Evidentialist Apologetics: Just the Facts

Gordon R. Lewis 1926-2016

1 According to Gordon Lewis: Testing Christianity's Truth Claims Pure Empiricism Rational Empiricism Rationalism Biblical Authoritarianism Mysticism Verificational Approach

J. Oliver Buswell 1895-1977

2 Norman L. Geisler

According to Norman Geisler: Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics Classical Evidential Experiential Historical Presuppositional

3 Bernard Ramm Josh McDowell 1916-1992

Steven B. Cowan

4 According to Steven B. Cowan: Five Views on Apologetics Classical Method Evidential Method Cumulative Case Method Presuppositional Method Reformed Epistemological Method

Wolfhart Pannenberg Clark Pinnock 1928-2014 1937-2010

John Warwick Montgomery Gary Habermas

5 Historical Roots of Evidentialist Apologetics

Defending Against Deism: William Paley and Natural Theology

6 William Paley 1743-1805

The Rise of the Legal Witness Model

7 John Locke Thomas Sherlock 1632-1704 1678-1761

Simon Greenleaf Richard Whately 1783-1853 1786-1863

Key Evidentialists

8 Joseph Butler James Orr Clark H. Pinnock John Warwick 1692-1752 1844(6)-1913 1937-2010 Montgomery

Richard Swinburne Josh McDowell Gary Habermas

Methods of Discovering Truth

9 Two Kinds of Evidentialism

Two Kinds of Evidentialism Epistemological Evidentialism

10 "It is wrong, everywhere, always, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence."

[W. K. Clifford, Lectures and Essay, 1979, reprinted in Louis P. Pojman, The Theory of Knowledge: Classical and Contemporary Readings, 2nd ed. (Belmont: W. K. Clifford Wadsworth, 1999), 551] 1845-1879

Two Kinds of Evidentialism Apologetical Evidentialism

11 Apologetical Evidentialism

"It is wrong, everywhere, always, and for anyone, to tell someone else to believe something other than on the basis of evidence."

12 Priority of Fact and Induction

Probable Character of Evidentialist Arguments

13 The Postmodern Challenge to Evidentialism

Critical Use of Philosophy

14 Christianity Vindicated by Science

Miracles as Evidence for God

15 Strengths and Weaknesses of Evidentialism

[Strengths] Recognizes that probability is unavoidable Appealing methods of inquiry Stresses the factual evidence

16 [Weaknesses] Assumes the theistic worldview Uses hidden presuppositions Underestimates the human factor