In this chapter Sire points out that up until the 17th century intellectual strife was “in house” between Christians but the Enlightenment changed that forever. Christianity and Western civilization were hand and glove such that the cradle’s milk began with theistic presuppositions (Pgs.22-23).
Christianity was the meteor that dented the world with its view of reality starting with how we viewed human beings: Since God is a personal God; those created in his image are also personal creatures, not chance accidents.
The universe contra naturalism is not a closed system but one that is open meaning that both divine and human decisions significantly shape the present and the future (Pgs.26-29). Consider the quote on page 29 regarding human longing and how God fulfills it.
Our epistemology is also grounded in the God of creation. That’s why we can know anything about reality as it truly is (pg.30). The Fall demonstrates the significance of human decisions then and now (pgs.32-33), our ethics are grounded in God and history is linear which means that it’s filled with purpose even though much of it we don’t get. An excellent overview of the Christian worldview.
