What theory of truth supports the Christian worldview?

[scourge99]

three things are undermining Christianity/church:

1. the dominance of the evidentiary epistemological model

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... highlight=

Here's the atheists actual "soft spot" when it comes to debate: they limit themselves to the "evidence theory" of truth and use it as a sledgehammer against all literal or unsupported truth claims.

http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... highlight=


Question for debate: what other epistemological models or theories of truth can be shown to accurately reflect reality? Specifically, how can it be verified or shown that these alternatives accurately reflect reality?

Can other models or theories:
1) make predictions that can be verified and reproduced independently?

2) conform to the preponderance of evidence of reality?

3) remain consistent and coherent?

[EduChris]

...Question for debate: what other epistemological models or theories of truth can be shown to accurately reflect reality?...

Depends on how you define "reality." Does your definition allow for the reality that Spock logically should be able to beat Kirk at chess every time, though in fact Kirk sometimes wins? In other words, in your "reality," are humans simply conglomerations of matter, or are they something more, something that science cannot detect or observe?

[scourge99]

...Question for debate: what other epistemological models or theories of truth can be shown to accurately reflect reality?...

Depends on how you define "reality."

reality - something that exists independently of ideas concerning it.

Does your definition allow for the reality that Spock logically should be able to beat Kirk at chess every time, though in fact Kirk sometimes wins?

Captain Kirk and Commander Spock are both fictional characters from a TV show. Are you proposing that the fictitious aspects of the TV show are real?

In other words, in your "reality," are humans simply conglomerations of matter, or are they something more, something that science cannot detect or observe?

Humans are obviously conglomerations of matter. Humans also possess consciousness. Whether consciousness is merely an emergent property of complex matter or not is up for debate.

What would be something that science cannot detect or observe? Something imaginary? I.E., something that exists only as a product of your mind?

[teganz]

Great discussion. This video by Breakpoint’s Centurion Program might be of interest to you to learn more about Christian Worldviews:

What is a worldview?
http://www.breakpoint.org/resources/cen ... ker-videos

Tegan Z., Advocate of the Centurions Program
[/url]

[scourge99]

Great discussion. This video by Breakpoint’s Centurion Program might be of interest to you to learn more about Christian Worldviews:

What is a worldview?
http://www.breakpoint.org/resources/cen ... ker-videos

Tegan Z., Advocate of the Centurions Program
[/url]

This a site for debating, not for posting videos such as youtube.

Are you unable or unwilling to personally answer the OP?

[EduChris]

...What would be something that science cannot detect or observe?...

There is no evidence that science has any bearing whatsoever on objective, independently existing reality. Strictly speaking, the "brain-in-the-box" is the most parsimonious explanation for all that you or I suppose that we know.

[scourge99]

...What would be something that science cannot detect or observe?...

There is no evidence that science has any bearing whatsoever on objective, independently existing reality. Strictly speaking, the "brain-in-the-box" is the most parsimonious explanation for all that you or I suppose that we know.

Ahh yes, the ol' retreat into solipsism. Too bad solipsism invalidates both the atheistic worldview and the Christian worldview. By invoking solipsism you have committed philosophical suicide for your position by sawing off the tree branch you were standing on.

If you care to return from the solipsistic dead-end void and provisionally accept the existence of objective reality then we can continue to discuss the merits of the Christian worldview.

In particular:
Can other models or theories:
1) make predictions that can be verified and reproduced independently?

2) conform to the preponderance of evidence of reality?

3) remain consistent and coherent?

[EduChris]

...solipsism invalidates both the atheistic worldview and the Christian worldview...

How does solipsism invalidate the atheistic worldview? What is the atheistic worldview?

Solipsism is the most parsimonious explanation available to the atheist--but not to the theist.

[Goat]

...solipsism invalidates both the atheistic worldview and the Christian worldview...

How does solipsism invalidate the atheistic worldview? What is the atheistic worldview?

Solipsism is the most parsimonious explanation available to the atheist--but not to the theist.

Then, it is indeed ironic that it is from the theistic side that I hear this argument the most.

[Zzyzx]

.

Solipsism1 : any of various extreme versions of subjective idealism: as a (1) : an epistemological theory that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and states (2) or solipsism of the present moment : an epistemological theory that the self knows or can know only its present modifications and states to the exclusion of future and past states b (1) : a metaphysical theory that the self is the only existent thing (2) : a metaphysical theory that all real entities are modifications and states of the self

Solipsism, if accepted, invalidates ANY world view other than one centered upon the self. It is frequently the retreat of those whose arguments cannot be supported. “I cannot show that gods exist or influence human lives or that they created the universe or that bible stories are truthful and accurate; therefore, I suggest that the universe can’t be shown to exist other than in one’s mind.�

That makes as much sense as any other “defense� of “gods� and bible stories – none at all, in my opinion.