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Defenders of the Faith: An Evaluation of Schaffer's One-On-One Approach
Presuppostional Apologists attempts to demonstrate the dependence of all worldviews on “presuppostions” and point out the inadequacy of all except the Christian set of presuppostions. Proponents include later Augustine, Orr, Van Til, Gordon Clark, Francis Schaeffer and others.
In my opinion, the presuppositional approach to apologetics is efficacious for defending the Christian faith. Unlike the Classical and Evidential approaches, which seem to challenge the non-Christian from external positions, Presuppositionalists challenge the non-Christian from an internal position; presuppositions.
I can appreciate Schaffer’s one-on-one presuppositional strategy. Rather than attempt to force the Christian world view on an unbeliever (which would probably be an exercise in futility), this approach is person-centered and seeks to examine with the non-Christian the presuppositions underlying his system of beliefs. In so doing, it pushes them to their own extreme; the logical conclusion of their pre-suppositions. It is at this point that the non-Christian makes the relatively astounding discovery that he is not living consistently with the world view he himself holds.
It has been said that there are many non-Christian scientists who do not truly believe in the theory of evolution but accept it simply because it is the only alternative to creation. This suggests to me that there may also be many non-Christians who are non-Christian by choice. They are aware of and may even acknowledge their “inconsistent” living. They prefer this “unreality” or reality as they know it over and against accepting Christianity. Therefore, Schaffer’s approach may not always be workable, especially if Christianity is not explained and shown to be the best explanation for reality as it is and for practical living. Of course this is one of the inherent difficulties of all apologetic approaches.
Another concern one may have with this approach is that it may put hearers on the defensive. When pushed to the logical conclusion that he/she is not living consistently with his/her own world view, the non-believer may become resistant feeling his/her back is to the wall. So even though Schaffer urges one-on-one encounters, I am not sure that this approach might not better be applied in churches or groups where the individual ego is less likely to be provoked.
Overall, I think this approach can be useful and is certainly worthy of consideration. However, I am of the mindset that no Christian apologist can show that every non-Christian system of thought is inconsistent or that a totally consistent non-Christian world view does not exist.
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, though delayed in publication, is expected to be available early 2006. You have an open invitation to visit us at AMEN Ministries: Your Soul's Service Station for reviewing spiritual services being offered, obtain spiritual refreshing and soul edification, get your daily dose of humor, browse our newly expanded Stop & Shop Store and to visit our prayer sanctum for quiet time with God. Blessings to all! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alba Spectrum popular articles series: FAQ, Reviews, Introductions, Product Selections, Advises, Definitions, online marketing We are serving wholesale & retail customers in Illinois, California, Texas, Wisconsin, New York, Washington, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Utah, Virginia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Colorado, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Colombia. We also serve customer internationally in New Zealand, Europe: UK, France, Poland, Italy, Germany, Russia, India, Byrma, Thailand, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Indonesia, Austria, New Zealand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Equador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Asia: India, China, Philippines, South Korea, plus business metros: Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Boston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Fargo, Seattle, Miami, Orlando, Detroit, Buffalo, Toronto, Paris, London, Montreal, Denver, Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Rome, Karachi, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Dehli, Mumbai, Beigin, Cairo, San Francisco, Fremont, Naperville, Oakland, Melburn, Sidney, Sent Petersburg, Tampa, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Mexico City, Bogota, Caracas, Lima, Salvador, Recife, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Curitiba, Goiania. http://www.albaspectrum.com |