...E Leo Whitworth Jr. Dr. C Fred Smith Apologetics 500-D01-LUO April 1, 2015 * What do you think is the best apologetic method and defend your view. * The relationship between faith and reason * A comparison between the evidentialist, presuppositionalist, and experimentalist strategies. In my view, the best argument in apologetics is the evidentialist method. This method argues that the most significant historical events in Christianity- particular the resurrection of Jesus are matters that can be established through proper historical argumentation, even apart from any prior arguments for the existence of God. Instead of trying to prove the existence of God through some form of rational proof, the evidentialist attempts to prove the existence of God through the truth of scripture and then using that truth to prove the existence and nature of God. To do this the evidentialist has to successfully defend his understanding of past events and his interpretation of texts and historical theories and ideology. The evidentialist also assumes a shared view of experiences, scientific theories, and the general rules of logic when engaging a skeptic, and there has to be some shared study and common ground of the nature and philosophy with the unbeliever to have a meaningful discussion. One of the advantages of being an evidentialist you can argue both for theism and for Christian theism at the same time without recourse to an elaborate natural theology. For instance...
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...Apologetics Application Paper: Part 2 Submission Form Kristina Pickett APOL 500 November 15, 2014 Instructions for submitting the Apologetics Application Paper: Part 2 • Complete your introduction as it will appear in the final paper. • Include an outline of each major element of the final paper. • Include your full bibliography. • Follow the template / submission form provided. Submit the Apologetics Application Paper: Part 2 by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 4. Add as much space as necessary to each section below. 1. Introduction Paragraph for Final Paper: As a Christian born and raised I have created for myself a sheltered little world where only Christians exist. My entire family is Christian, I grew up in a predominately Christian neighborhood, of course, I only associated with the Christian neighbors, I attended a small Christian college and I married a Christian. My husband and I decided to raise our little Christian family in a middle upper class community with the mindset that we would provide for our children a more affluent environment, provide a better public education and give them opportunities for a more successful future. We also wanted diversity for our children so that they would have the advantage of experiencing different cultures and having a broader general worldview of humanity. Good idea, yet, unexpected results. We found it very difficult to raise...
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...EVIDENTIAL APOLOGETICS Michael V. Galarneau Jr. Introduction to Apologetics APOL 500 September 9, 2012 Contents Introduction 1 Summary of Evidential Apologetics 1 Critique of Evidential Apologetics 2 Proponents of Evidential Apologetics 3 Conclusion 3 Bibliography 4 Introduction Apologetics has a long history within Christianity. The term, itself, comes from the Greek word apologia which is found in 1 Peter 3:15 giving apologetics a biblical origin. Peter’s call for believers to “make a defense (apologia)” is the heart of Christian Apologetics. The idea is that, in the face of unbelief and persecution, Christians need to be ready to defend or argue for their belief in Christ. Put a little more plainly, apologetics is “defending Christianity in the context of an unbelieving and skeptical world.” Apologetics comes in many forms or styles that can by generally categorized as one of two differing styles: positive apologetics (“presents the truth of Christ”) or polemics (“proclaims the errors of all other systems”). Within the two styles of apologetics, there are many different approaches to or uses of them. This paper will focus on just one of the many Apologetic Methods: Evidentialism, with the purpose of providing an analysis of the evidential approach to apologetics. Summary of Evidential Apologetics Evidential Apologetics is a form of positive apologetics that is actually a sub-genre of the Classical...
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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...
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...APOLOGETICS APPLICATION PAPER: PART 2 Milton Carnes APOL 500-B17 LUO Due Date Sunday September 15, 2013 by 11:59 pm Content/Outline I Introduction II Messianic Judaism: How It Is Different From Christianity III Apologetic Defense: Saturday Sunday Which? IV Apologetic Defense: Why A Trinity? Why Not A Trinity? V Apologetic Defense: To Keep The Law Or Not? Faith and Grace A. What Was Nailed To The Cross? VI Apologetic Defense: Jesus or Yeshua? No Other Name Whereby Men Might Be Saved VII Conclusion: From There (Messianic Judaism) To Here (Christianity) VIII Bibliography Introduction Messianic Judaism is similar in beliefs to Christianity and it can pose some apologetic difficulties for a defense by Christians. While they (Christianity and Messianic Judaism) are similar in beliefs there are also some vast differences. As stated in Ephesians 4:4-6 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”. If we adhere to the Law of Non-Contradiction that would mean that they both (Christianity and Messianic Judaism) cannot...
