Why Apologetics?

[Belcanto]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post in the fora.

I’d like to ask everyone: what do you think the purpose of apologetics is? What do you hope to accomplish through apologetics? What, if any, are its drawbacks. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Pax Tecum,
Jay

 

[Della]

Wecl:wave:me, Jay!

The purpose of apologetics is to present the true teachings of the Catholic Church to those who are inquiring into them. We wish to see such inquirers come to an understanding of Catholicism and hope that they will also become Catholic after seeing that what the Church teaches is biblical, reasonable, and true. That’s my definition, anyway, and why I am involved in apologetics.

 

[Church_Militant]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post in the fora.

I’d like to ask everyone: what do you think the purpose of apologetics is? What do you hope to accomplish through apologetics? What, if any, are its drawbacks. Thanks in advance for your responses.

Pax Tecum,
Jay

Apologetics 101-01

Q: What does the word “apologetics” mean?

A: 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.

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.

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.

Again, the 3 main types of apologetics are: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics…we will be focusing mainly on Catholic apologetics - how to explain and defend the truths of our Catholic Faith.

Are there any basic rules for doing apologetics?
Anything else we need to know about apologetics before we start engaging in it?

Drawbacks? None that I have found because one 1) it informs my faith with better understanding, and 2) that in turn fuels greater faith in me.

Boredom might be the only downside, in that there really are no new questions to be asked that the church has not already dealt with at some point, but that’s ok.

 

[Fidelis]

My short reply:

Apologetics (the reasoned defense of the Faith) is a handmaiden to evangelization. Catholics should always be evangelizing, i.e., sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, the fulness of which we believe subsists in the Catholic Church. Many people have various impediments to hearing this Good News, however, some of them large and some of them small; some of them based on reason, some on emotion; some on lack of information, some on crude and hateful mis-information. Charitable and informed apologetics helps remove these obstacles so that evangelization can take place.

Catholic apologetics is unique in that, in it’s pure and proper form, it is primarily defensive, that is, it’s object is not to go out and attack other religious groups and try to steal their members. It may seek to expose false teaching inasmuch as that false teaching is used to confuse and demoralize Catholics and misrepresent Catholicism, but a mature Catholic apologist does not engage in character or denomination assasination. Thus there are NO Catholic equivalents to anti-Catholic groups like “Missions To Catholics,” “Christians Evangelizing Catholics,” or “Ex-Catholics For Christ” — all real groups.

The only drawback to apologetics is when certain people engage in it when they have neither the knowledge or temperament to do so. A person should have at least a good grasp of their Faith and have some practice at explaining it lucidly to others. He should be immersed in the Scriptures. He should be able to tell official Catholic teaching from tradition and opinion. He should not stoop to blustering or bluffing if he does not know the answer, but should instead be humble and offer to do some research and get back with the person asking the question. He should not be out to win arguments, but disciples for the Lord Jesus. He should be mature enough to not get emotional or discouraged. Until they can develop them, Catholics without these qualities should not engage in apologetics. Period.

 

[Mommyof02green]

Apologetics 101-01

Q: What does the word “apologetics” mean?

A: 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.

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.

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.

Again, the 3 main types of apologetics are: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics…we will be focusing mainly on Catholic apologetics - how to explain and defend the truths of our Catholic Faith.

Are there any basic rules for doing apologetics?
Anything else we need to know about apologetics before we start engaging in it?

Drawbacks? None that I have found because one 1) it informs my faith with better understanding, and 2) that in turn fuels greater faith in me.

Boredom might be the only downside, in that there really are no new questions to be asked that the church has not already dealt with at some point, but that’s ok.

I was going to quote BCS, however you beat me to it

The plus for me right now is that I get to learn too!!! There is much that I don’t know, but I do try to find it. However, even if I can’t find it I know that others can So I still get to learn.

I personally haven’t found any “boredom” yet. Although, I’m just a novice at the game.

 

[Church_Militant]

I was going to quote BCS, however you beat me to it

The plus for me right now is that I get to learn too!!! There is much that I don’t know, but I do try to find it. However, even if I can’t find it I know that others can So I still get to learn.

I personally haven’t found any “boredom” yet. Although, I’m just a novice at the game.

Sorry…
You seem to do pretty well Mo2G, and you’ll learn fast, especially hangin’ out here where every possible assertion will sooner or later be made…and answered as the church always has.
Pax tecum,

 

[Belcanto]

Thanks, Della! I appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

I read a book by Mark Brumley called, “How Not to Share Your Faith,” and he mentions that one of the dangers of apologetics is reducing your faith to arguments. Have you seen a tendency to do that here, or on any other forum?

Pax Tecum,
Jay

Wecl:wave:me, Jay!

The purpose of apologetics is to present the true teachings of the Catholic Church to those who are inquiring into them. We wish to see such inquirers come to an understanding of Catholicism and hope that they will also become Catholic after seeing that what the Church teaches is biblical, reasonable, and true. That’s my definition, anyway, and why I am involved in apologetics.

 

[Belcanto]

OK, thanks. Personally, I think that the Catholic apologetics organizations I know of have, by and large, tended to focus on Catholic apologetics- that is- defending specifically Catholic doctrines (papacy, marian doctrines, etc.), and have neglected the natural and Christian apologetics. In other words, I don’t think they’re doing enough to reach out to the unchurched and bring them to theistic belief in the first place. Just my opinion.

Pax Tecum,
Jay

Apologetics 101-01

Q: What does the word “apologetics” mean?

A: 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.

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.

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.

Again, the 3 main types of apologetics are: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics…we will be focusing mainly on Catholic apologetics - how to explain and defend the truths of our Catholic Faith.

Are there any basic rules for doing apologetics?
Anything else we need to know about apologetics before we start engaging in it?

Drawbacks? None that I have found because one 1) it informs my faith with better understanding, and 2) that in turn fuels greater faith in me.

Boredom might be the only downside, in that there really are no new questions to be asked that the church has not already dealt with at some point, but that’s ok.

 

[Della]

Thanks, Della! I appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

I read a book by Mark Brumley called, “How Not to Share Your Faith,” and he mentions that one of the dangers of apologetics is reducing your faith to arguments. Have you seen a tendency to do that here, or on any other forum?

Pax Tecum,
Jay

It’s hard not to reduce the faith to arguments on a forum such as this. This is especially true when the other party will not have it any other way–s/he won’t simply accept that what you are telling them is what the Church teaches, for example, and must go on “proving” to you that they know better. It gets a bit frustrating at times.

Belcanto:

OK, thanks. Personally, I think that the Catholic apologetics organizations I know of have, by and large, tended to focus on Catholic apologetics- that is- defending specifically Catholic doctrines (papacy, marian doctrines, etc.), and have neglected the natural and Christian apologetics. In other words, I don’t think they’re doing enough to reach out to the unchurched and bring them to theistic belief in the first place. Just my opinion.

Pax Tecum,
Jay

There have been many threads answering atheists and non-Christians, but most apologetics on this forum consists of answering Protestants who have misconceptions about what the Church teaches–it’s why it was started. AIUI.

 

[Mommyof02green]

Sorry…
You seem to do pretty well Mo2G, and you’ll learn fast, especially hangin’ out here where every possible assertion will sooner or later be made…and answered as the church always has.
Pax tecum,

Well Thanks!!! I’ve have heard through the “internet grape vine” that you are really good at Catholic Apologetics.

Thanks,
God Bless!