Is there evidence for God with no natural explanation? | John Lennox

Summary

The speaker argues for the existence of God based on human rationality and the ability to conduct science, which they believe cannot be explained by natural processes alone. They reference Thomas Nagel's skepticism of a purely Darwinian view of the universe and C.S. Lewis's thoughts on the importance of thinking about thinking itself. The speaker also emphasizes the historical evidence for Jesus Christ's resurrection and the transformative power of Christianity in their own life and others, asserting that these claims are testable and correspond with reality.

Takeaways

• 🔬 The speaker believes that human rationality is a strong reason for the existence of God, as it cannot be explained purely through natural causes.
• 📚 Thomas Nagel's book 'Mind and Cosmos' is mentioned as a significant work challenging the Darwinian view of the universe and the reductionist approach to human rationality.
• 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of thinking about the process of thinking itself, which is often overlooked.
• 🧠 Extreme reductionism, which attempts to explain human rationality solely through atoms and molecules, is criticized for stripping away the meaning and significance of rationality.
• 🤝 The speaker suggests that many atheists and Christians alike are questioning the extreme reductionist view of human existence.
• 🌌 Human rationality is presented as evidence of a designed universe, with mathematical intelligibility and beauty as indicators of this design.
• 📖 The historical fact of Jesus Christ's resurrection is cited as a principal evidence for God in the speaker's life.
• 📝 The speaker has written a book providing evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, using the skeptical approach of David Hume's criterion for evidence and witnesses.
• 🔍 The claims made in the New Testament are testable and have been experienced as transformative in the speaker's life and the lives of others.
• 🙏 The power of forgiveness, transformation of life, and answers to prayer are mentioned as empirical evidence supporting the claims of the New Testament.

Q & A

Why does the speaker believe that human rationality is a strong reason for believing in God?

The speaker believes that human rationality is a strong reason for believing in God because it cannot be explained purely through natural causes such as atoms and molecules. They argue that a reductionist approach to human rationality, which tries to explain it solely in terms of physical processes, destroys the meaning and significance of rationality itself.

What does the speaker think about the work of Thomas Nagel?

The speaker respects Thomas Nagel's work, particularly his book 'Mind and Cosmos', which argues against the Neo-Darwinian view of the universe. Nagel's work supports the idea that a purely materialistic explanation of human existence is insufficient and that there must be more to the universe than what can be explained by natural selection.

Who is C.S. Lewis and what point does the speaker attribute to him?

C.S. Lewis was a British writer and lay theologian known for his works on Christian apologetics. The speaker attributes to Lewis the point that while humans can do brilliant science by thinking, they often fail to think critically about the nature of thinking itself, which is a key aspect of rationality.

What does the speaker mean by 'thinking about thinking'?

By 'thinking about thinking', the speaker refers to the process of introspection and philosophical examination of the nature of human thought and rationality. It's about understanding how and why humans are capable of rational thought, which goes beyond just the mechanical processes of the brain.

What is the speaker's view on the design of the universe?

The speaker views the design of the universe, including its laws and mathematical intelligibility, as evidence of a higher power or God. They believe that the complexity and order of the universe cannot be fully explained by natural processes alone.

Why does the speaker believe in the historical fact of Jesus Christ's resurrection?

The speaker believes in the historical fact of Jesus Christ's resurrection because they find the evidence for it compelling. They have written a book on the subject, examining the evidence through the skeptical lens of David Hume's criteria for evidence and witnesses.

What is the significance of the historical evidence for the speaker's belief in God?

For the speaker, the historical evidence for Jesus Christ's resurrection is significant because it provides a testable and accessible claim that can be examined and evaluated. They believe that this evidence, when considered carefully, satisfies the normal criteria for truth and supports the existence of God.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'it works'?

When the speaker says 'it works', they are referring to the practical effectiveness of the claims made in the New Testament. They have witnessed and experienced the transformative power of forgiveness, the ability to live a meaningful life, and the reality of answered prayers, which they believe cannot be explained away by naturalistic explanations.

How does the speaker view the correlation between the claims of the New Testament and empirical science?

The speaker views the correlation between the claims of the New Testament and empirical science as evidence that these claims are not only coherent and consistent but also correspond with reality. They believe that repeated testing and observation of the effects of these claims provide empirical support for their truth.

What is the speaker's stance on the idea that religious experiences can be fully explained by naturalistic causes?

The speaker rejects the idea that religious experiences, such as the transformative power of forgiveness and the experience of answered prayers, can be fully explained by naturalistic causes. They believe that these experiences are evidence of a higher power and cannot be reduced to mere physical or psychological phenomena.

