Not All Bias Is Equal
Can the charge of bias be levelled at Christians? Certainly, and sometimes the charge is justified. Whenever someone has already taken sides on an issue, it is possible that he/she has not been evenhanded in their analysis. It is not fair, though, to assume someone has distorted the facts simply because they have a stake in the matter. People who are not neutral can still be fair and impartial. Instead, you have to show that they have faltered by looking at the evidence itself.
Not all forms of bias are equal. When a Christian deals with issues like science and history, it is fair to say they are biased because they bring certain assumptions to the process like everyone else. A Christian’s bias, though, does not inform their conclusions in the same way that biases inform the conclusions of scientists or historians restricted by a committment to materialism.
The current bias of science arbitrarily eliminates certain answers before the game even gets started. Many scientists and historians must come up with conclusions that leave the supernatural out of the picture because their philosophy demands it. A theist is not so encumbered. The theist believes in the laws of nature, but also is open to the possibility of supernatural intervention. Both are consistent with their worldview. The theist can judge the evidence on its own merits, unhinderred by a philosophy that automatically eliminates supernatural options before the evidence even receives a hearing.
Ironically, the Christian’s bias broadens their categories, making them more open-minded, not less. They have a greater chance of discovering truth because they can follow the evidence wherever it leads. That’s a critical distinction. Can bias make a person more open0minded? Under the right set of circumstances, absolutely.
Adapted from Tactics (Greg Koukl, 2009, Zondervan).
LukeN
on February 9th, 2010
Roger,
This is a nice reminder for everyone. Too often I hear people accuse us of being closed-minded to science because we are Christians, yet maintain that they are open-minded.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed this too, but it seems to me that as soon as someone converts from another worldview to Christianity, that person (all of the sudden) becomes an unreliable source about everything, including the worldview they had held for however many years/decades. This is probably a specific instance of what you (and Koukl) are talking about.
Anyway, I don’t mean to ramble on…
Keep up the great work and God Bless!
rogermorris
on February 9th, 2010
Thanks Luke
When poor old Anthony Flew turned from atheist to deist, the atheist knives were certainly out! They accused this once much revered darling of atheism of impending dementia!