Philosophy
Mention the word ‘philosophy’ and people tend
to think of Plato, Socrates and maybe Aristotle. My old professor, who had
earned doctorates in theology and philosophy said, ‘There are two general
fields of knowledge – theology, the study of God, and philosophy, the study of
creation… Christian philosophy is man’s scientific study of God’s universe in
nature and in culture as viewed through the spectacles of Scripture (Calvin).’
Francis Nigel Lee.
To
ask whether or not one ought to use the Bible to interpret nature and culture
is to ask a philosophical question. Related to this question is the ‘chicken
and egg’ dichotomy of faith and reason. Which came first? Is it Thomas
Aquinas’s ‘I know so that I can believe’ or is it Augustine’s ‘I believe so
that I can know’? We believe that Augustine wins here. Faith comes before
Reason. For, from Santa to Satan, who has never doubted what they first
believed? First we believe (i.e., we have faith). Second we test those beliefs
(i.e., we apply reason).
For
the child a bite out of a cookie and wrapped presents on Christmas morning may
be proof enough that Santa exists. However, as the Apostle puts it, ‘When I was
a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but
when I became a man, I put away childish things.’ 1 Corinthians 13:11. The
adult knows that the red-suited fat man is simply a cultural myth. But what
happens when the adult looks at nature and culture and sees evil? Should he or she
wax philosophical about theft, rape and murder and insist that these things are
not evil because these kinds of things happen in the animal kingdom and human
beings, after all, are just highly evolved animals? Or should he or she view
these things through the spectacles of Scripture and see clearly that they are
indeed evil? Well, it all depends on whether you believe the Bible to be God’s
revelation to us or not. And whether or not you believe in the veracity of
Scripture is based upon your presuppositions. A presupposition is a thing
assumed beforehand.
Whereas
Christian Philosophy scientifically studies God’s universe in nature and in
culture through the Scriptures, non-Christian Philosophy does not. Why? It is
presuppositional. The former has faith that the Bible is God’s revelation to
mankind. The latter has faith it is not. However, note that for both it is a
matter of faith first and only secondly comes reasoning. But on what grounds
does one accept or reject the Bible as God’s Word? Philosophical! And what is
your philosophy based on? It starts with faith and then reasons from it.
Christian
Philosophy begins with God, the Triune God, i.e., the Father, the Word/Son and
the Spirit. Christian Philosophy sees the Godhead containing three Persons as
the original One and the Many, Unity in Diversity, the General and the
Particular, and sees His universe in nature and culture. These reflect the
Creator. The character of God is the measure of all moral good, while evil is
that which is defined by God in His Word. Thus, whether considering Santa or
Satan, Christian Philosophy does so from the vantage point of God speaking in
His Word by His Spirit. Therefore, ‘See to it that no one takes you captive
through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and
the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ’ Colossians 2:8.