What role does the speaker's personal experience play in their belief in God?

The speaker's personal experiences, including those of their wife and family, play a significant role in their belief in God. They have witnessed firsthand the transformative effects of religious beliefs and practices, which they believe provide empirical evidence that supports the existence of God.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 The Role of Human Rationality in Believing in God

The speaker discusses their belief in God, emphasizing that one of the strongest reasons is rooted in human rationality and the ability to conduct science. They argue that human rationality does not have a purely natural explanation, and that attempts to reduce it to mere atoms and molecules, as some atheistic thinkers do, ultimately undermine rationality itself. The speaker references Thomas Nagel's book, which challenges the neo-Darwinian worldview, suggesting that extreme reductionism is problematic and increasingly questioned by both religious and atheistic philosophers.

💡 The Link Between Rationality, Science, and Faith

The speaker touches on a critical idea proposed by C.S. Lewis: that while we excel at using rational thought to conduct brilliant science, we often fail to reflect on the nature of thinking itself. They argue that reducing thought to mere physical processes strips rationality of its meaning. This reductionism, once widely accepted, is now facing challenges from various thinkers. The speaker notes that even Darwin had concerns about the implications of reducing thought to natural processes, further suggesting that human rationality is a key piece of evidence for the existence of God.

🌌 The Design of the Universe as Evidence of God

In this section, the speaker reflects on the design of the universe, pointing to its beauty, laws, and mathematical intelligibility as evidence for the existence of God. While these elements are significant, they assert that the most compelling evidence in their personal life is centered around the historical figure of Jesus Christ. The speaker believes that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is a historical fact supported by evidence, and that many have provided convincing arguments for this claim. They highlight their own recent work on this topic, particularly in light of David Hume's skepticism about miracles.

📜 Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

The speaker argues that the resurrection of Jesus is not only a core belief but also one supported by substantial evidence. They mention having written a book examining this evidence through a skeptical lens, particularly using the criteria set by David Hume for evaluating historical claims. The speaker asserts that there is powerful and testable evidence for the resurrection, a foundational event in Christian faith.

🔄 The Testable Nature of Christian Claims

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that Christian claims, particularly those found in the New Testament, are testable and verifiable through personal experience. They cite examples from their own life, such as the power of forgiveness, answered prayers, and life transformations, which align with the teachings of the New Testament. They argue that this approach mirrors empirical science, in that repeated testing reveals a consistent and coherent correlation between Christian faith and lived reality, fulfilling common criteria for truth.

Keywords

💡God

God is a central concept in the monotheistic religions, often understood as the supreme being, creator, and sustainer of the universe. In the context of the video, the speaker uses belief in God as a foundational reason for their perspective on science and rationality. The speaker argues that the ability to do science itself points towards the existence of a higher power, suggesting that human rationality cannot be fully explained by natural processes alone.

💡Human Rationality

Human rationality refers to the capacity for logical thinking and reasoning that characterizes human beings. The speaker posits that human rationality is not purely natural and cannot be reduced to mere atoms and molecules without losing its significance. This idea is used to argue for a supernatural explanation, which the speaker suggests is necessary to maintain the integrity of rational thought.

💡Cause and Effect

Cause and effect is a principle in which one event (the cause) directly produces another (the effect). The speaker mentions the need for a cause and effect explanation for human rationality that goes back to atoms and molecules, suggesting that without such an explanation, rationality itself is undermined. This is used to critique materialistic or reductionist views of human consciousness.

💡Thomas Nagel

Thomas Nagel is a prominent philosopher mentioned in the script who has written critically about materialistic views of consciousness. His book 'Mind and Cosmos' is referenced as a source that challenges the idea that a purely naturalistic explanation can account for the complexity of human thought and experience.

💡C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis was a British writer and lay theologian known for his works on Christian apologetics. The speaker references Lewis's point that while humans can do brilliant science, they often fail to think critically about the nature of their own thinking. This is used to highlight the limitations of reductionist thinking.

💡Reductionism

Reductionism is the idea that complex phenomena can be explained by breaking them down into simpler, more fundamental parts. The speaker criticizes reductionism by arguing that reducing human thought to mere physical processes removes the meaning and significance from rationality, thus 'explaining it away'.

💡Darwin

Charles Darwin, the father of evolutionary theory, is mentioned in the context of his own reservations about the implications of his theory for human consciousness and rationality. The speaker suggests that Darwin himself recognized potential shortcomings in his theory when it comes to explaining the full scope of human experience.

