Today’s New Reason To Believe

Kenneth Richard Samples

According to Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), the rules of reasoning carry with them moral implications.

The father of logic, Aristotle viewed proper reasoning as ordered thought. Through careful, logical reasoning a person could arrive at rational and truthful conclusions. He concluded that the “truth” about reality cannot be separated from the moral “good.”

Christians also believe that truth cannot be separated from moral goodness. Thus, apologetic engagement should be characterized by a sense of fair play and evenhandedness on the apologist’s behalf. Christians should prize and pursue truth at all costs, but that means a commitment to intellectual integrity. It is more important to apprehend the truth than to win an argument, especially when the winning is done in a specious way.

In parts 5 and 6 of this series, I explored four of the six practices for apologetic fairness:

Six Practices for Apologetic Fairness

1. Identify Central Tenets of a Belief System.

2. Affirm Positive Features of a Belief System.

3. Quote the Most Authoritative Sources.

4. Give the Critiqued Belief System the Benefit of the Doubt.

In wrapping up the series on the golden rule of apologetics, I want to discuss two final points that can help believers exhibit fair-mindedness.

5.Allow a Review of Your Analysis.

Some sixteen years ago I coauthored a book entitled The Cult of the Virgin . This book examined the Roman Catholic view of the Virgin Mary from a Protestant evangelical perspective. Desiring to be fair in my critique of Catholic beliefs, I suggested to my coauthor that we ask a Roman Catholic scholar to write a response to our book within its pages.

Some Protestants were greatly disturbed that we let a Catholic respond to our work. However, I thought it was a bold step in attempting to achieve scholarly fairness. In the process I learned a great deal about Catholicism by interacting with a friend who is a Jesuit scholar. And I think the readers of our book greatly benefited from our attempt at evenhandedness. I, therefore, strongly recommend that Christian apologists get input from the people who hold the positions that they are critiquing.

6. List Sources that Defend the Critiqued Belief System.

Another way to strive toward fairness is to make sure your analysis of other systems includes a list of sources that aggressively defend the thesis you are critiquing. Citing the best sources on the other side of the apologetic divide shows you are aware of the best arguments against your position and are willing to encourage others to examine them. This models the principle of fair play and honesty.

It is not easy to follow these practices to ensure apologetic fairness. Maybe we should view them as ideals to strive toward. Sometimes you may be able to accomplish only a couple of them. But they are worth working toward.

Striving to keep the golden rule of apologetics can help Christians focus on intellectual integrity. Apologetics is a challenging enterprise but it is a necessary venture and can produce fruitful results, especially when it is done with integrity and with a winsome spirit.

For more on building intellectual virtue in the area of apologetics, see chapters 3-4 of my book A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test.

Kenneth Richard Samples

What can Christian apologists do to represent the arguments of others with fairness and intellectual integrity?

This series has focused upon the need to apply the biblical principle of the Golden Rule to the enterprise of Christian apologetics. In Matthew 7:12, Jesus states this critical moral maxim as follows:

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Since the Golden Rule applies to all endeavors in life, as believers we should strive to treat the viewpoints of others with care and evenhandedness. We certainly want to be treated that way.

Six Practices for Apologetic Fairness

In part five of this series, I began a list of practices that an apologist can implement to ensure a respectful critique of the opposition’s perspective. Here are the two points covered last time:

1. Identify Central Tenets of a Belief System.

2. Affirm Positive Features of a Belief System.

Now let’s examine two more points in this article.

3. Quote the Most Authoritative Sources.

Since I appreciate it when critics of my faith quote the best and most authoritative sources when examining historic Christianity, I owe them the same in return. It is important for Christian apologists to study the belief system in question so well as to know its most respected sources.

When critiquing naturalism in my book A World of Difference, I used quotes from well-respected philosophical sources that were fair in their basic, though critical, assessment. I also resourced respected texts written by naturalists themselves for explaining and defending their worldview. The point here is to refer to quality sources that represent the critiqued position in an objective and fair fashion.

4. Give the Critiqued Belief System the Benefit of the Doubt.

When examining the positions of others, read their views in the best light possible. For example, if a weak version of an argument is given, explain that there is a stronger version to that same argument and then proceed to critique the stronger position.

When I examine the theological positions of other Christian traditions, I make it a point to give some grace to my Christian brothers and sisters and frame their position in the most positive and charitable way possible. I like to think of myself as a “charitable Calvinist.” Treating the views of others with fairness and respect gives evidence of true intellectual integrity. God’s servants should perform the apologetic task with the goal of prizing truth and respecting people.

The last article in this series will conclude my discussion of the “Six Practices for Apologetic Fairness.”

For more on building intellectual virtue in the area of apologetics, see chapters 3 - 4 of my book A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test.

Kenneth Richard Samples

I find it very frustrating at times to watch television programs aired on the History Channel or the Discovery Channel where liberal and/or secular scholars tend to misrepresent historic Christianity.

It is also hard for me to watch the critics of Christianity present my faith in the worst light possible without attempting to be fair and objective in their presentation. Therefore, I admire scholars of all stripes who are careful, measured, and who work hard at being objective in their analysis, especially when it comes to evaluating the beliefs of others.

The Golden Rule enunciated by Jesus himself asserts that we must seek to “do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). And since this ethical principle covers all actions, it applies to Christian apologetics (1 Peter 3:15-17).

All apologetics efforts include critiquing other people’s arguments, positions, and overarching worldviews. Therefore as a Christian apologist, I feel an obligation to work hard to fairly represent any alternative system of belief that I explore and critique. Just as I don’t want my faith to be misrepresented, so I need to treat other people’s beliefs with appropriate care and respect.

Throughout my apologetic endeavors I have developed six practices that ensure that I handle my opponents’ opinions and views with evenhandedness. We’ll explore two in this article and four more in future installments. I hope that you will find these practices useful in your own apologetics ventures.

Six Practices of Apologetic Fairness

1. Identify Central Tenets of a Belief System

Understand the position that you are critiquing (for example, naturalism or postmodernism) well enough to be able to correctly identify the very essence of the system. Knowing the heart of a belief system helps enormously to achieve accurate representation. And a critique is always most effective when the essence is identified and engaged apologetically. I certainly appreciate it when non-Christians have taken the time to familiarize themselves with the central tenets of historic Christianity.

2. Affirm Positive Features of a Belief System

Every worldview system evinces strengths and weaknesses. It is important to identify the positives as well as the negatives. It expresses objectivity when a person weighs and evaluates the strong and weak elements of a formal system of belief.

For example, the Eastern worldview of pantheistic-monism while having profound problems, including lack of coherence, explanatory power, and correspondence, nevertheless has some positive features as well. This mystical religious perspective affirms the existence of a spiritual reality and values such concepts as unity and justice. Identifying these positive features can serve as a bridge for Christians to utilize in discussing this worldview with its many adherents. Additionally, in terms of personal persuasion, people are more likely to listen carefully to the negative critique when they have first heard you enumerate the positive features.

Accurately representing a system’s core beliefs as well as identifying both its positive and negative features goes a long way in helping Christian apologists to perform their critical task with intellectual integrity and charity.

In ensuing articles I will continue my discussion of the “Six Practices of Apologetic Fairness.”

For more on building intellectual virtue in the area of apologetics, see chapters 3-4 of my book A World of Difference: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test.