The Philosophical Bases

I. Origins... Man has always had an interest in his origin. Every culture has stories about their origins. Scientifically we know that all things that now exist had a cause. There is not anything that exists today that did not have a beginning, minus God Himself. He is outside of what has been created and therefore not subject to the laws that control the created realm.

A. The Guidelines... To understand our origins we study the world around us. This includes physical evidence. But the evidence does not speak for itself, the evidence is always interpreted by someone. The person who interprets the evidence will always employ a system or set of rules that guide their interpretations( therefore the eyeglasses- they influence the interpretation)

The image of the world and the eyeglasses is a simple illustration of how we see and come to understand our world. Looking at the world there are many questions that come to mind.

Where did all this come from? Where did the universe come from? How and when was it formed? Where did I come from?.

The things that we are studying (whatever the object) will be interpreted and understood according to the belief system we employ. The belief (philosophy) that we choose to employ will be what colors the eyeglasses and gives the parameters for interpreting and understanding the world we live in. When viewing the world through different eyeglasses (different beliefs) one gets a different perspective and therefore can arrive at different conclusions.

There are two principal pair of eyeglasses (Philosophies) employed in the science debate of the Origins.

The first pair of eyeglasses would be those of the Greek Natural Philosophy. Interpreting the world looking through Natural Philosophy eyeglasses one believes the cosmos to be a product of natural processes, the science produced by this thought process is called Evolutionary science.

The second pair of eyeglasses would be those of Hebrew Supernatural Philosophy with Biblical parameters. With a change of perspective and rules for interpretation, the cosmos is understood as a carefully planned and designed product, created with a purpose, as revealed to us through God’s word, the Bible. The Bible is then affirmed by the creation itself. This is known as Creation Science.

Each pair of eyeglasses represents a religious worldview, and each worldview produces its own scientific theory.

After studying the material from this perspective the question is: Which philosophy, worldview, or paradigm interprets correctly the world that we actually live in?

The importance of the topic is reflected in the fact that every worldview (philosophy, paradigm, belief…) produces not only a predetermined science, but also social consequences. If we want to address problems in the society, we have to go to the root of the problem, the worldview that produces such fruit.

To better explain the concept of the two eyeglasses in more detail we are going to use two houses; each with a different foundation. Each pair of eyeglasses now represents the different foundational beliefs that is each house is built on.

1. The House with the foundation: The Super-Natural Does Not Exist (This is the Greek Natural Philosophy pair of eyeglasses).

This belief maintains that there never was nor will there ever be any Supernatural intervention in the natural processes that created this cosmos. Building upon this foundation, a choice that rejects Scriptural authority, man relies on his own way of thinking. Which is known as a humanistic Natural/Materialistic philosophy.

a. Naturalism is a philosophy that is defined by the following guidelines. These rules are what form the four main pillars of the house that arise as products of the foundation. The rules of thinking are:

3. The cosmos functions according to natural processes that follow natural laws; everything can (has to) be explained and understood according to the interpretation offered by the parameters of philosophical Naturalism.

These four pillars form the essence of what is called Greek Natural Philosophy. It is Greek because it was the Greek culture in about 600 B.C. that set these guidelines or rules for interpreting the world. It is called Naturalism because they restricted possible causes and explanations to the natural world and its limitations. It is a philosophy, because a philosophy is a way of thinking that interprets the world for us.

