Essentials of Christian Apologetics - Lesson 2

Reformed Epistemology

I. Is it necessary to prove the existence of God?

A. Debate between Alvin Plantinga and Antony Flew

B. Evidentialist Challenge

II. Background

A. Innate Ideas

B. Thomas Reid

C. Belief Dispositions

1. External World

2. Other Minds

3. Memory Beliefs

D. Alvin Plantinga

III. Evidentialism - Three Premises

A. It is irrational to accept theistic belief in the absence of sufficient evidence.

B. There is insufficient evidence to support belief in God.

C. Therefore, belief in God is irrational.

IV. Plantinga's Rejection of Evidentialism

A. Fatal Flaw #1 - Belief dispositions

B. Fatal Flaw #2 - Self-defeating thesis

For more information, see:

The full course, Christian Apologetics,

Lecture #3 Postmodern Irrationalism

Lecture #5 Worldview Issues

Lecture #6 Rationality of Belief in God

Nash, Faith and Reason, pp. 69-79