Chapter 8.1 : Non-Western Science: This session covers the following content: Origin of Scientific Models: A Non-Western Cultural Perspective Ground Zero: Weltbild (Worldview) – Formed by life experience, environment, culture, and belief in Spiritual domain – Non-Western worldview begins with a Creator–Creation relationship Key Characteristics of the Non-Western Welt-bild: Universal Domains: – Creator :: Created – Reality is dual: a transcendent Creator and a created order Operating System: – Open System – The universe is not closed; it is governed by a Creator or spiritual power – Space for divine intervention and spiritual dimensions External Authority: – Dependent and Cooperative – Human beings are not autonomous, but exist in relationship to an external authority Source of Reference: – History and Revelation – Emphasis on historical events and divine self-disclosure Sources of Reliable Knowledge: - Intuitive Knowledge - Authoritarian Knowledge (trusted external authority) - Logical Knowledge - Empirical Knowledge Chosen Source of Reliable Knowledge: - External Authority – as revealed by God through special revelation (e.g., scripture) and general revelation (nature, history) Summary Insight: Unlike the Western naturalistic model that is based on autonomous reason within a closed system, the Non-Western model is rooted in dependence on a Creator within an open system, where knowledge flows from divine revelation.
Chapter 8.2 : Non-Western Science: This session covers the following content: Pillars of the Biblical Model of Reality: 1. Physical and Spiritual domains both exist Genesis 1:1–2 – God created both heavens (spiritual) and earth (physical) – The Spirit of God was present at creation, indicating a dual reality from the beginning 2. A Unified Cosmos: Physical and Spiritual in One Domain Ephesians 6:10–12 – Reality includes both flesh-and-blood struggles and spiritual warfare – The spiritual realm actively influences life in the physical realm 3. The Cosmos Functions by God’s Wisdom and Sustaining Power Colossians 1:16–17 – All things (visible and invisible) were created by, through, and for God – God is the one who holds all things together, maintaining the universe’s order 4. The Creator God of the Bible Exists and Reigns Supreme Jeremiah 10:11–16 – False gods will perish; only Yahweh is the true, eternal Creator – God’s power, wisdom, and understanding are displayed in nature – Idolatry is rejected; God alone is the source of life and truth Summary Insight: This worldview affirms a single, integrated cosmos created and sustained by a personal, supernatural Creator. It embraces both natural processes that are upheld by spiritual realities, and submits to authority.
Chapter 8.3 : Non-Western Science: This session covers the following content: Second Floor: A Theoretical System of Thought -- Non-Western (Biblical/Hebrew) Philosophy Grounded in Revelation and guided by the Spirit of Truth, this system uses familiar epistemological methods (rationalism, empiricism, skepticism) but places them under divine guidance of the Spirit of Truth Pillar/Method #1: Rationalism – Guided by God’s Spirit of Truth - Isaiah 1:18 – God invites reasoning within a covenantal relationship. - Isaiah 55:7–9 – Human reasoning must be submitted to God’s higher ways. - John 16:12–13 – The Spirit of Truth leads believers into deeper understanding beyond human capacity. Key Insight: Reason is valued but not autonomous; it functions rightly when guided by the Spirit of Truth. Pillar/Method #2: Empiricism – Guided by God’s Spirit of Truth - 2 Kings 6:14–17 – Elisha’s servant sees spiritual reality after God opens his eyes. - John 20:25–29 – Thomas requires physical evidence, and Jesus affirms the value of both seeing and believing without seeing. Key Insight: Experience and sensory evidence are valid but limited, must be interpreted through faith and revelation. Pillar/Method #3: Skepticism – Guided by God’s Spirit of Truth - John 16:12–13 – The Spirit provides ongoing discernment and reveals truth progressively. - Acts 10:19–20 – Peter is told not to doubt because God is directing the situation. - Acts 17:11 – The Bereans practice critical thinking, testing Paul's teachings against Scripture. Key Insight: Questioning is encouraged when it leads to truth grounded in God’s Word, not autonomous doubt. Summary Thought: In the Biblical worldview, human methods of knowing (reason, experience, doubt) are redeemed and directed by God’s revelation and the Holy Spirit. Unlike the Western naturalistic model that rests on human autonomy, this model depends on divine authority for both its foundation and operation.
Chapter 8.4 : Non-Western Science: This session covers the following content: Third Floor: Science Produced – Creator/Creation Science Foundational Verse: - Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” This verse forms the foundation for a theistic view of science, where the universe has a divine origin, purpose, and order. Pillar/Resource #1: God Himself - God = Eternal & Omnipotent - He pre-exists creation and has the power to create all things Pillar/Resource #2: God Created the Fundamental Elements of Reality - Time, Space, and Matter were brought into existence by God - The universe is not self-originating, but dependent on a Creator Summary Insight: In Creator/Creation Science, the starting point is God, not impersonal forces nor inanimate matter. The cosmos is intelligible and purposeful because it was created by an intelligent, eternal God. Science, then, is the study of God’s handiwork in both the physical and spiritual dimensions.
Chapter 8.5 : Non-Western Science: This session covers the following content: 13. The product: A. The creation of the Heavens and the Earth. - Genesis 1:14-19 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so. God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day. B. The creation of life. - Genesis 1:11-13 God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth;” and it was so. The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a third day. C. The creation of man. - Genesis 2:7 Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 14. This Man Concludes: The Creator God of the Bible Exists and is worthy of all honor. - Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created!”
Chapter 8.6 : Non-Western Science: This session covers the following content: Summary: Perception is Influenced by Theory, Habit, Prejudice, and Culture. - 1. Perception Is Not Purely Objective Stephen Jay Gould: "First facts do not come to us as objective items... theory, habit, prejudice, and culture all influence the facts we choose to observe and the way in which we perceive them." Paul Kurtz (The New Skepticism): Eyewitnesses of alleged paranormal events are often unreliable—their perceptions are shaped by what they expect to see. 2. Biblical Illustration: Perception of Real Events Varies - John 12:20–30: When God speaks audibly, people in the same crowd interpret it differently: Some hear thunder; Others heard an angel speak. Jesus clarifies: the voice came for their benefit, not his. Key Insight: Even when faced with the same event, people perceive it differently depending on their Theory, Habits, Prejudices, and Culture. Core Takeaway: Whether in science or interpreting scripture, the conclusion is consistent: What we perceive is deeply shaped by who we are—our worldview, and thus expectations. Truth isn’t always rejected due to lack of evidence; sometimes, it’s missed due to interpretive filters already in place.