Introduction to Apologetics and Wordviews

1. Apologetics Lesson 1: World Views

2. Why Apologetics?

3. Why Apologetics?
❖ 1 Peter 3:13 For who is going to harm you if you are
devoted to what is good? But in fact, if you happen
to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But
do not be terrified of them or be shaken. But set
Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be
ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about
the hope you possess...

4. Why Apologetics?
❖ ...Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a
good conscience, so that those who slander your
good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when
they accuse you. For it is better to suffer for doing
good, if God wills it, than for doing evil. 1 Peter
3:13-16 (NET)

5. Why Apologetics?
❖ “...always be ready to give an answer to anyone who
asks about the hope you possess...” !
❖ The Greek word used for “give an answer” is
α#ολογια. It means to give a defense.

6. Why Apologetics?
❖ Faith, on its own, is not enough.!
❖ Simple faith doesn’t enable us to defend the gospel,
and make a well-reasoned case for Christ.!
❖ Faith and Truth!
❖ Truth and Love

7. Why Apologetics?
❖ The Needs of Evangelism have Changed:!
❖ Culture has shifted from valuing fact to experience. !
❖ Can’t assume people have a christian woldview /
values.!
❖ Atheists have gone on the offensive, writing books like
The God Delusion, and The Blind Watchmaker.

8. Why Apologetics?
❖ High school students are leaving the faith but still
attending church... until they go to college.!
❖ 40% of our students will stop attending church when
they graduate. !
❖ Studies show that most can’t articulate their beliefs.!
❖ “Moralistic-therapeutic-deism”

9. Why Apologetics?
❖ Doubts!
❖ Most will either have doubts, or know people who do.

10. Why Apologetics?
❖ You might think we don’t need to give reasons for our
belief.!
❖ Why?

11. Why Apologetics?
❖ Knowing vs. Showing!
❖ “You ask me how I know he lives…
He lives within my heart”

12. Objections to Christianity

13. Christians say that the Bible is
true, but the original documents
have never been found. You only
have copies. You can’t know
what it said originally, and yet
you base your life off of these
copies.

14. The Bible says in Genesis that
the earth is 6,000 years old, but
science has clearly shown that
the universe is > 6 Billion years
old. The Bible must be wrong.

15. Science clearly shows that life
came about through evolution,
but you claim that some
intelligent God created
everything.

16. Christians claim to be loving, but
they oppose homosexuals and
their equal rights and happiness.
How is that loving?

17. Christians try to impose their
moral standard on everyone,
and they shouldn’t do that. Just
because something is right for
you, don’t mean it’s right for me.

18. God doesn’t exist because, if he
did, there wouldn’t be evil, pain,
or suffering. If God is all good
and all powerful, he would have
to prevent evil.

19. We can’t fully know if something
is true. It might be true for you.
Your faith experience might be
true for you, but I have had my
own experiences that show me
what I know to be true.

20. Christians believe in the Trinity,
which is 3 beings in 1 being. This
is a logical contradiction similar
to saying there is a “Square
Circle”.

21. What is a world view?

22. What is a world view?
❖ “A world view is a set of beliefs about the most
important issues in life.” -Ronald Nash!
❖ Everyone has a world view even if they cannot explain
what it is.

23. World View Questions

24. Why is there something rather than nothing?
What is the origin of the universe?

25. Is there a God?

26. What is the nature of Man?

27. What is the basis of ethics and morality?

28. Why is there evil and suffering?

29. How do you know that you know?

31. The Major World Views

32. The Major World Views
❖ Theism!
❖ Pantheism!
❖ Atheism (Naturalism)!
❖ Polythesim!
❖ Pluralism

33. The Major World Views
❖ Theism!
❖ Pantheism!
❖ Atheism (Naturalism)!
❖ Polythesim!
❖ Pluralism

34. The Major World Views
❖ Theism!
❖ There is one God who was and is involved in live in a
personal way.!
❖ Examples: Islam, Judaism, Christianity

35. The Major World Views
❖ Pantheism!
❖ Everything is God.!
❖ Think Star Wars and the “Force”.!
❖ Knowledge is getting in touch with the cosmic
consciousness. “Enlightenment”.

36. The Major World Views
❖ Atheism / Naturalism!
❖ There is no God.!
❖ This is a claim.!
❖ Material things are all that exist.!
❖ Life has no purpose.

37. The Major World Views
❖ Polytheism!
❖ “Many gods”!
❖ Example: Mormonism, Hinduism!
❖ Popular in Ancient times - Greeks, Egyptians, and
other Near-East Peoples

38. The Major World Views
❖ Pluralism!
❖ Cafeteria-style religion - Mix and Match!
❖ Find what works for you.!
❖ All “ways” to god are equally valid.

40. Theism Pantheism
Naturalism
(Modernism)
Pluralism
(Postmodernism)
God Personal Impersonal Non-existent Non-existent
World Creation Spiritual Evolution Evolution
Man Like God Is God Like Animals Like Animals
Immortality Resurrection Reincarnation Annihilation
Annihilation
Reincarnation
Destiny Glorification Absorption Extinction Extinction
Authority Divine Revelation
Spiritual
Enlightenment
Human Reason Culture
Truth Absolute Personal Objective/Science Relative/Cultural
Evil Rebellion/Sin Illusion Ignorance Culturally Defined
History Linear Cyclical Chaotic Re-Defined

41. Why Should We Identiy A
Person's Worldview?

42. Examples

43. What if You Had Been Raised a Muslim?

44. Homosexuality is something that just
happens.

45. Teaching evolution, instead of ID

46. “You only go around once in life, so go for
all the gusto you can.”

47. There’s nothing wrong with abortion.

48. School children from under-privileged
homes committing vandalism.

50. How Should You Choose a World View?

51. Choose What Is true,
Not What Feels Best.

52. Summary

53. Summary
❖ Apologetics!
❖ Fulfill Biblical Command!
❖ Aid in Evangelism!
❖ Combat Doubt

54. Summary
❖ Worldviews!
❖ Should explain reality!
❖ Should answer life’s most difficult questions!
❖ Should be chosen based on truth, not feeling/
preference.

55. Brian@BrianSeagraves.com