Kevin Michael Vandergriff Opening Statement. Generic NaturalismSupernaturalism Theism Christian Theism Degree of Modesty + Degree of Coherence = Degree.

SPECIFIED NATURALISM VS. SPECIFIED THEISM

Kevin Michael Vandergriff Opening Statement

Generic Naturalism Supernaturalism

Theism

Christian Theism

Degree of Modesty + Degree of Coherence = Degree of Simplicity (Intrinsic Simplicity)

Generic Naturalism PlusThe Hypothesis of an Indifferent

Universe

Scientific Naturalism

Naturalism is Self-Defeating My first two

arguments show that God exists necessarily.

“If theism were a necessary proposition and also true, then atheism would be, not just false, but self-contradictory, and so theism would…have an intrinsic probability of one.”~Paul Draper

Origin of the Universe

Borde-Guth-Vilenkin Theorem

Personal, Transcendent (Factually Necessary), Cause of Enormous Power

Something rather than Nothing Necessary vs.

Contingent Universe

Observation Collapses the Wave Function

Who collapses the wave function of the Entire Universe?

Applicability of Mathematics

Abstract Objects

Useful Fictions

Discoverability Cosmic Location of Earth in Time and Space Earth’s Abundant Resources for Technology

Moral Agents and Fine Tuning Intrinsic Dignity of Moral Agents Big Enough Brains for Moral

Responsibility

• Fine Tuning of the Constants and Quantities that appear in the Laws of Nature

Morally Aware Agents & Necessary Moral Truths

No Ladder in Evolution

Natural Selection is blind to Moral Truths

Applicable Moral Truths Connected to Flourishing

Moral Universe

Acting Morally Contributes to our Flourishing

Self-Aware Beings

Theism Entails the Existence of at least One Self-Aware Being

Naturalism does Not Entail Self-Awareness

The Case For the Resurrection

Crucifixion Burial Empty Tomb Post Mortem

Appearances Origin of the

Disciple’s Belief in a Bodily-Resurrected Jesus

‘God Raised Jesus From the Dead’ 1. It has great explanatory scope: it explains why the tomb was found empty, why the disciples

saw post-mortem appearances of Jesus, and why the Christian faith came into being.

2. It has great explanatory power: it explains why the body of Jesus was gone, why people repeatedly saw Jesus alive despite his earlier public execution, and so forth.

3. It is plausible: since Jesus’ Messianic and divine self-understanding supercharges the religio-historical context with miraculous anticipation and concrete meaning; the resurrection serves as divine confirmation of those radical claims.

4. It is not ad hoc or contrived: it requires only one additional hypothesis: that God exists. And I have given evidence to think God exists.

5. It is in accord with accepted beliefs. The hypothesis: “God raised Jesus from the dead” doesn’t in any way conflict with the accepted belief that people don’t rise naturally from the dead. The Christian accepts that belief as wholeheartedly as he accepts the hypothesis that God raised Jesus from the dead.

6. It far outstrips any of its rival hypotheses in meeting conditions (1)-(5). Down through history various alternative explanations of the facts have been offered, for example, the conspiracy hypothesis, the apparent death hypothesis, the hallucination hypothesis, and so forth. Such hypotheses have been almost universally rejected by contemporary scholarship. None of these naturalistic hypotheses succeeds as well as the resurrection hypothesis.

Worthwhileness of Life

On balance, life is worth living

We are hard-wired to be resilient and overcome tragedies

We are hard-wired to be comforted in the face of seemingly pointless and random tragedies by finding and believing there is meaning and purpose in them.

Topic Naturalism’s Prediction

Theism’s Prediction Observation

1) Origin of the Universe No Origin Event; Eternal and Uncaused

Beginning of Time and Caused

Beginning of Time and Caused

2) Something Rather than Nothing

Necessary Contingent Contingent

3) Applicability of Mathematics No Aesthetic Value Aesthetic Value Aesthetic Value

4) Discoverability No Aesthetic Value Aesthetic Value Aesthetic Value

5) Moral Agents and Fine Tuning Amoral Universe Moral Universe Moral Universe

6) Moral Beliefs and Necessary Moral Truths

Moral Behavior and Beliefs Non -Truth Tracking

Moral Behavior and Beliefs Truth Tracking

Moral Behavior and Beliefs Truth Tracking

7) Moral Truths Connected to Flourishing

Moral Languishing Moral Flourishing Moral Flourishing

8) Self-Aware Beings No Consciousness of Any Degree

Consciousness of the Highest Degree

Consciousness of the Highest Degree

9) Resurrection of Jesus No Divine Revelation Confirmed by a Miracle

Divine Revelation Confirmed by a Miracle

Divine Revelation Confirmed by a Miracle

10) Worthwhileness of Life Life would not be worth living

Life would be worth living

Life is worth living