Theism and Deism Search For Answers November 1, 2015 John Babich, Presenter
The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog (5 th Ed.), by James W. Sire Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 2
Worldviews Revisited Series Introduction to Worldviews (10/25/15) Christian Theism, Deism, Islamic Theism (11/01/15) Naturalism, Nihilism (11/08/15) Existentialism, Eastern Pantheistic Monism (11/15/15) The New Age, Postmodernism (11/22/15) How Shall We Then Live? (11/29/15) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 3
What is a Worldview? A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being. Source: James Sire, p. 20-21, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Extended quote Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 4
Seven Basic Questions If a worldview can be expressed by propositions, what might they be? Essentially, they are our basic, rockbottom answers to the following seven questions: Source: James Sire, p. 22, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 5
Eight Seven Basic Questions 1. What is the prime reality the really real? 2. What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us? 3. What is a human being? 4. What happens to a person after death? 5. Why is it possible to know anything at all? 6. How do we know what is right and wrong? 7. What is the meaning of human history? 8. What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview? Source: James Sire, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 6
Christian Theism A Universe Charged with the Grandeur of God Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 7
Question #1 What is the prime reality the really real? (CT) Prime reality is the infinite, personal God revealed in the Holy Scriptures. This God is triune, transcendent and immanent, omniscient, sovereign, and good. Source: James Sire, p. 28, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 8
Question #2 What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us? (CT) External reality is the cosmos God created ex nihilo to operate with a uniformity of cause and effect in an open system. Source: James Sire, p. 31, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 9
Question #3 What is a human being? (CT) Human beings are created in the image of God and thus possess personality, self-transcendence, intelligence, morality, gregariousness and creativity. Source: James Sire, p. 33, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 10
Question #3 What is a human being? (CT) Human beings were created good, but through the Fall the image of God became defaced, though not so ruined as not to be capable of restoration; through the work of Christ, God redeemed humanity and began the process of restoring people to goodness, though any given person may choose to reject that redemption. Source: James Sire, p. 38-39, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 11
Question #4 What happens to a person after death? (CT) For each person death is either the gate to life with God and his people or the gate to eternal separation from the only thing that will ultimately fulfill human aspirations. Source: James Sire, p. 41, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 12
Question #5 Why is it possible to know anything at all? (CT) Human beings can know both the world around them and God himself because God has built into them the capacity to do so and because he takes an active role in communicating with them. Source: James Sire, p. 36, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 13
Question #6 How do we know what is right and wrong? (CT) Ethics is transcendent and is based on the character of God as good (holy and loving). Source: James Sire, p. 42, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 14
Question #7 What is the meaning of human history? (CT) History is linear, a meaningful sequence of events leading to the fulfillment of God's purposes for humanity. Source: James Sire, p. 43, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 15
Question #8 What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview? (CT) Christian theists live to seek first the kingdom of God, that is, to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Source: James Sire, p. 23, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 16
Deism The Clockwork Universe Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 17
Question #1 What is the prime reality the really real? (D) A transcendent God, as a First Cause, created the universe but then left it to run on its own. God is thus not immanent, not triune, not fully personal, not sovereign over human affairs, not providential. Source: James Sire, p. 51, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 18
Question #2 What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us? (D) The cosmos God created is determined, because it is created as a uniformity of cause and effect in a closed system; no miracle is possible. Source: James Sire, p. 52, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 19
Question #3 What is a human being? (D) Human beings, though personal, are a part of the clockwork of the universe. Source: James Sire, p. 52, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 20
Question #4 What happens to a person after death? (D) Human beings may or may not have a life beyond their physical existence. Source: James Sire, p. 41, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 21
Question #5 Why is it possible to know anything at all? (D) Through our innate and autonomous human reason and the methods of science, we can not only know the uni verse but we can infer at least something of what God is like. The cosmos, this world, is understood to be in its normal state; it is not fallen or abnormal. Source: James Sire, p. 54, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 22
Question #6 How do we know what is right and wrong? (D) Ethics is intuitive or limited to general revelation; because the universe is normal, it reveals what is right. Source: James Sire, p. 56, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 23
Question #7 What is the meaning of human history? (D) History is linear, for the course of the cosmos was determined at creation. Still the meaning of the events of history remains to be understood by the application of human reason to the data unearthed and made available to historians. Source: James Sire, p. 57, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 24
Question #8 What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview? (D) Cold deists [those who don t believe in an afterlife] use their own autonomous reason to determine their goal in life; Source: James Sire, p. 59, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 25
Question #8 What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview? (D) warm deists [who do believe in an afterlife] may reflect on their commitment to a somewhat personal God and determine their goal in accordance with what they believe their God would be pleased with. Source: James Sire, p. 59, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 26
Islamic Theism There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet - The Shahada (Muslim declaration of faith) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 27
Question #1 What is the prime reality the really real? (IT) The fundamental reality of Islam is God (Allah), described as monotheistic, infinite, personal, transcendent, immanent, omniscient, sovereign and good. Of these attributes Islam emphasizes his oneness, transcendence and sovereignty. There has been debate as to what extent the Qur'an should be included in the category of fundamental reality. Source: James Sire, p. 246, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 28
Question #2 What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us? (IT) God (Allah) created the universe ex nihilo, and all creatures are responsible to him. However, the world is a closed system insofar as nothing happens in the world outside of his divine decrees. Source: James Sire, p. 254, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers November 1, 2015 29
