Apologetics 1: Introducing Christian Apologetics

In this series of fifteen lectures given for Regent College Vancouver in May 2021, Professor Alister McGrath (Oxford University) provides a basic yet comprehensive overview of Christian apologetics. In this first lecture, Professor McGrath, a leading authority in this field, introduces the field of apologetics, exploring why it matters, and considering its three central themes: engaging questions that people ask about faith; exploring the relevance and appeal of Christianity to real life; and translating the ideas of Christianity into everyday language that can be widely understood.

[@matthewgose3508]

Outstanding! Thank you for sharing this series, and I look forward to the next sessions.

[@Psalm91ArmorUp]

Thank you, I’m so grateful for these resources as I’m just starting what will hopefully be a deep dive into apologetics.

[@bigwesterngrey]

Appreciate your lecture. Very useful. Provoking thoughts and guidance towards answers to ultimate questions. Just what we who are created in God's image need.

[@maryvandermolen8345]

Super! Thank you so much for making these more widely available.

[@ingridfrank7668]

I often feel I don't find the right words and now I know why! I will study apologetics and looking forward to follow all your lectures. Thank you so much!💐

[@RusskyVoyennyKorablIdiNakhui]

The reason you have no right words is because you have no evidence. Duh.

[@Justas399]

@@RusskyVoyennyKorablIdiNakhui There is all kinds of evidence for Christianity. None for atheism.

[@RusskyVoyennyKorablIdiNakhui]

@@Justas399 "all kinds of evidence" Really. OK, we both deposit $10,000 in a bank and give control over the funds to an independent third party. Then we get ourselves a raw bull. You pray and we see if it cooks. (A biblically proved way of proving god, in case you don't know.) When it does not cook., I take your money, and you publicly admit that you are a %$#@! idiot. In those words. Date and place, and proof of available funds, please.

[@Justas399]

@@RusskyVoyennyKorablIdiNakhui Please give me one fact that proves God does not exist. Please.

[@RusskyVoyennyKorablIdiNakhui]

@@Justas399 "Please give me one fact that proves God does not exist. Please." Not a problem. We both deposit $10,000 in a bank and give control over the funds to an independent third party. Then we get ourselves a raw bull. You pray and we see if it cooks. (A biblically proved way of proving god, in case you don't know.) When it does not cook., I take your money, and you publicly admit that you are a %$#@! idiot. In those words. Date and place, and proof of available funds, please. This would be a "fact that proves dog does not exist." You are welcome. What's the matter, bullsh*it artist? How come I still don't have date and place, and proof of available funds?

[@jothisunil]

Thank you useful for my study of Christian apologetic

[@thefemininelady2974]

Love this lecture. On the ending point about justification where the professor confuses justifying with making excuses. In criminal law and legal theory, the two are distinct and conceptually I find it helpful when thinking about how I’ve been justified by Christ. In legal thought, I am justified even if I do what is illegal if the court accepts the argument that what I did is not morally blameworthy (ie killing in self defense). If I have an excuse, the action is morally blameworthy, but I should not be held to blame because I do not have the capacity to appreciate that I have made a decision that is moral in nature, let alone morally blameworthy. When Paul articulates to us that we are justified by faith, it does not excuse (as in, we still sinned because we were capable of appreciating that we were making a moral choice), but rather, Christ renders our actions functionally morally unblameworthy (because the punishment for them was taken on by Christ- if we had an excuse, no one would have needed to be punished) and therefore us (in that order), because he takes the punishment for our sin now and forever. This also describes how with repentance we can sin and remain forgiven.

[@ermasale4618]

Who engineered the basic process that allows for thought and that allows for instinct. And decision making

[@The21stCenturyTeacher]

Thank you so much for teaching and sharing. It was very detailed and apt.

[@kupferknochen]

This is super cool! Subscribed and can't wait for the following lectures :) thank you!

[@j.victor]

Can you activate the captions in your videos? Your deaf followers would appreciate it! :)

[@jakeroberts6274]

super excited for this series, thanks so much

[@hedrickallen7432]

Thank you

[@lucasr3116]

thank you

[@xw0ex948]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@StepsToFollow]

Thank you for guiding me.

[@douglasnunes1263]

Obrigado por suas obras, doutor Mcgrath ! Um abraço do Brasil 🇧🇷

[@halaleu3000]

Thank you very much for making apologetic more interesting.

[@juliorivera870]

Great video

[@jonnyrondo507]

Did God not commit genocide on more than one occasion? Is there anything that exists in reality that one has to have a field of apologetics for?

[@marylennox288]

Thank you so much, this was an excellent start to the course.

[@midlander4]

Let's be clear Alister. Apologetics doesn't remove barriers to faith. It builds them very efficiently indeed. But you have a job hinging on this, so it's a win win from your perspective isn't it? Quoting Pascal and Popper does nothing to distract from the dishonesty of your mission, by the way.

[@followeroftheWay210]

18:30

[@Abraham-uk4xy]

They need a new name. Apologetics comes from the word apologies or apology. Jesus Christ does not need us to apologies on his behalf for his actions. It seems rather defensive.

[@HiThereHeyThere]

It means giving defense if

[@sudo888]

The word apologetics comes from the Greek word “apologia” which means defense or justification.

[@GodfreyMann]

I came looking to understand what apologetics is, but all he does is keep using the word without defining it. Pretty useless introduction…

[@marylennox288]

He spent quite a bit of time defining it. From 9:12 to 16:03 he unpacks how apologetics differs from evangelism, and in doing so, he clarifies what apologetics is. In part, apologetics is the process of “establish[ing] the plausibility, the reasonableness of the gospel of Christ” (9:48). It is the “serious and sustained engagement with […] ultimate questions”, showing “how the Christian faith is able to provide meaningful answers to these ultimate questions” (10:33). Later in the lecture, McGrath discusses the Greek meaning of the word apologia from which we get the term ‘apologetics’. It means a ‘defence’, used in a legal/courtroom setting or in a philosophical debate in which someone needed to provide “a demonstration of the correctness of an argument or a belief” (32:33). This is what apologetics is, “it is trying to defend the Christian Faith by explaining what [it] is and dealing with objections that people have.” (32:02). McGrath also considers how ‘apologia’ is used in the NT to further clarify what ‘apologetics’ is. This discussion occurs in the section from 32:02 to 34:10.

[@GodfreyMann]

@@marylennox288 thank you so much for writing this super explanation for me and taking the trouble to pad it out with the correct time stamps. I’m very touched. It’s something that I’m always doing for others on KZbin and this is the first time anyone’s done it for me! If you watch any videos on health and longevity then that’s my specialist topic and I’ll be able to one day return the favour :)

[@johnmguzman7491]

Also called Propagandanists, right?

[@cygnusustus]

FYI Christians: The purpose of apologetics is not to convince rational people of the truth of your beliefs, but to postpone you from questioning yours. If you actually try any of this on an informed atheist, you will simply embarrass yourself.