Bill Craig explains how to answer a non-Christian without apologetics

It’s in his question of the week. The question is from a student who is not familiar with apologetics, but who is being challenged by his co-workers on his faith. None 0f his co-workers are Christians.

Excerpt:

I took your question this week, John, because I think it’s one that many Christians face. We don’t all have time to become skilled apologists, and yet we find ourselves in situations in which we’re called upon to give “a reason for the hope that is in us” (I Peter 3:15). What are we supposed to do?

One easy thing that we can all do is learn to ask questions. Greg Koukl recommends asking two questions of non-believers:

1. What do you mean by that?

2. What reasons do you have to think that?

It’s amazing how these two disarmingly simple questions can tie people in knots! For example, ask the unbeliever what he means when he says he doesn’t believe in God—is he an atheist or an agnostic? (Be prepared to explain the difference to him!) Whatever he says, ask him, “What reasons do you have to think that?” Many people don’t even understand what they mean by their assertions, and probably most don’t have any good reasons for them. So long as you’re asking questions, you’re not making any assertions at all, and so don’t have to prove anything. Let the non-believers bear the burden of proof for their claims.

[…]A second thing you can do is refer the unbeliever to some resource. You don’t have to have any brains to tell someone, “Have you seen the Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology? Before you say there are no intelligent theists and no good reasons to believe in God, maybe you’d better look at that book first. Otherwise, you’re not really informed.”

[…]Shame the unbeliever for his ignorance of the literature. If he’s a sincere seeker, on the other hand, recommend that he peruse this website or watch a debate.

And it goes on like that. Five points in all.

The whole thing is worth reading… it’s pretty funny in parts, because he is telling him exactly what to say.

5 thoughts on “Bill Craig explains how to answer a non-Christian without apologetics”

  1. Ah, that’s brilliant! But then WLC always is. :) I sympathize with the poor guy asking the question. And the title, “So many atheists, so little time”, made me chuckle. :D

    I heard about Richard Swinburne’s book and thought it might be worthwhile, but now that WLC has recommended it, I am determined to get it!

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      1. Oh really? Why not? I haven’t actually read a whole book of his. Bought one on the resurrection, but have yet to get around to reading it properly. :-P It looks quite heavy going with an appendix on statistical proofs.

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  2. I once encountered an anti-theist who claimed to be an agnostic. He was saying all neutral things until his real color showed up and said “god of no evidence” … so I challenged him by saying that it’s not true that there is no evidence for God, to some people the wonder of creation is itself evidence of God’s existence.

    He replied that to some the wonder of creation is evidence that human evolved from slime. Then he realized he just dug himself a hole when I said to him … so what’s exactly that evidence that human evolved from slime? :)

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  3. Somehow, I don’t think recommending a book entitled Blackwell’s Companion to Natural Theology is going to get the job done. Maybe a book called “Why Are We Here?”.

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