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We live in a world where many people are being taken captive by “hollow and deceptive philosophy”. This is primarily true of young students who attend secular universities. Many of them grow up in Christian homes only to give up the faith of their parents after attending university.
This is especially tragic because the secular philosophies they are being captured by are, indeed, hollow and deceptive. They are deceptive, because the answers to life’s big questions they propose are not based as advertised on philosophy per se, but on philosophy guided by deeply secular religious beliefs. They are also hollow, because these secular beliefs are born of mere “human tradition” inspired by the “elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
The problem, then, is not philosophy itself, for it is an inescapable part of the academic enterprise. You can’t do any of the special sciences without also doing philosophy. The problem is, as the Apostle Paul makes clear, hollow and deceptive philosophy. The problem is philosophy practiced apart from the Christian faith and practiced instead from a secular perspective. The problem is philosophy guided by the limited perspective of mere human beings and human traditions under the malign influence of the elemental spiritual forces of this world.
The Christian faith has an overall perspective and specific teachings that have implications for every area of life. The academic life is no exception to the rule. It is incumbent upon Christians who are called to the academic life, therefore, to work out these implications for philosophy and the sciences and to challenge the hollow and deceptive philosophies of our day.
Our light must shine in academia, like everywhere else.
This is especially tragic because the secular philosophies they are being captured by are, indeed, hollow and deceptive. They are deceptive, because the answers to life’s big questions they propose are not based as advertised on philosophy per se, but on philosophy guided by deeply secular religious beliefs. They are also hollow, because these secular beliefs are born of mere “human tradition” inspired by the “elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
The problem, then, is not philosophy itself, for it is an inescapable part of the academic enterprise. You can’t do any of the special sciences without also doing philosophy. The problem is, as the Apostle Paul makes clear, hollow and deceptive philosophy. The problem is philosophy practiced apart from the Christian faith and practiced instead from a secular perspective. The problem is philosophy guided by the limited perspective of mere human beings and human traditions under the malign influence of the elemental spiritual forces of this world.
The Christian faith has an overall perspective and specific teachings that have implications for every area of life. The academic life is no exception to the rule. It is incumbent upon Christians who are called to the academic life, therefore, to work out these implications for philosophy and the sciences and to challenge the hollow and deceptive philosophies of our day.
Our light must shine in academia, like everywhere else.
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God’s Word transforms our lives—healing, guiding, and changing the way we live. When we need encouragement to begin the day, a reminder to keep us going, or the comfort only God can give, Living His Word can show us His way. Living His Word Daily Devotions give us helpful, everyday lessons so God’s Word will accomplish its purpose in our lives.
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We would like to thank Bible League International for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.bibleleague.org
