APOLOGETICS continued on pure thought or idea. But during the pure ideological phase .between X I and X2 the true Christian • lives also in memory of X I and in anti cipation of X2, in hope and faith that his trust in God is justified and has a factual basis. Thus the intuition helps in validating the idea and jus tifies the clinging to the pure ideo logical aspects of faith. The complete process may very well start at regeneration without the conscious intuitive spiritual ele ment being present, but if an actual regeneration has taken place, sooner or later a sequential, intuitive pattern will manifest itself, and the difference between faith and credulity becomes apparent. As far as the simple event is concerned, the objective (sense) empiricist is not concerned with its ontological implications, taking the “ common sense” viewpoint. A swan is “ white” if it appears to be white. Taking also most inner experiences at face value, the subjective empiricist, however, would have the advantage of dealing with some containing a noetic quality, the only clue leading out of empirical skepticism. The single spiritual intuitive ex perience, containing a noetic quality, thus is the clue leading out of empiri cal skepticism and during its mani festation it dispels all doubt. When the love of God fills the human heart, there is no place for doubt. The recurring sequence X I, X2, X3 however, would be the basis for em pirical induction, probability and apologetics. It cannot be too strongly empha sized, however, that though intuition helps in verifying the idea, Christian methodology does not prescribe the striving after, or seeking for, these experiences. Total surrender and daily obedience are the things the Christian should strive for and the intuitive element appears as a gift, or grace, from God. Some Christians are misled by their inability to dis tinguish between intuition as grace and obedience as methodology. Granted that there are difficulties involved in analyzing inner experi ence, but on the one hand, the ra tionalist’s and empiricist’s metaphysi cal difficulties are infinitely greater, as the complete output of the philoso phy of western civilization testifies, on the other, hand, from a practical standpoint, we as Christians will be able to meet the demands of existence successfully only if there is a peace and love in our hearts which, as we know from bitter experience, cannot be self-created. The objection of the rationalist that CONTINUED ►
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