b. The science then produced by the guidelines of Greek Natural Philosophy is known as Evolutionary Science. This science has its historical origins with Greek philosophers such as Thales of Miletus, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Heraclitus, Empedocles etc… beginning around 600 years B.C. As can be seen there is a cause and effect relationship from a chosen foundation to its philosophy to its product of a science. Looking at the diagram of the house it is noted that coming out of the second floor there are three pillars. These pillars arise out of their philosophical base. The three pillars represent what are called three different epistemologies. An epistemology is the method by which true knowledge is thought to be attained. This topic will be discussed in more detail later. A philosophy has to have a way of attaining knowledge, in this case there are three filters or ways to discern what is true, what is real knowledge. To be true knowledge the information has to pass through all three filters, the end product is then recognized as real or true. The first filter is called Empiricism (to be real it has to be observed); reality is defined by what can be sensed through experience ( taste, see, touch…etc.). The second filter is that of Rationalism (formulation of a hypothesis); true reality is found in human logic and in what is reasonable. The third filter is that of Skepticism (that is to doubt that there is anything absolute); it is to suspend judgment. These three filters (epistemologies) found in ancient Greek philosophy have come together to form what has become to be known as the “Scientific Method”. The parameters established by these three filters (epistemologies) produces what is known as Evolutionary Science. Evolutionary science is a product of its philosophical base and epistemologies, not observation, since observation requires rules already in place to interpret by. And the philosophy is product of a foundational belief, that is based on a personal faith. Deciding whether one submits to Scriptural Authority or not (one´s foundation) is a matter of personal choice, but as can be understood, the many products of personal choices do have effects on the society as a whole. The science that one practices is actually just the logical product of one’s personal foundational beliefs.

c. Now out of the floor of evolutionary science there appears two pillars: (Matter + Energy) and (Time). All of the Origins according to the Evolutionary theory have to be explained using these two pillars, and only these two. For example, according to the Evolutionary theory... The Origin of the Universe: a concentrated ball of pre-existing matter exploded (Matter + Energy) and over time (Time) it formed planets, stars, solar systems and galaxies (The Big Bang). The Origin of Life: the sun’s rays energizing a pool of abiotic water(Matter + Energy) generated over time (Time) primitive life through what has become known as the Spontaneous Generation of life. Origin of Man: organic matter (a monkey) was exposed to energy (Matter + Energy) that altered its genetic make up and over time (Time) evolved into man. This man then believing that he is product of natural processes arrives at the logical conclusion that the “Biblical God Does Not Exist”.

When one’s conclusion is the same as one’s beginning foundation (The Super-Natural does not exist) then this is known as circular reasoning, which is common in the area of philosophy. The conclusions then of Evolutionary Science are already predetermined by its philosophical boundaries.

This maintains that there were and are Supernatural interventions in the creation = Hebrew Supernatural philosophy with Biblical parameters.

a. Hebrew Supernatural Biblical Philosophy is defined by the following parameters. These four points form the four pillars of the house that arise as a product of this foundation.

2. The cosmos consists of natural elements and Supernatural elements (Rom.8:37-39).

3. The cosmos functions according to common processes that are actually upheld by God (Col.1:15-17). Naturalism is not adequate to explain all that happens.

4. The Supernatural does exist but it cannot be explained or understood by processes limited to the natural world.

b. The science based on the previous four points is called Creation Science. This theory has its historical beginnings in ancient Hebrew Biblical philosophy. With the foundation established, a philosophy is produced, and out of the philosophy comes one’s science.

The Origins debate then is really a debate over whose authority to use as a starting point. It is a debate of belief systems, not of science versus the Bible as many like think it to be. Since it is a debate of beliefs, and the two beliefs are mutually exclusive, this means then that there is no middle ground between the two. One system and its interpretation of the world has to be true while the other has to be false.

c. Creation Science is defined simply as the theory that believes that all things that exist belong to the creative work of the God of the Bible, Who gives life to all things (Gen.1:31; Col. 1:16). This knowledge is based upon God’s Word as the basis for all authority and truth.

Since all science has to have a philosophical base to interpret by, it then becomes obvious that modern science is based upon the philosophy of Greek Naturalism. That makes Evolution a product of philosophy, not a conclusion of scientific research, since the research itself is guided by the same philosophy.

The question is then, which philosophy produces a science that is closer to the truth? Which philosophy can one consistently live by?.

