International Christian College & Seminary James W. Bailey,Jr.

Course: CM002 #26233-058

January 8, 2018 Page 1

Reaction Paper on Christian Apologetics by Norman Geisler

Christian Apologetics by Norman Geisler is written in three parts with

a total of eighteen chapters. It is a course in apologetic theory

written primarily from a phil6sophical perspective. Dr. Geisler is

a professor of Apologetics at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is reputed

to be evangelism~ most prolific philosopher. That said, the perspective

from which the book is authored is not surprising.

I found the book somewhat difficult to fully understand, digest and

internalize in the begining. However, patience and rereading until

I understood each chapter, section, paragraph and/or word has given

light to insight and wisdom. For me, it was impossible to read Geisler's

book without a good dictionary in the other hand. I found it necessary

to include in my reading journal a section on definitions, pronunciation,

correct spelling and useage of words with which I was not familiar.

Expansion of knowledge was preceded by expansion of vocabulary. Geisler

imparts knowledge to one in areas other than the topic of the book.

Part One of the book looks at ·various tests for truth. The purpose

is to lay the foundation and groundwork for testing ·v<\rious world

views with an acceptable world view.

Part Two applies the test for truth to v~rious world views concluding

that theism is the only acceptable world view of religion.

Part Three looks within the theistic world view at claims of CHristianity,

the Deity of Christ, and the authority of the Bible.

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Apologetics began with the Apostles and the New Testament. It was

further developed by the works of Augustine and brought to fruition

by the twelfth century philosopher Thomas Aquinas and other later Christian

theologians and philosophers. Dr. Geisler is an advocate of the writings

of Thomas Aquinas and c.s. Lewis as is shown by the numerous quotations

cited from their works.

Geisler's purpose in writing the book is to provide the reader with

sufficient ammunition to adequately defend Christianity, the truths

of Christ, and the Bible as God's ine~ant word. Geisler, as an excelent

professor and teacher, proceeds to build a foundation for God, Christ

and the Bible. Absent this foundation, trying to defend the existance

of God, the Deity of Christ and the completeness and inerrancy of the

Bible would be impossible.

Geisler works to establish a valid test for truth for all theistic

views. The validity of theism is necessary for Christianity to have

a solid foundation. A valid test for truth is the only means by which

theism can be shown to be true and all other systems, theistic views

and world views can be shown to be false. He accomplishes this task

with precision and clarity.

~
A fundemental foundation in apologetics is necessary for anyone who

chooses to enter ministry or teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Challenges

will come from all directions in any many forms. Geisler prepares

the reader to defend, justify and exonerate Christ~an1~y and theism

from attacks from both outside and inside the realm of theism and

Christianity.
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Part One of the book\ "Methodology'' contains eight chapters. The premise

of each chapter is:

Chapter 1 "Agnosticism" contend.Sthat 1) the existance and nature of

God is not known or 2) God is unknowable. Agnosticism could be described

as negative dogmatism.

Chapter 2 "Rationalism" contends that the rationally inescapable is

real. It contends that the existance of God can be demonstrated with

logical necessity.

Chapter 3 11Fideism" contends that truth in religion rests soley on

faith and not in reasoning. It is the polar opposite of rationalism.

Chapter 4 ''Experientialism"contends that e~perience is the final test

for truth. Experience is a factor in all religious truths, therefore

it should be the final test for truth.

Chapter 5 "Evidentialism" contends that truth is based in facts and/or

events that provide evidence. These must be observable and general

in nature. Evidence is the determining factor in tests for truth and

absent evidence, there can be no truth.

Chapter 6 "Pragmatism''contends one cannot think or feel truth, but

can discover it by attempting to live it. Pragmatism has been bffered

as a theory for meaning, not just a test for truth.

Chapter 7 ''Combinationalism"contend that a combination of methodologies

is needed to adequately test for truth. Whatever the epistemological

source of truth, the combinationalist feels it necessary to use a

combination of tests to establish the truth of a world view~

Combinationalism, in and of itself, offers no view or test for truth.

Rather it is a combination of two or more methodologies which must

first stand on their own merits before being combined with others for
truth testing.
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All of the tests for truth in Chapters 1-7 fail. The problem with

each is as follows:

Chapter 1 "Agnosticism" is self-defeating. It assumes some knowledge

about reality (God) in order to deny any knowledge of reality (God).

The attempt to deny all expressions about God, is in fact, an expression

about God. It is the destruction of Agnosticism by it being self-

defeating that makes it possible to build a case for Theism.

