Secularism Secularism Secularism Secularism Atheism: denial of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Secularism Secularism Secularism Secularism Atheism: denial of or disbelief in the existence of God. a = without without without without theos = God God God God Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53

Secularism Secularism Secularism Secularism Three kinds of people who live “without God” 1.Atheists: Believe there is no God no God. no God no God 2.Agnostics: Believe we don’t know don’t know. don’t know don’t know 3.Functional atheists: don’t care don’t care don’t care. don’t care Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53

World Religions Sermon Series World Religions Sermon Series World Religions Sermon Series World Religions Sermon Series Part 5 of 7 Part 5 of 7 Part 5 of 7 Part 5 of 7 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53

Why Study World Religions? Why Study World Religions? Why Study World Religions? Why Study World Religions? We want to be Christians Christians Christians Christians who know God’s truth truth truth truth and share it with grace grace. grace grace 1 Peter 3:15 1 Peter 3:15 1 Peter 3:15 1 Peter 3:15- - - -16 16 16 16 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53 Find Psalm 53

Development of Secularism Development of Secularism Development of Secularism Development of Secularism The Renaissance – c. 1400 – 1600 A.D. • The invention of the printing press printing press printing press printing press • The development of empirical empirical empirical empirical science science science science

Development of Secularism Development of Secularism Development of Secularism Development of Secularism The Enlightenment – c. 1600 – 1800 A.D. • Discovery of laws of science laws of science laws of science laws of science • Influential philosophers philosophers philosophers philosophers

Development of Secularism Development of Secularism Development of Secularism Development of Secularism The Modern Age – c. 1800 – present • Emergence of Darwinism Darwinism Darwinism Darwinism

Common Secular Beliefs Common Secular Beliefs Common Secular Beliefs Common Secular Beliefs 1. Denial of God God God God 2. Denial of Miracles 3. Fact of Evolution Evolution Evolution Evolution 4. Potential of Mankind 5. Centrality of Science 6. Principle of Relativity Relativity Relativity Relativity 7. Finality of Death

Backlash of Postmodernism Backlash of Postmodernism Backlash of Postmodernism Backlash of Postmodernism 1. Each person’s reality/truth is his own. 2. All realities are equally valid equally valid. equally valid equally valid 3. You cannot judge others. 4. No one can prove prove anything to be true. prove prove Tolerance!

Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God A. God reveals truth to all people through his creation. Only an eternal, omnipotent could… …be the first cause first cause first cause first cause Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1

Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God A. God reveals truth to all people through his creation. Only an eternal, omnipotent could… …create life create life create life create life Genesis 2:7, Psalm 139:13 Genesis 2:7, Psalm 139:13 Genesis 2:7, Psalm 139:13 Genesis 2:7, Psalm 139:13- - - -15 15 15 15

Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God A. God reveals truth to all people through his creation. Only an eternal, omnipotent could… …produce our perfectly designed universe designed universe designed universe designed universe Psalm 19:1 Psalm 19:1- -3 3 Psalm 19:1 Psalm 19:1 - - 3 3

Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God B. Unbelievers ignore God’s truth for love of sin. • They suppress the truth with sin. Literally: hold down hold down hold down hold down

Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God B. Unbelievers ignore God’s truth for love of sin. • They lose their ability to perceive perceive perceive perceive truth.

Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God Know the Truth of God B. Unbelievers ignore God’s truth for love of sin. • They exchange God for a false god. In reality the god is self. self. self. self.

Live the Truth of God Live the Truth of God Live the Truth of God Live the Truth of God • Our TIME is devoted to self. • Our RELATIONSHIPS are devoted to self. • Our MONEY is devoted to self.