Questions tagged [apologetics]
Defenses of religious positions using reason. This tag should only be used with respect to disagreements with religions other than Christianity.
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How do continuationists explain the absence of video recordings of undeniable miracles?
A common objection to the belief in the continuation of miracles is the absence of undeniable evidence, such as video recordings, going viral in social media, which is kind of strange given the almost ...
user50422
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Can the doctrine of Continuationism be logically deduced from Scripture via deductive reasoning?
According to Continuationists, is it possible to make a case for the doctrine of Continuationism through logical argumentation based on deductive reasoning and Scripture alone (i.e. without appealing ...
user50422
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How do Latter-day Saints respond to the non-LDS argument that Joseph Smith's death was not comparable to the martyrdom of the ancient apostles?
This question is offered as a counterpoint to:
How do non-LDS Christians respond to the LDS argument that Joseph Smith died as a Martyr for God, just like the Apostles?
In particular, an argument from ...
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Can the doctrine of Cessationism be logically deduced from Scripture via deductive reasoning?
According to Cessationists, is it possible to make a case for the doctrine of Cessationism through logical argumentation based on deductive reasoning and Scripture alone (i.e. without appealing to ...
user50422
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How do Cessationists respond to "the counterfeit proves the real" argument?
I don't have an explicit source at hand to cite, but sometimes I've heard Continuationists put forth the argument that "the counterfeit proves the real", "the counterfeit proves the ...
user50422
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How do non-LDS Christians respond to the LDS argument that Joseph Smith died as a Martyr for God, just like the Apostles?
In Christian apologetics, a common argument for the reliability of the eyewitness accounts of the apostles is the fact that they were willing to withstand persecution and even martyrdom for what they ...
user50422
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What are the strongest apologetic arguments for the existence of miracles and the supernatural gifts of the Spirit during the apostolic age?
The four gospels, the book of Acts and the epistles by the apostle Paul affirm very clearly that the early Church was endued with power from on high. Christians during the apostolic age had access to ...
user50422
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How do Continuationists respond to the "go empty hospitals" objection against the gift of healing?
An objection that I've heard many times from both atheists and Cessationists against the gift of healing is the following:
If the gift of healing is for today, why don't we see faith healers emptying ...
user50422
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How do Latter-day Saints respond to William Lane Craig's philosophical objections to the Mormon view of creation?
The Mormon View of Creation is the title of an episode of the Reasonable Faith Podcast, recorded on February 16, 2010, in which William Lane Craig, a renowned Christian apologist, philosopher and ...
user50422
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According to Protestantism, what are the strongest apologetic arguments against the doctrine of Intercession of Saints?
It's well known that Protestants reject the doctrine of Intercession of Saints. According to Wikipedia:
With the exception of a few early Protestant churches, most modern Protestant churches strongly ...
user50422
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What are the strongest apologetic arguments in defense of the veracity of the doctrine of Intercession of Saints?
From Wikipedia:
Intercession of the Saints is a doctrine held by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic Churches. The practice of praying through Saints can be found in Christian ...
user50422
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Control the masses? [closed]
What's the greatest argument against people who say religion was created to control the masses? Are there any apologetic books that cover this?
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According to Latter-day Saints, what are the strongest apologetic arguments for the divine inspiration of the Book of Mormon?
Inspired by my previous question on the divine inspiration of the Bible, I would like to ask a similar question on the Book of Mormon:
According to Latter-day Saints, what are the strongest apologetic ...
user50422
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What are the strongest arguments for the divine inspiration of the Bible?
Simple question: How do Christians who believe that the Bible was supernaturally inspired by God justify their position? What are the strongest arguments for the belief that the Bible is the inspired ...
user50422
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Is Unterbrink's theory that the Judas of Galilee in Acts 5 is Jesus tenable?
I am a Christian and came across a theory by atheist Daniel T Unterbrink where he claims that Judas of Galilee from Acts 5 is actually Jesus insofar that the gospel accounts of Judas of Galilee (not ...
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What are the arguments against the feeding miracles really happened?
