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The Good and Bad of Apologetics and Philosophy
by L Cruz III2008
(I guarantee this will be the shortest article on this website.)
Christian apologetics is the logical explanation of the validity of the Christian worldview. Many are surprised to discover that God 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 words games or clever debate tactics (like shady politicians who use nothing more than formulaic tricks), but rather good apologists philosophically point to truth. That's it. St. Thomas Aquinas considered such spiritual yet intellectual 'pointing' to be the pinnacle of all knowledge. I believe he was absolutely correct.
However, apologetics can also come at a cost. It is a philosophical exercise of the mind. The more we learn the more we want to learn. Soon the intellect takes over and we start forgetting about those things we cannot reason for ourselves. It is as if we say, “If I cannot figure it out or prove it for myself, then it must not be true.”
In such cases faith becomes an act of intellectual decision that only stretches as far as our abilities to reason will allow. 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.)
So, if you like apologetics (like I do), then please feel free to check out the many apologetic articles on this site as often as you like. But, remember there is MUCH more too it!
“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!