Colossal Questions for Tragic Times

February 17, 2005 by Doug Groothuis

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Colossal and perennial questions assault us during times of unspeakable anguish. As the death toll in southern Asia climbs higher and the spirits of the living sink lower, it may behoove us to ask some of those questions. Yet if you were to enter “tsunami, philosophy, and religion” on Google, you would not find simple answers to why a natural disaster should wreak such devastation. Despite the instant information available everywhere, wisdom about deeper matters seems to elude our grasp.

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Christian Apologetics Manifesto 2003: Sixteen Theses

July 23, 2003 by Doug Groothuis

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This is a manifesto to ignite the holy fire of apologetic passion and action. It is not a sustained argument or a development of themes. (I have written and lectured about these matters elsewhere). It is, rather, a short series of interrelated propositions crying out for both immediate and protracted action. These challenges issue from convictions formed through twenty-five years of apologetic teaching, preaching, debating, writing, and Christian witness.

Because of (a) the waning influence of the Christian worldview in public and private life in America today, (b) the pandemic of anti-intellectualism in the contemporary church, and (c) the very command of God himself to further divine truth, I strongly advise that the following statements be wrestled with and responded to by all followers of Jesus Christ.

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Review of Richard Swinburne and John Stackhouse

Swinburne, The Resurrection of God Incarnate. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Stackhouse, Humble Apologetics: Defending the Faith Today. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

July 21, 2003 by Doug Groothuis

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Not long ago, Christian apologists faced an uphill battle against well-entrenched philosophies of unbelief. Natural theology was deemed long dead, having been slain by the swords of Hume and Kant. Arguments for God’s existence were at best philosophical museum pieces revealing the errors of unenlightened intellectuals. Higher critics had reduced the Gospels to ragtag collections of scattered facts, idiosyncratic theologizing, and existentially gripping myths. Philosophers and apologists did well to argue for the intelligibility of religious language (considered non-sense by logical positivists), let alone its rationality or truth. Evangelical apologetics—when pursued at all—was typically practiced outside the academy and often lacked intellectual power (although this could not be said of stalwarts such as Gordon Clark, E. J. Carnell, or Carl Henry).

But seismic shocks have realigned the intellectual world of unbelief in the past three decades, opening up fissures and toppling edifices. Atheist philosopher Quentin Smith recently wrote in the skeptical philosophical journal Philo that the philosophy departments of the academy have been “desecularized” since the late 1960s, largely due to the path-breaking work of Alvin Plantinga’s writings. Given the renaissance in Christian philosophy during the past few decades, atheistic philosophers can no longer assume that their naturalism is justified. Smith even allows that “The justification of most contemporary naturalist views is defeated by contemporary theist arguments.” Philosophia Christi, the journal of the Evangelical Philosophical Society, has the largest subscription base of any philosophy of religion journal and a roster of stellar contributors.

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Outthinking the World for Christ

May 12, 2003 by Doug Groothuis

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The Mission of Denver Seminary’s Philosophy of Religion Program

What does philosophy have to do with Christianity? Paul warned us not to be taken captive by “hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Yet, Paul spoke knowledgeably with the philosophers on Mars Hill. He understood their worldview, what common ground they shared with Christianity, and how their “hollow and deceptive philosophy” should be lovingly corrected by God’s truth (Acts 17:16-31). Peter commanded us always to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that we have” (1 Peter 3:15). This is a key biblical text for Christian apologetics: the discipline of defending Christianity as true, rational, and compelling. Throughout history, great Christian thinkers such as Augustine, Aquinas, Jonathan Edwards, Blaise Pascal, and C. S. Lewis have grappled with the intellectual issues of their times in order to defend Christian truth.

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Staying True to the Truth

May 08, 2003 by Doug Groothuis

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A prospective student recently wrote to Denver Seminary. He was alarmed by a statement on our web page, which speaks of defending “absolute truth.” Being favorable to postmodernism (through reading Brian McClaren’s, A New Kind of Christian), he feared that believing in absolute truth would stifle our witness to non-Christians and hinder Christian growth—since those who believe in absolute truth think they have it all figured out.

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Bibliography: Intelligent Design

January 04, 2003 by Doug Groothuis

Please download this annotated bibliography. (PDF, 140 KB).

Outline: Intelligent Design

January 03, 2003 by Doug Groothuis

Please download this outline. (PDF, 130 KB).

Bibliography: Apologetics, Religious Pluralism & New Religious Movements

December 30, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

Please download this annotated bibliography. (PDF, 740 KB).

Six Enemies of Apologetic Engagement

July 13, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

Read this article in the Leadership U archives.

Sankara's Two-Level View of Truth: Nondualism on Trial

July 04, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Sankara (788-820 AD) was the principle ancient expositor of Advaita Vedanta Hinduism, the nondualistic or monistic school. He interpreted the sacred Scriptures as teaching that Brahman was the one supreme reality and that all that is, is Brahman. The supposedly individual self (Atman) is really identical with the ultimate Self (Brahman). The world of duality, diversity, and individuality is ultimately unreal or illusory (maya); only ignorance (avidya) allows us to grant it full reality.

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Comparing Two Giants of Apologetics: Review of Scott R. Burson and Jerry L. Walls, C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer: Lessons for a New Century from the Most Influential Apologists of Our Time

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998

July 03, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Last year, many evangelical Christians celebrated the birth centenary of C. S. Lewis, the most influential Christian apologist of our times.

Last year also marked the 30th anniversary of the book The God Who is There by Francis A. Schaeffer. Schaeffer’s book of apologetics and social criticism sparked many evangelicals to leave their cultural ghettos, to reject their anti-intellectualism and to leave their theological oblivion behind them to communicate the cogency of the Christian worldview to a needy world. InterVarsity Press recently released a new edition that includes laudatory comments from evangelical luminaries such Charles Colson, Os Guinness, J. I. Packer and Bishop John W. Howe of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida.

Lewis and Schaeffer had much in common as well as many points of divergence, both in their manner of life and their perspectives; and we have much to learn from both, as the book C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer aptly documents.

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The Great Cloud of Unknowing: From Naturalism to Nihilism Through Epistemology

July 02, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Can we actually “know” the universe? My God, it’s hard enough finding your way around Chinatown. The point, however, is: Is there anything out there? And why? And must they be so noisy?—Woody Allen.¹

In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. . . . The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world—John 1:1-3, 9.

Immateriality of the soul. When philosophers have subdued their passions, what material substance has managed to achieve this?’Blaise Pascal.²

James Sire argues in The Universe Next Door that Naturalism leads to Nihilism when consistently pressed to the logic of its presuppositions. One of the “bridges from Naturalism to Nihilism” is “the great cloud of unknowing.”³ The basic argument concerns the justification of knowledge (or epistemology) in light of one’s worldview. Sire and others (see below) argue that humans would have no reason to trust their reasoning or observations should the universe be merely an impersonal product of purposeless matter that functions according to natural law without a Law Giver.

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Apologetics: The Egalitarian Imperative

July 01, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Biblical egalitarians rightly argue that the Bible does not support the perpetual and cross-cultural priority of men over women in the home, the church, or society. Biblical scholars, theologians, social scientists, philosophers, and others have given a solid defense, or apologetic, to this end. However, there is another apologetic mission that egalitarians are in a unique and opportune position to fulfill. This involves presenting the message of biblical equality to the unbelieving world in a persuasive manner, thus winning to Christ people who might never be touched by traditionalist approaches.

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The New Gnostics and the Wisdom of Irenaeus

June 27, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Christian apologist par excellance, G. K. Chesterton observed in 1930 that “We hear much about new religions; many of them based on the very latest novelties of Buddha and Pythagoras.” The perennial war of ideas develops few new weapons systems, but rather uses the same cognitive ammunition throughout the varied campaigns of intellectual history. Despite the dizzying diversity of religions, ideologies, and faiths simultaneously contending for our allegiance in pluralistic America, the basic world-view options are not unlimited. The intellectual combat between the New Age movement and orthodox Christianity boils down to several central points which were recognized by the early church eighteen hundred years before New Age celebrity evangelist Shirley MacLaine spoke to her first disembodied spirit.

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Leo and the Mechanic: A Cosmological Narrative

June 26, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Leo had just gotten out of class at the seminary and was on his way to the garage to have his car worked on. He was still a bit puzzled as to how what he was learning in his apologetics class might apply to his everyday witness. Leo had applied himself to learning the basics in apologetics and was fascinated by the cosmological argument for God’s existence. However, he wondered if all this philosophical material about contingency, causation, and a Necessary Being would have any “cash value” in the world of lost and nonphilosophical sinners needing reasons to believe in Christ.

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Basic Logical Principles Required for Apologetic Endeavors

June 25, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Winfried Corduan only very briefly mentions three related principles of logic—identity, contradiction, and excluded middle—in his excellent apologetics text, No Doubt About It.¹ I will provide a bit more clarification concerning these principles and introduce one more closely related logical principle in order to fathom better their meaning in relation to apologetics. All four of these principles trade on the idea of antithesis and identity.

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Tolerance, Pluralism and the Christian

June 21, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Because of a rising Islamic presence in America’s military, in December of 1993 the Army swore in its first Muslim chaplain. Imam Abdul-Raseed Muhamad is the first non-Judeo-Christian chaplain—but Buddhists are also looking for a chaplain.

America𔄂s album of religious pluralism is bursting full of such snapshots. Time recently produced an issue called “The New Face of America: How Immigrants Are Shaping the World’s First Multicultural Society.” One article, “One Nation Under Gods,” highlighted the diverse challenges of our ever-increasing religious diversity. In light of this, Christians should ponder what God expects of us during this demanding hour.

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Easter Life and the Facts of History

June 19, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Easter commemorates and celebrates a historical event unlike any other: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. But what is the significance of the resurrection? And how can we know it really happened?

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Evidence for Easter

June 18, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Millions of Christians celebrate Easter every year, a day commemorating an event that distinguishes Christianity’s founder from all other religious leaders—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s not about colored eggs or cute bunnies. It’s about one who claims authority over all creation as the living Lord. Is there good reason to believe this?

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Reincarnation and the Message of Jesus

June 13, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Throughout human history people have wondered what—if anything—lies beyond the grave. Is death the end of existence, an entry into eternity, or an intermission between earthly lives? These questions have intrigued and haunted mortals for the millennia.

Some Eastern religions such as Hinduism teach that the soul reincarnates in many different bodies. Because of the influence of the New Age movement, approximately twenty five percent of Americans now believe in reincarnation. Celebrities such as actress Shirley MacLaine and country singer Willie Nelson believe they have lived before and will live again. Why are so many people drawn to reincarnation?

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What About Hell?

June 06, 2002 by Doug Groothuis

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Is the doctrine of hell a hindrance or a help in witnessing? Many evangelicals are ashamed of this biblical doctrine, viewing it as a blemish to be covered up by the cosmetic of divine love. The doctrine of hell often evokes images of “hell-fire and brimstone” preachers venting their vehemence with lurid descriptions of burning, worm-eaten bodies crying out for impossible relief. The very word “hell” is often replaced by friendlier phrases such as “separation from God.” Although this description of hell is accurate, it lacks punch for those who know little of God’s goodness, holiness, and hatred of sin. To them, separation from God may seem like freedom from a domineering spouse or parent. Why fear that?

Christians face a daunting dilemma when it comes to hell. Often, our first impulse is to soften or avoid the doctrine. However, this dishonors God’s word. Jesus forcefully warned his hearers of the eternal punishment that awaited those who refused to serve him (Matthew 13:40-42; 25:46). A person who has been rescued from this fate through Jesus Christ cannot in good conscience downplay his or her redemption. This would be like someone whose life was saved by a uniquely skilled brain surgeon saying merely that “the doctor helped me” when, in reality, the surgeon delivered that person as no one else could have done. If, on the other hand, Christians openly affirm their belief in hell, they risk repelling the unbelievers they want to reach. If hell puts people off, how will they be saved from it? Is there a solution to this dilemma?

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