Question #3 What is a human being? (IT) Human beings are the pinnacle of God's creation. They have been given abilities of which other creatures, such as angels and jinn, are not capable. However, their high standing also brings with it the responsibility to live up to God's standards. Source: James Sire, p. 257, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 30
Question #4 What happens to a person after death? (IT) Death is a time of transition between this life and our eternal state, which will consist of either paradise or hell. Source: James Sire, p. 260, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 31
Question #5 Why is it possible to know anything at all? (IT) Allah has endowed human beings with the capability of knowledge by means of reason and the senses. Thereby, they can also know God's revelation. However, God's sovereign decrees limit human knowledge. Source: James Sire, p. 262-263, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 32
Question #6 How do we know what is right and wrong? (IT) Right and wrong are based on the teachings of the Qur'an, as amplified by the Hadith and interpreted by the schools of law, the shari'a. Source: James Sire, p. 267, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 33
Question #7 What is the meaning of human history? (IT) Human history has significance in demonstrating the absolute sovereignty of God but, even more so, as the opportunity for people to demonstrate their submission to him. Source: James Sire, p. 269, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 34
Question #8 What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview? (IT) A devout Muslim is grateful to Allah for providing the opportunity to serve him and will strive to follow the divine instructions in even the smallest part of life. Source: James Sire, p. 271, The Universe Next Door, 5 th Ed. (2009) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 35
The Slide Judaic Theism Christian Theism Deism Islamic Theism Naturalism Nihilism Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 36
God Humanity Universe TRANSCENDENCE IMMANENCE God Creator God The Universe The Universe Humans Humans Creation Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 37
Human Exceptionalism Creator God God Creation Humans Image of God Humans Plants Animals Machine Plants Animals Machine Source: Adapted from p.29, Francis Schaeffer, Complete Works (Vol. 5) (1982) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 38
Shahada Salat Zagat Sawm Hajj Source: "Five pillars of Islam" by Xxedcxx - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:five_pillars_of_islam.svg#/media/file:five_pillars_of_islam.svg Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 39
# Question Christian Theism Deism Islamic Theism 1 2 What is the prime reality the really real? What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us? 3 What is a human being? 4 5 6 7 8 What happens to a person after death? Why is it possible to know anything at all? How do we know what is right and wrong? What is the meaning of human history? What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview? the infinite, personal God revealed in the Holy Scriptures. This God is triune, transcendent and immanent, omniscient, sovereign, and good. External reality is the cosmos God created ex nihilo to operate with a uniformity of cause and effect in an open system. - Human beings are created in the image of God and thus possess personality, self-transcendence, intelligence, morality, gregariousness and creativity. - Human beings were created good, but through the Fall the image of God became defaced, though not so ruined as not to be capable of restoration; through the work of Christ, God redeemed humanity and began the process of restoring people to goodness, though any given person may choose to reject that redemption. For each person death is either the gate to life with God and his people or the gate to eternal separation from the only thing that will ultimately fulfill human aspirations. Human beings can know both the world around them and God himself because God has built into them the capacity to do so and because he takes an active role in communicating with them. Ethics is transcendent and is based on the character of God as good (holy and loving). History is linear, a meaningful sequence of events leading to the fulfillment of God's purposes for humanity. Christian theists live to seek first the kingdom of God, that is, to glorify God and enjoy him forever. A transcendent God, as a First Cause, created the universe The fundamental reality of Islam is God (Allah), described but then left it to run on its own. God is thus not immanent, as monotheistic, infinite, personal, transcendent, not triune, not fully personal, not sovereign over human immanent, omniscient, sovereign and good. Of these affairs, not providential. attributes Islam emphasizes his oneness, transcendence and sovereignty. There has been debate as to what extent the Qur'an should be included in the category of fundamental reality. The cosmos God created is determined, because it is created as a uniformity of cause and effect in a closed system; no miracle is possible. Human beings, though personal, are a part of the clockwork of the universe. Human beings may or may not have a life beyond their physical existence. God (Allah) created the universe ex nihilo, and all creatures are responsible to him. However, the world is a closed system insofar as nothing happens in the world outside of his divine decrees. Human beings are the pinnacle of God's creation. They have been given abilities of which other creatures, such as angels and jinn, are not capable. However, their high standing also brings with it the responsibility to live up to God's standards. Death is a time of transition between this life and our eternal state, which will consist of either paradise or hell. Through our innate and autonomous human reason and the Allah has endowed human beings with the capability of methods of science, we can not only know the uni verse knowledge by means of reason and the senses. Thereby, but we can infer at least something of what God is like. The they can also know God's revelation. However, God's cosmos, this world, is understood to be in its normal state; sovereign decrees limit human knowledge. it is not fallen or abnormal. Ethics is intuitive or limited to general revelation; because the universe is normal, it reveals what is right. Right and wrong are based on the teachings of the Qur'an, as amplified by the Hadith and interpreted by the schools of law, the shari'a. History is linear, for the course of the cosmos was Human history has significance in demonstrating the determined at creation. Still the meaning of the events of absolute sovereignty of God but, even more so, as the history remains to be understood by the application of opportunity for people to demonstrate their submission to human reason to the data unearthed and made available to him. historians. Cold deists [those who don t believe in an afterlife] use their own autonomous reason to determine their goal in life; warm deists [who do believe in an afterlife] may reflect on their commitment to a somewhat personal God and determine their goal in accordance with what they believe their God would be pleased with. A devout Muslim is grateful to Allah for providing the opportunity to serve him and will strive to follow the divine instructions in even the smallest part of life. Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 40
Nothing-buttery Nothing-buttery is characterized by the notion that by reducing any phenomenon to its components you not only explain it, but you explain it away. Source: Donald Mackay, p. 42, The Clockwork Image (1974) Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 41
Soli Deo Gloria http://searchforanswers.org Search for Answers - November 1, 2015 42