Understanding David Hume's Disregard for the Gospel's Truth
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Chapter 1: David Hume’s Philosophical Background
David Hume (1711 – 1776) was a prominent Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, librarian, and essayist from the Enlightenment era. He is especially recognized today for his impactful approach to philosophical empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism.
A notable quote from Hume states: “It is no miracle that a man, seemingly in good health, should die on a sudden: because such a kind of death, though more unusual than any other, has yet been frequently observed to happen. But it is a miracle, that a dead man should come to life; because that has never been observed in any age or country. There must, therefore, be a uniform experience against every miraculous event, otherwise, the event would not merit that appellation. And as a uniform experience amounts to a proof, there is here a direct and full proof, from the nature of the fact, against the existence of any miracle; nor can such a proof be destroyed, or the miracle rendered credible, but by an opposite proof, which is superior.”
This assertion represents an 'a priori' conclusion—one based on theoretical reasoning rather than empirical evidence. In simpler terms, it translates to: 'This is true simply because I want it to be true.' Hume anticipated that readers would accept his claims as factual, conveniently overlooking the biblical accounts of several resurrections.
The Bible posits that the defeat of death and the revelation of immortality were central to Jesus Christ’s purpose on Earth. This truth is made clear through the appearance of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has conquered death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:9). The intention behind the Gospels reflects genuine enlightenment, making it a misnomer to label the rejection of biblical records as enlightenment. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead serves as the foundation of this Gospel truth.
In addition to biblical evidence, diligent researchers will discover numerous accounts—spanning written records, videos, and podcasts—that document Christian resurrections both historically and in contemporary times. Notably, skeptic Frank Morison originally aimed to disprove the resurrection of Christ but ultimately acknowledged the authenticity of the New Testament in his book "Who Moved the Stone," available from various online retailers and bookstores.
Section 1.1: The Nature of Miracles
Hume's skepticism casts doubt on the validity of miracles, arguing that our uniform experiences contradict their possibility. This perspective raises significant questions about the nature of faith and belief in the supernatural.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Resurrection Debate
Section 1.2: The Intersection of Science and Faith
Harvard geneticist Richard Lewontin candidly expressed the stance of many in the scientific community regarding materialism: “We take the side of science because we have an a priori commitment to materialism. Our willingness to accept scientific claims that are against common sense is the key to an understanding of the real struggle between science and the supernatural. Materialism is absolute; we cannot allow a divine foot in the door.”
Chapter 2: The Impact of Hume’s Philosophy on Christianity
In this video, "David Hume and the Christian Faith | RTTB Reasoning With God Series," we delve into Hume's philosophical challenges to Christianity and how they relate to the faith today.
The second video, "David Hume's Powerful Attacks on Christianity Revealed," examines Hume's critiques and their implications for belief in miracles and the resurrection.