In previous lessons, we looked at The Master Argument For Christianity.
The argument runs like this:
If Christianity is true then a lot of good things we all want are true <- this was proven prior
Christianity is true <- Proving this premise here
Therefore, all of these good things are true <-mixed conclusion
We also looked at ten reasons why the first premise is true. Namely, if Christianity is true then…
You and your loved ones never really die
Perfect happiness is possible and within your control
All pain and negative emotions will be eliminated forever
Knowing perfect truth is possible
Morality is real
Human dignity is real
God loves you
Your life has a purpose, value, and meaning
The entire created universe is governed by God’s providential plan
You have permanent reasons to be happy and optimistic in this world, no matter what happens
This by itself does not show that Christianity is true, but it doesn’t attempt to do that. The first premise is claiming that Christianity, if true, would fulfill many of our important and natural desires. And for that reason, we should want Christianity to be true.
But is it true? That is the claim of the second premise.
In this lesson, we begin to look at the proof for the second premise.
The Cumulative Case For The Truth Of Christianity
The nature of a “cumulative case” is this: instead of using just one argument to support a conclusion, you use a number of independent arguments for that conclusion.
Just like in a court case its good to have one witness to support your side, but its better to have multiple witnesses.
The same thing goes here. When you have multiple arguments to support a conclusion, that conclusion is better supported than if you only had one.
The idea here is simple. The more arguments you have for something the more justified you are in believing it.
So if you have say, one argument, for the theory of evolution, that would be good.
If you have two arguments, that would be better. And so on.
Here we look at ten reasons to think that Christianity is true.
The Ten Arguments
The Argument From The Peaceful Conversion Of The World
The Argument From The Shroud of Turin
The Argument From Scientifically Validated Miracles
The Argument From Near Death Experiences
The Argument From Demonic Realism
The Argument From Marian Apparitions
The Argument From Pascal's Wager
Many of these arguments, by themselves, are sufficient to warrant Christian belief. For example, many educated people have come to believe Christianity is true just given, say, the argument from the Resurrection of Jesus.
But when you take them together as parts of a collective case you have a much stronger argument.
Entire books can and have been written on any one of these arguments.
Here in this series we will just briefly summarize each one.
