Apologetics Ch. 1 and 2 Test Review

Apologetics

Art of defending the truth of Christianity

Fideism

Blind faith

Can you prove historical facts with 100% conclusive proof?

No

Types (modes) of existence

Physical, conceptual, spiritual

Example of a moderate idealist

Plato

Metaphysical Realism

Presupposes that there is an external world that exists independently of your mind

What is the difference between proof and certitude?

Proof is evidence; certitude is your reaction to it

"One's whole life revolves around what they believe to be _____"

Real

Metaphysics

Science in which the nature of being, existences nd reality are investigated

Essence

What a thing is; it's nature

Principle of uniformity

an observed cause that has produced the same observed effect many times over likely produced that same effect in the past, as well as will produce the same effect in the future.

In class, we talked about Plato's allegory of the _____

cave

Doubt is _____

unavoidable

Crossroads

when you come to a point in your life when you question your worldview (everything) and decide for yourself which worldview is correct.

1 Peter 3:15

"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."

Skeptic

A person who doubts their senses

George Berkeley

Example of an extreme idealist; "To be is to be perceived"; His student asked him the tree falling in the forest question

Maya

Fundamental concept in Hindu philosophy; basic concept behind this belief is that the world is an illusion

Idealism

Generally rejects any existence of a material substance that exists apart from the mind

What is goodness?

God's nature and God's design

3 characteristics of an effective apologist

Intellectual Activity, a Passion for Christ, and Bravery

Classical Apologetics

Seeks to prove existence of God before moving on to evidential apologetics (ex. Aquinas)

Evidential Apologetics

Stresses the need for (physical) evidence to prove Christianity true. Generally stresses historical and archaeological evidence (ex. Josh McDowell)

Existence

That it is

Presuppositional Apologetics

The apologist presupposes the basic truths of Christianity, and then shows that Christianity alone is true; based on assumption of Christianity (ex. Van Til)

Experiential Apologetics

The apologist primarily appeals to experience to prove that Christianity is true

Perfect Inductions

Things we can see directly with our senses