[This post is a work in progress as part of the CAA Catechism.] [Add the title only in the title field, not in the body of the post.] Summary in 400 words or less: Objections towards apologetics come in many forms, but one is a misunderstanding as to what apologetics ideally means. Douglas Groothuis defines apologetics and those who carry it out (apologists) as … [Read more...]
Frank Sontag Interviews Austin Gravley on "Apologetics Saved My Faith"
My post "One Year Ago, Apologetics Saved My Faith" has gotten some incredibly positive feedback from the Alliance blog and beyond. The biggest thing to come out of that post was an interview on the Frank Sontag show talking about the post in more detail. Click on the picture above and click the podcast entitled "2013-09-20 6pm The Frank Sontag Show: Hour … [Read more...]
One Year Ago, Apologetics Saved My Faith
I have been a blogger for three years now. To date, this is the most personal post I have ever written. I debated about writing this post but I felt compelled to share my experience in hopes that it will encourage Christians to take apologetics seriously, because there may come a day when it may be the difference between remaining a Christian or walking away. I know it was for … [Read more...]
But, I don't have time for apologetics!
"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." - Socrates (469-399 BC) I often get the impression that people - even those already interested in apologetics - feel they just don't have time for apologetics. It is as if I can 'hear' them thinking, "well, that is for you apologists, but the rest of us (with real lives) simply don't have time for things like that." What they may not … [Read more...]
Are You an Expert?
Now more than ever, we seem to be surrounded by experts and intellectual giants on all corners. Throw out a question on Facebook and you will get a response, often from an "expert". Google a contentious question that has plagued philosophers for centuries and you will discover reams of pages linking to the blogs of "experts". I am also often told that you don't need to be a … [Read more...]
Why Telling Your Story is NOT the Best Way to Share the Gospel
Anyone who’s ever taken a class on how to share their faith has heard some well-intentioned teacher say, “You don’t need to learn a lot of big words. Just tell them your story. Just tell them how Jesus changed your life. No one can argue with that.” Then everyone sighs a big sigh of relief because they thought they’d have to spend time learning how to answer hard questions. … [Read more...]
Do Apologists Employ the "Humpty Dumpty" Defense?
When Alice meets Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking Glass, she finds that he uses words very creatively. In fact, a word means exactly what Humpty wants it to mean, no more and no less. Christian apologists are sometimes accused of employing a “Humpty Dumpty Defense” by our opponents. This particularly is seen with faith, which is understood as a form of loyalty to a … [Read more...]
Homeland Security for the Church – The Need to Defend the Faith
For my generation and our progeny, the church cannot start from the position that people want religion and are shopping around to determine what religion is right or best. We cannot take for granted that people in the community feel a need for God. The popularity of the writings of Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins is evidence enough of hostility in our … [Read more...]
Why The Church Needs Apologetics: A Look at Critics, Seekers, and Doubters
Introduction Over the years I have spoken to several people from a variety of backgrounds about the Christian faith. When we started a Ratio Christi apologetics chapter on The Ohio State University in the Fall of 2009, I had been talking to college students about spiritual beliefs for several years. It was during this experience that I began to see the need for a stronger … [Read more...]
What Nehemiah can tell us about apologetics in the church
I have heard that there are those in the church who do not feel that apologetics should be part of the discipleship process for believers. While I find it hard to believe that anyone would articulate such a position, I must admit that for a large part of my Christian experience, there was very little content that taught me how to answer the questions that arise from those who … [Read more...]