Apologetics
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Keith Mathison, Reformed Forum and, of course, Van Til
Keith Mathison’s views on Cornelius Van Til’s apologetic has been the topic of discussion on Reformed Forum (here, here and here). Here is Mathison’s most recent and second response. I will share just a couple comments about Mathison’s response and then provide links for further reflection. Abbreviations: Keith Mathison (KM) Reformed Forum (RF) Cornelius Van Continue reading
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Abandoning The Faith In College. “That’s Me In The Corner…Losing My Religion.”
R.E.M. released their hit single Losing My Religion in 1991. Although a great song in its own right, we probably don’t want to base too much theology on the provocative, even sometimes debated, lyric: “That’s me in the cornerThat’s me in the spotlight, losing my religion” But putting 90’s alternative rock aside, how many times Continue reading
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How is the symphonic prog-rock band Yes relevant to Christian apologetics? 🎶 🎤 🎸 ⛪️
Each time I listen to Wonderous Stories by Yes, my reflections turn toward the blessings of what theologians call common grace. The doctrine explains why secular music is often far superior to that which might feature a dove on the album cover. Perhaps more striking is that some secular music, particularly from the progressive rock Continue reading
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A Few Clarifying Words About Presuppositional Apologetics
A presuppositionalist claim is that the Christian worldview (CW) is necessary in order to make sense of human experience. However, even if the CW is consistent, coherent and explanatory, how would that prove that it is connected to how things truly are in the world? What if the external world can be organized by the Continue reading
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Post in thread ‘Evaluating the Thought of Cornelius Van Til with Keith Mathison and James Anderson
On the Puritan Board, Keith Mathison had this to say. 1. Van Til claimed that’s those among the Reformed who used traditional methods were compromising Reformed theology. 2. And since the traditional method was used by all of the Reformed theologians (with the possible exception of Calvin) for the 400 years prior to Van Til, Continue reading
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Deduction, Induction & TAG
Deduction as a construct does not bring forth knowledge any more than induction. Inductivists try to move from what seems plausible, or considered most probably the case, to establishing veracity for a hypothesis. Induction is “open ended” because induction as a process is never fully exhaustive. Rather, it comes to an end once one is Continue reading
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Apologetics Discussion
Arne Verster of Apologetics Central and I discussed apologetics (last evening for me, this morning for Arne who lives in South Africa). This article of mine on the failure of classical apologetics was the impetus for our discussion. Continue reading
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The Failure of Classical Apologetics in the light of Biblical Contextual Reality (A Case For Presuppositional Apologetics)
At the heart of Christian apologetic methodology is the consideration of ultimate authority. How the authority of Scripture should shape the Christian’s defense of the faith is a matter of bringing every thought captive to obey Christ, (even as the Christian gives an answer for the hope that is in him, with meekness and fear). Continue reading
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Westminster Civil Ethics vs R2K Natural Law on Kidnapping
Christians and non-Christians alike have grieved this past week while also trying to process ethical questions regarding longtime convicted kidnapper Cleotha Abston who is being charged with abducting and murdering Eliza Fletcher. Many ethical questions are at hand and convictions run passionately deep regarding how those questions might best be answered through a Reformed Christian Continue reading
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The Philosophical and Moral Impotency of Natural Law in Refuting Homosexuality
Although all men know by nature that homosexuality is sin, it’s only through Scripture that one can adequately defend the claim. (Natural theology types are free to try sometime.) Since most people are autonomous in their thinking it’s understandable why most cannot justify with any consistency (and without avoiding arbitrariness) the claim that homosexuality is Continue reading
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Dr. James Anderson Dismantles Opposition to Presuppositional Apologetics, Theological Determinism and Christ’s Kingly Reign Over All
It’s never pleasurable to read (i) caricatures, (ii) misunderstandings, (iii) reckless treatment of opposing views and (iv) badly formulated arguments – especially by other Christians. It is pleasurable, however, given such grave misfortune, to read precise interaction with such positions. One wonderful thing about James’ work is his points of disagreement are always precisely articulated. Continue reading
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Evidentialism, Testimony & Inferior Witnesses
