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'''Willem Cornelisz Schouten''' (fl. 1590-1618) was a [[Dutch East India Company]] captain who is credited with naming [[Cape Horn]], the most southerly point of the [[continent]] of [[South America]].

'''Willem Cornelisz Schouten''' (fl. 1590-1618) was a [[Dutch East India Company]] captain who is credited with naming [[Cape Horn]], the most southerly point of the [[continent]] of [[South America]].

In 1615 he sailed as pilot under Jacob la Maire in an expedition to find an easier sea-route between the [[Atlantic]] and [[Pacific]] Oceans than through the tortuous and treacherous [[Strait of Magellan]]. (Usually the Dutch had used the west-to-east route from [[Europe]] to the Indies). In January 1616 they sailed south of the eastern end of the Strait, and around the island of  Tierra Del Fuego,. The passage between eastern Tierra del Fuego and what is now the island of los Estados  (then named Staten Is.) was named after la Maire, and the cape at the southernmost tip of the islands below Tierra del Fuego was named after Schouten’s home city of Hoorn.

In 1615 he sailed as pilot under Jacob la Maire in an expedition to find an easier sea-route between the [[Atlantic]] and [[Pacific]] Oceans th<nowiki>

The expedition continued to the East Indies, discovering very little to add to existing knowledge of the Pacific. Little else is known of Schouten except that he had sailed three times to the Indies, was an experienced and capable commander and a well known and well thought of navigator and successful merchant.

'''Christian apologetics''' is the defense of the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith through logical arguments. The term comes from the [[Greek]] word ''apologia'', which means "defense". The expression "Christian apologist" therefore does not mean that someone is apologising for or on behalf of [[Christianity]] as is sometimes thought, but that he or she is defending and justifying it. There are a <nowiki>f the Bible, and still others in historical or philosophical defenses of Christianity (such as [[Gary Habermas]] or [[Lee Strobel]]). Christian apologist [[JP Holding]] has recommended that prospective apologists choose one area of focus rather than trying to be a "jack of all trades". <ref>http://www.tektonics.org/qt/sowant.html</ref> Some feel that faith alone should ne<nowiki>

ed no justification, however, many feel that Christians should be prepared to defend and spread their faith by intellectual means, especially as many people will not accept Christianity without a "rational" reason to do so.

Christian apologetics has existed as long as Christianity itself.  [[Jesus]] himself spent time in the temples and synagogues, debating and explaining the meaning of the scriptures.  The [[Saint Peter|Apostle Peter]] exhorted early Christians to apologetics, writing,

:"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."  1 Peter 3:15-16.

[[Category: Explorers]]

The Apostle Paul also spent time in [[Athens]], debating [[Stoicism|Stoic]] and Epicurian philosophers.  Acts 17:16.

[[Category: Age of Exploration]]

 

{{DEFAULTSORT: Schouten, Willem Cornelisz}}

Great theologians such as [[Origen]], Athanasius, [[Irenaeus]], [[Martyr]], [[Augustine]], and [[Aquinas]] continued the tradition of apologetics on a dramatic scale.  At the same time, apologetics was practiced by countless individual Christians, explaining and defending their beliefs.