Ep. #102 – Catholic Reformed Epistemology? (Part 1) w/ Dr. McNabb
Summary
Can belief in God be rational apart from arguments? What is Reformed epistemology? Do studies in cognitive science provide a defeater for religious belief? Is Reformed epistemology compatible with Catholicism? Is what Vatican I teaches authoritatively in tension with Reformed epistemology? Dr. Tyler McNabb joins us to answer these questions and more!
Guest Bio
Dr. Tyler McNabb is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Macau. Previously, he was an assistant professor of philosophy at Houston baptist university. He’s authored many papers and contributed to several books on religious epistemology. He’s also the author of a recent book in the Cambridge Elements series titled Religious Epistemology.
Show Outline
In the first segment, Dr. McNabb gives his own backstory and walks us through the basics of Reformed epistemology. He also addresses an objection from the cognitive science of religion.
In the next segment, McNabb explains how Christian belief specifically can be rational according to Reformed epistemology (RE). Also, he discusses the compatibility of RE and Catholicism.
In the final segment, McNabb addresses several objections to the compatibility of RE and Catholicism. In particular, he responds to some quotes from the First Vatican Council and aims to show that they are not in tension with RE.
Resources
Religious Epistemology (Elements in the Philosophy of Religion) by Dr. Tyler McNabb
Debating Religious Epistemology: An Introduction to Five Views on the Knowledge of God by Dr. Tyler McNabb
Cardinal Newman, Reformed epistemologist? by Dr. Stephen Grimm
Recent Work in Reformed Epistemology by Dr. Andrew Moon
Towards a Catholic Epistemology by Dr. Gregory Stacey (his doctoral dissertation)
Methodical Realism by Etienne Gilson
Aquinas Quote from Quodlibetal II:4.1
People are not bound to do anything beyond their power except in the way made possible for them. Now, believing is beyond people’s natural power, and hence is a gift of God. As the Apostle says in Ephesians 2: By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God. And as he says in Philippians 1: It has been granted to you…not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Therefore, people are bound to believe as God helps them believe.
Now, God helps people believe in three ways. The first way is an inner call. As John 6 says: Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. And Romans 8 says: Those whom he predestined, he also called. The second way is outward preaching and teaching. As the Apostle says in Romans 7: Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. The Third way is outward miracles. Hence 1 Corinthians 14 says that signs are given for unbelievers, viz. to call forth their belief.
So, even if Christ has not performed visible miracles, there still would have been other ways of drawing people to belief, which they would have been bound to accept.
Aquinas Qdl. II.4.1; Translation by Fr. Brian Davies and Turner Nevitt
Related Episodes
Ep. #86 – Who has the burden of PROOF? w/ Dr. Bogardus
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