Apologetics
How to Help Seekers and Skeptics Find Faith
Alister E. McGrath
BakerBooks
a division of Baker Publishing Group
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McGrath, Alister E., 1953–
Mere apologetics: how to help seekers and skeptics find faith / Alister E. McGrath.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8010-1416-1 (pbk.)
1. Apologetics. I. Title.
BT1103.M345 2011
239—dc23
2011029417
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
For my colleagues and students at the
Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics
1. Getting Started: What Is Apologetics?
• The Basic Themes of Christian Apologetics
• The Limitations of Apologetics
2. Apologetics and Contemporary Culture: From Modernity to Postmodernity
• Apologetics and Postmodernity
• The Approach Adopted in This Book
3. The Theological Basis of Apologetics
• Apologetics and a Theological Vision of Reality
• A Worked Example: Theological Analysis of the Cross
4. The Importance of the Audience: Possibilities and Issues
• Apologetics to the Jews: Peter’s Pentecost Speech (Acts 2)
• Apologetics to the Greeks: Paul’s Athens Sermon (Acts 17)
• Apologetics to the Romans: Paul’s Legal Speeches (Acts 24–26)
• Apologetics and Audiences: General Principles
• Apologetics and Audiences: Specific Issues
5. The Reasonableness of the Christian Faith
• Understanding the Nature of Faith
• Why Does the Reasonableness of Christianity Matter?
• The Philosophy of Science as a Resource for Apologetics
• Making Sense of Things: A Case Study
6. Pointers to Faith: Approaches to Apologetic Engagement
• Clue 1: Creation—The Origins of the Universe
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About Mere Apologetics: How to Help Seekers and Skeptics Find FaithThroughout history there have been great and articulate defenders of the faith. But with the new challenges of scientific atheism we see in our day, there is a need for a fresh and flexible approach to apologetics. Rather than supplying the fine detail of every apologetic issue in order to win arguments, Mere Apologetics teaches a method that appeals not only to the mind but also to the heart and the imagination. After discussing the biblical basis for and historical uses of apologetics, McGrath offers various approaches to sharing your faith with others. He outlines pointers to faith, such as our innate sense of longing for justice, our appreciation for beauty, the order we see in the physical world, and much more. He also shows how there are many right ways to share your faith—through explanations, arguments, stories, and images—and helps you decide which works best for your personality and your audience. “Apologetics is not to be seen as a defensive and hostile reaction against the world,” says McGrath, “but as a welcome opportunity to exhibit, celebrate, and display the treasure chest of the Christian faith.” If you long to commend your faith to those outside the church, Mere Apologetics will show you how to do so gracefully and effectively. |
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