Christian apologetics

Christian Apologetics is the field of study concerned with the systematic defense (apologetics) of Christianity. The word "apologetic" comes from the Greek word "apologeomai". It means "In defense of". A person involved in Christian or Bible Apologetics is a defender of Christianity. Someone who engages in Christian apologetics is called a Christian apologist.

History of Christian apologetics

Evidentialist apologetics such as today's Gary Habermas or the more introductory Christian apologetic works such as Josh McDowell or Lee Strobel are the most popular apologetics and have been historically. This can be seen from the earliest times in Christianity as the New Testament records the apostles appealing to eyewitness testimony.

Related Topics:
Gary Habermas - Josh McDowell - Lee Strobel

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Historically speaking philosophical apologetics has not been very instrumental in the propogation of the Christian faith or had much interest to many Christians although it has appealed to Christian intellectuals. The apostle Paul, who was very educated, said to beware philosophy (Col. 2:8) though there is evidence that he was acquainted with Greek philosophy himself (Acts 9:29). Evangelical Christian apologist Dr. Norman Geisler composed an essay entitled, "Beware of Philosophy: A Warning to Biblical Scholars". http://www.apologetics.com/default.jsp?bodycontent=/articles/faith_and_reason/geisler-beware.html Yet some apologists call themselves Christian philosophers such as Michael Horner. http://www.michaelhorner.com/ An explanation of this conflict is that some philosophy is seen by Christians as being compatible with Christianity such as the laws of logic but some of philosophy is not such as non-theistic philosophy. Also, Francis Schaeffer, a conservative Protestant Christian apologist, argued that Christians needed to be more knowledgeable about philosophy such as knowledge regarding epistomology so they could reach the non-Christians and be better able to argue against philosophy which Schaeffer thought was errant non-Christian philosophy.

Related Topics:
Norman Geisler - Francis Schaeffer - Epistomology

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A influential Catholic apologist was Thomas Aquinas who presented five arguments for God's existence in the Summa Contra Gentiles. http://www-phil.tamu.edu/~gary/intro/paper.aquinas.html Aquinas's approach, which adapted Aristotlean thought, is known as Thomism, and has dominated both Roman Catholic and Protestant approaches.

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In the period between 1800 and the mid 1900's A.D. there were a number of Christian apologist/scholars such as William Mitchell Ramsay (1851-1939), William Henry Green (1825 - 1900), James Orr (1844-1913), Robert Dick Wilson (1856?1930), and Oswald T. Allis (1856-1930) who argued for the historicity of the Bible.

Related Topics:
William Mitchell Ramsay - William Henry Green - James Orr - Robert Dick Wilson - Oswald T. Allis

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In India, the emergence of modern rationalist and atheist beliefs has prompted a counter move from indigenous Christian apologists. The most notable among them is Dr. Johnson C. Philip, who authored more than 50 books and 2500 articles in defense of the Christian faith.

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A common concern in the history of Christianity is that apolgetics deny the role of faith, and some would argue seem to offer a way to "reason oneself" into the kingdom of heaven. This was the argument of such authors as Kierkegaard and Pascal. However it could also be pointed out that Paul actually commands the defence of the christian faith by saying that one should always be ready with "A defence of the truth."

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