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The Good and Bad of Apologetics and Philosophy
by L Cruz III2008 (edited 2009)
Christian apologetics is the logical explanation of the validity of the Christian worldview. Many are surprised to discover that God's existence can actually be proven through truthful logic and philosophy. In fact, this intellectual ride can be such an exhilarating one, filled with fresh and shining discoveries, that it can transform lives.
Good Christian apologists do not use word games or clever debate tactics (like shady politicians who employ formulaic tricks), but rather good apologists use logic, philosophy, straight talk and even science to point to truth. St. Thomas Aquinas considered such spiritual yet intellectual 'pointing' to be the pinnacle of all knowledge. I agree.
Of course, with apologetics comes a great deal of research and thought.
THE DANGERS OF GETTING DRUNK ON LOGIC
Unbalanced apologetics can come at a cost. Like all logical explorations of truth, each question leads to another which leads to another and so on. The more we learn the more we want to learn. The trap comes when we start believing no Truth exists beyond the reaches of our intellectual prowess. It is as if we say, “If I cannot figure it out or prove it for myself, then it must not be true.” Then, once we act upon those limited beliefs, we trap ourselves in cages of ignorance (which, by definition, we cannot see).
In such cases faith becomes a limiting act that stretches no further than out intellect will reach. In other words, we only have as much faith as we can intellectually support. Is that really faith? No! It would be as if we decided that God needed our intellect in order for Him to exist. (Do you need my intellect in order for you to exist? Of course not.)
THE DANGERS OF GETTING DRUNK ON BLIND FAITH
Of course, I believe blind faith is also dangerous.
Christ's message was all about Truth (those seen and those unseen). While we may think blind faith is enough, I believe a Christian life on faith alone apart from Truth...devoted solely to intellectual inventions (originated by ourselves, or various patterns of the world) is also a trap. In cases of extreme blind faith, within our understanding of reality, we may place those things we imagine over Truth. And, since our imagination can change with the wind or a mood, our "truths" (our "realities") and our hopes for answers, comfort or peace, also change with the wind or a mood. This dangerously relativistic lifestyle (devoid of absolutes) leads nowhere in ever direction. Having no firm grasp of truth and reality leaves us with nothing to reason about and no categories to reason with. Therefore, it destroys reason itself...leaving us fruitlessly searching for answers in a "reality" that doesn't exist.
And, when the unhealthy imaginations and the assumptions of many people unite, and they agree their illusions take precedence over Truth, that is when religious extremism is born...no matter the people...no matter the religion. Extremists decide who is good and who is not and act accordingly.
That is the danger of faith not grounded in truth and reason.
MY CONCLUSION
So which is it...a deep understanding of reality as sought in philosophical apologetics, or blind faith. In my opinion, the answer is both. In order to keep from falling over, every Christian life needs balance.
Fortunately, I think I have found a way to help restore balance when we fall to far to one side or the other. Simple remember this:
Right now, somewhere in a place unseen by man, in a far-off ocean, far beyond our slightest influence, there swims a giant whale that absolutely exists, and will continue to exist, no matter what we think about it, how we feel about it, what we say about it, or what others tell us about it. There is nothing relative about it...the whale absolutely exists.
Now, please enjoy the apologetic articles on this site.
“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5)If you begin suspecting that your faith is drowning in a sea of intellect, digest these profound words that my father once shared with me:
“God loves you so much that He will always take care of you! And, what is most amazing is this…you don't even have to believe what I just said! Belief or no belief; it works because its true! Just ask Him to come into your life and God will do the rest…no matter what you have decided about him.”
Now, that's faith!