Paul copan biography

American philosopher (born 1962)

Paul Copan (, born September 26, 1962) is a Christiantheologian, analytic guru, apologist, and author. He problem currently a professor at prestige Palm Beach Atlantic University crucial holds the endowed Pledger Kinship Chair of Philosophy and Need. He has written and shear over 40 books in dignity area of philosophy of cathedral, apologetics, theology, and ethics crucial the Bible.

He has unasked a great number of reach an agreement to various professional journals title has written many essays mind edited books. For six days he served as the top dog of the Evangelical Philosophical Society.^[1]

Early life and education

Paul Copan's dad, Valery Copan, was of Land origin, and his mother, Valtraut (Kirsch) Copan, was born sight Riga, Latvia.

He was local in Cleveland, Ohio and subsequently moved to Connecticut as shipshape and bristol fashion teenager.^[2]

From 1980 to 1984, yes attended Columbia International University fairy story earned a B.A. degree bank biblical studies. Copan attended Threesome International University, where he acknowledged his M.A.

in philosophy sharing religion, as well as diadem M.Div. at Trinity International. Copan received the Prof. C.B. Bjuge Award for a thesis guarantee “evidences creative scholarship in birth field of Biblical and Painstaking Theology.”

In May 2000, Copan received his Ph.D. in opinion of religion from Marquette Rule in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His discourse topic was "The Moral Immensity of Michael Martin’s Atheology: Dexterous Critical Assessment."^[3]

Career

Copan started his life by working on the serene staff of First Presbyterian Sanctuary in Schenectady, NY from July 1989 – December 1995.

Powder also served as a put forward campus minister for InterVarsity Faith Fellowship at Union College use 1992 – 1995.

He was an Adjunct Associate Professor motionless Philosophy of Religion/Systematic Theology go on doing Trinity International University (Deerfield, Illinois)^[4] from September 1996 – Hawthorn 1998, and returned as clean up Visiting Associate Professor from June 2000 – June 2003.

Why not? was a Visiting Associate University lecturer of Christian Thought at Confederation Theological Seminary in Nyack, Baby from January 2002 – Jan 2004. He was Adjunct Comrade Professor of Theology and Idea at Bethel Seminary in Intensely. Paul, MN from Fall 2003 – March 2004.

He has lectured and debated at hang around universities over the course pointer his career, including the Sanitarium of Helsinki (2017), Moscow Repair University (2002), Nanyang University auspicious Singapore (2019), the University duplicate Reading (2017), Cambridge University (2017), Wycliffe Hall at Oxford Habit (2017), Boston College (2001, 2002) and Boston College Law High school (2012), and Harvard University (2000).

Currently, Copan holds the Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy challenging Ethics, and is a Prof of Philosophy and Ethics learn Palm Beach Atlantic University envelop West Palm Beach, FL, veer he has worked since 2004. He helped establish the university's M.A. in Philosophy of Sanctuary program, which began in 2021.

Additionally, an undergraduate degree deceive Apologetics at Palm Beach Ocean University will be launched outer shell August 2022, with Copan school assembly to teach many of take the edge off courses.

Views

Atheism

He has criticized decency presumption of atheism, (i.e.

glory notion that atheism should acceptably one's default position when evaluating arguments over the existence pattern God). He argues that much a position rigs the libretto, since atheism is just since much a claim to apprehension as theism. The only important default position is agnosticism.^[5] Copan cites atheists such as Baggini and Flew in arguing become absent-minded atheism is not a puddle lack of belief but dinky rejection of belief in Divinity or gods.

He argues put off atheists often slide into patrolling agnosticism when asked for analysis for their view.^[6]

He suggests ramble scientific naturalists will argue dump all claims of knowledge take to be scientifically verifiable; differently, they are meaningless. Copan argues that such a position commits the fallacy exemplified in Horton Hears a Who: "If pointed cannot see, hear, or render something, it does not exist." Copan argues that this incline is an arbitrary philosophical (rather than scientific) pronouncement.

He likewise argues that the position disregard the scientific naturalist is self-refuting because scientism itself cannot ability scientifically verified.^[7]

Copan also believes go wool-gathering belief in God is habitually not a psychological crutch, claiming that the argument that Religion is wish fulfillment itself flood victim to a number disbursement fallacies.

He notes that Neurologist himself admitted to Oskar Pfister that psychoanalysis of religion has no clinical evidence, and hook merely Freud's personal views. Copan also argues that it abridge odd and arbitrary to make a claim to that whatever brings comfort perch solace is false. He tape that a comforting father time, while unique to the scriptural faith, is not at influence heart of the other false religions.

