Over the next three weeks, my columns in the Citizen-Times (USA Today network) are unapologetically challenging Christian Apologetics. In my Evangelical days, preachers and evangelists told us we had to “be prepared to defend the faith.” Our faith was under attack from … nobody we knew … but someone could ask us hard questions and we needed to be ready to hit them with hard facts about our faith. There were many convincing arguments, that is, arguments that convinced US we were on solid ground in our beliefs. We bought the books, and bought into the “evidence” presenting us with “alternative facts.”
Our main “proof-text” in evangelical youth (we sat spellbound by McDowell at one Campus Crusade conference)
My Verdict: None of these arguments is convincing proof of the “truth of Christian faith.”
“Apologetics” is deeply problematic and raises serious questions, such as:
- How do you prove your faith (or any faith)?
- Can faith be proved?
- Why would you want, or need, to defend your faith?
- Are the “proofs” of the Christian faith convincing to a rational mind?
- If it turns out there are no verifiable proofs for your faith, should you still believe?
My columns address the problems with “apologetic” -defensive-religion, and… this may surprise you … I actually defend Jesus (at least his life and basic message) against those who would dump him if he never rose from the dead!
Here’s a shocker to think about:
Could it be that secular people have the best and most convincing defense of living a good, ethical life that may include defending great teachers like Jesus from those who would make them gods, objects of faith?
Hope you read and respond to the columns when I post them here on Friendly Freethinker.
Friendly Freethinker 
There is no “convincing evidence” of Christianity or any other religion. In my opinion, Christianity is a FAILED religion, completely. The founder didn’t accomplish his goals, his “prophecy” failed – as all “prophecies do – and the resulting “religion” isn’t the one the founder adhered to his entire life, from birth right to death. Let’s not even bring up the fact that grown people; educated, intelligent people, still want to debate whether a man walked on water, turned water into wine, and, most egregiously, that a DEAD PERSON rose from the dead, presto, magic! It just doesn’t work, didn’t then, still doesn’t, and never will.
Q: TO the Justin Bass’ of the World, using the population of Christianity as a “barometer” of it veracity: How many recruits do you think Jesus?Paul would have had had they told them he wouldn’t come back even after 2,000 years? I’d say if that were the case, you’d be counting Christians by the dozen instead of the millions.
Thanks for the opinion. In a column on apologetics I raise the issue of numbers. You’re right, if we compare Christianity to Islam and Hinduism, there are large numbers of each. Numbers prove nothing in matters of religion.
Thank you Chris! Where is your apologetics column, I’d love to check it out. It is a MASSIVE interest of mine since losing my religion in my late thirties.
I’ll be posting the first in the series here next weekend.
Thanks Chris but please just be aware of this order. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/eradicating-anti-christian-bias/
What can I say. These people talk about freedom of religion–which must include the freedom not to practice religion–and free speech. I don’t see how any of this authoritarianism can be enforceable in a democratic society.
Chris totally agree with your conclusions about JC and also how we need to acknowledge and learn from the great prophetic voices from the past and present even if we don’t accept the whole world view. This is what I feel about Jesus, Ashoka, Confucius, Buddha, and many more recent wise leaders. I like that I can chose my support not be forced to believe anything that doesn’t make sense to me or on faith except possible the original assumptions which our hard to prove. Faith can be acknowledged and supported but unless the statement of faith is visible and sensorially relevant their is no proof possible. but we all have faith in some things that can’t be proven in the scientific method but very helpful and consequential.