Test 1 Flashcards
Apologetics definition
Systematic defense of a position (such as the Christian position of faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins or belief in God)
The area of study purely devoted to the justification and defense of the Christian faith
What heading is apologetics considered under
Pre-evangelism
Should the student of apologetics be expected to prove the Christianity “without a shadow of a doubt”
No
Three major reasons why apologetics is worthy of time and effort
1) defense of the Christian faith
2) to protect and develop your personal faith
3) because Gods word tells us to
1 Peter 3:15
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Three areas where the effective apologist excels
Intellectual activity
A passion for Christ
Bravery
Axiom
A self evident truth
Revelation
Something that is revealed
Special revelation
The bible
General revelation
Creation
Scientific proof
Repeatable controlled experiments
Historical proof
Reasonable conclusions from archaeological evidence and primary sources
Presupposition
Something that cannot be proven, but must be assumed before one takes a particular position
Pre-evangelism
Helping someone understand the pre-suppositions of Christianity
Anti-intellectual
Hostility towards or distrust of academic studies by “ordinary people” desire that “everything worth knowing must be simple”
Naturalism
Someone that believes
A) all that exists in the universe is the physical universe
B) outside of the physical universe there is nothing
C) someone who denies the supernatural
Relativism
There is no absolute truth
Agnostic
Belief that no one can be certain about spiritual truth
Non-theistic
The absence of belief in God
Presupposition Apologetics
Christianity should be proven on the grounds of some basic fundamental assumptions
Experiential apologetics
Christianity should be proven on the basis of a persons testimony
Evidential apologetics
Christianity should be proven through archeological evidence and reason
Classical apologetics
Christianity supported with proofs for God before using archaeological evidence, both guided by reason
Three points from Romans 1:18-23
1) the order and design of the world points to God
2) humanity’s sense of moral conscience points to God
3) the almost universal presence of religion or philosophy to make sense of ultimate things points to God
