How the Search for Truth Reveals God (with Neil Shenvi)
Apr 29, 2025
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Neil Shenvi, author of 'Why Believe?', engages in a captivating discussion on the quest for truth and its relation to the existence of God. He explores the moral imperatives of truth-seeking and the tension between truth and happiness, challenging secular views on morality. Through thought-provoking examples, Shenvi critiques atheistic perspectives while illustrating how biblical teachings shape our understanding of truth. Additionally, he discusses the significant role of doubt in faith, encouraging a robust intellectual defense of Christianity.
The moral obligation to seek truth is essential for human flourishing and is best understood within the framework of a truth-loving God.
Neil Shenvi emphasizes that while everyone pursues truth, the Christian worldview uniquely justifies this quest through its teachings on morality and existence.
The transcendental moral argument, focusing on truth-seeking, offers a fresh perspective in apologetics, highlighting a God's necessity in moral discourse.
Deep dives
Personal Journey to Faith
The speaker shares his experiences growing up in a loving but non-Christian household, identifying as a Christian only due to cultural influences. His spiritual journey deepened in college when he met his future wife, leading him to attend church and engage with Christian teachings. Influential readings, particularly C.S. Lewis's 'Screwtape Letters,' sparked his interest and reconsideration of his beliefs. Ultimately, he realized the need for repentance and a genuine relationship with God, marking a pivotal moment in his faith journey.
Transcendental Moral Argument
The discussion centers around the transcendental moral argument, which posits that the existence of moral obligations to seek truth points toward the existence of a God who inherently values truth. This argument proposes that while people, including atheists, have a natural desire for truth, it's crucial to identify which worldview can justify that moral obligation. The speaker emphasizes that the Christian perspective offers a comprehensive explanation of why humanity innately seeks truth and equates it with being made in God's image. He argues that, ultimately, human flourishing and moral obligations are best understood through a framework that acknowledges a truth-loving deity.
The Obligation to Seek Truth
A key point made is that humans possess a moral obligation to seek certain fundamental truths about existence, such as the nature of God and the purpose of life. The speaker challenges listeners to consider the implications of dismissing this obligation, suggesting that failing to seek truth equates to a moral failing. He outlines how, contrary to some beliefs, seeking truth is not merely optional but essential to being a responsible human being. This perspective aligns with the biblical view that commands followers to pursue wisdom and truth above all else.
Comparison with Other Arguments
The speaker compares the transcendental moral argument to traditional moral arguments, noting its unique focus on truth-seeking rather than merely delineating right from wrong. He explains that while classical moral arguments assert that objective moral values require the existence of God, this new argument specifically highlights the necessity of a God who commands a pursuit of truth. This distinction emphasizes that not only do we seek moral goodness, but we are also obligated to seek understanding and truth in life’s fundamental questions. The argument serves as a supplement to existing apologetic frameworks while reinforcing the Christian understanding of the innate human quest for truth.
Contextual Relevance and Wider Discussion
The speaker discusses why the transcendental moral argument may lack traction in broader apologetic discussions, proposing that its unique focus on truth-seeking has been overlooked. He suggests that a more rigorous exploration of this argument could enhance dialogues on theology, morality, and the existence of God, especially among skeptics and atheists. The speaker envisions this argument as part of a broader mosaic of theistic arguments that collectively illustrate the rational necessity for a truth-loving God. This, he argues, highlights the interconnectedness of truth-seeking, morality, and a deeper understanding of human purpose in a theistic framework.
Why should we seek truth? How does our search for truth reveal that God is real? In this video, I talk with Neil Shenvi (author of Why Believe) about a POWERFUL and yet rarely used argument for the existence of God. If you are not convinced, tell us why!READ: Why Believe? A Reasoned Approach to Christianity by Neil Shenvi (https://amzn.to/3lXKSnq)*Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf)*USE Discount Code [SMDCERTDISC] for $100 off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM)*See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK)FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sean_McDowell TikTok: @sean_mcdowell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/
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