Christian Apologetics Department
The Nature and Limits of Science
This course reveals how science and faith can peacefully coexist and even inform each other.
the nature and limits of science title
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$24.998 LessonsWorkshop
Overview

Since Christians believe that the universe and everything it is the work of a personal God, it is incumbent on them to show why there is no inherent incompatibility between science and what Christianity claims. 

Throughout the course of these eight lessons, Dr. Mihretu Guta reveals how science and faith can peacefully coexist and inform each other. 



Instructor
Mihretu Guta
Christian Apologetics Department

Mihretu P. Guta completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy at Durham University (UK) under the supervision of Professor E.J. Lowe and Professor Sophie Gibb. Dr. Guta was a recipient of the Prestigious merit-based Durham Doctoral Studentship Award for three years. While doing his PhD, Dr. Guta also served as an Academic Tutor in philosophy at Durham University. After completing his PhD, Dr. Guta worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Durham University within the Durham Emergence Project which was set up with cooperation between physicists and philosophers; and funded by the John Templeton Foundation. Dr. Guta’s postdoctoral research focused on the nature of the emergence of the phenomenal consciousness taken from the standpoint of metaphysics, philosophy of mind, cognitive neuroscience and quantum physics. Guta also took short term academic research training at Rivendell Institute Summer Seminar at Yale University and at the International Philosophy Summer School at Bamberg University in Germany. 

Dr. Guta specializes in metaphysics and the philosophy of mind and his other research interest areas include: philosophy of religion, philosophy of language/logic, epistemology, ethics, philosophical theology, the philosophy of cognitive neuroscience and the philosophy of quantum physics. 

Dr. Guta’s international academic publications include the special issue he co-edited with Sophie Gibb for the Journal of Consciousness Studies entitled: “Insights into the First-Person Perspective and the Self: An Interdisciplinary Approach”, (Imprint Academic, 2015). Dr. Guta also edited a research volume entitled: Consciousness and the Ontology of Properties, which was published by Routledge (2018/2019). Currently, Dr. Guta is working on a single authored manuscript entitled: The Metaphysics of Substance and Personhood: A Non-theory Laden Approach as well as another co-authored manuscript entitled:  Bracketed Issue: A Case for Metaphysical Foundation for Bioethics. Moreover, Dr. Guta published articles, short response commentaries and book reviews in notable peer-reviewed international academic journals such as Philosophia Christi, Analysis, Journal of Consciousness Studies, Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, The Philosophical Quarterly, Appraisal-the Journal of British Personalist Forum and TheoLogica-International Journal for Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology. 

Dr. Guta presented academic research papers/public lectures over 70 times, including: Durham University (UK); University of Vienna (Austria); University of Helsinki (Finland); Boston University, MA (USA); Biola University (USA); Azusa Pacific University (USA), Citrus College, Glendora, CA (USA), University of Arizona, Tuscon (USA); Dominican School of Theology and Philosophy at Berkeley (USA); Trinity International University; Chicago (USA); Evangelical Philosophical Society- 15th Annual Apologetics Conference, Parker, CO (USA);  Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology and Evangelical Theological College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

Currently, Dr. Guta teaches philosophy both at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Biola University and Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, USA. Dr. Guta received two masters degrees from Biola University: one in philosophy with high honors and the other, in science and religion with the highest honors. 

In the past, Dr. Guta worked as an Assistant to the Academic Dean, Lecturer and Field Education Director at the Evangelical Theological College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he also received his undergraduate degree with distinction in academic theology. Dr. Guta also did undergraduate coursework in philosophy at Addis Ababa University. Dr. Guta served as a visiting lecturer at a number of theological colleges in different regions of Ethiopia. Dr. Guta published four books in Amharic (the Ethiopian official language) in the area of reading culture, philosophy of religion and philosophical apologetics.

Learn about Science, Religion, and Christian Apologetics at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University

Syllabus

Although science does not exhaust everything...
Overview
Key Reasons for Taking Science Seriously
Video
A Brief Survey of the History of Science Part A
Video
A Brief Survey of the History of Science Part B
Video
A Brief History of Science
Reading
Lesson 1 - Quiz
Quiz
What motivates human beings to study the natural world?
Reflection
This lesson highlights some fundamental...
Overview
Essentials of Science: Inseparable Components of Science
Video
Defining Science: Challenge of an Adequate Definition
Video
An Alternative Approach: Characterizing Science
Video
Christianity and the Nature of Science
Reading
Lesson 2 - Quiz
Quiz
How does knowledge influence how we define our world?
Reflection
In this lesson, we explore the relationship...
Overview
Science and Philosophy: First & Second Order Inquiry Part A
Video
Science and Philosophy: First & Second Order Inquiry Part B
Video
Science and Philosophy: First & Second Order Inquiry Part C
Video
Naturalism and the First-Person Perspective
Reading
Lesson 3 - Quiz
Quiz
How do philosophy and science shape notions of reality?
Reflection
In this lesson, Dr. Guta illustrates why it is...
Overview
Models of Interaction: Science and Religion Part A
Video
Models of Interaction: Science and Religion Part B
Video
Scientific Data: Objectivity and Subjectivity in Science
Video
On Religion and Science
Reading
Lesson 4 - Quiz
Quiz
Does perceived objectivity influence perceptions of truth?
Reflection
The distinction between the first-person and...
Overview
Reliable Scientific Data
Video
Scientific Practice
Video
Methodological Glitch
Video
Naturalism and the First-Person Perspective
Reading
Lesson 5 - Quiz
Quiz
How does subjectivity influence perceptions of God?
Reflection
Do scientific theories reveal the true nature...
Overview
Science and Reality
Video
Scientific Explanations
Video
Fact vs. Opinion
Video
Scientific Realism and Anti-realism
Reading
Lesson 6 - Quiz
Quiz
Do you consider science to be more fact-based than theology?
Reflection
This lesson delves into the nature of...
Overview
Scientific Reasoning
Video
Philosophical Reasoning
Video
Hybrid Reasoning
Video
Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking
Reading
Lesson 7 - Quiz
Quiz
Is scientific reasoning the only way to gain knowledge?
Reflection
Science is currently portrayed as the only...
Overview
Abuse of Science
Video
Science and God
Video
Inherent Limitations
Video
Lesson 8 - Quiz
Quiz
How should science influence our belief in God?
Reflection
Recommended Resources
Resource
Course Evaluation
Resource

Course FAQ

Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2-4 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the assignments. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.

No. The course contains everything you need to successfully complete the course. There are resources recommended at the end of the course that you are free to purchase if you wish to pursue further study on the course topic.

Since this course is designed as a completely self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.