Lesson 00.03

Dictionary of Terms


 

    

  1. A priori - Knowledge, judgments, and principles which are true without verification or testing.  It is universally true.  
  2. Deduction - Drawing logical conclusions from the general to the specific.
  3. Equivocate - To confuse the meaning of a single term by changing contexts.  For example, an equivocation of the term evolution would be as follows:  "Evolution states that one species can change into another.  We see that cars have evolved into different styles.  Therefore, since evolution is a fact in cars, it is true in species."
  4. Falsifiability - The ability for something to be able to be proven false.
  5. Hermeneutics - The theory behind and methodology on interpretation of literature, especially of Scripture.
  6. Hypostatic Union - The Christian teaching that in the one person of Christ, are two natures: the divine and human.
  7. Induction - drawing logical conclusions from the specific to the general.
  8. Intelligent Design - The movement that seeks to demonstrate intelligent design from examining biological structures and discovering with them irreducible complexity and specified complexity.
  9. Logic - From the Greek “logos” meaning “word.” Logic is study of the principles of reasoning. A set of premises that are examined and arranged so as to bring a conclusion. If A = B and B = C, then A = C.
  10. Logical absolutes - The basics of logic, principles that are always true.  For example, something cannot be itself and not itself at the same time.
  11. Paradigm - A set of assumptions and/or presuppositions that prescribe a way of looking at things.
  12. Presupposition - That which is believed in advance and which governs how information is interpreted.
  13. Presuppositionalism - A Christian presuppositionalist presupposes God's existence and argues from that perspective to show the validity of Christian theism.
  14. Syllogism - A logical construction consisting of two premises in a conclusion.
  15. Theism -The teaching that there is a God and that He is actively involved in the affairs of the world. This does not necessitate the Christian concept of God, but includes it.
  16. Theodicy - The study of the problem of evil.
  17. Transcendental Argument - The attempt to prove God's existence using the existence of logical absolutes.
  18. Trinity - The Christian teaching that God exists as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  19. Worldview - A world view is a set of presuppositions and beliefs that someone uses to interpret and form opinions about his humanity, purpose in life, duties in the world, responsibilities to family, interpretation of truth, social issues, etc.

 


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