Amateur Apologists: Why are they so bad?

[theropod]

Anyone else able to tell when someone has read “Apologetics For Dummies” or taken a beginning apologetics course? It’s like the chimpanzees at the zoo found a box of handguns.

Books and classes should come with disclaimers that they could do more harm than good if they aren’t careful.

 

[Anony_Mous]

Please explain further for a person not familiar with apologetics.

 

[FractalFire]

Anyone else able to tell when someone has read “Apologetics For Dummies” or taken a beginning apologetics course? It’s like the chimpanzees at the zoo found a box of handguns.

Books and classes should come with disclaimers that they could do more harm than good if they aren’t careful.

I suppose it’s sort of like being an amateur chess player or martial arts practitioner. You’ve got to start somewhere… So what can you do?

Fortunately, most amateur atheist apologists are similarly bad (as well as any amateur apologist for anything ever)… Tee Hee

 

[Reuben_J]

We have an apologetic group in our parish. Frankly I do not know what they do. They seem to be quite active though. I know that through the church’s bulletin where they would organize some talks and even seminars. Haven’t drop in yet to see what they do. So I do not have the faintest idea about apologetic and why people need to do that. For me it is simple, speak the truth, even if it hurt.

 

[josephback]

A good principle to follow is to avoid trying to critique that of which you are not eminently familiar. Another good one is to check your motives. I sometimes think that apologetics of whatever sophistication or faith often build straw men and confirm the faithful more than they convert the skeptic. But it’s just my perception.

 

[johnnyc176]

For me it is simple, speak the truth, even if it hurt.

And what if you do not know the Truth? Apologetics is a wonderful ministry especially in this day and age where so many distort the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church. If you live in the south (USA) you will frequently get challenged by protestants Many parishes have classes to help so that, as our first Pope, said you will…

Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence;

 

[Randy_Carson]

Anyone else able to tell when someone has read “Apologetics For Dummies” or taken a beginning apologetics course? It’s like the chimpanzees at the zoo found a box of handguns.

Books and classes should come with disclaimers that they could do more harm than good if they aren’t careful.

Right.

It would be much better if we let Protestants and atheists continue to go unanswered.

Apologetics is an acquired skill and not everyone is suited for it, but the alternative is worse.

 

[Kaninchen]

Anyone else able to tell when someone has read “Apologetics For Dummies” or taken a beginning apologetics course? It’s like the chimpanzees at the zoo found a box of handguns.

I’ve always thought that apologists should try to leave their ‘audience’ less hostile than they were before.

 

[Reuben_J]

And what if you do not know the Truth? Apologetics is a wonderful ministry especially in this day and age where so many distort the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church. If you live in the south (USA) you will frequently get challenged by protestants Many parishes have classes to help so that, as our first Pope, said you will…

So apologetic is knowing the truth of your religion. Like properly catechized? That’s good. We should be able to answer for our belief.

 

[AbideWithMe]

I’ve always thought that apologists should try to leave their ‘audience’ less hostile than they were before.

I agree.

And I think they would be more likely to have that effect if they simply explained their own religion—defensive apologetics, so to speak. Instead they often try to explain and refute other’s belief systems to those others, building a field full of straw men in the process: offensive (sometimes really offensive) apologetics.

• It’s like the chimpanzees at the zoo found a box of handguns.

LOL. I’ve sometimes thought “razor in a monkey’s paw” about apologetics.

 

[AbideWithMe]

So apologetic is knowing the truth of your religion. Like properly catechized? That’s good. We should be able to answer for our belief.

Oh, if only we all stuck to that alone.

 

[AbideWithMe]

A good principle to follow is to avoid trying to critique that of which you are not eminently familiar. Another good one is to check your motives. I sometimes think that apologetics of whatever sophistication or faith often build straw men and confirm the faithful more than they convert the skeptic. But it’s just my perception.

Yeah, I think much of the time apologetics just confirms everyone’s opinion that they are right, while ruffling feathers in the process.

But sometimes even amateurs are humble, willing to listen and not presume they know more than they do, and able to be respectful even when we can’t agree. And then that’s really sweet to see.

 

[Reuben_J]

I’ve always thought that apologists should try to leave their ‘audience’ less hostile than they were before.

This would involves lots of human skill. It goes to show that not all can be good apologists though I am sure it can be learned somewhat.

So who would be the audience?

There are people:

(1) who come to you to purposely selling their belief.
(2) who come to purposely saying untruth about your belief in order to gain points with the bystanders.
(3) who come to you telling you how true is his religion and how wrong is yours, and
(4) who genuinely wanting to know about your belief.