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...APOLOGETIC METHODS Growing up in a large African American Baptist Church over the past 40 plus years with the past 30 plus years proactively engaged in the attempt of pastors & ministers trying to bridge and mesh this gap that has long existed in our places of worship for various reasons. This gap is the intellectual knowledge of the reasoning and faith. Being that faith and reason are two modes of belief, to explain the relationship of the two one must first explain exactly what reason and faith are. Reason is generally a methodical belief that is gained by utilization of intellectual, moral, or religious principles or evidence. Faith, on the other hand, is belief that is generally a willed attitude of trust motivated by inspiration by a divine authority or revelation. Hence, Reason is more so a demonstrated belief, whereas faith is more so a do-able belief. In our ancestry past, due to lack of access (opportunity) to the faith experience was more of a heart ( do- able ) belief instead of a head ( demonstrated) belief, which was not all wrong , but was not all right neither. Groothuis states ,”Biblically understood, conversion is a radical turn away from sin, selfishness and Satan, and a turn toward God and his kingdom. This incorporates the whole person, not merely the intellect….. Therefore, conversion is necessarily intellectual and involves cognitive assent to propositions taken to be objectively true. “ ( Groothuis, 2011). Basically speaking there is much power...
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...According to Groothuis, various apologetic systems have proved useful, even though the best apologetic method must squarely face its limits. Even though a thorough and wide ranging apologetic is surely needed today, apologetics is bounded by at least three realities. [1] First, the Bible is a long, ancient and sometimes perplexing book for contemporary people. Defending what the Bible teaches is not a simple task and it certainly does not admit of a formula. We should realize that all our intellectual endeavors, especially those dealing with the broadest and deepest questions of life’s meaning, will be dogged to some degree by misunderstand, ignorance and intellectual disappointment. To hold that the Christian worldview is the best rational explanation for the things that matter most does not imply that we have a lock on all the best arguments or have attained all the truths we need. [2] Second, apologetics is limited not only by the difficulty of the subject itself, but by the weaknesses of the subjects who practice it which is us. We commend and defend Christianity through our speech, our writing and our demeanor. If we fall short as apologists, this does not mean that Christianity is untrue or irrational, or that all our efforts are vain. Our job is to faithfully give the best arguments possible from the purest heart possible. [3] Then lastly, apologetics must be understood within the framework of God’s secret councils. God often does not tell us how or why he...
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...There are numerous apologetic methods that are “on the market” today. So much so that entire books are written just on one particular method. However, I believe Groothius said it best when he stated “some apologists have spent as much time or more time attempting to refute their fellow apologists’ methods than they have in attempting to bring apologetics to the people who need it most: unbelievers and doubting followers of Jesus.” In the options given in our assigned reading this week I relate most with the worldview hypothesis method. I believe this method addresses the needs of the culture around us in order to lead people to genuinely find Jesus. All too often I have seen conversions that have occurred that were not deeply rooted in true change. Whether it was a great worship experience or any other type of experience that was the catalyst to conversion, neither of them seem to be deeply rooted and can be swayed very easily. Worldview hypothesis in my opinion presents more of a consumerist approach that can appeal to people. Let me explain what I mean because I know the word consumerist is a naughty word in the Christian world. The American culture has been engrained with a virtual buffet of choices when it comes to any aspect of our life. Think about it; careers, television, food, shopping, etc. In each of these areas, the person is presented with a smorgasbord or choices in which they weigh the pros and cons and make a decision. And let’s face it, it works. Why...
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...Apologetics Application Paper: FINAL Joseph R. Tapp APOL 500 B05 October 12, 2014 Introduction Throughout history the word of God has been spread many ways, by many different methods, some of which were brutal and ugly. Not all people grasped this word as it was spread. Some even started to believe that there was no God, or if there was, based on their observations he wasn’t a God they wanted to know. Such a group are those that call themselves Anti-theists. Anti-theists promote an ideology that denies the existence of God, any god, and that all religion is evil and not good for us. In this paper the anti-theist worldview will be examined to understand the worldview, its key attributes and why one might be so inclined to pursue such an ideology. The worldview will be compared to the Christian worldview, the purpose of which will be to refute the arguments of the anti-theists worldview and provide a basis for which the anti-theist can be presented with information that might enable them to have a change of heart/mind and begin their journey to acknowledging Christ with the hope of ultimately receiving him. Significant Elements of the Anti-Theist Worldview What is Anti-Theism? Anti (against) -theism is quite simply the opposition to theism, specifically to God or to a god. It is not just the opposition to the Christian God, the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, no, anti-theism...
