Changes

* [[Biblical Archaeology]], seeking to show that the Bible is consistent with the physical evidence;

* [[Biblical Archaeology]], seeking to show that the Bible is consistent with the physical evidence;

* [[Christian Legal Apologetics]]

* [[Christian Legal Apologetics]]

===Philosophical apologetics===

===Philosophical apologetics===

Philosophical apologetics seeks to defend Christian belief through philosophical argument: primarily [[arguments for the existence of God]].  This can take the form of:

Philosophical apologetics seeks to defend Christian belief through philosophical argument: primarily [[arguments for the existence of God]].  This can take the form of:

* The [[Teleological argument]]: When you find a watch in the sand, you infer that it is designed, even if you do not see the designer, because it is complex, has a definite purpose, and could not have come to be through any known non-intelligent causes.  Therefore, when we observe a complex, purposeful universe it is reasonable to infer the existence of a designer, aka God.  Unfortunately this argument does not explain the origin of the complex designer, God, so has made no progress in explaining the origin of life or the universe.  Science has very good theories about both of these things (the Big Bang theory, abiogenesis, evolution by natural selection) supported by evidence.  

* The [[Teleological argument]]: When you find a watch in the sand, you infer that it is designed, even if you do not see the designer, because it is complex, has a definite purpose, and could not have come to be through any known non-intelligent causes.  Therefore, when we observe a complex, purposeful universe which could not have come to be through any known non-intelligent cause, it is reasonable to infer the existence of a designer, aka God.

:This is connected to the [[anthropic principle]], which is the argument that so much fine-tuning and exact physiological constants allows us to be here, provides evidence in support of an intelligent designer.  Except, if the universe was not as "finely tuned" as it appears to be we would not be here to observe it.  

:This is connected to the [[anthropic principle]], which is the argument that so much fine-tuning and exact physiological constants allows us to be here, provides evidence in support of an intelligent designer.

* The [[Cosmological argument]]: Every event in the universe is caused by something.  It is impossible that everything should have a cause, going back to eternity.  Therefore, there must be a [[first cause]], which itself is not caused, and that first cause must be capable of causing the universe, aka God.  [[Creation science|Creationist scientists]] demonstrate that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and [[Second law of thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal [[universe]] and they also demonstrate that these laws point to the universe being supernaturally created. <ref>[http://godevidences.net/space/lawsofscience.php Evidences for God From Space&mdash;Laws of Science]</ref><ref>Thompson, Bert, [http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2329 So Long, Eternal Universe; Hello Beginning, Hello End!], 2001 (Apologetics Press)</ref><ref>http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html</ref>

In the 20th century, this argument has been strongly supported by [[science]], with the discovery that the universe had a beginning. Prior to the 1920s, it had been widely believed that the universe's existence had been eternal. <ref>http://www.harvardhouse.com/Science-Religion.htm</ref> This verifies the very first three words of the [[Bible]]: "In the beginning."

 

* The [[Ontological argument]]: God is the being than which no greater can be conceived.  It is greater to exist than to not exist.  Therefore if you conceive God as not existing, you are not conceiving the being than which no greater can be conceived, and are therefore not conceiving God.  Therefore it is impossible to conceive of God as not existing.  Therefore God exists.   

In the 20th century, this argument has been strongly supported by [[science]], with the discovery that the universe had a beginning. Prior to the 1920s, it had been widely believed that the universe's existence had been eternal. <ref>http://www.harvardhouse.com/Science-Religion.htm</ref>

* The Argument from morality: All humans are born with a natural, moral code.  A moral code implies a moral code giver, aka God.

* The [[Ontological argument]]: God is the being than which no greater can be conceived.  It is greater to exist than to not exist.  Therefore if you conceive God as not existing, you are not conceiving the being than which no greater can be conceived, and are therefore not conceiving God.  Therefore it is impossible to conceive of God as not existing.  Therefore God exists.  This argument rests on the definition of "great", or in some cases, "perfect".  If it is not accepted that it is "greater to exist than to not exist" the whole argument falls down.

 

 

* The Argument from morality: All humans are born with a natural, moral code.  A moral code implies an evolutionary reason for acting morally towards other people.  A leading theory posits that since early humans would encounter only close relatives, they evolved altruistic tendencies towards anyone they met since close family share a large proportion of an individuals genes. This altruistic behaviour has persisted since the expansion of the population and the phenomenon of meeting complete strangers had happened extremely suddenly in evolutionary timescales. 

===Presuppositional apologetics===

===Presuppositional apologetics===