以上帝存在為前提Presupposing God’s Existence
shane lems 编辑/Maria
Marta譯
在基督教護教者的工具箱裡，「前提主義」（presuppositionalism）是一個很有用的工具。「前提式護教學」（presuppositional apologetics）是什麽意思？範泰爾（Cornelius
Van Til）說它棒極了（當然！）：
「『基督教有神論』的上帝存在，以及祂的旨意計劃掌管宇宙中的萬事萬物，是科學家所需『自然界一致性』得以足立的一切大前提。然而，上帝存在的，唯一可能的證據就是：『自然界一致性』與『世界萬事萬物的統一』都需要祂的存在。」
我必須承認我並不是百分之一百同意「唯一可能的證據」這一片語，也許它是誇張的效果。無論如何，範泰爾繼續說道：
「我們不能『證明』地板下有樑木存在，如果我們所說的『證明』是指：它們必須是像房間中的桌椅一樣，被我們眼見才算數。但是，作為支撐桌椅的地板，其基本觀念就是需要有樑木在其下的觀念。若是無其下的樑木，根本就不會有地板。由此可見，上帝存在與『基督教有神論』真理的證明，是絕對確實的。甚至，非基督徒也以此真理為前提，雖然他們在言語上拒絕。他們若要給自己所作的找到立足點，就需要以基督教有神論的真理為前提。」
你可以在《基督教護教學》（Christian Apologetics）第四章中（P. 101，範泰爾C.
Van Til著/呂沛淵譯，改革宗出版社 ,2003。）找到這兩段摘錄。
Presupposing God’s
Existence (Van Til)
by Reformed Reader
Presuppositionalism is
a helpful tool in the toolbox of the Christian apologist. What does “presuppositional apologetics”
mean? Cornelius Van Til said it very
well (of course!):
“…The existence of the
God of Christian theism and the conception of his counsel as controlling all
things in the universe is the only presupposition which can account for the
uniformity of nature which the scientist needs.
But the best and only possible proof for the existence of such a God is
that his existence is required for the uniformity of nature and for the
coherence of all things in the world.”
I have to admit I’m not
100% in agreement with the words “only possible proof.” Perhaps it is exaggeration for effect. Anyway, Van Til went on:
“We cannot prove the
existence of beams underneath a floor if by proof me mean that they must be
ascertainable in the way that we can see the chairs and tables of the
room. But the very idea of a floor as
the support of tables and chairs requires the idea of beams that are
underneath. But there would be no floor
if no beams were underneath. Thus there
is absolutely certain proof for the existence of God and the truth of Christian
theism. Even non-Christians presuppose
its truth while they verbally reject it.
They need to presuppose the truth of Christian theism in order to
account for their own accomplishments.”
You can find this quote
in chapter four of Christian Apologetics by C. Van Til.
Shane Lems