Astronomy and Politics Through the Lens of Epistemology
How do We Know What We Know?
What is Our Method of Evaluating Truth?

Therefore, in plain language, epistemology is the study of how do we know, what we know.  It is a type of analysis for determining why we believe what we believe.  Epistemology is not an extensive list of specific things we believe, rather the study of our method of acquiring knowledge.  With respect to either knowledge or beliefs, truth or falsehood, the study of epistemology enables us to FIRST determine a proper means of evaluation.

Let me give a simpler example that any layman or laywoman around children can relate to.  How often have you encountered a child who when an answer is given, responds with another why (?), followed by another answer and a whole new set subsequent of whys. Epistemology is the final answer at the origin of all the whys.  The explanation at the origin of all the questions may not satisfy such a child or modern skeptic, but it will give an answer at the basis of everything you know or believe.  When it comes to the study of astronomy, the epistemological approach I will take is drawn directly from an intensive and comprehensive study of the Biblical text.

I have found it incredible how often disputes, arguments and debates about Faith, stellar science and politics are overwhelmingly impacted and amplified by the failure of the parties to first identify how they are determining truth.  Even where there are severe differences over these subjects, it is even more amazing how civil such a discussion can become, if you first mutually come to a very rudimentary agreement about how each party derives truth.

An Epistemological Study of Scripture

When studying scripture, presuppositions or what the Bible calls “precepts” are a critical part of deriving truth from the Bible.  For example, does the Bible speak with authority from God or is it a human construction?  Is the Biblical text reliable or has it degraded over the centuries?  Although penned by humans, were the Biblical writers inspired and governed by God, or were they left to their own whimsical desires?  These presuppositions are something every Biblical student must grasp in order derive Biblical truth to any degree whatsoever.  These presuppositions will play a central role in our means of evaluation on what are our values, political and otherwise.

The study of God’s Creation

Equally important, the process of reviewing how we are deriving truth can often greatly aid in its discovery in many areas.  On a different level of truth, science is the study of God’s creation.  For example, a scientist who basis his research on the scientific method will often review the itemized steps of that process when he or she gets stuck in their research.  Was he or she not thorough enough during the initial observation stage, the hypothesis level, but particularly in experimental planning?  Another central question in such a review is to reexamine or re-affirm one’s pre-suppositions during those deliberations.

The study of Politics

Regarding deriving truth in Politics is closely related to one’s values.  If one derives his values from any derivative of Christianity, then there is going to be some degree of impulse to connect the dots between Biblical values and our political views.  Of course, that flies in the face of secularists who bow down in homage to the "separation of Church and State".  But, who is the higher authority here--God or man?