Chapter 2 "Rationalism'' holds that the existance of God can be demonstrated

with logical necessity. The premiseof rationalism rests in what is

rationally inescapable is real. Logis is a negative test for truth.

Rationalism lacks a rational basis of its own. It can eliminate what

is false but it cannot establish what is true.

Chapter 3 ''Fideism" does contribute to the understanding of Christian

truth and life. However, truth is tested in the heart, not in the

mind. There are no truly rational tests for religious truth. Fideistic

tests for truth are based on faith and thereby fail the test for truth

as a world view.

Chapter 4 "Experientialism" fails simply because it is an inadequate

test for truth of Christian beliefs. Without a primary awareness of

God, no one can claim to huve the truth about God. The problem with

Experientialism rests in the fact that experience is something one

has while truth is something one expresses. Experience is a condition

of people, truth is a characteristic of preposition. Experientialism

fails as a test for truth and world view on its own merits.

Chapter 5 11Evidentialism11 contends that the truth about God can be

found from evidence. There is ample historical evidence of Christianity.

Evidentialisrnoffers some contributions to understanding religious

truth. However, there is no inherent meaning to a set of facts and

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there is1meaning or truth attributable to facts unless it is from

the perspective of a world view. Without interpretation, facts are

just facts, they have no meaning. Experientialism fails as a world

view and test for truth.

Chapter 6 ''Pragmatism"has been present in religion from the begining.

The pragmatic position on religion hinges not on faith but on action.

Pragmatic tests for truth fail because they 1) base results on human

experience, 2) they are characterized fatuity, 3) they disallow absolute

results of a test and 4) all results are less than absolute or final.

Pragmatism cannot be sustained as a valid world view.

Chapter 7 ''Combinationalism"has no connection between tests and the

source of truth. They feel the truth is only found with a combination

of tests. One dimenssion of truth is not sufficient for combinationalists.

Many of the views for combinationlists are, in facy, circular reasoning.

They presuppose a God who can act in order to prove by His acts that

He exists. This is circular reasoning. Combinationalism fails on

its own merits as a test for truth or world V~~ beacuse the methodologies

that are combined each fail on their own merlrs. Combining failed

methodoligies does not yield a methodology or test for truth that works.

When the parts fail, the entire system fails.

All of the methodologies in the first 7 chapters have a common inadequacy

in tests for truth. None of them can definetly establish one world

view or another as the foundation for the methodologies' test of truth.

Chapter 8 "Formulating Adequate Test for Truth" contends that undeniability

is the test for truth of a world view and unaffirmability is the test

for falsity of a world view. A test for a wold view requires systematic

coherence and reliabile probability.

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As in most everything in life, probability is the guide and key to

applicable tests for truth.

Observation: Each of the methodologies set forth in Chapters 1-7 fail.

Some are self-defeating, some are circular, and others are unproveable

truth assertions. The premise put forth in Chapter 8 is the only way

to adequately test for for truth in a world view. Delineation of this

methodology stands on its own merits and does not fail by the truth

tests that cause the other methodologies to fail. It is, in fact,

self-sustaining.

Part Two dealSwith "Theistic Apologetics" in 5 chapters. The premise

of each chapter is:

Chapter 9 "Diesm" contends that God created the world but denies that

He intervenes in it. God is beyond the world but He is not active

in the world.

Chapter 10 "Pantheism" contends that God is identical to the world.

God is all and all is God. It is the polar opposite of deism.

Chapter 11 "Pane""1""'-•'->~"'v contends that God is in the world the way a

soul or mind is in a body. God is the world and the world is God.

This is also called finite Godism.

Chapter 12 "Atheism" contends there is no God. Atheists put forth

a number of arguments to support their position, i.e. the cosm?logical

disproof, casualty, ontological disproof, evil argument, moral law

conflict, innocent suffering, the inability to do the impossible,.

antinomy of time, and chance.

Chapter 13 "'Theism" contends that there is a God who created the universe

and all in it. God is not identical with the real world. There is
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a differance between creation and creator. Miracles have and do occur.

All world views other than theism are self-defeating. Only theism

will stand up to the test for truth as an acceptable world view.

Each chapter, 9 through 12, also provides proof and evidence that each

theistic view other than theism is self-defeating and will not stand

up to the test of truth or as an adequate world view. These same tests

are applied to theism in Chapter 13 which shows theism to be the only

world view that is truthful and self-sustaining. It is undeniable.

