Dr. Scott Oliphint: The Role of Worldviews in Apologetic Dialogue

This is a report from the recent Science & Faith: Friend or Foes? Conference held at Westminster Theological Seminary and sponsored by the Discovery Institute. Square brackets indicate my comments.

Whatever apologetic you hold should be based on Scripture. Romans 1 - I am not ashamed of the gospel - it is the power of God unto salvation. God gives up those who suppress his knowledge to a debased mind. Romans depicts man at his worst and God at his best.

Romans 1:19-20 [the touchstone verse of presuppositional apologists] men "suppress the truth" - what truth? God's eternal power and divine nature - "all the divine perfections" - the invisibles become visible via the "things made".

General revelation - God revealing himself via things made. Huge epistemological implications - the way we know anything is because God has given it to us - huge apologetical implications

According to Romans 1:19-20, God's perfections are plain to us, are clearly perceived. Not plain to us because of our "right thinking", but because God has shown it to us - God making himself clearly known.

What is the image of God in man since the Fall?

God is present with every human being and every human being is in a relationship with God -- either in Adam/wrath or Christ/grace.

Jonathan Edwards - part of the reality of hell is being in the presence of God whom you have rejected - in the presence of his wrath

Calvin - sensus divinitatus

"All people know God" - not in propositional knowledge, but in covenantal knowledge [cf. Plantinga - belief in God is basic?]. Not a capacity for knowing God, but content -- all of us have it. Innate vs. Implanted/Acquired - we have both, from God.

What about Mars Hill? The problem is not enough evidence -- the evidence is both externally abundant and internally innate. But, we hold that down -- like holding a beach ball under water. Romans - did not honor, did not give thanks, became futile, foolish, darkened. Thinking oneself wise, became fools.

Philosophy - well-articulated unbelief based on the presupposition that "I can figure this out on my own" 4,000 years of philosophy have resulted in no consensus on metaphysics. Dr. Oliphint took a graduate course in philosophy on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit - the Absolute. Kept waiting for "the answer"; last day of class, the professor says "I don't know, and I don't think Hegel knew".

Francis Shaeffer said Hegel was one of the most influential philosophers.

Back to Romans -- the judgment for sin is often... more sin. We are all worshippers, and we all serve someone or something [cf. Bob Dylan You Gotta Serve Somebody]. The fallen worship the creature rather than the creator. Life is fundamentally religious - you will always worship someone or thing.

Sin takes you on a ride you never wanted to go on.

[Q. Elsewhere, Paul speaks of ignorance - God has overlooked, now demands repentance; Acts 17 Mars Hill - unknown God]

Our condition in Adam is utterly self-deceived.

Cornelius Van Til [the father of presuppositionalist apologetics] "The whole of created reality... scientists confront Christian theism at every turn"

Q. Young Earth Creationism (YEC) vs. Old Earth Creationism (OEC). There's not a single YEC on the panel. Westminster is now "ashamed" of young earth creationism!

A. God has spoken, and what he has said is true. But, what has he said?

Biblical revelation vs. autonomy of reason.

Dr. Oliphint is the author of Reasons (for Faith): Philosophy in the Service of Theology.