, justice, or ultimate truths. Evolution and materialism struggle to justify the reliability of human reasoning.

Disbelief in God requires just as much faith as belief does. Materialism and naturalism struggle to provide a coherent basis for reasoning, and science does not cover all areas of human experience

Even in science, faith and intuition play roles in understanding the world. Christianity offers a more livable and coherent worldview than secularism.

Christianity was crucial in the development of modern science. The Christian view of creation and original sin provided the intellectual soil for scientific inquiry to grow.

Christian theology provides a reason to trust human reasoning, as humans are created in the image of God.

The Christian worldview aligns well with scientific discovery, as shown by philosopher Alvin Plantinga and historian Rodney Stark.

There is no conflict between Christianity and science. Christianity acknowledges God’s design in the natural world.

The session ends with the mention of Defeater 5 to be discussed next week: the problem of evil and suffering. The session concludes with a prayer for guidance and protection.