You Do Not Have to Be an Expert in Apologetics- Greg Koukl

Greg Koukl gives some basics of Christian apologetics.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• theology
• debate
• argument
• christian
• christianity
• jesus
• bible
• apologetics
• philosophy

[albertlisty]

@packerfan748, To ask the professor the "questions" in the video is not so much for the professor to change his/her mind(though that could happen) but for those in the class that are also listening in. Those other Christians that don't know how to defend their faith.

This type of conversation might even keep the religious affronts to a minimum.

[runescapeman580]

christians trying to be smart..... LOL!!

[TheMors666]

This is actually great advice. Theists stand a much better chance in a discussion about religion if they go out of their way to avoid justifying their beliefs. An excellent strategy.

Plus, if all of these tips fail they can still fall back on sticking their fingers in their ears, closing their eyes and yelling, "LALALALA" until anyone who disagrees with their beliefs goes away. I'm pretty sure he was getting to that tip but the video cut out early.

[packerfan748]

better off just not even bothering with these professor types, they have made up their minds a long time ago

[Mthooz]

Anyway I'm glad you appreciate that the claim of a supernatural realm in which god exists demands an extraordinary kind of support. Because it is not your usual everyday claim about "who dunnit"? or "where is the treasure buried"?!

I mean we dont believe in santa or leprachauns or kryptonite by default do we? So if someone says that those things exist then the BURDEN of proof is ON THEM! If they think that it is NOT on them then they are ignorant and/or have a hidden agenda.

[Mthooz]

This guy is pathetic... but what is more pathetic is the people who fall for it! Look at the bunch of credulous sheep in the room? They don't even know how to think analytically and understand what is reasonable to believe and what is not.

[Mthooz]

@anewdayproductions I beg your pardon! I meant to target that comment at the OTHER dude! Christian apologetics is a pathetic attempt and analytical thinking.

The burden of proof has always been on the one who claims that there is some supernatural realm contrary to what we already know. That is to say, the one who makes extraordinary claims. Skepticism is merely a statement that there is no good evidence to prove some others point.

[anewdayproductions]

@Mthooz you are so damn stupid and hypocritical it's unreal.

[Mthooz]

@DarthVictive It never ceases to amaze me the level of ignorance, stupidity and desperation that theists will find recourse in just to try to feebly defend the shaky ground that they stand on!

[DarthVictive]

@CoachEgg Really. So, do I have to prove the statement "The stories written by the Grimm Brothers were fairy tales?" No, clearly not. So, for your argument to be valid, there must be something valid and provable which clearly distinguishes the bible from the works of the Grimm Brothers. God being in the stories is only a difference of subject. Longer in print? Sold more copies? Only proves popularity, not validity. So, what demonstrable fact distinguishes the bible from Grimm's Fairy Tales?

[CoachEgg]

@DarthVictive As soon as someone says something positive "The bible is full of fairy tailes", they are no longer a skeptic, and the burden of proof lies on the holder of the statement. If you say "I don't trust the Bible", you do not have a burden of proof, because you are simply stating an opinon. The former is a statement of fact, the latter is not.

[DarthVictive]

I feel obliged to point out that the burden of proof never lies on skepticism. It is logically impossible to prove a negative unless you can prove a diametrically opposing positive. If anyone comes up with a positive statement that diametrically opposes divine existence or inspiration, let me know. The answer to the question "Why do you believe they're fables?" is "Because there is no evidence showing them to be anything else."

[marzhill14]

Good stuff

[Ripley747]

@Ripley747 And by "them" I mean every college professor I ever met.

[Ripley747]

@Mike82ARP I'm not saying it never happens. I'm sure some bash other religions too. I doubt the deans of their department condone them saying anything. They certainly don't have weekly meeting on how to stamp out Christianity. I could see them stating opinions about their beliefs (or lack of) but not in class, not in their office. The only time I could ever see my professors in college say anything like that is after work (you'd be surprised at how many grab a beer after work in bars).

[Mike82ARP]

@Ripley747 Oh, there are teachers who say the Bible is a bunch of fables. It has become acceptable to bash Christianity, however not other religions.

[Ripley747]

@Mike82ARP That is different. It's not appropriate to talk about the existence of God in your physical chemistry class. The profs don't want to waste time discussing religion when they have a lecture to give. It's just the wrong place to bring it up (like bringing up theoretical physics in history class). This is MUCH different than the professor saying, "The Bible is a bunch of fables." Note I also said SOME of the greatest minds are theists, not all.

[Mike82ARP]

@Ripley747 I teach in a Christian high school and many of my juniors and seniors take college courses on Florida's "dual enrollment" program. I have had several come to me and say they have been told, without any prompting by the student, that the prof is a non-believer and that any religious related topic is not acceptable. This in different communications classes.

Censorship exists in the university.

[bestvalue]

Brilliant! 'Nuff said.

[hazydavey]

Fascinating. Anyone watching the video can see that these "basics" of Chrisitan apologetics are purely about tactics, not about any sort of commitment to discovering knowledge and/or truth. And that's the point. Logic, evidence, rational discourse, academic inquiry are, for the rest of us, methods for understanding and explaining the world - i.e. for discovering truth. But for the Christian apologist, these are mere tools to be exploited tactically. After all, he already KNOWS the truth.

[resoundingtrump9]

What do you mean by lack of evidence? And how did you come to the conclusion that the weight of evidence is on the atheist side, thereby justifying the claim that "'there is not enough evidence to suggest there is a god?'"

[philhunter2005]

The burden of proof. More religious hypocrisy. Yes the burden of proof relies on the one making a claim but i would say the statement "there is a god" is a pretty big claim, which no one, i repeat, NO ONE, has yet proved successfully.

[philhunter2005]

Atheists beleive in the claim "there is not enough evidence to suggest there is a god". This statement has been backed time and time again by the "lack of evidence" that the opposition provides. So i would say the weight of evidence lies on atheists side and their claim is justifiable.

[graceteam]

princeton univ. has those type of proffs.

[highwind8124]

I've been in college and university, and I have never seen any professor behave in the way Koukl is describing. Where is this "I'm going to prove your religion wrong" course that I somehow dodged?

There are probably are a few of these "I'm going to deviate from the course outline and take Christianity head on" types", but I think it's being exaggerated.