On Interacting With Street Epistemologists

[Apologiaphoenix]

What's it like trying to reason with the unreasonable? http://deeperwaters.wordpress.com/20...istemologists/

[whag]

What's it like trying to reason with the unreasonable? http://deeperwaters.wordpress.com/20...istemologists/

Nice article, Nick. I'd be curious to see how you prepare for street epistemologists' inevitable analysis of Holy Spirit epistemology. Do you have anything ready on the subject?

[Apologiaphoenix]

Sure do. I'll agree with it. I don't use the argument at all that the Holy Spirit revealed X to me. I don't even like it when my fellow apologists say they know Christianity is true by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Such a teaching is absent in Scripture and I also don't think the Spirit tells you what the text means. The Spirit instead convicts you in regards to sin and what you see in the text. For instance, if the text says something about how you treat your wife and I realize I did something wrong to Allie, then that is when conviction takes place.

[whag]

Sure do. I'll agree with it. I don't use the argument at all that the Holy Spirit revealed X to me. I don't even like it when my fellow apologists say they know Christianity is true by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Such a teaching is absent in Scripture and I also don't think the Spirit tells you what the text means. The Spirit instead convicts you in regards to sin and what you see in the text. For instance, if the text says something about how you treat your wife and I realize I did something wrong to Allie, then that is when conviction takes place.

That's a specific example of a Christian reading about a biblical mandate and then being confronted, by your violation of it, either through self realization or Allie reminding you to treat her right.

The street epistemologist would say that's a universal experience of marriage (and life) and not necessarily a feeling implanted by a spirit.

[Apologiaphoenix]

That's a specific example of a Christian reading about a biblical mandate and then being confronted, by your violation of it, either through self realization or Allie reminding you to treat her right.

The street epistemologist would say that's a universal experience of marriage (and life) and not necessarily a feeling implanted by a spirit.

Sure. I am not claiming the Spirit is giving new knowledge. I am claiming He is acting on knowledge that I already have.

[whag]

Sure. I am not claiming the Spirit is giving new knowledge. I am claiming He is acting on knowledge that I already have.

The street epistemologist would probably respond that the "convicted" feeling was triggered internally, not externally, since non-Christian husbands can (and do) feel guilty about things they do that unintentionally hurt others.

If a Muslim or non-believer unintentionally (or intentionally) hurts his wife and feels guilt, is it always the Holy Spirit who causes the uguilt? I think this is where WLC's Holy Spirit epistemology begins to break down, because he hasn't clearly defined how the Holy Spirit interacts with people of other religions and non-believers.

[Apologiaphoenix]

I would have no problem saying the Holy Spirit is there because He convicts the world of unrighteousness as well. Neither position can be proven. Both are consistent.

Again, I don't claim a Holy Spirit epistemology like Craig. The Spirit does not provide new content in what He does. He simply convicts on what has been said.