This post by Steve, formally at Triablogue, resurfaced recently. I’ll interact with three excerpts that were in the spirit of Steve’s eclectic approach to apologetics, which included at least mild affinity to Evidentialism. One thing that’s often lost sight of in debates over the Bible is that testimony is prima facie evidential in its own Continue reading
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Natural Theology, what’s all the rage all about? (Inherent problems with Classical Apologetics)
Matthew Barrett and Steven Duby set out to defend Natural Theology, but in the final analysis they discuss Natural Revelation as it relates to Natural Knowledge. As early as @5:55 Steven Duby slides into a discussion on the Natural Knowledge of God gained through Natural Revelation (even as it relates to the “pressure” that restrains Continue reading
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Audios on TAG and the Canon
Transcendental Argument for the existence of God Can we know we have the Canon? Circular reasoning? Continue reading
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Impromptu Interview on Revealed Apologetics
A fun interview with Eli Ayala including an audience “stump the chump” Q&A. Very impromptu to say the least. I should warn you, I was exhausted and somewhat delirious when interviewed. I probably should not have stepped-in at the last minute, though Eli is too kind to say no to! Truth be told, I was Continue reading
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James Anderson on TAG
This is a wonderful interview. I highly recommend it. Continue reading
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The Problem of Induction
James Anderson offers a concise synopses of the problem of induction. James’s piece brings to mind that as a child I was struck by the fact that if a monkey were placed at a typewriter, the chimp would eventually type the works of Shakespeare given enough time. Soon after becoming a believer it occurred to Continue reading
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Denial, Pre-commitments and Roman Catholicism
An amusing illustration of interpreting evidence in light of precommitment has to do with a deluded man who thinks he is dead. The doctor tries to persuade the man he is not dead by getting the man to reason according to some other proposition the dead man also believes, such as: dead men don’t bleed. Continue reading
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Evidence And Resurrection – A Preamble To Easter & “Keep It Simple For Sinners” Approach To The Gospel
Induction, the basis for all scientific inference, presupposes the uniformity of nature, which is to say it operates under the expectation that the future will be like the past. From a Christian perspective, it is ordinary providence that explains how the scientific method is possible. Therefore, to argue for the miracle of the resurrection according Continue reading
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Transcendental Arguments, a Primer
Transcendental arguments (TAs) are deductive arguments in that if the premises are true and the form is valid, then the conclusion must be necessarily true. Furthermore, TAs pertain to preconditions for the possibility of the existence of some basic or common experience. That is, TAs put forth necessary precondition(s) without which a generally accepted experience Continue reading
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Foundations of Presuppositionalism
“Dave, I’ve never said I could give you 100% proof of Christianity. But I think I’ve given you some very strong evidence – stronger than you have for believing a lot of other things, I’ll bet. But even if those evidences [for Christianity] weren’t that strong, you’d have good reason to commit yourself to Jesus, because Continue reading
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Apologetics, Evidence, Proof and Persuasion
Can it be proven that Christ is risen? If Harry did not believe the Philadelphia Phillies won the 1980 world series, he would likely change his mind if it could be proven from Baseball Almanac. Similarly, if Harry did not believe Calvin Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States, The Complete Book of Continue reading
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Antithesis
Unbelievers require a “neutral” investigation into the claims of Christianity. Unbelievers employ autonomous reasoning, i.e. reasoning from a mindset that does not acknowledge God’s epistemic Lordship over the possibility of human reason itself, without which unbelievers cannot judge whether the Bible should be deemed reliable for its claims let alone authoritative over all of life. Continue reading
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Apologetical Foundations
If God is the being that Scripture claims, then man’s knowledge must correspond to God’s knowledge if there is to be any human knowledge at all. Not only must man’s knowledge correspond with God’s, Scripture informs that God makes human knowledge possible. Human knowledge obtains when God enables us to think his thoughts after him Continue reading
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Christianity, a Philosophical Worldview
Christianity isn’t an addendum to life, a past time of sorts or hobby that one may pick up for a while only to drop later should life become too busy. Rather, Christianity is a philosophical view of all of life. It’s the web through which a believer interprets God, men and things. In a word, Continue reading
Philosophical Theology 