Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Theses on Apologetics

1. Aim of apologetics is often too large. Apologetics has not enough power to accomplish large scale goals. Aiming for smaller target goals is better.

2. Apologetics should not necessitate bad theology. Some movements of argumentation create necessary errors which are anti-biblical. An example is Alvin Plantinga's free will defense which is incompatible with mankind being perfected and being sinless in heaven as scripture teaches.

3. Usually winning an argument only gets you labeled as a "good arguer" and you probably won't get assent on your point.

4. Most objections are moral and not rational. Clearing a rational objection does not change belief.

5. Ideas must be appealing. People usually believe what they want. This is the great issue with apologetics. We need to persuade people they should desire a relationship with God which is hard to do via argumentation.

6. Everyone has presuppositions. If you do not think you have presuppositions you are wrong. All belief systems need a starting point. Descartes' baseless belief system is a failure. Without presuppositions rational thought is impossible although many people are unaware of the assumptions.

7. Look for the presuppositions in a position. Any argument can be rejected if you deny the presuppositions. Often good arguments have the issue of bad presuppositions.

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