When the foundation is changed, and built upon a different philosophy, the resulting products will also change. The product of whose authority a house is built on, and its accompanying philosophy or worldview, touch the whole society, from its science all the way to its social consequences. The problem today is that we live with many incoherent ideas. What does that mean? If Evolutionary Science is the product of a belief in Greek Naturalism, how can there be Christians that believe in and teach the Evolutionary theory? That is an inconsistent practice. A Christian is one who must believe in the Supernatural, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, a position that is completely rejected by Greek Naturalism, the base of Evolution. The two philosophies are opposing, they cannot both be true. Which means that neither can you mix their products. The fruit of a tree is true to its roots, in this case you cannot graft in a different fruit. One cannot mix the concept of God with the theory of Evolution. They are from distinct systems of thought. One system has to be true and the other has to be false, there is no room for a middle position. A middle position is irrational.

The purpose of this study is to be convinced of what is true and then live a life that is coherent according to the principles of that truth.

If one begins building his house on the foundation that the Super-Natural Does Exist, then this foundation will allow a philosophy that is called Supernatural Hebrew Biblical philosophy. Out of the foundation rises the first of the four pillars which states that it is obvious that the natural world does exist, but as believers in God and subject to His Word, there also exists a Supernatural world. Reality then consists of what is seen and what is not seen, as stated by the Biblical reference of Colossians 1:15-16:

What the Biblical parameter teaches is that there are things that are visible and things that are invisible, but both are part of the same reality. Man is limited in his natural abilities; he does not see, nor hear, nor smell, as well as many animals. Because he does not see, hear, or smell something does not mean it does not exist. That gap is even greater when comparing things that are of the natural world to those of the Supernatural world. God exists, but cannot be seen for He is Spirit (John 4:24). Yes, the natural world does exist, or at least we perceive that it exists, and by the same faith one can believe that a Supernatural world also exists as taught by the Biblical parameters.

The second pillar is a continuation of the first. The second pillar affirms that the cosmos does consist of natural elements, but also of Supernatural elements. The Biblical reference of Romans 8:37-39 states:

“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In this text it is apparent that the created world consists of natural and supernatural elements. The natural elements are subject to and limited by natural laws. But the Supernatural elements are not subject to the same limitations. All created things are subject to their Creator, but there does appear to be different elements, some subject to the natural world and its limitations, and other elements that are not.

The third pillar states that the cosmos functions, not by natural processes, but by common processes that are actually sustained by God’s supernatural power. There are processes that are observed everyday, they may be common, but this does not prove that they are just natural processes. Returning to the Biblical parameter of Colossians 1:17:

According to the Biblical framework God sustains all things. How does the atom even maintain its electrons? Is it by atomic glue? Gravity, why and how does it work? Light, is it particles or a waveform? The universe, it appears to be fine tuned to serve man and his existence. Can that be explained by the Anthropic principle? Or is that just an admission that the cosmos really reflects a special plan of creation as claimed by God of the Bible?.

The fourth pillar is just really a conclusion based on the previous three pillars. Based on the previous three parameters, the conclusion is made that the Supernatural does exist, and is best understood through the Biblical framework. This house can be summed up as the following: The chosen authority and foundation is that of “the Biblical God Does Exist”, the philosophy produced is known as Hebrew Supernaturalism with Biblical parameters. Now that the philosophy is defined it must be determined how true knowledge can be attained. The method of attaining true knowledge is known as one’s epistemology. By what processes or parameters can true knowledge be attained? This is what is meant by an epistemology. These are eight of the major epistemologies used to find the truth, they are as follows:

2. Subjectivism ... Truth is searched for through the feelings and emotions of the person.

4. Empiricism ... Truth is searched for through experience that is registered by at least one of the five senses… sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

5. Rationalism ... Truth is understood as something that is humanly logical and reasonable.

6. Skepticisim .... Is a suspension of judgment or a doubting of something if there lacks sufficient empirical evidence or if it does not follow human logic.

