Christian Apologetics – Part IChristian Apologetics – Part I

St. Mary & St. Mina Youth MeetingSt. Mary & St. Mina Youth MeetingNovember 14, 2014November 14, 2014

Why Apologetics is Why Apologetics is important ?important ?• Commanded in the ScripturesCommanded in the Scriptures

• Humanity needs it and especially Humanity needs it and especially nowadaysnowadays

• Unfortunately, many are getting none of Unfortunately, many are getting none of itit

Starved for ReasonsStarved for Reasons

• Faith is continuously being attackedFaith is continuously being attacked

• Perceived and mistaken notion that Perceived and mistaken notion that there is a contradiction between faith there is a contradiction between faith and reasonand reason

Practical ToolsPractical Tools

• Do not be afraid to be unpopularDo not be afraid to be unpopular

• Do not avoid hard questionsDo not avoid hard questions

• Our work in today’s culture is more Our work in today’s culture is more of a pre-evangelistic natureof a pre-evangelistic nature

• The purpose of apologetics is not The purpose of apologetics is not only to win heads but hearts as well – only to win heads but hearts as well – people must see in us JOY and LOVEpeople must see in us JOY and LOVE

Practical ToolsPractical Tools

• Must be passionately in love of truthMust be passionately in love of truth

• Be a good listenerBe a good listener

• Trust in God’s work and powerTrust in God’s work and power– ““unless the Lord build the house, they unless the Lord build the house, they

labor in vain who build it”labor in vain who build it”

The Argument from DesignThe Argument from Design

• God exists, we can know that, we God exists, we can know that, we can give reason, and those reasons can give reason, and those reasons amount to a proof, but not scientific amount to a proof, but not scientific proofproof

• ““Where there is a design, there must Where there is a design, there must be a designer”be a designer”

ExamplesExamples

• Imagine you are on an island and see Imagine you are on an island and see the letters S.O.S, or see a house built the letters S.O.S, or see a house built with windows, door fireplace and with windows, door fireplace and roof, etc….roof, etc….

• The story of the first rocket sent to The story of the first rocket sent to the moon and the two scientists..the moon and the two scientists..

The Design ArgumentThe Design Argument

• Imagine you are flying and they tell Imagine you are flying and they tell you there is no pilot flying the you there is no pilot flying the aircraft but it is flown by a computer aircraft but it is flown by a computer that has been programmed randomly that has been programmed randomly by hailstones falling on the computer by hailstones falling on the computer keyboardkeyboard

The Design ArgumentThe Design Argument

• The anthropic principleThe anthropic principle

• Evolution does Evolution does NOTNOT explain everything explain everything without the need for a designerwithout the need for a designer

• While there is evidence for some forms of While there is evidence for some forms of evolution, there is evolution, there is NO evidence for NO evidence for natural selectionnatural selection

The Design ArgumentThe Design Argument

• Could intelligence be born out of Could intelligence be born out of chance ?chance ?

• The principle of casualityThe principle of casuality– You cannot get more in the effect that You cannot get more in the effect that

you have in the causeyou have in the cause