💡Design of the Universe

The design of the universe refers to the idea that the cosmos exhibits signs of intelligent design, such as mathematical intelligibility and beauty. The speaker uses this concept to argue for the existence of God, suggesting that the order and beauty of the universe are evidence of a designer.

💡Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is central to Christian theology as the Son of God and the Messiah. The speaker mentions Jesus as a historical figure whose life, death, and resurrection provide evidence for the existence of God. The speaker believes in the historical fact of Jesus's resurrection and considers it a testable claim.

💡David Hume

David Hume was an Enlightenment philosopher known for his skepticism and empiricism. The speaker refers to Hume's criteria for evidence and witnesses when discussing the historical evidence for Jesus's resurrection, suggesting that the evidence meets rigorous standards of scrutiny.

💡Empirical Science

Empirical science is a method of investigation based on observable evidence gained from experience or experimentation. The speaker uses the term to emphasize that the claims made in the New Testament, such as the power of forgiveness and transformation of life, are testable and correspond with reality, thus satisfying the criteria for truth in empirical science.

Highlights

One of the strongest reasons for believing in God is the ability to do science.

Human rationality does not have a purely natural explanation.

A cause and effect explanation for human rationality leading back to atoms and molecules destroys rationality itself.

Thomas Nagel's book 'Mind and Cosmos' argues against the Darwinian view of the universe.

C.S. Lewis pointed out the importance of thinking about thinking.

Reductionism fails to account for the significance of rationality.

Extreme reductionism is being questioned by both Christians and atheist thinkers.

Human rationality is considered supreme evidence of the universe's design.

The universe's mathematical intelligibility suggests a design.

The historical and experiential evidence of Jesus Christ is a principal reason for belief in God.

The fact of history that Jesus rose from the dead is believed to be evidence for God.

Evidence for Jesus' resurrection is testable and accessible.

The claims made in the New Testament are testable and transformative.

The power of forgiveness and transformation of life are seen as evidence of God's existence.

Answers to prayer are considered a practical application of the existence of God.

The correlation between the claims of the New Testament and reality satisfies the criteria for truth.

Transcripts

it might surprise you that one of my

strongest reasons for believing in God

is that we can do science

human rationality

does not have a purely natural

explanation

now I would need a lecture to justify

that

but if you can give a cause and effect

explanation for human rationality that

takes you back to atoms and molecules as

leading atheists in the world are now

beginning to recognize you destroy

rationality

I don't know whether you've read if not

perhaps you ought to the book by Thomas

Nagel Mainland Cosmos why the Neil

darwinian view of the universe is almost

certainly false however that for a

provocative subtitle

he's one of the leading philosophers of

the United States

and he's making the point and I only

have time to make this briefly because

there's a huge topic of its own

but it's like C.S Lewis pointed out a

long time ago we can do brilliant

science by thinking but what we fail to

do is think about thinking and they feel

reduced thinking reductionist thickly

simply the atoms and molecules you

take all meaning and empty all

significance of rationality out of it

you've explained it away and destroyed

it and that kind of extreme reductionism

is now being seriously questioned not

just by Christians like myself but by

atheist thinkers

it is a very serious objection and it's

one that Darwin himself ironically

thought of but I don't want to Sidetrack

on that I think that human rationality

is one of these Supreme evidences and of

course the design of the universe at the

level of its laws at the level of its

beauty the fact that this is

mathematically intelligible and so on

but

that tells you so much but the principal

evidence in my life of God is something

that's geared into history and

experience and it surrounds the person

of Jesus Christ and I believe in the

fact of history that he rose from the

dead I believe that you can give

evidence for that now we're having time

to do that but plenty of people have

supplied that evidence and I've even

written a book on it myself recently

looking at it through the eyes of the

skeptic David Hume in his Criterion for

evidence and Witnesses I think there's

powerful evidence that Jesus rose from

the dead and so on so it's testable it's

accessible but the final point I would

beg is it works

it works I have seen in my own life the

life of my wife and my family over many

many years again and again

they

claims made in the New Testament are

testable they work the power of

forgiveness the transformation of Life

the power to live the answers to prayer

I could give you examples of all of

those but we haven't time to do that and

of course one can come in and say well

that can be explained by this and this

and this but there comes a point where

you test the things so often this is

good empirical science by the way

that you see there is a correlation this

is not only coherent and consistent but

it corresponds with reality it satisfies

all the normal criteria for truth

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