7. Relativism ..... There is no universal truth. It depends on the situation; there is liberty in all.

8. Agnosticism... There is a universal truth, but it is not accessible nor understood by human reason.

The epistemology of a person may be one or a combination of several methods. The epistemology is found functioning between one’s philosophy and science. As in the house with the foundation “The Biblical God does Not Exist”, one can see that there are three epistemologies implemented to arrive at true knowledge. The three epistemologies are: Empiricism(Observation), Rationalism (formulation of the hypothesis) and Skepticism (continue testing; no absolute truths). These three epistemologies form what we know as the Scientific Method. This method is not bad, if it does not claim to embody total knowledge. Because according to this method the supernatural cannot even be considered to exist, just by definition of its parameters and rules. Some have the mistaken notion that modern science has proved that God does not exist, when in reality He has just been excluded by man’s rules.

For the Supernatural Biblical philosophy, the method of knowing the truth is always based on Special Revelation, the Word of God. In the diagram of the house with the foundation “The Super-Natural Does Exist” there are three pillars (epistemologies) that come out the floor of philosophy and that hold up its science. The first pillar is that of Empiricism plus Revelation. What that means is that the Christian uses his five senses, but that the Scriptures are the ultimate base for determining reality. This does not mean that the Christian is out of touch with reality though:

The Christian does not live by a blind faith, but a faith that is also confirmed by the empirical world (Romans 1:18-23). But man’s experience is not the best ruler for determining reality, Experiences can be misleading. Therefore God’s word is needed to see reality in its entirety.

The second pillar is that of Reasoning plus Special Revelation. Among all the created things on earth, man is set apart by his capacity to reason and create. But with the fall, man’s reasoning capacities have been diminished. And it is obvious that not all men reason the same. Therefore all reasoning must begin and end with a standard, which is the Bible.

Man should always think and reason, but with humility recognizing that his faculties are limited by nature and damaged by sin. For these reasons it is most prudent to exercise the faculties of reason but always within the balances of Biblical parameters.

The third pillar is that of Skepticism plus Special Revelation. Man by his very nature is skeptical, unbelieving. He wants to see, and touch things before he will believe (John 20:25). But God is calling man to look at the evidence and then believe in Him by faith. Hebrews 11:6 says:

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that seek Him.”

If we choose an epistemology that is so exclusive that it excludes that which is unseen (or God = John 4:24), then the declaration that “the Biblical God Does Not Exist” is really just a preference, a base that was deliberately chosen.

The difference between these two houses is their foundation (Is God’s Word the authority or not) and the subsequent philosophical beliefs that follow. Each person has the right to maintain a personal belief, with its corresponding product of a philosophy. The problem is when that personal belief and philosophy also produces a personal science and other social consequences that are then imposed upon others as if there was no freedom to believe in anything else. If there is religious freedom at all then it should be applied equally, letting each belief system defend their foundation by defending their science. And each foundation will be validated or discredited by its science.

Returning to the house illustration, Creation Science, just as Evolutionary Science, produces two pillars by which it must function by. The first pillar represents the natural component: Matter plus Energy. But then there is another pillar which represents the Supernatural component: Design plus God’s Breath. Creation Science affirms that the cosmos is made up of matter and energy, but that they alone are not adequate to explain rationally the ordered, living world that actually exists.

According to the Biblical record, and this is backed by simple observation, the universe was created by God to function and fulfill specific purposes. Not all the heavenly bodies are stars, like our sun. Not all the planets are like our Earth, and not all satellites are like our moon. It is not hard to believe that this solar system was created with precision by a God that had a definite purpose in mind.

