The Rational Irrationalist

This following is an attempt to flesh out my thoughts on what I’ve been learning about rationalism and irrationalism, via my “Christian Apologetics” course at Reformed Theological Seminary, taught by Professor John Frame. Comments? Thoughts?

Some non-believers practice what might be called “rationalistic irrationalism”. Many embrace rationalism, as it purports to allow human beings to figure out life and forge a worldview through the power of human reason, yet without necessarily referencing God. But deep down the non-believer cannot escape knowledge of God through creation (Romans 1:19-20) and thus all recognize His claim upon them. But in disobedience, and to avoid this claim, the unbeliever becomes irrational– though he/she knows God is there, he/she refuses to acknowledge reality and instead lives as if God is not there. This produces huge inconsistency in their worldview and approach to life. The non-believer, made in the image of a rational God who created an orderly, complex, beautiful, meaningful universe, is by design compelled to seek after meaning, order, purpose, beauty, ethics & morality. But in suppressing knowledge of the truth about God, they remove the One by whom all these things they seek after are even possible. Thus they are forced to borrow from the Christian framework even as they attempt– apart from the true God– to build worldviews that give meaning to life and provide routes to happiness. But this will not work, because the truths derived from the Christian framework only are viable with God at its center, and not in a system in which the true God has been replaced by false gods taken from creation.  This approach leads ultimately not to real happiness, meaning or fruitfulness, but rather to all sorts of evil practices that are but masquerades of true life.