The gospel narratives straightforwardly present the stories of the feeding the multitude miracles as something that really happened and witnessed by thousands of people (i.e. not symbolic, not ...
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How are intersex people explained by Christianity?
Now I'm not asking for ethical apologetics but more of a scientific or
creationist/Genesis explanation on their existence and how it coincides with the Bible. God created Male and Female only, and yet ...
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Is it correct to say Bible has 2 eyewitness accounts (Matthew, Mark and Luke as comprehensive one & John being the other) of Jesus Christ's lifetime?
Since the Synoptic problem indicates that the Synoptic gospels form a comprehensive view that gives a holistic perspective, therefore, bible readers can Not use the argument that the 3 gospels of ...
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What can be the Christian defence of the argument from J.L. Schellenberg’s “Divine Hiddenness”? [closed]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_nonbelief
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/divine-hiddenness/
"This argument says that if God existed (and was perfectly good and loving) every ...
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Has any Christian Apologist ever published arguments for the existence of Satan, demons and their ongoing influence over human matters?
Christianity does not have a clear and unambiguous definition. Rather, I see Christianity as an umbrella term that includes a variety of multiple branches, with many shared beliefs, but also not ...
user50422
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Are there any denominations that give official advice on how to win atheists for Christ who are very strong in philosophy, logic and skepticism?
This is intended to be a question of general applicability, but in all honesty, I'm asking inspired by concrete YouTube channels that promote atheism and skepticism, most notably, CosmicSkeptic and ...
user50422
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Are there philosophical explanations for why God would allow animals to suffer due to non-human causes?
I just finished watching CosmicSkeptic's video titled Christianity's Biggest Problem, in which Alex O'Connor, the owner of the channel, presents the problem of animal suffering as the biggest ...
user50422
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Is suffering a proof against intelligent design? [closed]
An atheist has argued with me that suffering is going against "intelligent design" in humans and animals.
He would agree that pain is vital for our nature to indicate when something is wrong,...
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HOW does the existence of the Universe make those who do not worship God to be "without excuse"?
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them,...
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What's the difference between the Apostle's claims and the claims of others who started religious movements?
So I recently watched a documentary about a new age movement and felt a bit rattled by what I perceived to be some examples of peoples behaving in a way that undermines the common arguments for ...
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How much of the text of the Gospel of John can be substantiated by early copies and quotes from early Church Fathers?
It's interesting that a person will claim passages were added at a later date without considering the textual evidence.
A fragment of the Gospel of John dates in the first half of the second century. ...
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How can a catholic argue against the accusation of Papolatry?
Papolatry is defined as an "Excessive reverence for the Pope". If a catholic have an excessive defense for the teachings or moral laws of the Pope (when he contradicts the Deposit of Faith ...
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Do cases of scientific foreknowledge in the Bible come from Exegesis or Eisegesis?
There are many apologists who say that scientific knowledge can be found in the Scriptures, although they are not really explicit. [The only fact I can see clearly stated is that the Universe had a ...
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On what basis do Evangelical apologists argue that Muhammad committed sin?
Muhammad claimed to be a Prophet of God, even God's last Prophet. As such his life should have been godly.
There is not much of his life revealed in the Quran. What is spoken of sometimes needs one ...
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Is thinking of God as a Loving Father specific to Christianity?
I was looking to respond to someone who sent me a Christopher Hitchens video saying that nothing would be different if Jesus never existed and I was thinking of all the ways this is dead wrong. One ...
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What formal methods and criteria could be used to evaluate the message of the bible? [closed]
My agnostic friend has asked for "formal evidence" of the Bible.
How can one scientifically evaluate statements written over 2,000 years ago?
Besides the historical evaluation of events, how to ...
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The resurrection & Deut 13 - If a prophet says "Let us worship another god" - Do NOT follow him, even if he gives a sign/miracle
It seems that Christian apologetics very much rests on the historical veracity of the resurrection. That is, if we can verify the resurrection, than we have an objective rationale to believe in the ...
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Christian apologetics regarding the killing of innocent children during the Genesis flood [closed]
I'm trying to catalog the various justifications that are put forth when it is claimed that killing innocent children in the Genesis flood was some combination of immoral, cruel, or unjust.
