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The Divine Challenge: On Matter, Mind, Math & Meaning
Revealing the failure of Naturalist and Post-Modernist philosophies to explain life as we experience it, Christian mathematician John Byl shows that only a Christian worldview, based on the Bible, can supply us with the necessary foundation for logic, mathematics, science and morality, while giving life coherence, meaning, purpose and hope. Since the beginning of time man has challenged God's supremacy, striving to dethrone God and reinterpret the universe according to his own standards and purposes. In response God, who is determined to destroy the wisdom of the worldly wise and to unmask it for the foolishness that it really is, issues his own challenge to sinful man. Arrogantly, modern scientific man takes up that divine challenge, arming himself with scientific knowledge and technological power. Indeed, man has convinced himself that his rational wisdom has made foolish the wisdom of Scripture, with its tall tales of a personal God, of life after death, and of heaven and hell. 'Such notions', Einstein declared, 'are for the fears or absurd egoism of feeble souls.' John Byl argues that the Christian worldview provides the only foundation for logic, mathematics, science and morality. The Divine Challenge aims to substantiate this bold claim. Byl shows the failure of today's predominant philosophies to provide a coherent worldview that can yield a plausible account of the various aspects of life as we experience it. Only a Christian worldview, squarely based on the truth of the Bible and the comprehensive sovereignty of God, can give our lives coherence, meaning, purpose and hope.
317 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
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82 people want to read
About the author
John Byl
25 books3 followersDr. John Byl, B.Sc., Ph.D., took an interest in the work of Reformation Christian Ministries many years ago through introductions made from within the Canadian Reformed Churches of which he is a member. His interest peaked when we began the Reformation International College (RIC) and he has assisted us from its beginning with advise and counsel regarding subjects related to his sphere of knowledge.
He has been an elder in the Canadian Reformed Church. He is presently a professor at Trinity Western University, Langley, BC, where he began in 1978, took over as chair of the department of Mathematical Sciences in 1980 and received his full professorship in 1985. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of British Columbia in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the same in 1973. He also serves on RIC Educational and Doctoral committees.
He previously worked as a visiting professor at Dordt College, Iowa, in the Physics Department during 1977-79. He previously worked as a post doctoral fellow from 1973-75 and as lecturer from 1975-77 at the University of British Columbia, Department of Geophysics & Astronomy in Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
In 1999, he was awarded the Templeton Award for Science/Religion Course for his course Math 480: Foundations in the Mathematical Sciences: Theological and Philosophical Issues.
Dr. Byl's research interests are in Astronomy (celestial mechanics, cosmology), physics (special relativity), computing (cellular automata), mathematics (infinite tasks), interaction between science and religion. In recent years the focus of my research has shifted to philosophical and theological issues related to the foundations of mathematics, physics and cosmology.
He was born in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1949 and is now a Canadian citizen, is married and has six children.
He has been an elder in the Canadian Reformed Church. He is presently a professor at Trinity Western University, Langley, BC, where he began in 1978, took over as chair of the department of Mathematical Sciences in 1980 and received his full professorship in 1985. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of British Columbia in 1969 and his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the same in 1973. He also serves on RIC Educational and Doctoral committees.
He previously worked as a visiting professor at Dordt College, Iowa, in the Physics Department during 1977-79. He previously worked as a post doctoral fellow from 1973-75 and as lecturer from 1975-77 at the University of British Columbia, Department of Geophysics & Astronomy in Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
In 1999, he was awarded the Templeton Award for Science/Religion Course for his course Math 480: Foundations in the Mathematical Sciences: Theological and Philosophical Issues.
Dr. Byl's research interests are in Astronomy (celestial mechanics, cosmology), physics (special relativity), computing (cellular automata), mathematics (infinite tasks), interaction between science and religion. In recent years the focus of my research has shifted to philosophical and theological issues related to the foundations of mathematics, physics and cosmology.
He was born in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1949 and is now a Canadian citizen, is married and has six children.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 9, 2014
"This book is about the war between God and fallen man."
If you were to put "The Divine Challenge" in a particular genre, it would probably be classed as apologetics. The author (a professor of mathematics who earned his Ph.D. in astronomy, which makes his book doubly interesting) presents himself with, pun intended, a challenging task: to show the basic presuppositions of the major worldviews of the day, especially naturalism, and how they fail to answer many of the basic questions of life. Chapter by chapter he deals with the fundamental, undeniable pillars of our world - matter, mind, and mathematics - and ties them off with the universal quest for meaning. Is there any meaning in the world? Does "blind chance" exist? Does belief in miracles undermine the practice of science? Can nonphysical mind arise from matter? These are a handful of the extremely important questions he addresses.
Many of the points he raises are fairly obvious if you stop and think things through, but he lays them out in a neat, logical format. I confess I struggled at times to understand some of his chapters, especially those on mathematics and the Christian view of mathematics; but nevertheless, I wouldn't call this a difficult book. It is very accessible, even for those who haven't studied philosophy or logic. And, what is more important, The Divine Challenge is a timely and appropriate book. Published a decade ago, its observations and criticisms continue to hold true. Thus I highly recommend it as a start to any study on worldviews and their presuppositions - including Christianity's.
If you were to put "The Divine Challenge" in a particular genre, it would probably be classed as apologetics. The author (a professor of mathematics who earned his Ph.D. in astronomy, which makes his book doubly interesting) presents himself with, pun intended, a challenging task: to show the basic presuppositions of the major worldviews of the day, especially naturalism, and how they fail to answer many of the basic questions of life. Chapter by chapter he deals with the fundamental, undeniable pillars of our world - matter, mind, and mathematics - and ties them off with the universal quest for meaning. Is there any meaning in the world? Does "blind chance" exist? Does belief in miracles undermine the practice of science? Can nonphysical mind arise from matter? These are a handful of the extremely important questions he addresses.
Many of the points he raises are fairly obvious if you stop and think things through, but he lays them out in a neat, logical format. I confess I struggled at times to understand some of his chapters, especially those on mathematics and the Christian view of mathematics; but nevertheless, I wouldn't call this a difficult book. It is very accessible, even for those who haven't studied philosophy or logic. And, what is more important, The Divine Challenge is a timely and appropriate book. Published a decade ago, its observations and criticisms continue to hold true. Thus I highly recommend it as a start to any study on worldviews and their presuppositions - including Christianity's.
January 11, 2008
Okay book by a scientific anti-realist who leans toward the Van Tillian side of the presuppositionalist fence. The book was decent, but nothing to write home about. There are too many gross mischaracterizations, and attacks against antiquated worldviews, for the reader to get much use from it in the contemporary scene. Attacks against generalizations are fine, but once a position he attacks gets more specified, many of Byl's arguments are easily avoided. This is not to say anything against Byl. He is a sharp guy, and the Reformed world is "lucky" to have his mind.
February 1, 2017
The first half of this book provides a very thorough dissection of the materialistic worldview. While Enlightenment devotees often condescendingly claim that Christianity is anti-intellectual, anti-rational, etc., yet by the end of this section one grasps that the shoe is on the other foot... The second half of this book examines the presuppositions of the Christian worldview and at one point Byl seems (to me) bogged down in a discussion of God's sovereignty/free-will. I agree with the fact of God's sovereignty, but don't agree with Byl's interpretation. The final chapter does a good job summing up the issues. Just to avoid any misunderstanding, this is NOT a light read, but those who work through it will be rewarded.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews