Classical Apologetics Approach Argument
Christian Apologetics aims to create a logical argument when it comes to defending Christianity as a faith. The forming structural integrity of any type of faith relies on creating rationality, reason, logic, coherence, and consistency. Classical Apologetics presents deductive arguments and hence tends to apply deductive reasoning in that they aim to arrive at certain conclusions. The only difference is that Classical Apologetic arguments do not claim absolute certainty. Classical apologetics teachings assert that the early and medieval churches’ teachings are the central teaching of the Roman, eastern, and Protestant Churches. Most arguments that support Classic Apologetics draw examples from the New Testament, especially from Paul’s speech in Athens found in Acts 17. “The Apostle Paul, four evangelists, and other individuals play a significant role in the development of the Christian faith.”[1] Such individuals developed the faith through real recollections as eyewitnesses of the life and death of Jesus Christ.
The later generations learn about historical figures through artifacts uncovered by archeologists or scattered remains from a time before the development of written language displaying the people’s daily lives. Later generations get to learn about Jesus of Nazareth due to a recollection of documents written by individuals describing his life on earth. Systematic formulation of Classical Apologetics mainly started in the medieval era with individuals like Anselm of Canterbury. Anslem’s main discussions aimed at emphasizing and proving the existence of God. Andrus states that “Anslem’s teachings were meant to help teach about a sublime way of sublime way of understand God and prevent any cases of misunderstandings individuals may experience.”[2] Anslem’s teachings and how he expressed his ideas were mostly influenced by other doctrines and philosophies during the time.
Augustine’s work laid the foundation of all theological arguments through his work. Augustine’s material greatly influenced Anselm’s work as he used it to address his teachings about Neoplatonism. The Bible contains teachings that believers use to manage their beliefs and help keep them within God’s counsel. Anslem presents his Ontological argument to respond to the request from his colleagues that he present written proof of his teaching. Many cultures and religions experience division and all sorts of controversial issues in a bid to answer the question of existence, being, and origins. “The physical study that aims to explain the nature of being is known a s Ontology.”[3] The study of the supernatural, especially the existence of God, is an argument that cannot be approached with simple reasoning. Anslem’s teachings all seem to emphasize that God’s existence can be justified because human beings are able to conceive him. Just as human beings are able to perceive and react to stimuli from the external world means that the spiritual world also exists.
Classical Apologetics aims to affirm the use of reasoning, which is universal. All teachings rely on the fundamental laws of logic. The use of logic can help identify problems in some of the arguments used by individuals to discredit the Christian faith. There are, however, some potential limitations to Classical Apologetics. Although logic is necessary, it may be insufficient as a justification for truth. The general criterion for validating any argument, including Classical Apologetics, should consist of logic and proven facts. Classical Apologetics also relies on the claims of other theistic arguments as the truth and are not subject to question. Individuals can view any argument as flawed; it is not established from a philosophical starting point.
Bibliography
Andrus, Gabriel D. “Anselm of Canterbury and Dionysius the Areopagite’s Reflections on the Incomprehensibility of God.” The Heythrop Journal 57, no. 2 (March 2016), 269-281. doi:10.1111/heyj.12148.
Braham, Mark. “Anselm of Canterbury.” Christian Apologetics, June 2020.
[1] Mark Braham, “Anselm of Canterbury,” (Christian Apologetics, June 2020), 2
[2] Gabriel D. Andrus, “Anselm of Canterbury and Dionysius the Areopagite’s Reflections on the Incomprehensibility of God” Heythrop Journal 57, no. 2 (March 2016), 270
[3] Mark Braham, “Anselm of Canterbury,” (Christian Apologetics, June 2020), 9
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