Term
| Differentiate between the two types of skeptics as explained in the Preface. |
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Definition
Open-minded skeptics want to find out what is really true, whether it agrees or disagrees with their own pre-conceived ideas.
Other skeptics have an attitude of “I won’t believe no matter what you tell me.” |
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Term
| Explain the difference between the Eastern and Christian views of God. |
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Definition
Eastern views see god as the sum total of all that is (everything in the world has consciousness flowing through it)
Christian views see God as the creator distinct from his creation |
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Term
| Identify the distinction between being God’s creation and His child. |
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Definition
| We can create many things, but our children are the most like us in the essence of who and what they and we are. Our creations cannot amount to much more than robots. |
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Term
| Respond to the following statement: “Science and the scientific method have demonstrated that miracles are impossible.” |
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Definition
| Just because science has never observed (or revealed its observations of) miracles doesn’t prove that they don’t exist. As rare, unrepeated events, they are difficult to observe in the first place. The rigors of the scientific method would keep the scientist from ever reporting it. The scientific method was developed for investigating natural phenomena not authenticating miracles. |
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Term
| Identify the areas where the Christian and the naturalist can agree and the points on which they must disagree. |
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Definition
| Christians and naturalists agree on the fact that the laws of science apply to the universe. They disagree in that Christians see God (the creator) as outside the system who can interrupt the system of the laws of science at any time. |
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Term
| Define the terms “doctrine” and “theology”. |
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Definition
Doctrine: teaching
Theology: knowledge of God |
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Term
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Definition
| Central beliefs, crucial to salvation, over which we should be willing to denounce someone in serious disagreement and (if there is no repentance) eventually dividing fellowship. |
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Term
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Definition
| beliefs about which we are personally certain but can still fellowship with other Christians who disagree since they are not matters central to the gospel and or the historic Christian faith. |
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Term
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Definition
| beliefs, desires, or even wishes which may not be clearly taught in Scripture or which may legitimately differ from various believers. |
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