History of Apologetics

Apologetics: giving a reason for what you believe. In your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ~ 1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV) Tertullian (160-220) Faith is independent of reason Augustine (354-430) Priority of belief with reasonable explanations

MIDDLE AGES (MEDIEVAL) (500-1500)

Anselm (1033-1109) Started with faith and used reason to support his faith Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Truth is known through reason (natural revelation) and faith (supernatural revelation) Developed rational proofs for the existence of God - Prime Mover - First Cause - Cosmological Argument - Argument from Degree - Teleological Argument

REFORMATION (1500-1600)
Shift from confidence in human reason to a stronger emphasis on human sinfulness, thus the need for divine revelation Martin Luther (1483-1546) Faith informs the Christians use of reason

ENLIGHTENMENT (18th century)

Reason was advocated as the primary source of legitimacy for authority; reason reigned supreme. Human reason was exalted to a place of being able to judge Christianity and the

Bible; the basic ideas of Christianity could be derived from reason itself, so there was no real need for divine revelation. Rene Descartes (1596-1650) I think, therefore I am. David Hume (1711-1776) Denied causation, which was fundamental to Aquinas proofs for the existence of God Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) Science gives us facts, but religion can only give us opinions and values. The effects of the Enlightenment on Christianity: a. Miracles were brought into question and eventually rejected (Jefferson Bible). b. There was an increasingly critical attitude to the idea of supernatural revelation. c. The problem of evil was used as evidence against the existence of God. Many of them consequently ended up as deists. d. Scripture underwent a lot of scrutiny and was interpreted rationalistically. e. Jesus was thought to be a man, primarily our example. Post-Enlightenment Development (18th-19th centuries) a. Rationalism appeals to reason for source of knowledge b. Empiricism appeals to experience and sensory evidence for source of knowledge c. Skepticism refrains from making truth claims, preferring to linger in doubt

MODERNITY (19th-20th centuries)

Science, technology, inventions, industry, arts, & culture Universality: increased movement of goods, capital, people, and information among formerly separate areas, and increased influence that reaches beyond a local area. Optimism: modern advances in technology are going to bring about a better life Problems: a. People dont think they need God to improve their lives; they just need more stuff. b. It couldnt deliver as promised (i.e. world wars), so doubts began to arise.

POSTMODERNISM (1945ff)
Postmodernism is a response to modernity, but its still early to tell if its going to be a welldefined philosophical perspective because it is self-defeating. Distinctives of Postmodernism a. There is no such thing as universal truth. b. There is move from an objectivist to a constructionist view of truth. Truth is not an objective reality; it is constructed by people, and consequently, it can be

c. d.

e.

f. g. h. i.

j.

deconstructed and reconstructed. Truth only becomes relevant if it means something to you. There are no universals, but there are differences. Our culture celebrates differences, implying that there is essential separateness among people, not unity. Antinomian: all laws are constructed. Postmodernism speaks of values (meaning personal values), rather than virtues. Values clarification are no longer tied to Christian virtue. Experience is the way to truth. We live in a sensual society. People ask, How do you feel about this? not, What do you think about this? Entertainment value is based on feelings. Rejection of all meta-narrative. There is no over-arching story that communicates meaning or truth. Power is the fundamental theme. Consumerism is the desire to fill yourself. Wealth, technology, and progress are determined by what people want. Postmodern thought presupposes a closed, mechanistic, naturalism, instead of supernaturalism. However, there is an increased openness to supernatural beliefs if it works for you. Eastern religions and alternative medicine are just as valid as the resurrection. Postmodernism has declared the end of history, meaning the end of any meaning for history.

Postmodern writers include: Michel Foucault Jacques Derrida Richard Rorty