2013 European Philosophers Network
Europe historically was once the home of the Christian church but now is actively
secular. Atheistic and agnostic belief systems permeate a spiritual environment that is
antagonistic to the Gospel. The numbers of atheists and agnostics has grown from 1 to 2 million
in 1900 to over 130 million in 2000. Most academics educated in Europe’s secularized
universities have been shaped in profound ways by a thoroughly naturalistic worldview. It is
these academics who are, in turn, shaping future generations of European university students.
Especially in the academic discipline of philosophy, Christian students and scholars are isolated:
they often lack believing colleagues or resources to help.
To address this need, the European Philosophers Network was introduced at the 2012 Forum.
This Network has been designed to support and encourage Christian philosophers as they seek to
incorporate their faith into their research projects, teaching, and mentoring. Because of this, the
primary focus of the Network is the examination of philosophy from a specifically Christian
perspective and to explore their integration. The Network's goal is to teach and encourage young
Christian philosophers at three critical levels:
1. The European Christian Philosophers Network will seek successful, professional
academic work. The European Philosophers Network is a part of the broader philosophical
community and is committed, first, to actually doing philosophy. The best way to figure out how
to be a Christian philosopher isn’t to talk about what being a Christian philosopher would look
like in the abstract. The best way to start is to do philosophical work. Those involved with the
EPN will be involved in presenting and critiquing academic work on a broad range of
philosophical topics.
2. The European Christian Philosophers Network will seek to provide an opportunity to
raise and think through various apologetic issues. The academy in Europe is a setting where
Christian ideas, values and lifestyle come under intense intellectual pressure. The EPN dedicates
time to identifying, thinking clearly through, and evaluating objections and other apologetic
issues. This is beneficial to Christian philosophers, of course, but is also a service both to
academics in other disciplines as well as to those outside the University community.
3. The European Christian Philosophers Network will seek to help young scholars establish
a spiritual context for academic study. Many scholars experience the academic world as a
spiritual desert – dry and unable to sustain spiritual life. The EPN will seek to describe both the
dangers and the opportunities presented by such an environment, and to map out and help
construct the spiritual foundations that are necessary both to survive and thrive in a rigorous
academic environment.
Speakers featured in the 2013 Philosophers Network are Bruce Little, Ard Louis, Stephen
Meyer, Rik Peels, Luke Potter, Christine van Burken, and Peter S. Williams.
Applicants should be those who are pursuing or hold a graduate degree in philosophy or
are active scholars in the field.
Network Leader
Bruce A. Little has Masters degrees in Apologetics and Religion and a PhD in
Philosophy of Religion. Presently, he is Professor of Philosophy and Director
of the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary, where he has been on faculty since 2001. For over a
decade, he has travelled widely in Europe and Asia, lecturing in universities,
teaching in a variety of schools and presenting papers at conferences. He has
published in various professional journals and has written or edited several
books: A Creation-Order Theodicy: God and Gratuitous Evil; God, Why This Evil?; Francis
Schaeffer: A Mind and Heart for God (ed); Engaging Culture, Defending the Faith (ed).
Network Speakers
Ard Louis is a Reader in Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford,
where he is director of graduate studies in Theoretical Physics and leads an
interdisciplinary research group studying problems on the border between
between theoretical physics and chemistry, applied mathematics and biology.
From 2002 to 2010, he was a Royal Society University Research Fellow. Prior
to Oxford he taught Theoretical Chemistry at Cambridge University where he
was also director of studies in Natural Sciences at Hughes Hall. He was born
in the Netherlands, raised in Gabon, Central Africa, did his undergraduate
studies at the University of Utrecht, Netherlands and received his Ph.D. in
theoretical physics from Cornell University, U.S.A.Dr. Louis is the International Secretary for
Christiansin Science, an associate of the Faraday Institute for Science andReligion based at St.
Edmunds College, University of Cambridge, served on the European Advisory board of the John
Templeton Foundation, and the advisory board of the Biologos Foundation. He has a particular
interest in helping Christian postgraduate students think through how their faith relates to their
disciplines. He regularly speaks on the Oxford Developing a Christian Mind course and for the
Veritas Forum.
Stephen Meyer is Director of the Center for Science and Culture at Discovery
Institute and a founder of the modern intelligent design movement. A
Cambridge University-trained philosopher of science, he is author of peerreviewed publications in technical, scientific, philosophical, and other books
and journals. His books include Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence
for Intelligent Design (2009) and the forthcoming Darwin's Doubt: The
Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design (2013).
He has been interviewed by many leading media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN,
Fox News, and the BBC. Previously on the faculty of Whitworth University, he formerly worked
as a geophysicist with the Atlantic Richfield Company.
Rik Peels (PhD) studied philosophy and theology at the Theological
University Apeldoorn (the Netherlands), the VU University Amsterdam (the
Netherlands), Notre Dame University (IN, USA), and Merton College at
Oxford University (United Kingdom). He wrote his PhD dissertation on the
ethics of belief. He has published on the limits of science, responsible belief,
the cognitive consequences of sin and grace, and ignorance. Previously, he
worked for IFES in the Netherlands as the National Coordinator of The Veritas Forum. He is
now a post-doctoral researcher at the VU University Amsterdam and European Director of The
Veritas Forum. He lives in Amsterdam and is married to Marleen Buijs. For more, see
www.rikpeels.nl.
