Part 1: The Existence of A Creator-God vs. Naturalism—Introduction
This blog is part of a series. You can start the series by going back to the September 1, 2014 Introduction called A Case for Christianity: Why do we need one?
Why is there something rather than nothing?
-Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, co-discoverer of calculus
This question is one that needs to be reflected upon when we debate the existence of God. I think we all ask a similar question from time to time: Why am I here? When I was young that thought used to freak me out and I quickly put my mind on something else. However as I got older I stopped thinking about that question as the thrills and enticements of life took over. But is it important to answer questions about the existence of God and why we are here? Are answers available to us? There is evidence out there, but are we willing to search it out? As we explored in our previous blogs truth can be discovered and truths about God can be known using logic and reason, but we must be willing to investigate.
The answer to the question of God’s existence has profound implications on how we live our lives, but if we ignore this question as we live each day are we willing to ignore its eternal implications as well?
As a high school biology teacher I find that most students don’t ask these kinds of questions. They either don’t care or they tend to believe that science had disproven the existence of God. Upon discovering that I am a Christian, students have said things like “I didn’t think you could be a Christian and a science teacher.” They are amazed when I tell them that scientific evidence actually points more to an intelligent design for the origin of the universe and biological life than it does to naturalism’s evolutionary theory that says it all happened by chance. Some students will then ask why the textbooks or teachers don’t give them that information. It is a very sad fact that we are not allowed by our governing bodies to question these so-called ‘textbook truths.’ Sadder yet is that most teachers went through a university system that entrenched in them naturalistic thinking and it has simply become part of their academic language, not only in science, but across other curriculums as well. Students should be allowed to investigate the authors of these so-called ‘textbook truths’ and discover the philosophical presuppositions that are embedded. Naturalism is the belief that only natural explanations (as opposed to supernatural ones) should be the only consideration of evidence in any discovery. Naturalism found in the textbooks is more about philosophy than it is hard evidence. Is it possible that this kind of philosophy is flawed?
Over the next several blogs I am going to present logical reasoning and sound scientific evidence not found in the public school textbooks.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 53:1
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:20-23
Let me know what you think: How good of a job do you think the public school system is doing in allowing students to explore all reasonable and credible evidence in their curriculums?
Join us next time for: Is There Really Something Beyond Us? Part 2: The Existence of a Creator-God vs. Neo-Darwinian Evolution and Naturalism—Evidence from cosmology
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
Always be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have in Christ Jesus as Lord.
1 Peter 3:15
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