This is the second part in an "ancient" series on apologetic by the late Greg Bahnsen. He comes from the presuppositional school of apologetics. Hopefully this admittedly dated series will provide some insight into the world of apologetics.
Some may wonder why I am not doing a time-wise response to Greg Bahnsen the way I am responding to Don Preston. The simply reason is that with Mr Preston I have an idea of what is being discussed. With Mr Bahnsen I am a simple student listening to lectures. I'll post my random thoughts but they really are thoughts that encompass the whole video.
Metaphysical Questions: 1) What is the nature of man? 2) What is the nature of the universe? 3) What is the nature of God? 4) What is history and the development of it? 5) What is the character of laws/universals? It is crucial for Christians to have answers to these questions. It is important for us to know our answers to these questions. As an assignment for the reader/listener, take the time to answer these important questions to help determine and solidify your world view.
It's worth noting and accepting that to some extent these answers won't be the same for every Christian. A Calvinist and non-Calvinist will not necessarily have the same answer for the first question. A Lutheran and Baptist may not have the same answer on the fifth question if it concerns the Biblical law. Postmillennial thinkers will have a different answer for the fourth question then other eschatological views. These questions have importance to understanding ourselves, loving our brothers in Christ and refuting the world.
Epistemology Questions: 1) What is the nature of truth and objectivity? 2) What is the relationship between belief and knowledge? 3) What are the standards and procedures for justifying belief? 4) How should the procedures of science be evaluated?
Even among sincerer Bible believing Christians these questions would not get that same answer. But Bahnsen points out that to some extent, the Christian worldview will depart from all other worldviews because of the fundamental acceptance of God choosing to reveal Himself. In fact even the discussions over the nature and historicity of Jesus Christ can be brought home to a "did God really reveal Himself in and as the historical man Jesus Christ?"
Ethical Questions: 1) What is the nature of good and evil? 2) What is the standard of ethics? 3) What is the nature of guilt, atonement and peace? 4) How does the social order and state relate? 5) How does one obtain and produce moral character?
This is a very interesting section. Bahnsen is a classical theonomist. It's fair to assess that the world does not agree with quite a few of these questions. But even within the church there is some difference of opinion on the social order and state. There certainly seems to be a practical disagreement on the fifth question.
Many good things here. And I believe I'll leave my commentary and interaction with those simple questions.