Luke Potter teaches in the philosophy department at the University of Notre
Dame, works at Notre Dame's Center for the Philosophy of Religion, and
pastors a church in South Bend, IN, where he lives with his wife, Jennie. His
research interests range broadly across metaphysics, philosophy of language,
philosophical theology, missiology and biblical studies. He loves kids,
movies, comic books, fantasy and science fiction literature, and also trains
(rather poorly) in mixed martial arts.
Christine van Burken is a PhD candidate working in the field of military
technology and ethics. She holds a BSc in Human Kinetic Engineering, a BSc
in Mechanical Engineering and a MA Christian Studies of Science and
Society. She worked several years as a mechanical engineer before starting her
PhD studies in June 2009. Currently, she works on her dissertation in a project
"Moral Fitness of military personnel in a network enabled operations
environment". She looks at ICT and other networking technologies in the military domain from
the perspective of Philosophy of Technology. She also uses insights from Reformational
philosophy to evaluate normative issues in networked (military) environments. Her main
affiliation is Eindhoven University of Technology, but due to the interdisciplinarity of her project
she is also affiliated with the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands Defence
Academy and TNO Human Factors.
Peter S. Williams studied philosophy at Cardiff University (BA), Sheffield
University (MA) and at the University of East Anglia in Norwich (MPhil). He
then spent three years as a student pastor at Holy Trinity church Leicester
before moving to Southampton to work alongside the Christian educational
charity Damaris Trust (www.damaris.org), where as ‘Philosopher in
Residence’ he leads Philosophy and Ethics conferences for sixth form students
as well as undertaking various writing, speaking and broadcasting
engagements. Peter is also Assistant Professor in Communication and
Worldviews at Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication in Norway. His
publications include A Sceptic’s Guide to Atheism: God Is Not Dead (Paternoster,
2009), Understanding Jesus: Five Ways to Spiritual Enlightenment (Paternoster, 2011) and C.S.
Lewis vs the New Atheists (Paternoster, 2013).
Network Programme
Day 1
Textual Authority: A Reasons-Based Approach
Luke Potter
To say that a text is authoritative is to say…well, what exactly? In this paper I argue that the
best way to make sense of the idea of the authority of a text is as a source of reasons. We'll then
consider how this understanding of textual authority helps us to flesh out the doctrine of Biblical
authority.
The Logical Status of Science-Based Design Arguments
Stephen Meyer
In this session, Dr. Meyer will examine how the modern design argument overcomes objections
to earlier versions of the argument and explain why it is most helpfully formulated as an
inference to the best explanation. More generally, Dr. Meyer will examine the ways in which
science might legitimately provide epistemic support for Christian or theistic belief.
Day 2
Where Do Complex Biological Systems Come From? A Comparison of Two Different
Christian Approaches to Creation
Stephen Meyer and Ard Louis
Participating Networks:
European Apologetics Network: Advanced Track, European Philosophers Network, European
Scientists Network, and European Theologians Network
Chair:
Peter Imming
Schedule:
10:15: Welcome and Introduction
10:20: Stephen Meyer (25 min)
10:45: Ard Louis (25 min)
11:10: Moderated Panel Discussion of the two speakers (30 min)
11:40: Coffee break (20 min)
12:00: Moderated Plenary discussion (60 minutes)
(first gathering a set of different questions for each speaker,
then having a time to respond, then more questions…)
13:00: Summary Ard Louis (5 minutes)
13:05: Summary Stephen Meyer (5 minutes)
13:10: Closing remarks by chairman and prayer
13:15: End
Day 3
Pilgrims and Progress
Bruce Little
This session reviews the power and consequences of the Enlightenment on western thought and
particularly on Christianity. While many have analyzed the impact of the Enlightenment’s
epistemological and ontological legacy, this session will examine the Enlightenment concept of
"progress" and how it more broadly has influenced western culture and the western church. The
Enlightenment's approach to progress advocated efficiency and convenience which are measured
quantitatively, obscuring important aspects of reality. This idea of progress will be analyzed and
evaluated.
Non-Argumentative Motivations for Atheism
Rik Peels
For most people, many of the most fundamental beliefs they hold, such as their moral beliefs,
their beliefs about the meaning of life, and their religious beliefs, are not based on arguments, but
are basic beliefs. It would be surprising then, if things were completely different when it comes
to atheism. Of course, atheists often stress that their position is based on arguments. I will
analyze the various non-argumentative motivations for atheism. I show how these motives can be
recognized and make a proposal as to how we can take them into account when we do
philosophy of religion.
Day 4
Non-Neutrality of Information Communications Technology (ICT) on the Battlefield
Christine van Burken
This presentation reviews four different types of non-neutrality of technology that have been
recognized by different philosophers of technology. These types are applied to visual data and
imaging technologies on the battlefield. Firstly, these technologies can invite certain behavior.
Secondly, technology often mediates through amplification and reduction. Thirdly, technologies
have built-in norms, and, fourthly, technologies require interpretation. It is also argued that it is
even more helpful to get an understanding of the non-neutrality of technology by recognizing
that technology can never be seen apart from its social context. Therefore, an enriched
understanding of the non-neutrality of technology is proposed by using the concept of normative
practice.
Is Christianity "Unscientific"?
Peter S. Williams
'Neo-Atheist Sam Harris criticizes Christianity for being "unscientific"; but what does it mean to
say that something is "unscientific" and why think that calling Christianity "unscientific" is a
valid criticism? The answers depend upon what we mean by "Christianity" and what we mean by
the notion of being "Scientific." After developing some relevant definitions, I will proffer a
schema for understanding the range of issues raised by the claim that Christianity is
"unscientific".