Is Apologetics a Christian duty?

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Some people have frowned upon at Apologetics as being basically a prideful, uncharitable and triumphalistic exercise, and incompatible with the ecumenical spirit.

Do you agree?

Gerry 🙂
 
No, I think that if a person’s approach is unchrist-like, then maybe that person should refrain from Apologetics. Not everyone can do it, and even some who like it, should sometimes refrain until a more charitable attitude can be acheived.
 
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MariaG:
No, I think that if a person’s approach is unchrist-like, then maybe that person should refrain from Apologetics. Not everyone can do it, and even some who like it, should sometimes refrain until a more charitable attitude can be acheived.
I have to agree, I know that is why I try hard to stay away from the non-catholic site because it is frustrating for me. But I do work better in other areas of apologetics.
I do believe we are all called to be apostles for Christ, some with word, some by example, and some by prayer.
 
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RobedWithLight:
Some people have frowned upon at Apologetics as being basically a prideful, uncharitable and triumphalistic exercise, and incompatible with the ecumenical spirit.
St. Peter said, “Always be prepared to make a defense [Gk: *apologia] to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)
 
Todd Easton:
St. Peter said, “Always be prepared to make a defense [Gk: *apologia] to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)
Ah, you beat me to it. We are called upon to be apologists, but its not a bad thing.
 
Hello everyone

I agree with all your replies my friends. It seems Apologetics is frowned upon for the wrong reasons. It is in fact a duty, for those who are able, and must be done with kindness and patience.

Gerry. 🙂
 
Did Jesus Christ teach apologetics? Did He live His covenant and teach it to others? Did He teach us to be schismatics? To start new churches or teach “new” theology at the drop of a hat? Did He teach us to remain loyal to our clergy and "T"raditions?:confused:

Strive to be Christlike and learn apologetics. Defend His body, the Catholic Church from all evildoers and those who teach lies or try to misslead us.đź‘Ť
 
Yes it is. It is part of what we are called to do. It is part of love. Love is not a feeling, love is an action of mercy. The works of mercy are: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to visit the imprisoned, to shelter the homeless, to visit the sick, to bury the dead, to admonish the sinner, to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the sorrowful, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive all injuries, to pray for the living and the dead. Our love is to admonish the sinner, even ourselves, to instruct the ignorant, and to counsel the doubtful. Apologetics is love in action.
 
1 Peter 3:15 notwithstanding, I find apologetics sometimes frustrating, particularly when a debate erupts between an ardent non-Catholic (often evangelical) and a Catholic, whom are both well versed in the scriptures.

By default, I’m not sure why, I tend to look at the big picture, the entire forest, so to speak. That can be useful and sometimes detrimental.

But I find that many apologetics debates devolve (figuratively) into discussing the shade of colour of the left wing of a gnat sitting on the moss growing on the underside of the fifth branch from the bottom of the 45th tree from the eastern edge, while I’m standing there looking at the forest and saying “are you done yet?”

It can be entertaining at times and I suppose I might learn something.
 
yes, every Christian should be able to give a reason for the hope that they have (1pet 3:15 as was quoted before), but we forget that apologetics is a defense not an offense. we should never use it to attack, but to always defend. i look on these forums and see threads that are designed as attacks on protestantism/mormonism/islam/etc. and this is not apologetics. this is an offensive maneuver. we should think of apologetics like martial arts, it should be used for defense only…never offense.
 
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bengal_fan:
yes, every Christian should be able to give a reason for the hope that they have (1pet 3:15 as was quoted before), but we forget that apologetics is a defense not an offense. we should never use it to attack, but to always defend. i look on these forums and see threads that are designed as attacks on protestantism/mormonism/islam/etc. and this is not apologetics. this is an offensive maneuver. we should think of apologetics like martial arts, it should be used for defense only…never offense.
Just curious.

Do you regard a thread that tries to refute Sola Scriptura or the Rapture as being designed for offense rather than defense? There are several threads here of that sort.

Do you likewise believe that there are times when the best defense is actually to be on the offense?

Gerry 🙂
 
Apologetics is the defensive unit of Christianity, Evangelization is the offensive unit. Some people specialize in one, some the other, still others play both sides of the ball. My educated opinion is that Evangelization is the higher priority and the greater Christian mandate. However, if one engages only in Apologetics outside of the context of evangelization, I would say they are doing it just for the purpose of arguementation. Defending one’s faith should always be within the context of spreading one’s faith.
 
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Apologia100:
Apologetics is the defensive unit of Christianity, Evangelization is the offensive unit. Some people specialize in one, some the other, still others play both sides of the ball. My educated opinion is that Evangelization is the higher priority and the greater Christian mandate. However, if one engages only in Apologetics outside of the context of evangelization, I would say they are doing it just for the purpose of arguementation. Defending one’s faith should always be within the context of spreading one’s faith.
Exactly I agree.
 
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RobedWithLight:
Some people have frowned upon at Apologetics as being basically a prideful, uncharitable and triumphalistic exercise, and incompatible with the ecumenical spirit.

Do you agree?

Gerry 🙂
I think striving to be a theologian is better than being an apologist. Every Christian is called to be an apologist in that we should be prepared to give an answer and reason for the hope that is in us. But the real way to defend the faith is to really know it. Any one can proof text scripture or the magesterium or whatever. But to know scripture by far superior. And that mean reading it constantly and knowing it deeply - as a whole.

How does a counterfeit expert know a fake bill when he sees one? He is so familiar with the real thing that anything that is false is immediately apparent.

Mel
 
It is a duty to know and defend your faith. We are called to that. How can we admonish the sinner etc if we can’t state a valid reason why? Apologetics is a way to know our faith. Its what the Church does, isn’t it? The Trinity isn’t in the Bible and it was believed by Christians but not defined until it was challenged. Apologetics is necessary. The biggest challenge, for me, is to remain humble while instructing.
 
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Apologia100:
Apologetics is the defensive unit of Christianity, Evangelization is the offensive unit. Some people specialize in one, some the other, still others play both sides of the ball. My educated opinion is that Evangelization is the higher priority and the greater Christian mandate. However, if one engages only in Apologetics outside of the context of evangelization, I would say they are doing it just for the purpose of arguementation. Defending one’s faith should always be within the context of spreading one’s faith.
I have entertained the same thought in another thread concerning the relationship of apologetics and evangelization. Apologetics, I believe is essentially subordinate to evangelization, which is the Church’s primary mission.

Gerry 🙂
 
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