Responding to Epistemic Relativism in Indonesia: A Presuppositionalist Perspective from Van Til

Epistemic relativism is becoming a significant challenge to Evangelical Christianity in Indonesia, where truth is increasingly viewed as subjective and context-dependent. This shift is evident in religious education, public discourse, and youth spirituality, undermining confidence in objective truth and the authority of Scripture. This paper proposes Cornelius Van Til’s presuppositionalism as a coherent theological-epistemological response. Through a qualitative-theoretical method and literature-based analysis, the study explores how Van Til’s transcendental argument confronts relativism by asserting that all knowledge relies on presuppositions, which must be grounded in divine revelation to ensure consistency and meaning. Presuppositionalism exposes the internal contradictions of relativism and offers a firm foundation for rationality, morality, and truth. In Indonesia’s pluralistic and relational context, this approach calls for narrative and cultural contextualization, allowing theological convictions to be communicated clearly and compassionately. The paper argues that presuppositionalism is not merely a defensive apologetic, but a constructive framework for discipleship, theological education, and interfaith dialogue. By rooting rationality in revelation, it invites intellectual repentance and cultural engagement grounded in the Gospel. Van Til’s model thus serves as a prophetic call to reestablish truth in a culture marked by confusion, moral ambiguity, and epistemic fragmentation.