In the last few articles, we have been comparing the Christian worldview to materialism—the belief that there is no supernatural realm or Divine Being and that nothing exists beyond atoms and molecules. Along the way, we have been usinga5-principle model developed by philosopher Nancy Pearcey to help in the comparison. The first principle was to identify the worldview idol that materialism exchanges God for. We found this step rather straightforward, as materialists believe that nothing exists but matter (atoms and molecules); thus, matter itself is their idol. Pearcey’s second principle was to identify the idol’s reductionism. Whereas the Christian worldview holds God as the Ultimate Reality and the creator of everything, it can be said that all other worldviews “exchange” God for something lower in the created order (cf Rom 1:19ff ). Therefore, since God, who created all men in His own image, is exchanged for an idol of this world, idolatry necessarily entails the reductionism of human beings, from the high view of beings created in the image of God to that of atoms and molecules. That brings us to Pearcey’s third principle, which is to determine if the materialist’s worldview contradicts what we know about the world around us. Since there can only be one true worldview, all other worldviews are necessarily false. That means that the one true worldview is the only one that can explain the universe and everything in it without contradiction. Christianity claims to be the one true worldview and, therefore, materialism to be false. If that is true, then at some point(s) materialism must contradict itself.
Within the materialist worldview, there is no room for the immaterial realitiesthatconstituteasubstantialpart ofhumanexperience.Unfortunately,on this view, since the only things that exist are those composed of atoms and molecules, humans are necessarily viewedasnothingmorethanbiological machines. Consequently, materialists agree that the brain (atoms and molecules)exists,butnottheimmaterial mind (consciousness, rationality, free will, etc.) because those things cannot be reduced to atoms and molecules. So what does a materialist do with these things? It is, in fact, quite simple: deny, deny,deny.Materialistsdenythatthese realities actually exist. For example, to deny that the mind is independent of the brain, materialists argue that consciousness is generated by the brain,despiteoverwhelmingdatafrom neuroscience indicating that the brain does not generate consciousness but rather exists independently of it. To deny rationality, materialists argue that electrochemical reactions in the brain are responsible for rational thought. However, near-death experiences had bybrain-deadpatientsindicatethatthe mind works even when the brain does not.Likewise,thematerialistdeniesfree will, claiming it is an illusion and that everyeventinlifeispredetermined.And it is the denial of free will that proves to be a most extraordinary and glaring contradiction held by the materialist worldview. In short, materialists have a free will problem.
The problem with free will is that it is absolutely necessary for the world to function. Or, stated another way, the world operates as if free will is true. In fact, justice is impossible without free will because both depend on the other. If there is no free will, there is no means by which to hold people accountable for their actions.
Nevertheless, just because free materialists deny that free will exists does not mean that it is so. I know this because those same people who deny free will always live their livesas if free will is true. If a materialist has their car stolen, they know without a doubt that the thief exercised their free will in choosing to steal the car and consequently expect justice to be served. But more than that, all materialists live each moment of every day as if they have the power of choice and that free will is true. And therein lies the great contradiction.The materialist denial of free will contradicts what we knowabouttheworld,namely,thatfree will does exist. Therefore, materialism is a false worldview. Christianity, on the other hand, holds that human beingsarefreemoralagentswhofreely make significant moral choices. In fact, Christianity holds that the Bible itself is no less than an appeal to the reader to make a free will choice to choose Jesus Christ. Free will. And that is precisely the type of free will that we so obviously see in the world.
Join us again next time as we move ever closer to answering the question, Is God dead?
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Ty B. Kerley, DMin., is an ordained minister who teaches Christian apologetics, and relief preaches in Southern Oklahoma. Dr. Kerley and his wife Vicki are members of the Waurika church of Christ, and live in Ardmore. You can contact him at: dr.kerley@isGoddead.com.