Epistemology
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with knowing and the methods of obtaining knowledge. Biblical epistemology is the study of knowledge that is obtained from the Bible. Epistemology is at the heart of Biblical apologetics as it provides justifications and evidence for a view, and is the foundation that can be used to apply the Bible to our lives.
Our epistemology (theory of knowledge) is dependent upon our beliefs and perceptions of truth. Not all knowledge is true, and therefore not all epistemology is valid. It is argued that all knowledge which originates outside of the sphere of Biblical epistemology is humanistic, and prone to human error.
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Schools of Thought
- Skeptical empiricism: The belief that nothing should be believed unless it can be seen or "reasonably believed," in concert with a skepticism toward God and miracles. Example: Hume.
- Religious empiricism: The belief that nothing should be believed unless it can be seen or reasonably inferred, in concert with an openness toward God and miracles. Example: Aquinas.
- Fundamentalism: The belief that true understanding must begin with the acceptance of biblical and theological principles, and that science and empiricism are doomed to failure, because they do not rest on this first principle.
- Fideism: The belief that religious dogmas can and must be believed "by faith," without evidence. Example: Kirkegaard.
Reliability of the Bible
- Main article: Reliability of the Bible
A core concern of Biblical epistemology is the accuracy of the Bible. There are a number of views.
- Strict inerrancy is the view that the Bible is totally without error as we have it today.
- Original inerrancy is the view that the Bible was totally without error in its original form, but has been corrupted in minor details through transmission.
- Substantive accuracy is the view that the Bible may contain a number of minor errors common to the human reporting to historical events, but that it is generally accurate and reliable in the events it describes.
- Allegorical inerrancy is the view that the Bible is intended as allegory and spiritual teaching, and was not intended to be a history or science text. It is inerrant on spiritual teachings, but not reliable on historical issues.
- Biblical minimalism is the view that the Bible is a book merely written by men, and is neither substantively accurate nor useful.
Related References
- Biblical Epistemology: The High Ground for Victory and Dominion by Rev. Paul Michael Raymond
- Empiricism and Christian Knowledge by Jerry Gill. Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation Vol 16 (June 1964): 54-58.
- A Truly Reformed Epistemology by Michael Butler
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