Tonight, we will continue our look at the concept of faith and reason. Are these two things opposed to each other, or should they work hand-in-hand? We will look at the first half of a video published by Fixed-Point Foundation on the subject. I encourage you to visit the Fixed-Point.org website for more information on the organization. We will be drawing from a number of their resources over the course of our study together.
Downloads for tonight's class are available below.
If anyone would like to help with coffee, I will arrive at the Northwest campus by 6 PM.
I look forward to seeing all of you.
Ricky Chapman
worldviewstudy@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Faith and Reason 1 (012011)
Our first class will focus on administrative tasks and laying the first foundational stone in our exploration of the scientific evidence for God's existence. I have included a link below to my class notes, PowerPoint presentation and "Further Study" assignment for next week.
Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at the concept of ‘FAITH and REASON’.
1. Can these two work together?
2. Should they work together?
3. What would God have us know?
4. How will we be changed by it?
5. How will we live differently based on the answer?
Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at the concept of ‘FAITH and REASON’.
1. Can these two work together?
2. Should they work together?
3. What would God have us know?
4. How will we be changed by it?
5. How will we live differently based on the answer?
As this will be a group effort, I eagerly invite your comments and questions. I assure you that if you have a question, other's have the same one.
Click HERE to download the "Further Study" assignment from tonight's lesson.
Click HERE to download my notes for tonight's presentation.
Click HERE to download my notes for tonight's presentation.
Click HERE to download the PowerPoint presentation.
Click HERE to download a blank copy of the video notes sheet.
Click HERE to download a blank copy of the video notes sheet.
God bless you all!
Ricky
worldviewstudy@gmail.com
Monday, January 17, 2011
Class Introduction
The first edition of our Biblical worldview study will be focused on the scientific evidences for a Creator. We will expound in much greater detail the material covered in lesson 5 of the Truth Project. Below is a synopsis of this year’s class.
The objectives of this class are to;
- Come to know our Heavenly Father more intimately through the study of His creation.
- Fellowship with one another.
- Engage in scientific reasoning, becoming more convinced of His existence by the preponderance of evidence.
- Equip participants with the resources required to engage our culture through reasonable, evidenced-based faith.
- Enable participants to make a scientific, conversational case for the existence of a Creator.
In no particular order, the resources being drawn upon include Focus on the Family’s ‘True U’, Lee Strobel’s ‘Case for a Creator’, several Illustra Media videos including ‘Darwin’s Dilemma’, ‘Unlocking the Mystery of Life’, ‘Icons of Evolution’, and ‘The Privileged Planet’, all referenced, recommended and used by Focus on the Family. Additional video content, including podcasts being drawn from include ‘Is Faith Delusional’ by Ravi Zacharias and John Lennox, ‘Expelled’ and at least 3 debates between Christian apologists and members of the architects of ‘New Atheism.’ As part of the recommended reading for the course we will be drawing upon the Bible and some written content from Christian and non-Christian authors. In some cases we will even be reading and viewing content from anti-Christian scientists in an effort to provide the class with a perspective on what is happening in the scientific community in regard to the concepts of creation and intelligent design vs. evolution by means of natural selection.
We will be referencing Big Bang Cosmology in this course as it is covered in great detail in many of the resources. The important distinction to be made is that the scientific community, Christian and non-Christian alike, are coming to the conclusion that a ‘big-bang’ occurred, meaning that evidence supports that the universe came into existence at a single, finite point in the earth’s history. The disagreement center’s on the ‘cause’ of this event. We, as believers, know God is the cause; and I’m confident those who complete the class will become even more confident in that fact as well. As a side note, the matter of evolution vs. 6-day creation will come during the latter half of the course when we begin a deeper look at molecular biology.
Lastly, and once we have been solidified in our faith by the discovery of the evidences in God’s general revelation, we will be confronted with best reasoning and arguments available from the most current atheistic scientists and philosophers of our day. We will hear exactly, in their words, the reasoning and explanation of the evidences they put forward for their own worldview. I firmly believe we will emerge from this course incredibly confident, unafraid and empathetic toward those who refuse to believe in God’s existence despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary; thus becoming more culturally relevant and prepared to preserve it by God’s mercy and grace.
Start Date and Time: Thursday night, January 20th 7-8:45pm
Room: Prayer Room
Child Care: Child care will be provided for nursery through 4 years.
Book Cost: At this time, we will ask that you purchase Lee Strobel’s book, “The Case for a Creator”. It will be available for $13.00. The bookstore will be open for you to purchase the book on Thursday night. You do not need to buy it if you already have a copy, but please bring it with you.
Homework: For those who wish to dig deeper, which I strongly encourage, I will provide more detailed study and research assignments. Obviously, they are not required (as you will not be receiving a grade), but completing them will only serve to make you more fluent in the terminology and concepts; which is one objective of the class.
I look forward to seeing you there!
May God richly bless you!
Ricky and April Chapman
worldviewstudy@gmail.comMy hope is that we will use this blog as a resource to maintain effective dialogue. So please post comments at any time.
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