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Recent Barna research indicates that less than one in ten evangelical Christians hold a biblical worldview. A World of Difference seeks to change this disturbing fact by educating readers on how the Christian perspective is uniquely reasonable, verifiable, and liveable. Author Kenneth Richard Samples faced a profound test of his own belief system during a personal life-and-death crisis. In A World of Difference, he uses nine distinct tests to compare the Christian worldview with current religious and philosophical competitors, including Islam, postmodernism, naturalism, and pantheistic monism. Samples tackles tough issues through this in-depth study of Christianity's history, creed, and philosophical basis. An excellent resource for readers who want their view of life and the world to make sense.

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Philosophie et théologie

Christian theology

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 septembre 2007
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441200754
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0662€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
Other books by Kenneth Richard Samples
Without a Doubt: Answering the 20 Toughest Faith Questions
Prophets of the Apocalypse: David Koresh and Other American Messiahs (with others)
The Cult of the Virgin: Catholic Mariology and the Apparitions of Mary (with Elliot Miller)
Lights in the Sky and Little Green Men: A Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials (with Hugh Ross and Mark Clark)
A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
PUTTING CHRISTIAN TRUTH - CLAIMS TO THE WORLDVIEW TEST

K ENNETH R ICHARD S AMPLES
2007 by Reasons To Believe
Published by Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakerbooks.com
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-for example, electronic, photocopy, recording- without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Samples, Kenneth R. A world of difference : putting Christian truth-claims to the worldview test / Kenneth Richard Samples. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references(p.). ISBN 10: 0-8010-6822-3 (pbk.) ISBN 978-0-8010-6822-5 (pbk.) 1. Christianity 2. Christianity and culture. 3. Church and the world. I. Title. BR121.3.S26 2007 239-dc22
2007021817
Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
To the memory of Jesse Alexander Samples Jr. (1918-1985)
7th Army, 44th Infantry Division, 71st Infantry Regiment, Company C, European Theatre of Operation, United States Army, World War II
My father was a member of that great generation of American patriots who helped save the world from fascist tyranny and oppression. Their decisive victory in Europe and in the Pacific guaranteed the freedom that billions of people enjoy today. May their courage, devotion to duty, and selfless sacrifice be remembered with respect and gratitude.
C ONTENTS
List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Culture Clash
Part 1 Developing a Worldview Perspective
1. Shades of Reality
2. Testable Truth
3. Logic 101 and Christian Truth-Claims
4. Straight Thinking
Part 2 Exploring the Christian Worldview
5. A Christian Vision of Truth, Knowledge, and History
6. A Soldier s Creed
7. God s Written Word-Scripture
8. The Historic Christian View of God
9. God s World-Creation and Providence
10. The Historic Christian View of Man
11. The Historic Christian View of Moral Values
Part 3 Evaluating Worldview Competitors
12. Naturalism: A Secular Worldview Challenge
13. Postmodernism: A Skeptical Worldview Perspective
14. Pantheistic Monism: An Eastern Mystical Viewpoint
15. Islam: A Radical Monotheistic Challenge
16. Testing the Christian Theistic Worldview
Appendix: Worldview Charts
Notes
Selected Bibliography
F IGURES AND T ABLES
Figures
Deductive Argument
Inductive Argument
Implications of Divine Revelation
Tables
3.1 Deductive versus Inductive Arguments
8.1 One God-Three Divine Persons (One What, Three Whos)
8.2 The True Humanity of Christ
8.3 Jesus Christ: Who Do the People Say I Am?
8.4 The Holy Spirit: A Divine Person
11.1 Two Views of Ethical Foundations
11.2 Insurmountable Problems with Moral Relativism
12.1 Explanatory Power and Scope
14.1 Two Competing Views of Truth
15.1 Key Biblical Manuscripts Copied throughout the Centuries
16.1 Cumulative Case for Christian Theism s Explanatory Power
A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
M any people either encouraged me in the writing of this book or directly contributed to improving the book s overall quality. Honoring this debt of gratitude begins with acknowledging my family. My wife, Joan, is an extraordinary person. She supported me throughout the writing process and patiently endured the hundreds of hours I spent hibernating in the dungeon (our walk-in bedroom closet) both writing and editing the manuscript. Joan also courageously and selflessly nursed me back to health when I experienced the catastrophic health crisis described in this book.
My children were also a big help along the way. Oldest daughter Sarah competently and generously helped with many of the word processing tasks, while middle child Jacqueline graciously prepared meals when her mother was working the late shift at the hospital. And my youngest, Michael, kept me well supplied with ice-cold drinks and helped me check the many quotations included in the book. My love for my family remains the sine qua non (essence) of my life.