Here are ...
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Is there a concept of a theological quadrilemma with regard to the person and divinity of Jesus Christ?
One well-known trilemma considered a proof of the divinity of Jesus is most commonly known in the version by C. S. Lewis. It proceeds from the premise that Jesus claimed to be God, and that therefore ...
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Historical Apologetic used by 7th Century Christians towards Early Muslims Regarding the Hypostatic Union and Jesus' Title "Son of God"
According to my research Jesus is called the Son of God about 40 times in the NT. When interacting with Muslims, a common objection they give against Christ's deity, and the Trinity is that the Quran ...
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How can apologists argue that if Jesus did not rise again then Christianity and the Church would not have lasted, when other religions have?
As I reflect on this Easter holiday, as a spiritually young person, I thought of the idea that's often repeated: that if the resurrection of Jesus were not true, then Christianity and the Church would ...
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El Elohe Isra’el - What does it mean?
So when Jacob names the site of his altar, he declares “El Elohe Isra’el”. I understand the most common translation of this phrase is said to be something along the lines of “God is the God of Israel”....
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How does one reconcile belief in objective moral values with the notion of moral progress?
I've noticed that people tend to prefer moral relativism to moral absolutism because of the idea of moral progress. Moral progress is the notion that the world is on a trajectory towards a better and ...
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What is the biblical basis for the historicity of the Bible?
That same professor who brought this question and this question is at it again. His claim is that the Bible doesn't claim to be a historical account because the thought that one can look to history as ...
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Why is Christianity fixated on ancient Israeli culture? Is such a 'spacetime-lock' evidence of falsehood?
When I studied Mohammed's religion, I thought the insistence and enforcement of 7th century Arabian culture (e.g. diet, clothing, marriage, law) on the entire planet unreasonable, and evidence it was ...
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Which prophecies does Justin Martyr claim predict Jesus' Advent? Please identify them
In his First Apology Justin Martyr writes:
We find it also predicted that certain persons should be sent by Him into every nation to publish these things, and that rather among the Gentiles [than ...
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Does the Minimal Facts Argument have the potential to the biggest Christian revelation over the last thousand years? [closed]
I recently came across the "Minimal Facts Argument" by Dr Gary Habermas. In short, the argument is that there are a half dozen reliable historical facts (even for those who'd judge the NT as ...
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The Biblical God and the Kalam Cosmological Argument
The Kalam Cosmological Argument comprises of the following three premises:
Whatever begins to exist must have a cause.
The universe began to exist.
Therefore the universe has a cause.
If we assume ...
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What was Van Til's view on the use and validity of historical proofs for the resurrection?
Cornelius Van Til was the pioneer of presuppositional apologetics, and was one of the founding members of Westminster Theological Seminary. The defenses of faith that he developed sought to apply the ...
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Looking for an apologetic to the "Cosmic Child Abuse" objection
Recently during a discussion I got smacked with the "Cosmic Child Abuse" argument. I had heard of it before, but never really had to wrestle with it in real life. I discovered that I don't actually ...
user40345
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Does the cosmological argument ignore the Spirituality of God?
In studying Christianity it is inevitable that one comes to the point where the existence of God is compared to the existence of the Universe. This is loosely embraced in the Cosmological argument.
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How do you defend the first clause of the Kalam Cosmological Argument? [closed]
I have a question pertaining to the first premise of the Kalam Cosmological Argument (KCA).
If someone says that just because everything in the universe needs a cause that doesn't mean that the ...
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Where does the thought 'we were not even fit to eat the crumbs from under your table' originate, in the Anglican communion service?
Does anyone know if there is a scripture reference for this, if not what is the thinking behind it?
user38924
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No one has seen God [duplicate]
How do Trinitarians reconcile John 1:18:
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him
with Exodus 24:9-11:
Then Moses went up, ...
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Did Voltaire actually say "If you want to kill Christianity, you must abolish Sunday"?
Recently I was listening to a defense of the observation of the Sabbath, and within it the speaker quoted Voltaire as saying something like:
If you want to kill Christianity, you must abolish ...