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...Apologetics Application Paper: Part 1 Submission Form APOL 500 November 5, 2014 1. Target Audience: Atheist 2. Summary of Significant Elements of the Worldview of the Target Audience: Douglas Groothuis stated in his writings that “ Our worldview shapes who we are and what we do. We are driven by our deepest beliefs, and interpret the world according to them, often almost automatically.” (pg.75) Atheist do not believe that God exist, they believe a lot in matter. I think that you must know something about the Bible before you can have a Christian worldview. One of the residents that I work with is an atheist, and he has no explanation for being an atheist, except, because he wants to. It is the way he was taught as a child that is the problem. 3. Ideas of How Christianity Can Address the Worldview: The Christian worldview summons people to follow Christ, to recognize, and obey the truth that sets them free. The atheist are very committed in what they believe, and a Christian is very committed in what they believe. There are different parts of beliefs. There is deism, naturalism and the New Age way of thinking. (Groothuis, pg.75) 4. Preliminary List of Issues to Be Addressed in the Final Paper: * The Atheistic Arguments, Errors, and Insights. * What is the causes of Atheism? * How new is the New Age Atheism? 5. Preliminary Bibliography Craig, William Lane. “Classical Apologetics.” In Five Views on Apologetics, edited by Steven...
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...Cornelius Van Til has been regarded as one of the most influential Christian philosophers in apologetics. He is well known for revitalizing the traditional method of apologetics to a presuppositional method for defending the faith. Although he was born in the Netherlands, he grew up on a farm in Indian. In 1922 he graduated from Calvin College, in 1925 he graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a ThM, and in 1927 he received his PhD from Princeton University. He later taught at Westminster Theological Seminary for forty-three years and became a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church from the 1930s to his death in 1987. Van Til was instrumental in showing the Christian how not to give up ground to the unbeliever in apologetics....
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...21201085 WENDY KARANI APOLOGETICS MIDTERM OPEN SOURCE PAPER. 1. What is Christian Apologetics and why should we do it Apologetics is defined as "reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine." It is to be specific with this class, a branch of Christianity that deals with the aspect of defending the Christian faith against those who care to attack us. Apologetics comes from the Greek word “apologia” or in Greek: ἀπολογία which when translated mean a “defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions”. Apologetics is therefore in reference to Christianity is a field in which apologists provide rational arguments with adequate information in order to defend their faith against objects provided by members of the secular society....
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...Cassandra Hayes Mr. Professor Snow APOL 104 B36 February 8th, 2016 Worldview Paper What is worldview, well worldview is a subjection on how the world looks to us. It’s a set if the base of ablutions that helps us makes sense of reality Its ablutions about reality. With worldview you're only aware of what you see nobody is without a worldview, I think everyone has a worldview, worldview is your momentary views on life. Worldview acts the same way it affects the way we see everything. And how we view everything about life, about death, about politics, even religion it affects everything we see and makes decisions about everything. We all have different opinions and different perspectives on something. There are three categories of worldview, and they are: Naturalism, Pantheism and Theism With Naturalism and what I learn from this was that God doesn’t exist. It’s a source that can be known and what does and does not exist. Naturalism divides into two main perspectives which focus on epistemology and ontology. And secondly with Pantheism, its denies the existence of God. It revolves around the universe rather than for its creator. Pantheism is similar to polytheism, but it goes beyond religion to teach us that everything is God. For Theism and what I learn with this worldview, is that it's a belief that God does exist. Theism is a belief that only one God exist theism has many attributes. There are many different forms ...
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...APOLOGETICS APPLICATION PAPER Glenda Campbell APOL 500 July 4, 2014 Outline Introduction 1. Summary of the Islamic worldview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2. Evaluating the Islamic Worldview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3. Correcting the Islamic Worldview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4. Defending the Christian Worldview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Apologetics Application Paper Introduction According to Brown, people everywhere filter what they read and hear through the grid of their own worldview. We all see the world different and the assumptions and prejudices that have about the world have an effect on how we regard the world. The Christian worldview and the Islamic worldview are similar, but they are different in many ways. But, what is a worldview? The ways a person views and understands the world have an effect on everyone. Sire defines a worldview as "a set of presuppositions (or assumptions) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously)...
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...about religion. The atheist even believe, they believe there is no God, it is however a belief. One may ask, how are those beliefs formed? Is it when our children and our parents decide for us by teaching us what has been taught to them by their parents? One may feel that it is by tradition that we form our beliefs. This makes sense to us because it is what made sense to our parents, to their parents, and so on. As a child, I became a Christian because my biblical worldview began with my parents and grandparents. They took me to church every Sunday and I attended Sunday school where I began studying and learning of God’s word. I learned if you want to have eternal life you must believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Once we have formed our beliefs, what guides us daily, what give us awareness of right and wrong? For Christians our roadmap is the Bible and for Muslims it is the Qur’an and for Jews it is the Tanakh. We have learned that God inspired the Bible. The Bible is the recordation of events that happen over 1,500 years ago. The Bible was inspired by God and revealed to mankind (2 Tim. 3:16).[2] The Bible has been called the written word of God, an authority for our lives (Powell Chap.8 pg1.). It is our very foundation for what we say, do and even think. Why is a biblical worldview important? A biblical worldview has its entire focus on God (www.foundationsforliving.org).[3] It...
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