Classical
Apologetics is that style of Christian defense that stresses rational arguments for the existence of God and
uses evidence to substantiate biblical claims and miracles. It is
quite similar to evidential apologetics
and appeals to human reason
and evidence. Early Classical Apologists include Augustine, Anselm,
and Thomas Acquinus. Contemporary classical apologists are Norman
Geisler, William Craig, and J. P. Moreland.
Some of the arguments relied upon for proofs of God's
existence are the cosmological argument
and the teleological argument. The cosmological argument
attempts to prove God exists by stating that there has to be an uncaused
cause of all things. That uncaused cause is God. The
teleological argument uses the analogy of design; that is, the universe
and life exhibit marks of design. Therefore, there must be a
Designer. Other times, strict evidence is used establish Christianity's validity.
Of course, both aspects are also combined in classical apologetics.
An example of the latter might be as follows:
Allen: Can you give me
a logical reason why God exists?
Matt: I will try (simple logic). The
universe exists. The universe cannot be eternal because if it
were eternal then it would mean that an infinite amount of time has
passed in order for us to get to the present. But you cannot
traverse an infinite amount of time. Therefore the universe
is not infinitely old.
Allen: That is an interesting argument. Do you
have anything else?
Matt: Sure (Cosmological Argument). All
things that came into existence are caused to exist. There
cannot be an infinite regression of causes because this would mean
that there was an infinite amount of time in the past that had to be
traversed in order for us to get to the present. Again, you
are not able to cross an infinite amount of time. Therefore,
it is logical to say that there must be a single uncaused cause.
I propose that that uncaused cause is God.
The
preceding very simplistic dialogue has strengths and weaknesses but
it demonstrates a way of using evidence and logic as a defense of
God's existence.
A variation on this that uses logic and the Bible could focus on prophecies and
follow this outline:
- The Bible claims to be
the word of God.
- The Bible has been
accurately transmitted to us through the copying method.
- The Old Testament was
written before the New Testament.
- The
Old Testament
contains prophecies of Jesus fulfilled in the New Testament.
- Jesus fulfilled
the prophecies
- This shows that the Bible is inspired.
- Since
it is inspired, it is accurate.
- It
says that God exists
- Therefore,
God exist.
No argument is
without strengths and weaknesses and all classical apologetic approaches
have been tackled by critics. But, the critics are not left
unanswered and Christians have, in turn, refuted their refutations.
This back and forth process of point-counter-point is going to
continue until Jesus returns. Nevertheless, God commands that we do
our best to defend the faith and classical apologetics is one of the means
to do that.
Much of the information here on CARM can be
used in a classical defense. There is documentation for
biblical
manuscript evidence in the Bible section. There is a list of
prophecies about Jesus also in the
Bible section and more. I recommend you go to the
Apologetics
Dialogues section and read a few of them to see how different
subjects can be used. If you want logical approaches, try some
proofs for God in the Atheist
section. Finally, if you really want to test yourself, get on
the internet, find a chat room through AOL instant messenger or Yahoo
instant messenger and go in and debate with people in religious
discussion rooms. You will learn real fast what you need to
know.
Whichever you do, think of apologetics as a
mosaic of skills and knowledge that God uses in the believer to bring
truth to the world. At first it is not that easy to do, but it
gets easier and easier the more you do it.
Adherents to this position have been Augustine, Anselm,
Aquinas, R. C. Sproul, and Norman Geisler.
------------------------ Focus Points ------------------------
-
Classical Apologetics is that style of
Christian defense that stresses rational arguments for the existence
of God and uses evidence to substantiate biblical claims and
miracles.
-
Whichever you do, think of apologetics as a mosaic of skills and
knowledge that God uses in the believer to bring truth to the world.
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