Apologetics I

I'm supposed to help out with the Apologetics side of Fellowship, I think. Hence, I shall post some good things to read, and some ways of thinking about Apologetics. What IS apologetics? Apologetics is not the use of intellect to justify your faith. Rather, it takes its basis from the verse in 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," In the verse, the idea stems not from arguing to win, but gently presenting a counterperspective to ppl who might think Christianity as a groundless or pointless joke. In fact, 2 Timothy 2:23-24 urges us "23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful."

There are a few different ways of thinking about Apologetics (or at least, the way I see it,)-

1.) historical arguments
- the accuracy of the Bible (canonisation)
- the person of Christ and His claims
- the 'vested interest' or agenda of the Apostles
- the fact of the Resurrection
- the 'appointment' of Christ's divinity through the medieval era
2.) philosophical arguments
- morality
- basis for God's existence
- truth and knowledge
- meaning of life
- existential arguments
3.) scientific arguments
- creation vs evolution
- Christ's death
- basis for the miraculous
4.) arguments of prophecy
- self-referenced Biblical prophecy
- post-Bible prophetic events
5.) comparative religion arguments
- comparing Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, atheism, agnosticism
6.) misc
- abuse of Christianity e.g. Crusades, witch-burning, etc
- existential arguments

Okay, more later- updates coming!

Till then, I'm Caleb!