Liberty University

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

A Summary and Critique of Evidentialism

A Paper Submitted to Dr. Fred Smith In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Course Survey of Christian Doctrine THEO 510

By Glenn E Norris February 5, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 EVIDENTIALISM DEFINED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

OBJECTIONS TO EVIDENTIALISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 MODERN SUPPORTERS OF EVIDENTIALISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 4

ii

INTRODUCTION The Bible is clear in its instruction regarding defense of ones faith: But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.1 Christian apologetics is the art of using persuasive arguments to defend the Christian faith.2 Within Christian apologetics there are several different epistemologies. This paper will deal with the Evidentialists view of apologetics. Evidentialism in apologetics is motivated by the idea that an individual can come to a logical conclusion that God is real by examining the evidence. The basis for this conclusion is found when a person using their logic and rational deductive reasoning, examining the value and facts seen in creation and history, will come to truth that Christian belief is true.3 How then does one define evidentialism? EVIDENTIALSIM DEFINED Thomas Provenzola in, The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, defines evidentialism as, a view of epistemology with respect to the justification of beliefs. In other words, evidentialism involves a reason-giving conception required for a person to be considered rational in holding a particular belief .4 Irwin H. Linton in A Lawyer Examines the Bible uses the analogy of a rope to explain evidentialism: "It is a commonplace that while one thread of a three stranded rope may possibly be broken, the three strands twisted together and each multiplying

ESV, 1 Peter 3:15.

Ed Hindson, Apologetics in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner ed. (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishing, 2008), 28. Thomas Provenzola, Evidentialism in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner ed. (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishing, 2008), 208.
4 3

Ibid.

the strength of the others may produce a tensile strength beyond the power to overcome.5 When one examines all the evidence from nature, history, and creation the strength of the evidence over powers any doubt of Gods existence. The evidentialist will argue that his approach has a strong church history.6 OBJECTIONS TO EVIDENTIALISM The Evidentialist has at least two presuppositions: 1) the subjective understanding of the apologists audience is rational and sound; and 2) Christian theism hence, must have a strong foundational set of beliefs. George Marsden has said, Although all people have an innate sense of God, this natural relation was so broken and injured by sin as to be of no use in its present state as a foundation for knowing God truly.7 Alvin Plantinga states that, This [belief in God] is the natural human condition; it is because of our presently unnatural sinful condition that many of us find belief in God difficult or absurd.8 Even with the objections against evidentialism there are many note worthy individuals who hold to this form of apologetics. MODERN SUPPORTERS OF EVIDENTIALISM Those who support evidentialism apologetics include John H Gerstner (November 22, 1914 March 24, 1996), Clark H. Pinnock (February 3, 1937August 15, 2010), Josh McDowell, John Warwick Montgomery, and Lee Strobel.

Irwin H. Linton, A Lawyer Examines the Bible, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1943), p. 195. Dan Story, Defending Your Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997), 5.

George Marsden, American Evangelical Academia, in Faith and Rationality, ed.Alvin Plantinga and Nicholas Wolterstorff, (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1983), 240.
8

Alvin Plantinga, idem, 66.

CONCLUSION How does one justify or rationalize their beliefs? This question can become so overbearing to some that the desire to firm up their belief can waiver. As has been stated there are issues with evidentialism, however this method is a foundational place to begin and then build upon the individuals own views. The evidentialist view helps to bridge the gap between apologists and the questionable individual. There is a basis to appeal to ones reasoning and rationalizing of the evidence brought forth in the Christian faith. There will always be issues when dealing with evidence or the lack there of. The key to using evidentialism in apologetics is subjective in nature. How much of ones own personal experience and their view be used in the evidentiary process?

BIBLIOGRAPHY Hindson, Ed. Apologetics in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner ed. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishing, 2008. Linton Irwin H. A Lawyer Examines the Bible, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1943. Marsden, George. American Evangelical Academia, in Faith and Rationality, ed.Alvin Plantinga and Nicholas Wolterstorff, Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1983. Dan Story, Defending Your Faith Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997. Alvin Plantinga. American Evangelical Academia, in Faith and Rationality, ed. Alvin Plantinga and Nicholas Wolterstorff, Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1983. Provenzola,Thomas. Evidentialism in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner ed. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishing, 2008.