Probably it is easy to be nice to the no 4 category. As for (1), (2) and (3), it would be a great challenge.

 

[Kaninchen]

This would involves lots of human skill. It goes to show that not all can be good apologists though I am sure it can be learned somewhat.

I think the Pope’s 'Evangelii Gaudium’ strikes the right note for Christians, for example:

1. In this preaching, which is always respectful and gentle, the first step is personal dialogue, when the other person speaks and shares his or her joys, hopes and concerns for loved ones, or so many other heartfelt needs. Only afterwards is it possible to bring up God’s word, perhaps by reading a Bible verse or relating a story, but always keeping in mind the fundamental message: the personal love of God who became man, who gave himself up for us, who is living and who offers us his salvation and his friendship. This message has to be shared humbly as a testimony on the part of one who is always willing to learn, in the awareness that the message is so rich and so deep that it always exceeds our grasp. At times the message can be presented directly, at times by way of a personal witness or gesture, or in a way which the Holy Spirit may suggest in that particular situation. If it seems prudent and if the circumstances are right, this fraternal and missionary encounter could end with a brief prayer related to the concerns which the person may have expressed. In this way they will have an experience of being listened to and understood; they will know that their particular situation has been placed before God, and that God’s word really speaks to their lives.

 

[Reuben_J]

I think the Pope’s 'Evangelii Gaudium’ strikes the right note for Christians, for example:

1. In this preaching, which is always respectful and gentle, the first step is personal dialogue, when the other person speaks and shares his or her joys, hopes and concerns for loved ones, or so many other heartfelt needs. Only afterwards is it possible to bring up God’s word, perhaps by reading a Bible verse or relating a story, but always keeping in mind the fundamental message: the personal love of God who became man, who gave himself up for us, who is living and who offers us his salvation and his friendship. This message has to be shared humbly as a testimony on the part of one who is always willing to learn, in the awareness that the message is so rich and so deep that it always exceeds our grasp. At times the message can be presented directly, at times by way of a personal witness or gesture, or in a way which the Holy Spirit may suggest in that particular situation. If it seems prudent and if the circumstances are right, this fraternal and missionary encounter could end with a brief prayer related to the concerns which the person may have expressed. In this way they will have an experience of being listened to and understood; they will know that their particular situation has been placed before God, and that God’s word really speaks to their lives.

Agreed profusely. The Pope is one in a million. Thanks.

It is truly a grace to have him elected Pope in this time. He is a tough act to follow but he nevertheless sets the direction for all (Catholics).

 

[johnnyc176]

I’ve always thought that apologists should try to leave their ‘audience’ less hostile than they were before.

Many times it doesn’t matter how charitable one is in proclaiming the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church. The Truth itself is polarizing.

 

[Kaninchen]

Many times it doesn’t matter how charitable one is in proclaiming the Truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church. The Truth itself is polarizing.

As a non-Christian with some experience of Christian apologists, I’d say that there are some people who are likely to start a fight over anything and everything and others who have an ability to draw you into discussion at various levels of liveliness.

I would think the latter more likely to succeed.

 

[TARRAT]

It was G. K. Chesterton who said “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” That may not be the exact quote but essentially is. And I couldn’t agree more.

 

[Joe_5859]

It was G. K. Chesterton who said “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” That may not be the exact quote but essentially is. And I couldn’t agree more.

Good quote.

No one is born an expert. Everyone has to learn somehow, and we often learn more by our mistakes than our successes. I do think that amateur apologists have to exercise caution and be cognizant of the fact that they do not know it all (or even if they do know it all, that they might not know the best way to articulate it in a particular set of circumstances). When it comes to matter of eternal consequence, mistakes can have dire consequences.

I like to think that God knows that and supplies the necessary grace to overcome such weaknesses. Look at how Peter started out. He was an uneducated fisherman who denied he even knew Jesus before running away and hiding while Jesus was brutally killed. With the Holy Spirit, though, he ended up becoming a much better witness to the Gospel.

But if you see an amateur apologist making such harmful errors, a bit of constructive criticism may be in order.

 

[theropod]

It was G. K. Chesterton who said “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” That may not be the exact quote but essentially is. And I couldn’t agree more.

I’m sure he was making a light hearted comment, but I can think of things where this isn’t true at all. Surgery, legal defense, and building bridges comes to mind. All worthy endeavors, but disaster will come from those who do it badly.