By Elias Ayala (MDiv & M.A.T.)
The laws of logic are the rules of correct reasoning. If one does not follow these rules of correct reasoning then one would be engaging in irrationality. Of course, irrationality does not produce meaning and truth and hence should not be engaged in by a professing believer in Christ. While it is true that many unbelievers say that Christianity or religion in general is irrational, as Christians we stand firmly against such a notion. It is our position that Christianity is eminently reasonable, rational, and logical. As a matter of fact, it is my contention that only the biblical worldview provides a meaningful and non-contradictory outlook on the world.
A worldview is the metaphoric lens through which ones sees the world. People interpret all that they see and think through the lens of a worldview. However, since there are contradicting worldview perspectives, they cannot all be true.
One way among many to demonstrate the falsity of a worldview is to show that the particular outlook is self contradictory. Since contradictions cannot be true, any worldview that is in fact contradictory are by definition, false. Furthermore, if a worldview is a kind of intellectual framework by which one makes sense out of reality, those basic fundamental beliefs or “presuppositions” must themselves provide the necessary preconditions for rational experience.
Materialistic atheism is a good example of a worldview perspective that does not provide the necessary components of rational experience. For one, materialistic atheism suggests that reality is at its most fundamental level reduced to matter in motion. All that exists is the material world. On this view there is no immaterial aspect to reality. As a worldview or outlook on reality this position is problematic because if it were true, it lacks a proper foundation for rational experience, yet the person who holds to such a position seeks to be rational and logical when explaining and putting forth his position.
To explain a bit further, suppose we grant the truth of the materialistic atheist. If such a position is true, then all reality would in fact be material or physical. However, in order to make any rational statement (including the statement: Materialistic atheism is true) there must be rules for correct reasoning, or as we stated at the beginning, the laws of logic must exist. The problem for the materialistic atheist comes in the question: If all reality is physical, and the laws of logic (rules for correct reasoning) are not themselves physical but immaterial, how can one have the laws of logic within a worldview that says all is material?
In other words, the person who says all reality is material needs the existence of the immaterial laws of logic in order to even make a rational statement. Do you see the problem? Such reasoning is itself irrational and self contradictory.
For the Christian, the immaterial, unchangeable, laws of logic are grounded in the immaterial and unchanging God. Logic was not created by God, rather, logic is a reflection of God’s perfect rational mind. When human beings who are made in the image of God think rationally and logically, they are thinking God’s thoughts after him. For the Christian, thinking logically is honoring to God.
This is why believers are called to a higher standard of thinking. We are called to sharpen our minds so as to think clearly and rationally about the God who reveals Himself in the Bible. In doing so we work towards fulfilling the biblical mandate to love the Lord our God with all of our mind (Luke 10:27).
