Apologetics to the Glory of God

Tag: apologetic method

  • Comprehensive Apologetics

    Since neutrality is unattainable for either the unbeliever or believer, and since they have conflicting ultimate standards for judging claims to knowledge, the task of apologetics will ultimately be carried on at a presuppositional level. Contrasting worldviews are being debated. Each worldview has its presuppositions about reality, knowledge, and ethics; these mutually influence and support each other. There are no facts or uses of reason which are available outside of the interpretive system of basic commitments or assumptions which appeals to them; the presuppositions used by Christian and non-Christian determine what they will accept as factual and reasonable, and their

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  • Presuppositional Apologetics In Debate

    Nick Norelli recently wrote:

    “I think the thing is that plenty of presuppositionalists debate (look at James White who debates like every other day) and I’m sure they employ their method, but I think it lends itself to certain subjects better than others.”

    As Nick mentioned in his response to someone concerning the apparent absence of presuppositional apologetics in the realm of debate, James R. White of Alpha and Omega Ministries is a presuppositionalist and can hardly be charged with not debating. Doug Wilson, who recently engaged Christopher Hitchens in a series of books, formal debates, and discussions (see …

  • Bahnsen and Bare Possibility

    Historically, when David Hume and Immanuel Kant exposed the invalidity of the theistic proofs, apologists generally balked at returning to revelation as the basis for their certainty of God’s existence. They elected, rather, to maintain status in the the blinded eyes of the “worldly wise” by attempting to prove Christianity’s credibility by means of arguments that hopefully pointed toward the probability of God’s existence and Scripture’s truth. They settled for a mere presumption (plus pragmatic assurance) in favor of a few salvaged items (i.e., “fundamentals”) from the Christian system. Refusing to presuppose the sovereign God revealed in the Bible

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  • Putting Frist On A Diet

    One of the weaknesses of Fristianity is also one of its strengths. The many different versions of Fristianity can make it difficult to grasp and answer. Fristianity proponents might exclaim that this difficulty is the whole point. There are a number of problems with this response. If Fristianity is no different from general objections concerning the impossibility of the contrary then it is superfluous. Similarly, if Fristianity is no different from various other objections concerning presuppositionalism in general and TAG in particular then it is superfluous. Finally, the different versions of Fristianity are often essentially different from each other rather …

  • Choosing Hats Summer Reading List

    While I am not very well read I am often asked about books I would recommend. Below is a list of introductory level books which are not too difficult to read and go by pretty quickly even if you are a slow reader like I am. The prices are reasonable as well, but make sure to look on more than just Amazon.

    Biblical Theology

    According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy

    Goldsworthy does an excellent job of introducing a massive subject which is far too often neglected.

    Systematic Theology

    Charles Hodge Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge

    The regular price on this …

  • Initial Comments on the Reiter Article

    Adam Omelianchuk has done everyone a great service by summarizing David Reiter’s recent article on the Transcendental Argument for God (TAG) which recently appeared in Philosophia Christi. I left a comment there with my initial response to the article. (I was working from memory and do not have a copy of the article in front of me even now so I cannot get very specific.)

    __________________

    I have read the article in question and it appears to me as though a traditional argument form is being assumed in the case of TAG in order to argue that it is …

  • William Lane Craig’s Inconsistent Objections to Presuppositional Argument

    I recently wrote that two of the most popular objections to TAG are in fact inconsistent with one another. The objections are that TAG is circular and that TAG is unstated. These two assertions are far too readily accepted as some kind of meaningful objections. Moreover, they are inconsistent with one another.

    Today curiosity got the best of me and I began to wonder if anyone in Five Views On Apologetics might have made the error of trying to use not one or the other of the objections in question, but both of them at the same time. …

  • Death of Antony Flew

    Al Mohler has written on the death of Antony Flew.

    Having just learned of this sad event I wish to comment on it but do not have the time as of right now. May this be a reminder to both Christians and non-Christians that the topics we discuss are real. The point of the discussion is about much, much more than winning a debate or outdoing another in terms of witty comments.…

  • Expert Apologist

    Negatively…

    The expert in apologetics is not necessarily the one with the best philosophical arguments. The expert in apologetics does not necessarily know all of the relevant facts. The expert in apologetics does not necessarily always have an intellectually satisfying answer on hand. The expert in apologetics is not constantly trying to defend his or her own name. The expert in apologetics is not constantly after opportunities to make his or her name known. The expert in apologetics does not withhold knowledge from others. The expert in apologetics does not use language no one can understand. The expert in apologetics …

  • Wrongly, Plantinga

    According to John Calvin, “As soon as ever we depart from Christ, there is nothing, be it ever so gross or insignificant in itself, respecting which we are not necessarily deceived.” Perhaps Calvin means only what we have already noted: one who doesn’t know God fails to know the most important truth about anything else. He may mean to go even further, however: perhaps he means to say that those who don’t know God suffer much wider ranging cognitive deprivation and, in fact, don’t really have any knowledge at all. (This view is at any rate attributed (rightly or wrongly) …