Review of Plantinga’s Where the Conflict Really Lies (Part Two)

This discussion is the second and concluding article reviewing the book by Alvin Plantinga, Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism.1 A brief evaluation of what his book offers to the overall discussion of science and religion will follow. His primary theme, which he mentions several times throughout, is there is superficial conflict, but deep concord, between science and religion, and superficial concord, but deep conflict, between science and naturalism. Consequently, according to Plantinga the real source of the disagreement is between religion and naturalism. To be clear, Plantinga’s point is the atheism of Dawkins, Dennett, and others with their trash talk about theism makes the mistake that must be addressed. It is not that science is opposed to theism, so much as is naturalism. Plantinga argues these “super atheists” have taken science and have tried to argue it supports naturalism, when, in fact, it does not.

PART III

A Review of Plantinga's Where the Conflict Really Lies (Part One)

The assignment for this article is to examine the argument made by Alvin Plantinga regarding where the disagreement really lies in the overall discussion on the question of God and God’s existence with science and naturalism. Plantinga, a theist, wants to clarify where the real controversy is, from the perceived controversy. Reading through his treatment, he discusses the possible conflicts that may or may not exist between science and religion. This review, the first of two installments, considers Plantinga’s position and offers an evaluation.

Certain Preliminary Matters and His Main Theses
Plantinga considers the real source of the problem to be between theism and naturalism.1 However, before serious consideration can be given, one must understand what Plantinga means by theism, science, and naturalism.

Jim Laws, Sufficient Evidence, Vol4No2Warren ApologeticsFebruary 26, 2021Vol. 04 No. 2Comment

The Integrity of the Text of the New Testament

Doug Burleson, Sufficient Evidence, Vol4No2Warren ApologeticsNovember 19, 2020Vol. 04 No. 2 Comments

Paul's Case for Christianity

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus provides an unanswerable argument for Christianity. Charles R. Erdman says, “The conversion of Saul of Tarsus . . . forms, indeed, one of the strongest arguments in support of belief in . . . the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (100). This affirmation that the conversion of Saul (Paul) “forms one of the strongest arguments” in support of the historic resurrection of Jesus and, as a result, is itself proof of the Christian faith was the thesis of George Lyttleton in his classic volume on the conversion of Paul first published anonymously in 1747 when Lyttleton was thirty-eight years of age. Lyttleton was educated at Oxford, entered Parliament, and advanced to the position of lord, commissioner of the treasury. He admitted there were those who tried to shake his faith in the Christian religion, and T. T. Biddolph said that he, along with Gilbert West, had imbibed the principle of skepticism (Campbell 353-54). However, Lyttleton examined the reality of Christianity, and he deserted his unbelief because of a thorough examination which terminated in the production of his well-known dissertation on Saul’s conversion (Mitchell 341-42).

Sufficient Evidence, Charles C. Pugh III, Vol4No2Warren ApologeticsSeptember 25, 2020Vol. 04 No. 2Comment

A Christian Worldview Response to Current Bioethical Issues (Part Four)

Through Life to Its End

Difficult end-of-life issues confront all people including Christians. While some unbelievers may seek answers only from secular, naturalistic theories of medicine, Christians believe that God has provided important information about health, illness, and death. God has spoken through our nature as human beings, through Jesus His Son, and through special revelation in the Bible.1 By introducing two classic cases, this fourth article discusses the significance of trusting a Christian worldview when dealing with end-of-life issues in bioethics. An appropriate Christian response to such cases does not always require us to cite Bible passages to those around us, but we should always benefit from such passages and live as godly people following the teaching and example of Jesus. Christian patients, physicians, and other caregivers can all be empowered by their biblical worldview.

Rolland W. Pack, Sufficient Evidence, Vol. 5 No. 2Warren ApologeticsJuly 17, 2020Vol. 05. No. 2Comment

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