Summary Statements - 5 of X - All facts are interpreted, All data are theory-laden, all knowledge is personal knowledge

1. Jesus said “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). As Christians, we know that the Truth is to be found in Jesus and His word. So, how are Christians to respond to the reigning plausibility structure in Western society, which claims the Christian's knowledge is (merely) subjective, personal knowledge and that only the scientific method/science can provide knowledge of truth?

2. Summary of the reigning (dualistic) plausibility structure of the Western world:

   1. facts vs values

   2. objective knowledge vs subjective knowledge

   3. universal knowledge vs opinion

   4. science vs religion

   5. reason vs revelation

   6. closed system vs open system

   7. fixed mathematical “laws” of nature (open to “discovery” by all) vs God's providence/blessings/judgment/miracles (known only by faith)

   8. uniformitarianism vs God's free will (contingency?) & faithfulness

3. The Christian response: There is NO neutral knowledge or facts; all “facts” are interpreted. All data are theory-laden. There is no certain knowledge. ALL knowledge requires personal commitment. There is an element of faith involved in all knowledge (including so-called objective scientific knowledge). Purpose is a necessary component in ALL explanation. All knowledge is “personal” knowledge. (Newbigin, Polanyi, C Van Til)

   Note: The assertion that all knowledge is personal knowledge is one that will be discussed in detail later. Certainly, knowledge of our salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus is personal knowledge, but exactly how is scientific knowledge obtained through hypothesis, experiment, and mathematics considered to be personal knowledge? This approach to the epistemology of science is derived from Newbigin and Polanyi, and will be fleshed out in the text. Note also that the problem of induction still applies (which states that scientific knowledge can never be known with certainty as it is (logically) impossible to derive an all-encompassing general statement (law) from set of particular circumstances – esp. when you factor in the sovereignty and free will (contingency?) of God/Jesus/Holy Spirit). [Need good summary statement of the problem of induction]

   “[Scientific] Knowledge is not complete unless it presses beyond the impersonal realities (explored with the tools of physics, chemistry, biology, and the human sciences) to that personal reality which alone can carry a purpose for the whole ….” God gives man His purpose in the Bible. “The fundamental affirmation of the Gospel is that the ultimate reality which is the object of all our search for truth has been made present in history in the person and work of Jesus Christ.... Since that is true, it must define the nature of all our search for truth, including our searches for truth in the world of impersonal realities.” (Newbigin, Proper Confidence, p. 51, 61-63)

   Note: Mathematics appears to provide “certain” knowledge, but only in as much as it does not make contact with physical reality. Mathematical statements (or “laws”) only approximate reality (see also the problem of induction). (Newbigin, Proper Confidence, p. 51, 61-63, Polanyi, C Van Til, K Godel)

4. [Add note about modern loss of faith in science in that you can never achieve certain knowledge. See Newbigin's note on pgs. 62-64 of Proper Confidence re: Bryan Appleyard's book “Understanding the Present”; I think this is a result of the development of postmodernist viewpoints, but I'm not sure]

Questions to be answered:

How do all facts require interpretation?

How are date theory-laden?

How is purpose a necessary component of explanation?

How is all knowledge personal knowledge?

How does one achieve certain knowledge?

Is the Lordship of Christ a fact?

Other questions ….

What are your questions?