Course Content
DOES GOD EXIST?
The historical evidence for Christianity centers on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which are supported by early, well-attested documents such as the New Testament, as well as non-Christian sources like Josephus and Tacitus. The rapid growth of the early church, the willingness of the apostles to die for their claims, and the empty tomb all point to the resurrection as a real historical event, not a legend or myth.
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THE KALAM COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (The Law of Cause and Effect)
THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (Fine-tuning Argument)
THE AXIOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (The Moral Argument)
THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (Deductive Philosophical Argument)
DOES GOD EXIST? TEST YOURSELF!
DOES OBJECTIVE TRUTH EXIST? – John 14:6b
Objective truth is truth that is true for all people, at all times, regardless of beliefs or feelings. In Christianity, Jesus is seen as the embodiment of objective truth. In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." This means that truth is not just an idea, but a person—Jesus—who reveals the ultimate reality about God, humanity, and salvation. Christians believe that following Jesus is following the truth that applies to everyone, everywhere. In the late 1800s, objective truth was fragmented into 5 "truths": Perspectivism, Relativism, Subjectivism, Pragmatism, . Inspired by the idea of Immanuel Kant. Immanuel Kant changed the understanding of truth by arguing that we don’t experience reality directly as it truly is (the noumenal world), but only as it appears to us through our senses and mental categories (the phenomenal world). He claimed that the human mind actively shapes our experience of the world, meaning truth is not just discovered but filtered through our perception. This shifted the focus from purely objective truth to a more subjective, human-centered understanding of knowledge. While Kant affirmed that truth and reality exist, he believed reason alone cannot fully access them—especially when it comes to ultimate questions like the existence of God.
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WHAT IS PERSPECTIVISM?
WHAT IS RELATIVISM?
WHAT IS SUBJECTIVISM?
WHAT IS PRAMATISM?
WHAT IS SKEPTISM?
DOES TRUTH REALLY EXIST? TEST YOURSELF!
IS JESUS THE ONLY WAY?
Religion is a set of beliefs and practices centered around the worship of a higher power or ultimate reality. It often includes moral teachings, sacred texts, rituals, and a sense of purpose or meaning in life. Religion helps people understand the big questions of life—such as where we come from, why we’re here, and what happens after death. Religion can be categorized into 4 major categories: Atheism/Agnostism Scientism Polytheism Monotheism How does Jesus fit into all these 4 categories?
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THE RELIGION OF ATHEISM/AGNOSTICISM
THE RELIGION OF SCIENTISM
THE RELIGIONS THAT FALL INTO POLYTHEISM
THE 3 MAJOR MONOTHEIST RELIGIONS
WHAT ABOUT THE AFTERLIFE?
IS THE BIBLE TRUSTWORTHY?
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THE BIBLE IS HISTORICALLY RELIABLE – LUKE
Is Christianity True?
About Lesson

Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that evaluates truth based on practical consequences and usefulness. In other words, a belief or idea is considered “true” if it works—if it produces good results or helps people function effectively in life. Developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by thinkers like William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and John Dewey, pragmatism emphasizes action, results, and adaptability over fixed principles or abstract truths.

Core Ideas of Pragmatism:

  1. Truth is what works: A belief is true if it proves useful in solving problems or helping us live better lives.

  2. Ideas are tools: Like scientific theories or inventions, beliefs are tools we use to navigate the world. Their value lies in their effectiveness.

  3. No absolute truth: Truth is not static or universal but can change over time as circumstances and needs evolve.

  4. Experience-driven: Knowledge and truth grow out of experience and practical engagement with the world, not just theoretical reflection.

Strengths of Pragmatism:

  • Practical Focus: Pragmatism encourages ideas that improve life and solve real-world problems.

  • Flexibility: It adapts to new information, situations, and results, rather than clinging to outdated beliefs.

  • Empirical Orientation: Pragmatism relies on evidence and observable outcomes, which makes it appealing in scientific and social contexts.

Weaknesses and Limitations:

  • Truth vs. Usefulness: Just because something “works” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. Lies or half-truths can sometimes be useful in the short term but harmful in the long term.

  • Moral Uncertainty: If truth is only defined by what’s useful, it becomes difficult to defend moral absolutes (e.g., human rights, justice). For example, if oppression benefits a society economically, does that make it “true” or right?

  • Subject to manipulation: Without fixed truth, those in power can define what is “useful” based on their own interests, not what is right or good.

A Christian Response to Pragmatism:

From a Christian worldview, truth is not just what works—it’s what aligns with reality and God’s nature. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), meaning that truth is objective and personal, not simply functional. While Christianity affirms the importance of living out faith practically (James 2:17), it holds that truth comes from God and remains constant, even when it’s inconvenient or unpopular.

Christians also believe that some truths may not seem immediately “useful” from a worldly perspective (like loving enemies or sacrificing for others), but they are eternally significant and reflect God’s wisdom, not just human pragmatism.

In Summary:

Pragmatism rightly values real-world impact, but it falls short when it treats truth as merely what’s useful. Truth is more than a tool—it is rooted in the character of God and the way the world truly is. Practical results matter, but they must be guided by unchanging truth, not replace it.

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