Optimism and Pessimism | |
---|---|
A: Optimism: God has given us minds to use in
reasoning, relating, and learning. Knowledge of God is
possible, because God has effectively revealed his power and
divine nature to all mankind (Romans 1:19-20). |
B: Pessimism: Our knowledge is imperfect and our
prophecy is imperfect; our knowledge must be held humbly
because it may be wrong; we make many mistakes. Being fallen
creatures, our knowledge of God and God's will is often
suppressed or distorted. |
-B: Rationalism: Without God's help, we can find
out truths about God by human reason and scientific evidence
alone. Natural theology (Locke). |
-A: Fideism: Knowledge of God is only achieved by
blind faith; there is no way to achieve it by rational
arguments. Such knowledge only comes to us mystically and
irrationally. |