Is it some sub-religion? Is it a field of study within Christianity? What is it?
2006-08-30 10:43:07 · 11 answers · asked by boukenger 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I've been trying to get a grip on what it means also.
Below is what i have found quickly on the internet. Maybe this will help both of us to learn.
Apologetics is the practice of defending the Christian faith against those who raise objections to its validity. We are commanded to be apologists (those who defend the faith) in 1 Pet. 3:15 - ". . . always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you. . . " Do you want to learn Christian apologetics?
Therefore, Christian apologetics is that branch of Christianity that deals with answering any and all critics who oppose or question the revelation of God in Christ and the Bible. It can include studying such subjects as biblical manuscript transmission, philosophy, biology, mathematics, evolution, and logic. But it can also consist of simply giving an answer to a question about Jesus or a Bible passage. The latter case is by far the most common and you don’t have to read a ton of books to do that.
Apologetics can be defensive and offensive.
site is http://www.carm.org/apologetics.htm
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/ I have not checked it out, but it looks interesting.
2006-08-30 10:47:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, not a sub-religion. It is a branch of Christian theology. Apologetics seeks to defend the divine authority of Christianity. That is, apologetics discusses how Christ was the Son of God, and not just a guy. And it discusses all things concerned with this fact--the how, why, and wherefore, for example.
2006-08-30 17:48:36 · answer #2 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apologetics serves an intellectual function within religious communities by providing arguments that support the doctrinal and ethical tenets of the religion. These arguments strengthen the believer's faith and support the propagation of the religion by offering arguments intended to persuade the uncommitted.
Skeptics engaged in debate with apologists tend to expect apologetics to consist of powerful arguments intended to persuade skeptics. The effectiveness of these arguments can occasionally fail to meet skeptical anticipation, largely because the arguments are not always directed to skeptics, but are more for reaffirming the beliefs of current believers.
2006-08-30 17:52:16 · answer #3 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Greek, an apologia was a defense. Therefore apologetics is the field of trying to justify Christian belief.
2006-08-30 17:47:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Apologetics is simply knowing how to defend your faith. It's not a religion, but it is an available course in many seminaries.
2006-08-30 18:07:31 · answer #5 · answered by hiccup_snickup 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Apologetics is the practice of defending the Christian faith against those who raise objections to its validity.
We are commanded to be apologists (those who defend the faith) in 1 Pet. 3:15 - ". . . always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you. . . ""
2006-08-30 17:47:34 · answer #6 · answered by azar_and_bath 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Apo" is a common greek prefix, it means "from". "Logos" refers to a field of knowledge or study, particularly from books. The root of the word literally means "word".
Apologetics, therefore, involves the resolution of questions by means of the kind of knowledge that comes from research into the study of the written Word.
2006-08-30 17:45:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its the act of realizing how much damage your religion has caused throughout history and making an effort to apoligize and reform it in order to restore its good name...
Actually its a name for defending the faith. It mostly consists of putting your hands over your ears and shouting "la la la la la I can't hear you" every time someone comes up with a logical objection to claims made by your beliefs.
2006-08-30 17:49:15 · answer #8 · answered by Jmanfan 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
The writings in the books of the epistles, written by the aposltes, concerning Christian theology.
2006-08-30 17:51:49 · answer #9 · answered by Linn E 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
How about those who worship by stating how sorry they are that they exist in the first place for they are too lowly to be loved by god? Dunno man I made that up - though it's probably not far off the truth.
"I'm not worthy oh lord to be the filth beneath the dirt under your toe fungus."
Oh come on people laff a little this was funny - does belief Christianity remove all sense of humour - you won't go straight to hell for cracking a smile!
2006-08-30 17:49:49 · answer #10 · answered by Lee 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