I used to love telling people about my proofs for Christianity, but when I was finally challenged with real counter arguments, I ran out of resources!
Is Christian Apologetics just a "patch" for the Christian faith designed only to give just enough info to pacify pseudo-scientific and inquisitive CHristians?
Because, as extensive as CHristian Apologetics seems, it just doesn't cut it in the real world.
2007-03-10 03:45:43 · 16 answers · asked by The Burninator 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm still at it.. Throw me your "proofs" Lets see why your "faith" crumbled so easily.... Jim
2007-03-10 04:29:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't read a book on Apologetics and expect to be able to answer every question. These books are written by folks who think they have all the answers. Best thing is to start at the beginning and question everything. Does God exist? When you believe something for real, you won't need to lean on a book for support. Also, keep in mind that not all atheistic arguments are always honest. In fact in all honesty there is no such thing as an atheist. An honest person can only say they don't know, so they are Agnostics. To be an Atheist you would have to know for certain that there is no God. You would have to be God to do that though. So until an Atheist gets honest, debate is useless, no matter how brilliant the evidence. Further, there are many Atheist who have been hurt by Churches or religion and are angry. So their atheism is a rebellion from that.
2007-03-10 04:04:09 · answer #2 · answered by pshdsa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to teach apologetics. Despite what anyone says to the contrary, apologetics is about reinforcing the faith of believers with facile answers to genuine objections. It's not hard since most believers converted in an emotional experience or were indoctrinated from chidlhood and have never even asked for proof of what they've accepted without critical thought.
But apologetics is the fastest path to atheism I know, because sooner or later your students try to go out and evangelize and come up against someone with a brain who doesn't accept the first plausible response they hear and you actually have to face the fact that faith is all there is because there is no eivdence that holds up to testing.
No other activity will bring you into such glaring and unavoidable contact with how much of your theistic beliefs are simply borrowed bullshit, error and assertion from pre-scientific and superstitious people who knew much less about the real nature of the cosmos than we do today. Actually having to try to explain away all the challenges to Christianity puts you in a place where you have to choose to stubbornly ignore the truth and cling to your falsehoods like the security blanket that they are, or take the leap to reality.
For me it was worth the trip. Certainly continuing to live and act based on a false view of reality was a waste of time.
2007-03-10 03:58:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've found this to be a problem when I was a Christian. Although now that I am no longer Christian it is to my advantage.
A lot of the resources - the proofs - come straight from the bible. A lot of times they even contridict each other! And when you stand there, well versed in the faith and have a well versed non-believer you run out of answers. Even with the extensive apologetic resources out there.
Yes apologetics work for those who already believe. For those that don't they are rarely converted based on apologetcs - unless they are already weak in their position already and looking for someone to save them.
2007-03-10 04:04:56 · answer #4 · answered by noncrazed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Had you ever studied a serious course on Christian apologetics?
Because in the same way you can pick up books on "pop psychology" that have their limited usefulness (not completely useless), you can also find books on "pop apologetics". For easy reading, that can help with some of the basic questions.
But having read those does not mean that you have a real handle on apologetics.
In te area of those "readable" books, I really like C.S.Lewis, who wrote "Mere christianity". It isn't really apologetics in the normal sense of the word, but he gives some good and interesting philosophical arguments.
2007-03-10 03:57:34 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try reading some of the 'Christian Apologetics' written by C.S. Lewis ... they are AMAZING and also extremely 'valuable' when used, because Lewis was an 'atheist' who set out to prove that there was 'no God' ... but he actually proved that there is a God, and that Jesus was his 'son' ... they may be 'difficult' to understand, at first, but if you keep reading, you'll soon 'understand' and be able to 'argue' in favor of Christianity in a 'new and far better' way than you ever have before.
2007-03-10 04:00:00 · answer #6 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My guess is, you ran out of "real resources" because you are perhaps not familiar enough with the word of God....the bible. Being able to have "an answer for every man for the hope that is within you" doesn't mean you have answers for everything. We can only know what God has spoken in His word to us. If you know His word pretty well, you can answer many questions about the faith.
2007-03-10 03:50:39 · answer #7 · answered by Esther 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We dont have Christian apologetics to prove God to believers. Perhaps the reason you now doubt God is because is what is in your own heart and not in any books. Faith comes from the heart, not your mind.
2007-03-10 03:54:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are the epitome of someone who just learned a new word and is trying to use it. As far as the "real world" if you want to believe there was a big bang and out of that we got monkeys,dogs,cats,birds,fish, and a zillion other species go right ahead. God nor His people make no apologies concerning the truth of His word.
2007-03-10 03:54:06 · answer #9 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Then the "proofs" you once had for Christianity were not enough or not the strongest ones available to you. Proverbs 2:1-6 "My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, 2 so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; 3 if, moreover, you call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for discernment itself, 4 if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, 5 in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God. 6 For Jehovah himself gives wisdom..." Study your bible and stop looking for an excuse to excuse yourself from the truth!!!
2007-03-10 03:52:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anomaly 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You were not ready to go out and have a serious conversation
Because you didn't spend enough time in studying the bible you now blame God
If you don't do well on a test in College do you blame the teacher for your lack of knowledge
When claerly everyone else did their best and did well
2007-03-10 03:49:21 · answer #11 · answered by Crystal Blue 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