The Love of Knowledge

The Love of Knowledge (Philosophy) We live in an age that is in love with knowledge. We want to – even need to – know everything, even that which is inherently unknowable, such as the age of the Universe. In our desperation to know; even that for which there is no evidence; we invent incredible theories, and then seek evidence to fit the theory, thus turning the scientific process on its head. It is amusing and sad to watch clever men who are supposed to be scientists devoting their energies to the pointless task of knowing that which is unknowable, because there is no evidence that can be discovered, and resorting to indulging in science fiction instead. So desperate are we to supplant revealed knowledge with our own theories, that we will spend vast sums of money that could have been used for real science (like medical genetic research) on ultimately worthless projects like the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) in Switzerland which has cost EU taxpayers over £6bn! Scientists have spent 10 years drilling a hole a mile deep into the Antarctic ice to build a detector to pick up possible neutrino messages from aliens from other galaxies! I wonder how much closer we could have been to a viable hydrogen fuel cell to replace petroleum based power if they had devoted the time and money to that project? I have recently watched the debate at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre that was supposed to be between The Christian theologian William Lane Craig and the notorious atheist Richard Dawkins, on Dawkins’ book The God Delusion. It would seem that Dawkins got cold feet, and a mixed bag of philosophers took his place in the debate. As I listened to Craig address the issues raised by Dawkins in his book, and proceed to destroy them one by one, I had to employ all my powers of concentration to stay with him. His powers of reason and logic are quite remarkable, and it soon became clear why Dawkins declined to participate! Craig left the other participants floundering in his wake, as they struggled to hold up their arguments in the face of his devastating arguments. The fact that he has the right of it, and they the wrong, does not help their position, and hopefully Dawkins will one day realise that. After watching this word fest, these words of Paul came to mind…. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: \"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.'' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which

are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that, as it is written, \"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'' 1 Corinthians 17-31 God bless William Lane Craig, but I fear that his wisdom renders the Cross of Christ ineffective. He may fill the debating halls of academia, but you don’t see the audience on their knees repenting after one of his lectures. It may be that what he has to say will cause some to re-think their atheism, but the simple fact is that God has chosen to bring people to the Cross through the foolishness of preaching, not the fine arguments of apologetics! The response to the Gospel is one of the heart, not the mind. It is the heart of man that is wicked, and in need of redemption, the mind is in need of renewal, which follows on from redemption. The heart responds to conviction, not fine sounding arguments. Craig employs devastating logic in his lectures, which atheists fail to counter, because their position is ultimately illogical and untenable. However the demolishing of their arguments fails to lead them to convert to Christianity. Richard Dawkins continues in his delusion, it’s not a God delusion, it’s a Dawkins delusion! In order for Dawkins to be converted, his heart needs to be touched and broken, not his mind. That requires the power of the Cross, not the power of logic. We live in an age where knowledge is king. We know more than any preceding generation, and our knowledge is increasing at an exponential rate. We think that we can know anything given time. Our expanding knowledge has led us to become arrogant. We think we can find the answers to those things which are inherently un- knowable. We cast aside revealed knowledge as contained in the Bible, and embrace whacky theories instead. Perversely, this love of knowledge is causing those who pursue it to increasingly discard the scientific principle of following the evidence wherever it leads. This is not rational. Nature abhors a vacuum, and where rationality is abandoned, dogma will take its place. It should come as no surprise then, that in a world in love with knowledge, intolerance is increasing towards those who embrace revelation, and live their lives in accordance with the Word of God. Christians are being marginalised and persecuted, even though they pose no threat to those who disagree with them. This reaction is not rational, it is dogmatic. It is the wisdom of this world, and it is foolishness. It is also very dangerous, for it is Godless. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 It would seem that we are indeed in the last days predicted by Paul. These are perilous times. Instead of engaging in pointless arguments with people of closed minds, we need to preach the Gospel of the kingdom. A drowning man does not need a lecture on swimming techniques, he needs a hand to grab hold of!