(Re)thinking worldview 10

The next chapter ‘Three in one: worldview apologetics’ left me feeling a little uncomfortable. Here the author draws upon Van Til’s notion of the Trinity as providing the solution for the one and the many. He also looks at the use of natural theology. I am very uncomfortable in the use of natural theology to prove the existence of God – I don’t think it can be done. I’m also wary of the cumulative argument of these natural theology arguments to prove the existence of God – if each argument is flawed how can they combine to make a valid argument for the existence of God? However, because I’m sceptical of the validity of these arguments doesn’t mean that I don’t find them interesting. By the way I don’t think we can prove the existence of God – we can’t use logical arguments to prove the existence of the one who created the arguments; he transcends them. By proving God by logic or rational argument merely makes God subject to logic.

Bertrand makes an interesting observation: ‘apologetics is the task of giving unbelievers a way to justify what the Spirit is doing in their hearts’ (p 201). If this is so then it may well mean that apologetics could have a place in ‘persuading’ the unbeliever.