As one becomes entrenched in Christian Apologetics and studying the evidence for the Christian worldview, it doesn't take long to discover the many convincing arguments for the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the grave. There are scores of solid arguments for theism in general (philosophical, scientific, etc), but as ambassadors for Christ, we are making a defense … [Read more...]
Russell's Teapot, Dawkins' Fairies, and The Burden of Proof
Scientific positivism has taken a deep hold in society due in large part to advocates from the "New Atheist" movement and others who argue for strict empiricism. Scientists like Richard Dawkins and Peter Atkins argue for the use of scientific, empirical evidence as the fundamental framework for all epistemic queries. Why should we believe that a thing does or does not exist? … [Read more...]
Did Jesus Deny His Deity in His Conversation with the Rich Ruler?
In Luke 18:18-29 (and the parallel account in Mark 10:17-31), we read the narrative of the rich young ruler coming to Jesus and asking, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responds by saying "Why do you call me good? No one is good -- except God alone." Jesus continues, "You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, … [Read more...]
Why I am Pro-Life
Posted with the gracious permission of Sarah Ankenman, president of International Society for Women in Apologetics. Many people assume that I am only pro-life because I am conservative and usually vote Republican. Or that my religious upbringing and personal beliefs tell me I am supposed to be. While both those things are true, I have other reasons for being pro-life (six to … [Read more...]
Our God, Jesus Christ: The witness of the early church fathers
Contributed by Dan Barkman Much has been written showing that Jesus understood Himself to be a divine person and that the authors of the New Testament held that same conviction. But is it possible that we have misunderstood what the apostles actually believed about Jesus? Could it be that the modern church is confused as to what it was that the apostles actually taught? To … [Read more...]
Stupid Things Christians Say: Satan Hijacks Apologetics
Last spring, my church hosted a debate about the textual reliability of the New Testament. The response to the event was mostly positive, but one reader emailed me to explain that the debate was a bad idea because...Satan could have hijacked it. I promise I did not make that up. … [Read more...]
The Christian Story
Apologists seek to defend the truth of the Christian faith, and have many ways to present the one truth. Preaching is one way; reasoned argument, another. But too often Christians today are hesitant to use story as a means of presenting the truth - perhaps through unfamiliarity, perhaps through associations with postmodern and liberal interpretations of Christianity. However, … [Read more...]
Debate in Apologetics: Secondary Issues of Primary Importance
Since it began Christianity has been involved in debates. From Jesus’ encounter with the Sadducees to dealing with early heresies on down to the present day, Christians have encountered arguments against their worldview. Learning to deal with external arguments is a central task of the Christian apologist. There are however many doctrinal issues that are arguably internal … [Read more...]
Fallacy Friday: Tu Quoque (But you did it too!)
Last week I looked at the Straw Man Fallacy, today I want to explore the tu quoque fallacy. In Latin tu quoque (too kwo-kwee) means “you too”; in fact, the phrase “you did it too” is a good, succinct account of this fallacy. A tu quoque occurs when one rebuts a particular criticism of one’s own position by showing one’s opponent’s position is subject to the same criticism; … [Read more...]
The Truth Holds Us
In a world of religious and ideological divisions, hardly anything evokes more anger than saying, "I know the truth." A statement like that may be tolerated in mathematics and science, though even scientists are wary of it, knowing how often the "truths" of one age are later corrected or replaced. In morality and religion, though, it's downright offensive. Relativism reigns. … [Read more...]