The Certainty of Theological Knowledge 2: The Existence of Theological Certainty and Its Connection to Other Kinds of Certainty

Modernism assumes the superiority of science over religion in general and Christianity in particular in answering this inquiry about certainty of knowledge. However, in view of numerous recent developments in the manner human thinks, even scientific certainty is now being questioned. But still many would cling to the fact that science is a sure way to arrive at the certainty of knowledge. Granting this fact, two questions are proper at this point: Does another kind of certainty provided by religion in general and Christianity in particular aside from scientific certainty exist? What would happen if religious and theological certainty surrenders to scientific certainty? Our answer to the first question is affirmative. That is the goal of our study – to show that theological certainty exists! Bavinck answers the second question that once such thing happens, then, religion, Christianity, and theology loose their independence and become subordinate to other sciences (76).

The existence of theological certainty necessitates for the delineation of its uniqueness and connections to other types of certainty. Bavinck upholds that various “kinds and degrees of certainty” exist (77). He classifies at least five kinds of certainty. These are empirical, intuitive, rational, theological, and certainty based on someone’s credibility. Empirical certainty is a kind of certainty acquired by personal observation using the five senses. This is the certainty offered by science. Intuitive certainty is a kind of certainty, “which, in virtue of the peculiar organization of our mind, arises automatically and spontaneously without any compulsion and prior to all rational reflection”(ibid.). Examples of this are our acceptance that “a straight line is the shortest distance between two points, . . . that the laws of logic are reliable, that there is a difference between true and false, good and evil, right and wrong, beautiful and ugly, and so forth” (ibid.). These different kinds of certainty according to Bavinck have their respective distinctive from each other. He states “The certainty obtainable in mathematical science differs from that in natural science, and the latter again differs from that in history, morality, law, philosophy, and so forth” (ibid.).

Concerning religious and theological certainty, Bavinck also affirms their distinctive quality. He continues, “Since religion is an independent phenomenon in a class by itself, we may expect that the certainty attainable in this area has a character of its own and is acquired in a way peculiar to it” (ibid.). Empirical certainty is not applicable to religion for the former deals with visible reality whereas the latter includes even the invisible reality. Rational certainty too is excluded for religion is innate to all human beings, and thereby proving the obvious is futile.