What is an apologetic?

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Could someone PLEASE tell me what on earth an “apologetic” is?! I’ve never even heard of the term until I came on this site. What are they apologizing for? What makes them special in that they can answer our questions?
 
An apologetic is a sort of low-level explanation, catechesis, or defense of the faith. It is not formal, it is often something that one might do with one’s friend.

Say you’ve got a Protestant friend who says something typical, like, “Do you worship Mary?” You could then go into a conversation about how, no, you don’t worship Mary, and you could explain in simple yet effective terms what the Church really teaches and believes about Mary.

That is apologetics. An “apologetic” is just engaging in one round of apologetics, you might say. The term apologetics implies that whoever you are talking to is not Catholic.
 
DoctorC said:
Could someone PLEASE tell me what on earth an “apologetic” is?! I’ve never even heard of the term until I came on this site. What are they apologizing for? What makes them special in that they can answer our questions?
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“Apologetics” doesn’t refer to what you’re instinctively thinking - Apology = “I’m sorry”.

It’s not about literally apologizing for a wrongdoing, it is a form of discourse and relates to explaining or defending a position; namely, a Catholic position.

That’s at least the proper definition of the word as it’s used today. I wonder however, if the origin of the word did in fact stem from a literal apology that would be given before engaging in debate, such as “I’m sorry for having to contradict you, but you are incorrect in your interpretation of this scriptural passage. . . . .”
 
One of the best sources I know of to answer your question is to download the following free MP3 by John Martignoni.

Apologetics for the Scripturally-Challenged

He also answers it in his 2-Minute Apologetics
What does the word “apologetics” mean?
The word “apologetics” is derived from the ancient Greek word apologia, which means, an apology. Not an apology in the modern sense of the word - which is to say you’re sorry for something. But rather, an apology in the ancient sense of the word - which is to make a reasoned defense of something or someone. In ancient times, the word apology referred to the case a lawyer would make on behalf of his client.
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Apologetics is about building the case for our Faith…learning how to explain and defend our Faith. Basically, there are 3 types of apologetics: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics. Natural apologetics builds the case for truths we can know from the “natural” light of reason. Truths that can be known without any divine intervention. Truths which the articles of our Faith rest upon and build upon. Truths such as the existence of God, the innate spirituality of the human soul, the objective reality of right and wrong…truths that our faith rest upon and build upon.
Christian apologetics, on the other hand, builds the case for divinely revealed truths - truths that cannot be known by reason apart from faith. Truths such as the reality of biblical miracles, the divinity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, and the Resurrection to name a few.
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Catholic apologetics encompasses all of Christian apologetics - since Catholicism is the fullness of Christianity - but Catholic apologetics tends to focus on those truths of Christianity that are not generally believed by non-Catholic Christians. Truths such as: the Catholic Church having been founded directly by Jesus Christ; the papacy; the Sacraments; the Immaculate Conception, and others.
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You might also want to look at two other parts of that series.
There is also a good MP3 you can DL for free that includes some of that same material.

Two-Minute Apologetics

19 different topics in short Q&A format.

Welcome to CAF, and God bless you. 🙂
 
An “apologetic” is any type of reasoned defense of the Christian faith or an aspect thereof (e.g. a theodicy). The word comes from the Greek “apologia”, from “apo” and “logos” meaning “intelligent speech” or “intelligent reasoning”.

As Peter said in his First Epistle, commending to the faithful the study of apologetics: “… but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”
 
Great answers everyone, thanks! Just a little follow-up - what qualifies these individuals to be an apologetic? Are most priests, people with theology degrees (or studied it) or both/either? I’m learning so much on this site as so many of you are so generously eager to share your knowledge!!! So, any answers to this follow-up question???
 
DoctorC said:
Could someone PLEASE tell me what on earth an “apologetic” is?! I’ve never even heard of the term until I came on this site. What are they apologizing for? What makes them special in that they can answer our questions?
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Perhaps you mean “apologist”.

It’s from the Latin word, “apologia” from which we get the modern word “apology”. Apologetics is the work of an apologist just as catechetics is the work of a catechist. 😛

Apologetics is concerned with explaining and defending the faith. Christian apologetics is concerned with explaining and defending Christianity at a broad level…say from attacks by atheists or Muslims or any non-Christian who has questions or makes accusations about the truths we profess. Common topics would include questions concerning the historical evidence for the resurrection or the inerrancy of scripture among many others.

Catholic apologetics is a sub-set and tends to focus on matters related specifically to Catholicism such as Marian dogmas, papal infallibility, transubstantiation, etc.

Hope this helps.
 
DoctorC said:
Great answers everyone, thanks! Just a little follow-up - what qualifies these individuals to be an apologetic? Are most priests, people with theology degrees (or studied it) or both/either? I’m learning so much on this site as so many of you are so generously eager to share your knowledge!!! So, any answers to this follow-up question???
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There aren’t many professional apologists because there’s not a lot of money in it!

Most of us do it as a hobby, though this website is run by a professional organization with paid staff.

As for how we learn, well, some have degrees in theology and some simply hang around this forum and do a lot of reading!

Stick with us long enough and you will BE and apologist! 👍
 
Check out people like John Martignonni, Scott Hahn, Tim staples, Steve ray, Michael Cumbie, and Karlo Broussard. Karlo has some really good talks about The blessed Virgin Mary.
 
DoctorC said:
Great answers everyone, thanks! Just a little follow-up - what qualifies these individuals to be an apologetic? Are most priests, people with theology degrees (or studied it) or both/either? I’m learning so much on this site as so many of you are so generously eager to share your knowledge!!! So, any answers to this follow-up question???
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Truth be told, anyone who knows their faith and can convey it with charity and clarity is qualified. Like Randy said, few do it professionally…and CA is actually here to help equip all of us with the information to do it for ourselves.

John Martignoni clarifies this in the 2nd 2 Minute Apologetics link above when he says,
We need to always keep in mind 1 Ptr 3:15 which says, “Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you…” ** Always be prepared **Scripture tells us!
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Any time we face questions from others about the Catholic faith, whether they are just curious, or someone who has been exposed to anti-Catholic propaganda then we have an opportunity (and responsibility) to do what St. Peter enjoins us to do in 1st Peter 3:10-17
 
DoctorC said:
Great answers everyone, thanks! Just a little follow-up - what qualifies these individuals to be an apologetic? Are most priests, people with theology degrees (or studied it) or both/either? I’m learning so much on this site as so many of you are so generously eager to share your knowledge!!! So, any answers to this follow-up question???
Click to expand...
An apologetic is not a person, it is the act of giving a reasoned defence. Those who give reasoned defences are called apologists. Most apologetics likely takes place in small witnessing environments, but there are a few professional apologists, almost solely theistic or Christian philosophers, not theologians (technically, “natural theologians”, theologians who do not rely on revelation). This leads to various problems, such as the concept of God held by William Lane Craig (likely the foremost apologist living). There are some more popular apologists who compile books of evidences and some basic argumentation as well, which are done like Ravi Zacharias, or Josh McDowell, often by laymen.

The “theologian’s apologetic” is that of Van Til (presuppositional-transcendental), which is looked down upon as fideism or worse by many of the practitioners of the “classical” philosophical apologetics. There’s a big gap in practice (if not in theory) between theology for Christians and theology for convincing infidels, which leads to endless contradiction and scandal.
 
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