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Classical Apologetics Analysis

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A Critique of Classical Apologetics The classical approach to apologetics seeks to use philosophical arguments to reason and prove theism. While they whole heartedly seek to reach this conclusion, theism means that the reality of the personal God revealed in Jesus Christ cannot be approached through this method. If the end goal of apologetics is, “defending the Christian faith,” then one must seek to make the basic tenants of the faith evidenced in the apologetic method used. The classical approach fails to do this. To succeed in presenting a classical apologetic argument would include laying out logical arguments, have the seeker agree with them, and finally reach the conclusion that there is one god. This is the farthest that this method …show more content…
C.S. Lewis who can be used as an example of a classic apologist, came to a point when he began to recognize the shortcomings of the approach as he said: “It is very difficult to produce arguments on the popular level for the existence of God. And many of the most popular arguments seem to me invalid…” While Lewis is just one example of this, his words reveal a readily recognized shortcoming of this approach. The classical model can become far removed from people’s human experience. Human beings are inherently relational, so by presenting a case for God entirely as a philosophical idea, the humanity of Christ is taken away. Proofs only arise when you cease to be in love. At its core proofs are a symbol of not knowing the Lord in a personal way and ultimately lacking …show more content…
As this infidelity to the lived experience of the Believer, they fail to give account of what the Lord has done for them on a personal level. In response to the metapologetic question: “How is our knowledge of Christian truth related to our experience? Classical apologists do not place heavy emphasis on arguments from experience.” In this statement the idea of any sort of personal testimony to God is removed from the horizon. The classical apologetic method has no room or contest to understand personal faith encounters. The necessary unfaithfulness needed to espouse a classical apologetic is another reason to view a classical apologetic method with

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