According to the Biblical record, the waters produced the first life on earth (Gen. 1:20). According to Evolutionary science life began spontaneously in the primitive oceans on earth. The two theories have almost identical beginnings of life. The only difference between the two models is that in the Biblical model … “God said let the waters produce…”. The question would be, can water by itself produce life? Is that why water is being searched for on Mars? Wasn’t that just a philosophical position offered by Thales of Miletus? Or was life produced by water only as a direct command of God? No God, no life? When one begins to study the similarities between the two models it is interesting. The real difference is if God is needed or not. Can man really justify his existence rationally without reference to a Creator? Isn’t that what the debate is really all about?

Through scientific observation there has been formulated a law. It is known as the law of Biogenesis. Bio meaning life and genesis meaning the origin of. The law states that all life originates from other life. Life does not come from non-life. The theory of Spontaneous Generation (that life was generated from chemicals) was disproved by Louis Pasteur centuries ago.

But the Evolutionary theory has no other ingredient available to make life. It only has Matter + Energy and Time.

And it appears that with Time, Energy will reduce organized Matter to disorganized Matter (2º Law of Thermodynamics). This is not what Evolution envisions. How then does matter become organized and have life?.

“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.”

From this account it is understood that life is not just the product of highly organized matter. The Biblical account does say that man was formed from common clay or earthly matter, but even though it was highly organized and man was directly created, there was no life in the matter until God breathed life into it.

Creation Science then affirms that to have life there must be Matter + Energy, but just time is not sufficient, there must be information to organize the matter (DNA) and then there still needs the breath of God to give life. This is why Creation Science argues that to have a cosmos that is ordered and with life, it is necessary to have Matter + Energy and Design (information) + God’s breath to give life. When man understands what is needed to explain order and life, he comes to the conclusion that the Biblical God does Exist, but that conclusion is only acceptable if his foundational belief permits it.

The origins debate can be best understood as a difference in foundational beliefs. In this study we have taken on the two major foundational beliefs that are opposite and easy to contrast. That is Creation versus Evolution. There are various other models that could and should be included, but do to the limitations of this study they can not be included at this time. But there is one model that is gaining a lot of popularity today that deserves a quick mention and analysis.

The model is known as the Intelligent Design theory. Intelligent design has been around for awhile. It was mentioned by the ancient Greeks and more recently by William Paley (1743-1805) in his work Natural Theology: or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, Collected from the Appearances of Nature. William Paley used the argument to establish the existence of God by observing His attributes and work in nature. Though the new Intelligent Design movement is similar, the conclusions are different.

The new movement has sought to separate itself from the straight and narrow Biblical Creation movement that began to pick up momentum in the 1960´s with the publishing of the Genesis Flood by Morris and Whitcomb. The Creation model was understood to be more religious and less science, because it used Biblical presuppositions. The Intelligent Design model has taken up the posture that they are only making conclusions based on the results of scientific studies and not before. Their conclusion is that the universe and life show distinctive marks of being designed. Therefore there must exist an Intelligent Designer.

Some in the academic world have claimed that the Intelligent Design movement is just the Creation model dressed a little differently. To understand exactly what the Intelligent Design model is a house has been diagrammed to follow their thought process, it is that which follows.

In the Intelligent Design house the foundation is built on the belief that the super-natural does exist. That is why there are those that claim that it is just Creationism redressed. But the similarities end there. For the Intelligent Design house does not define the parameters of who or what this super-natural element may be. Therefore the adherents to this model range from Jews, to Muslims, to Jehovah Witnesses, to New Agers, to Christians…etc. It includes all those that believe in the existence of the super-natural, but that do not use Biblical parameters.

The Intelligent Design theory does have presuppositions, that the super-natural does exist, but they do not maintain a Biblical worldview. Since they do maintain the presupposition that the super-natural does exist, they are rejected by the Naturalists, just as the Creationists are. Therefore their conclusions are also rejected by the Naturalists. In the worldview, or philosophy, held by the Naturalists, there can be no purpose or design. Therefore according to them the Intelligent Design movement and the Creationists are the same, both promoting the existence of the super-natural.

Creation vs. Evolution

The Philosophical Bases