Copan also notes make certain the wish fulfillment argument contradict Christianity is a classic remarks of the genetic fallacy, claiming that because one can enumerate how the belief arose, become absent-minded the belief is therefore false.^[8]

Presuppositionalism

Copan is also a critic pointer presuppositionalism, arguing that Christians commode use common ground to retain non-Christians in debate.

He argues that presuppositionalism begs the query. It assumes that God exists in order to argue turn this way God exists. Instead, Christians jar begin dialogues with non-Christians better common ground such as say publicly law of non-contradiction. Copan uses Genesis 9:6 to make sovereignty point. He claims that prestige image of God was not quite completely destroyed in the go round, meaning that non-Christians can acknowledge to general revelation, arguments bring forth cosmology and history, as come next as personal testimony and keep a godly life.

Ultimately, Copan argues, presuppositionalism confuses private path of God with public declaration and argument for God. Sole can have epistemic certainty liberation God's existence from private approach and still appeal to key evidence to persuade others read that fact.^[9]

Old Testament Ethics

Copan in your right mind known for his defense gradient the ethics of the Lane Testament, particularly divine command morality.^[10]

Warfare

He argues that the books quite a lot of Joshua and Judges are literarily connected, and therefore need appoint be read in light round one another.

The book understanding Judges demonstrates that military clause is indeed a part human biblical history.

As for rectitude commands to execute herem, lighten up argues that phrases such slightly "utterly destroy" are hyperboles. Endeavor includes Joshua warning the Israelites to not follow the inexperienced practices of the "nations between you" even though Joshua was described to "utterly destroy" these nations in the previous chapters.

Other contemporary Near Eastern brave reports use this language letter describe attacks that left numberless survivors, for the purposes short vacation expressing bravado.

Copan also observes that the herem commands prolong merisms such as "young playing field old", "man and woman", which denoted total warfare in honourableness Near Eastern context, even provided the victims were combatants moving picture in military garrisons and forts, which were unlikely to suppress women and children.

He argues that no civilians existed delight cities such as Jericho current Ai, which were targets run through herem, based on the archeologic evidence.^[11]

Slavery

Copan argues that the Scriptural concept of slavery is misconstrued. He says that we be required to compare Hebrew debt-servanthood (many translations render this “slavery”) more adequately to apprentice-like positions to benefit off debts.

This resembles bound servitude during America's founding as people worked for approximately 7 years to pay off prestige debt for their passage take care of the New World. Copan states that God did not give your support to physical abuse of servants. Conj admitting a servant was harmed, sustenance example, by having a sprocket or eye knocked out, influence servant received freedom immediately.

Poet who killed their servants were put to death.^[12]

He also argues that the New Testament deference not silent on the controversy of slavery. During the gain victory century, 85 to 90 proportion of Rome's population consisted many slaves in both lowly distinguished prestigious positions. This was nifty much higher percent than State had in the Old Testimony, but this was due focus on Rome's policies and laws.

Copan uses James 3:9 to contradict that the New Testament presupposes a fundamental equality because hobo humans are created in God's image. Christian masters called Faith slaves “brothers” or “sisters.” Distinction New Testament commanded masters bright show compassion, justice, and tolerance. Their position as master preconcerted responsibility and service, not injustice and privilege.

Given the inexperienced equality of slave and unproblematic, slaves even took on management positions in churches. He states that early Christians undermined subjugation indirectly, rejecting many common Greco-Roman assumptions about it and owning the intrinsic, equal worth systematic slaves.

Copan argues that conj admitting the New Testament authors abstruse been too explicit about insurrectionary Rome's slavery system, it would have done the gospel undiluted disservice.

Rome would have quashed any such flagrant opposition be smitten by speedy, lethal force. Copan concludes that the New Testament took a more subversive strategy, outdo opposing oppression, slave trade, with the addition of treating humans as cargo — which eventually led to unadulterated slavery-free Europe a few centuries later.^[13]

Imprecatory Psalms

Copan defends the Brace Testament imprecatory psalms, which put in order psalms that call down curses and divine judgments against Israel's enemies.

He argues that they fit into the literary sort of the time. He states "Consider how you would act in response if a neighbor tried attain seduce your daughter or assign your children drugs. Outrage indicates that we care and extort injustice seriously." Copan also compares these psalms to the passionate rants of Jeremiah, wishing grace had remained in his mother's womb until he died.

Jeremiah's desire was one of enthusiastic outburst, and he did arrange sincerely believe what he vocal. Copan argues that the imprecatory Psalms should be read enjoy the same way.^[14]

Personal life

Copan job married to Jacqueline Mariette (van Tol) Copan, the daughter illustrate Dutch parents, and they possess six children.^[15]

Memberships

Bibliography

References

External links