Critiquing: #025 When Christians lose their faith

November 19, 2019 | Ask NT Wright Anything – Premier

Faith renunciation — Salvation definition — Dementia and Gospel — Book discussions — Supernatural theology

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Episode Assessment:

Metric	———	Commentary
Degree of Accuracy	B	The episode accurately reflects theological concepts and the personal experiences discussed.
Degree of Coherence	B+	The arguments are logically structured, but some explanations could be clearer.
Absence of Fallacies	B	Mostly free from fallacies, though there are moments where assumptions are made without substantial evidence.
Degree of Evidence	C+	While the episode relies on personal anecdotes and theological interpretations, it lacks robust empirical evidence to support all claims.
Degree of Testability	C	Theological claims are inherently difficult to test empirically, though they are logically consistent within the framework of Christian doctrine.
Rational Confidence	B-	Confidence in the arguments presented is moderate, supported by theological reasoning but lacking empirical verification.

Potential/Apparent Weaknesses:

1. Accuracy and Evidence: The claim that music and love can still get through to people with dementia is compelling but lacks empirical support.

“Often music still gets through…I had a friend whose wife had a chronic early onset Alzheimer’s. And even though she had no idea who he was anymore, if there was a hymn that she knew on the radio, she would sing the whole thing along with, or hammer tune from her symphony or whatever.”

2. Coherence and Absence of Fallacies: The explanation of supernatural and natural theology could benefit from clearer differentiation to avoid confusion.

“The word ‘supernatural’ sounds important, but people aren’t quite sure what we’re talking about here…the natural world, and the supernatural world was not, in a sense, different from that.”

3. Testability: The theological claims regarding the eternal security of the believer are difficult to test or verify empirically.

“I give them eternal life and no one shall snatch them out of my hand, or my father is greater than all and no one shall snatch them out of my father’s hand.”

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Major Arguments and Syllogistic Formulations:

Argument 1: Definition of a Christian

Premises:

1. A Christian is someone who confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes that God raised Him from the dead.
2. Confession and belief are acts that align with Paul’s statement in Romans 10.
3. Different interpretations of resurrection (physical vs. spiritual) exist among Christians.

Conclusion:
Therefore, the definition of a Christian is based on the confession of Jesus as Lord and belief in His resurrection, although interpretations of these beliefs may vary.

Counter-Argument:
The definition of a Christian should not hinge solely on specific doctrinal beliefs but should also encompass the ethical and moral conduct reflective of Jesus’ teachings. While doctrinal belief is significant, the manifestation of these beliefs through actions and lifestyle is equally crucial in defining a true Christian.

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Argument 2: Eternal Security of Believers

Premises:

1. John 10:28-29 and Ephesians 1:13-14 suggest that believers are eternally secure.
2. These scriptures indicate that true believers cannot lose their salvation.
3. However, there are warnings in Hebrews about falling away from faith.

Conclusion:
Therefore, while scripture supports the idea of eternal security, there is also a scriptural basis for caution and perseverance in faith.

Counter-Argument:
The concept of eternal security might lead to complacency in one’s spiritual life. Emphasizing continuous growth, ethical behavior, and self-reflection is vital to ensure that one’s faith remains active and genuine. The warnings in Hebrews suggest that faith requires ongoing commitment and cannot be taken for granted.

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Argument 3: Impact of Dementia on Faith

Premises:

1. Dementia affects cognitive abilities, including memory and recognition.
2. Despite cognitive decline, individuals may still respond to music and expressions of love.
3. The love of God can reach individuals even in a state of dementia.

Conclusion:
Therefore, it is possible for individuals with dementia to experience the love of God and maintain a connection to their faith through familiar stimuli like music and affection.

Counter-Argument:
Relying on anecdotal evidence to assert that individuals with dementia can maintain their faith is insufficient. More comprehensive studies are needed to understand the cognitive and emotional experiences of individuals with dementia fully. Additionally, theological assertions about God’s love reaching individuals in this state should be accompanied by pastoral care that addresses the practical and emotional needs of both the individuals and their caregivers.

◉ Addressing Argument #3:

Substantiating the Notion that the Love of God Can Reach Those with Dementia

To substantiate the notion that the love of God can reach those with dementia, several foundational premises must be established and rigorously substantiated. These premises include: 1) the existence of God, 2) the loving nature of God, 3) the capacity for individuals with dementia to feel loved, and 4) the recognition of this love as divine.

1. God Exists

The first and most critical assumption is the existence of God. This is a topic of immense philosophical and theological debate. Christian apologists often rely on classical arguments such as the Cosmological Argument, which posits that everything that begins to exist has a cause, leading to the necessity of a first cause—God. Another common approach is the Teleological Argument, which argues from the complexity and order of the universe to an intelligent designer. While these arguments have their strengths, they also face significant challenges from atheist and agnostic perspectives, who argue that these are not definitive proofs but rather interpretations that can be countered by scientific explanations and logical reasoning.

More importantly, these arguments, if valid and true, would only establish the existence of a deistic god.

2. God is Loving

Assuming God’s existence, the next step is to establish that God is loving. Christian theology traditionally defines God as omnibenevolent, supported by scriptural references such as 1 John 4:8, which states, “God is love.” However, critics argue that the presence of evil and suffering in the world challenges this assertion. The Problem of Evil is a significant hurdle for apologists, who must reconcile a loving God with the existence of suffering, including the suffering experienced by individuals with dementia. Responses to this problem include free will defenses and soul-making theodicies, which suggest that suffering can lead to greater goods or spiritual development, but these responses are often seen as insufficient by skeptics.

3. Those with Dementia Feel Loved

Establishing that individuals with dementia can feel loved involves understanding the nature of dementia and its impact on cognitive and emotional capacities. Despite the cognitive decline associated with dementia, there is evidence suggesting that emotional responses remain intact to some degree. Studies have shown that individuals with dementia can respond positively to music, touch, and familiar voices, indicating that they retain the capacity for emotional experiences. However, the subjective nature of these experiences makes it challenging to quantify or definitively prove the extent to which individuals with dementia feel loved.

4. Recognizing God’s Love

Finally, it must be shown that the love felt by individuals with dementia is recognized as God’s love. This is perhaps the most speculative and difficult to substantiate. The recognition of divine love would require a level of cognitive awareness that dementia patients might lack. Additionally, the interpretation of emotional experiences as divine is deeply subjective and influenced by individual belief systems and religious backgrounds. For Christian apologists, demonstrating this recognition involves appealing to personal testimonies and anecdotal evidence, which, while powerful on an individual level, lack the rigor required for broader generalization.

Conclusion

The claim that the love of God can reach those with dementia is a multi-faceted assertion that requires rigorous substantiation of several underlying premises. Each of these premises—God’s existence, God’s loving nature, the emotional capacity of individuals with dementia, and the recognition of divine love—faces significant challenges and requires careful argumentation. Christian apologists must ensure that their claims are backed by solid philosophical, theological, and empirical evidence to avoid contributing to the plethora of specious claims in the world.

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We warmly welcome further discussion on this topic in the comments section below. Your insights and perspectives are invaluable as we explore these profound and challenging questions together.