C S Lewis
“I am not asking anyone to accept Christianity if his best reasoning tells him that the weight of evidence is against it.”
Our Mission
We are Christians dedicated to carrying forward the legacy of Charlie Kirk—sharing the Gospel, fostering honest and respectful dialogue, and providing thoughtful reasons for our faith.
Our goal is to spread the message of Jesus Christ with clarity and compassion, encouraging believers and seekers alike to explore and understand the Christian faith. We believe in the power of truthful conversation and believe that faith is strengthened through honest debate and reasoned discussion.
Join us in our mission to uphold Christian values, engage in meaningful conversations, and share the hope found in Christ.
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"The biblical worldview is the only basis for a consistent ethic of human dignity and human rights."
- Francis Schaeffer
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"Without the Christian presupposition, there is no ultimate basis for logic, science, or morality."
- Cornelius Van Til
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"You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
- Saint Augustine,
Lets Engage: Change My Mind
Arguments and Questions St. Thomas Aquinas Would Ask a Skeptical Student
1. The Argument from Motion
Aquinas would ask: "What caused the motion in the universe? Could it have caused itself?"
He argues that everything in motion must have been set in motion by something else, leading to the necessity of an Unmoved Mover—namely, God.
Quote: "It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion." (Summa Theologica, I, 2)
2. The Argument from Cause
He would inquire: "Can anything cause itself? If not, then what caused the first cause?"
This leads to the idea of a First Uncaused Cause, which is God.
Quote: "Now it is impossible for the same thing to be at once the efficient cause and the effect of the effect." (Summa Theologica, I, 2)
3. The Argument from Contingency
Aquinas might ask: "Are there things that could not have existed? If so, what explains their existence?"
He suggests that contingent beings depend on a necessary being—God—for their existence.
Quote: "All beings are contingent, except the necessary being, which alone has its existence in itself." (Summa Theologica, I, 2)
4. The Argument from Design
He would challenge: "Does the universe appear to have order and purpose? If so, what intelligent being could have designed it?"
This points to an intelligent Designer—God.
Quote: "The order of the universe is the work of a wise and intelligent Being." (Summa Theologica, I, 2)
Questions and Challenges for a Skeptical Student
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"Can you identify something in the universe that has not been caused or created?"
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"Is it reasonable to believe that the universe came from nothing without a cause?"
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"If everything that begins to exist has a cause, what caused the universe?"
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"Can order and complexity arise from chaos without an intelligent cause?"
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"Is it more rational to believe in a universe without purpose or in a Creator who designed everything?"
Bibliography
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Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 1265–1274. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/summa.html
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Kreeft, Peter. The Philosophy of Religion: Thinking About Faith. Ignatius Press, 2011.
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Feser, Edward. Five Proofs of the Existence of God. Ignatius Press, 2017.
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St. Thomas Aquinas. The Question of the Existence of God. In Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 2.
Words From Augustine
St. Augustine famously addressed the challenge of skepticism, particularly the doubt about whether we can truly know anything with certainty. Skeptics argued that since our senses can deceive us and our reasoning can be flawed, we cannot attain absolute knowledge. Augustine countered this by emphasizing that some knowledge is undeniable and self-evident. He stated, "It is impossible for anyone to deny that he is thinking, for in denying it, he is thinking" (Augustine, Meditations). This assertion, often called the argument from self-awareness, highlights that even in doubt, the skeptic must acknowledge their own existence as a thinking being, thereby establishing a foundation for certain knowledge.
Furthermore, Augustine challenged the skeptic’s denial of certainty by pointing to the existence of God as the ultimate foundation for knowledge. He argued that human beings are created with the capacity to know truth because they are made in the image of God, who is the ultimate truth. Augustine wrote, "When I am seeking truth, I am seeking God" (Confessions, Book 7). For Augustine, God's existence is the certitude upon which all human knowledge rests. Without this divine foundation, he believed, skepticism would lead to despair, but with faith in God's veracity, certainty becomes possible. Augustine’s integration of faith and reason offered a compelling response to skepticism, affirming that some truths—especially those about God—are accessible to human reason.
Finally, Augustine maintained that the pursuit of truth is a moral obligation and that God, as the ultimate truth, guides believers toward certainty. He asserted, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You" (Confessions, Book 1), implying that true peace and certainty come from aligning our understanding with divine truth. Augustine’s refutation of skepticism thus hinges on the idea that divine illumination provides the certainty skeptics deny, and that faith and reason work together to overcome doubt. His approach offers a hopeful perspective: even amid uncertainty, human beings can attain knowledge through humility, divine assistance, and the pursuit of truth.
Bibliography
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Augustine, Saint. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford University Press, 1998.
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Augustine, Saint. Meditations (or De Mediatione). Various translations available online.
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St. Augustine. The Confessions and The Trinity. Translated by John Burnaby, Oxford University Press, 1991.
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Taliaferro, Charles. The Image of God: The Critical Tradition. Cornell University Press, 2003.
Questions for Students
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What is the significance of Augustine’s argument that “I think, therefore I am”? How does this serve as a foundation against skepticism?
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How does Augustine justify the idea that knowledge of God provides certainty about other truths?
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In what ways does faith complement reason in Augustine’s response to skepticism?
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Can human reason alone overcome all doubts about knowledge? Why or why not, according to Augustine?
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