Marks of the First Church: Reasons to Believe

Acts 17:16-34

1. Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion; Sam Harris, The End of Faith.
1. Driven by anger at the evil done in the world in the name of religion.
2. Claim that scientific “proof” dismisses belief in God.
2. What is Proof? What is the standard for proof?
1. “Strong Rationalism” open to rational demonstration.
1. Issues and Problems with this view; University, Medicine, etc.
2. Relativism in all matters?
2. “Critical Rationality” Tim Keller
1. We can trust our senses and reasoning to the extent that they are present because of the structure of the universe.
2. Still we must walk humbly! We are fallen.
3. Standard: History is not scientific.
1. Proving the battle of Waterloo? The Holocaust?
4. Finding common ground. Vss. 16-18
1. What were the idols of the Athenians?
1. Epicureans and Stoics
2. Reasoned with them.

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