2 | Ways of Knowing

Train your students to recognize and evaluate truth claims.

In secular culture, scientific expertise and knowledge is privileged as more reliable than knowledge gained in other ways. On the other hand, many Christians distrust science. How can you equip students to value both scientific and theological knowledge, and be discerning about which voices they listen to?

Essential Questions

• How do we gain trustworthy knowledge in science and theology?
• How can we continue entrusting our lives to God even in the face of doubts and questions?
• Is some knowledge more valuable than other knowledge?
• How does Christianity change over time?
• How do we acquire knowledge in science?
• What do gaining knowledge in science and in theology have in common?
• How do cognitive biases influence the way we respond to new ideas?
• When should we trust experts and leaders?
• How do science and Scripture provide complementary answers?

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Modules Included in this Unit

2.1 Meet: Philosopher Jim Stump

Dr. Stump explains what philosophers do and describes the relationship between knowledge and faith in science and theology.

2.2 Grow: Faith

In this brief devotional, students reflect on what it means to keep growing in our faith even when we don’t have all the answers to our questions and our knowledge is incomplete.

2.3 Engage: Different Kinds of Knowledge

Students consider how different disciplines help us see the world in complementary, not contradictory, ways. They explore the value of both scientific and nonscientific ways of seeing the world and identify different contexts that frame their thinking.

2.4 Engage: Theological Knowledge: Doctrines, Beliefs, Practices

Students examine how Christians throughout history have proposed different interpretations and applications of Bible passages and what changes came about. They see that Christianity changes over time at several levels: doctrines, beliefs, and practices.

2.5 Experience: Scientific Knowledge

Students discover that knowledge of the unknown in science can be acquired using observation, inference, and hypotheses, and that additional knowledge and research refines probable explanations.

2.6 Engage: Parallels in Science and Theology

Students compare and contrast the process for acquiring scientific knowledge and reaching consensus with parallel activities in theology. They also compare and contrast the tools of science and theology and how to make sure they are used well.

2.7 Experience: Cognitive Bias

Students research different cognitive biases and learn how they influence the way we respond to new ideas. Then they discuss how the methods used to develop scientific and theological consensus help us as individuals be less prone to bias.

2.8 Engage: Trust and Skepticism

Students consider reasons Christian communities can trust fallible scientific authorities. Students are then presented with an example of pseudoscience and an example of unorthodox teaching. They then practice evaluating the claims of each.

2.9 Integrate: Two Perspectives

Students discover that the process of knowing in science and in theology is complementary. Further, neither way of knowing answers all possible questions.