Theism proves this is a theistic universe, that God exists, and that

this God is the God of the Bible.

It is the contention of the book that "in Part 3 you will see~without

question that Evangelical Christian Theism qualifies as the most

systematically coherent theistic view on all three primary tests for

truth, consistency, empirical adequacy1 and experiential relevance".

Part 3 "Christian Apologetics" has 5 chapters. The primary message

of each chapter is:

Chapter 14 "Naturalism and the Supernatural" contends that miracles

do not occur or exist nor have they. Naturalism offers natural law
as its basis and contends that anything contrary to natural law would

be a miracle, and miracles do not happen. Naturalists decree in advance

that miracles do not occur rather than looking at the evidence. If
there is a God who can act (a theistic God), then acts of miracles

by God are possible. History, not philosophy, has documented miracles.

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Chapter 15 ''Objectivism and History" contends history is not actually

knowable. All history is told by historians who offer their opinion

as to the meaning of historical facts. Arguments are made that historians

cannot be objective in assembling a reconstructed picture of the past.

Dr. Geisler shows how history can be objective and can offer a complete1

detailed picture of what happened even if working with only partial

elements or facts. If there is a Gbd, then history will fill in the

facts and details for meaning.

Chapter 16 "Historical Reliability'of the New Testament" contends

that reliability comes from two perspectives, 1) authenticity of the

New Testament documents and 2) reliability of the New Testament writers.

Dr. Geisler details the steps in each of these processes which leaves

the reader (me) with absolute certainty of the documents and the writers.

Much of the New Testament has been verified by Archeology, History,

and Geology. Secular writing and accounts have confirmed much of the

New Testament as well. Both authenticity and integrity of the New

Testament has been firmly established.

Chapter 17 "Deity and Authority of Jesus Christ" contends that he

(Jesus) is a deity. It does so in four steps.

1. The New Testament is historically reliable as a record of the life,

teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus.

2. Jesus taught that he was God incarnate.

3. By fulfilling Old Testament Prophecy, Jesus proved he was God incarnate.

He led a sinless life, performed miracles, and was raised from the

dead.

4. Jesus of Nazareth is a deity. The Apostles also thought of Jesus

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as God. Jesus provided proof of what he claimed. What Christ taught

was the Word of God. Only Christianity is true, all other religions

are false.

Chapter 18 "The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible" contends

that the Bible is the written, living word of God. God revealed himself

through His word and Jesus Christ. God's word is displayed through

the life of Jesus. From the first writings of Moses, the Old Testament

has been held as the sacred word of God. Since Christ is the son of

God (God incarnate), his teachings from the scriptures are the very

truth of God. Christ promised the inspiration of the New Testament

and he led the Apostles to "all truth" by the Holy Spirit as t~tinspiration

for the New Testament documents.

In Chapter 18, Dr. Geisler also shows why other religions: Mormans,

Jehovah's Witness, Baha Ullah, and the muslim faith are not of God.

He afso dispells modern day prophets and all cult leaders.

Conclusion: Theism is the only theistic world view that can pass the

test for truth, be affirmable and not fals1f~«Weand holdup as a valid

world view. The God of the universe is the God of the Bible. The

Bible is God's infallible word. Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus and

the Holy Spirit guided the twelve Apostles to write the New Testament

and finish the revelation of God. The claim and evidence of the book

is "that Christianity is the most systematically consistent of all

theistic world views, that Christianity is true and all other faiths

are false".
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Reading Geisler is like reading the best parts of the writings of leading

authors, philosophers, and theologians. He presents both the negative

and positive side of the topic or issue in such a way as to let you

decide what is true. That said, the case he makes for theism is absolutely

overpowering.

Professor Geisler is like a food processor in some regards. He processes

the information prepared and written by others to make it more palletable

and digestible.

This book has had apr~found impact on me. It has helped reinforce

my faith and helped me to understand why what I believe is true. It

has also given me a better understanding of other faiths and theistic

views. The information is far better than just defending the faith.

It is insight and knowledge to understand my faith as compared to other

theistic world views.

The book is a wealth of knowledge and insight and, ifi~my7op~nion~,

1

will take several readings and studying to ingest so as to effectively

expand on~ philosophical perspective of faith, theism and other theistic,

world views. Defending the faith with the information provided by

Dr. Geisler will not only be possible but it will beo..pleasure.

Recommendation: I would strongly recommend the book for any theology

student or person seeking to enter the ministry. In my opinion, it

should be required reading.