Valuable editorial support came from a number of exceedingly qualified people. My friend and colleague Robert M. Bowman Jr. provided editorial suggestions that strengthened the scholarly quality of the manuscript.
The Reasons To Believe (RTB) editorial team worked skillfully to improve the manuscript s readability and accuracy. I m especially grateful to Patti Townley-Covert for her excellent editorial work and encouragement. RTB editors Kathy Ross, Joe Aguirre, and Adam Martinez also offered valuable suggestions on improving the manuscript. The careful work of Sandra Dimas in preparing the indexes, Marj Harman s diligent efforts in checking the notes and bibliography, Diana Carr e s help on some of the tables, and Phillip Chien s computer assistance is also greatly appreciated.
RTB s scholar team including Hugh Ross, Fuz Rana, Dave Rogstad, Jeff Zweerink, and Bob Stuart reviewed parts of the manuscript and provided invaluable advice and support.
For the professionalism and gracious assistance of the people at Baker Books, I remain thankful. In particular, special thanks to Baker s acquisitions editor Robert Hosack for his support and to Paul J. Brinkerhoff for his astute editorial queries and counsel.
It s also important to acknowledge the Consistory of Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim, California-especially pastor Kim Riddlebarger, who allowed me to present much of the material in this book to my weekly Sunday school class. I have also benefited from the support of church friends such as Larry Keith, Cliff Steele, Gary DeBoer, Peggy Burke, Duane Ratzlaff, Judy Sniegowski, Winona Taylor, Donna Earnheart, Glenn Bulthuis, Vince Martinez, Les and Lorri Connard, and Wes and Lynn Hoffmaster.
My friends and teaching colleagues-including Douglas Wessell, Joseph van de Mortel, Robert Dargatz, Martin Schramm, and Dave Andrews-have inspired and challenged me over the years concerning the subject of worldview thinking. For their input, I give thanks.
My father, Jesse Alexander Samples Jr., to whom the book is dedicated, and his World War II band of brothers left a precious legacy of liberty.
Finally, glory and honor to the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Faith seeking understanding, Kenneth Richard Samples 2007
I NTRODUCTION C ULTURE C LASH
W hy is it that two people can look at the very same issue or event but come to fundamentally different conclusions? Human beings-born, raised, and educated in the same culture (perhaps even the same home)- can nevertheless have opposing visions about the nature of reality, truth, and goodness. Even two people who embrace religion can have monumental disagreements in their basic outlook.
Stark contrasts in perspective are especially pronounced since the events of 9/11. An actual clash of civilizations appears to be taking place. How can people understand this antithesis of viewpoints? Some specific examples illustrate the problem.
A Terrorist Trigger
American President George W. Bush and Muslim extremist Osama bin Laden represent diametrically opposed positions. Bush considers the total destruction of the Twin Towers, damage to the Pentagon, and all the deaths that have resulted from terrorist actions as a moral outrage. He believes the mass murderers who perpetrate this ongoing mayhem must be brought to justice.
Thus, President Bush leads the way in a strategic war against Islamic terrorists. A devout evangelical Christian, he asks for God s help in bringing swift and decisive recompense to these evildoers. Bush assesses terrorist acts largely in moral terms rather than strictly political, economic, or social terms. This basic moral evaluation has shaped his course of action not only in the war on terror, but in numerous other leadership decisions as well.
Osama bin Laden represents a completely different view. He considers the United States to be the great Satan, a country that for decades has manipulated the political events in the Middle East for its own selfish interests. This extremist leader and his followers believe terrorist actions to be expressions of devotion to Allah and ask his help to win the jihad (holy war) against their vision of evil.
These differences are not merely political, economic, or cultural, though such factors carry real importance. Nor do opposing perspectives arise strictly from two distinct religious traditions, Christianity and Islam, which actually share some common beliefs and values. The differences run far deeper than mere religious doctrine.
Philosopher Ronald H. Nash points out the touchstone that accounts for these differences: Many disagreements among individuals, societies, and nations are clashes of competing worldviews. 1 The diversity makes a world of difference-one with global consequences.
A Country Divided
The clash of cultures is evident not just among nations but also within them. In the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, strong political, social, and moral differences separated Americans into red and blue states. People in the United States have become increasingly polarized (perhaps more so than at any time since the Civil War), not just politically but also in the underlying beliefs that shape their worldviews.
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