Non-Christians ONLY Poll: Are Christian Apologetics Alive or Dead? (Jesus, churches)

[angellous_evangellous]

If you don't consider yourself a Christian, I wonder if Christian aplogetics are alive or dead.

By alive I mean:

Do Christian apologists have a logically consistent argument that God exists?

Do Christian apologists generally speak to contemporary philosophical life?

By dead I mean the opposite - that Christian aplogists are unable to defend that God exists in a way that is able to interact with contemporary philosopy.

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Note that the poll is public and you can choose more than one option.

[Fluffy]

If there is anything interesting to be said in apologetics then I expect it to be said by Alvin Plantinga.

Out of all the arguments for God, I feel that his ontological argument comes closest (I might go as far as to conceed that it does show that belief in God is rational but I'd need to research it further before shifting off the fence). And I hardly think that his writings can be accused of failing to interact with contemporary philosophy.

I'd have to vote alive on both counts.

[Quagmire]

The arguments of most apologists I've heard are sort of like Jason from the Friday the 13th movies; you can shoot them full of holes and they get right back up in the next scene.

[Tigress]

As Quagmire also stated, most of the apologetics I've read haven't been all that convincing in the least, and are much like a B-rated horror film-fun to watch, but chalk full of muck-ups, and ridiculousness (which is of course part of the fun). However, most is not all, and I've no doubt that there are some reasonably good apologists out there, so I'm voting 'Angellous is my Daddy,' to stay on the safe side of this one.

[Smoke]

I voted dead on both counts, since you asked about apologists. Christian theologians and philosophers may be able to interact with contemporary philosophy, but I don't think apologetics or "proofs" of God's existence have much relevance outside the churches.

[angellous_evangellous]

So it seems that some apologetics are alive (Christian philosophers?), and most are dead (popular apologists). The living apologetics may not have continuance with orthodoxy... I guess I'll have to check.

[RevOxley_501]

aww crap, i misread the dang things i chose b, d and f


take a way B.

It is alive...in the fact that so many christians base their faith either off of apologetics (like i once did) or blind faith (like i did previous to the former (huh))

Dead, because it rarely strikes a Chord with many non-christians and is often laughed at and ridiculed (for good reason) by the scientific community


Christian apologetics is, to me, Both alive and dead. Alive because there are so many Christians

[Buttercup]

Considering I was a Christian just two years ago, I'd say contemporary apologetics is null and void these days, for me anyway.

I think what happened is I grew up and realized I don't want the red tape that starts being wrapped around your legs and works it's way up to your throat with religion. If there is a God and Jesus was his son....that's awesome. But, some new theological leader needs to emerge to bring relevance to both of them today.

[Random]

Apologetics is Defense of the Faith. Considering how many Christians of wildly differing philosophies and doctrinal persuasion are here present on the 'Net and RF, I would say defenders of the faith are very much alive.

But alas, OP apparently sees that in terms only of Arguments for/against the existence of GOD, so...the question doesn't make sense.

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by Random

Apologetics is Defense of the Faith. Considering how many Christians of wildly differing philosophies and doctrinal persuasion are here present on the 'Net and RF, I would say defenders of the faith are very much alive.

But alas, OP apparently sees that in terms only of Arguments for/against the existence of GOD, so...the question doesn't make sense.

I believe he's asking those who don't believe what our thoughts are concerning the issue for US.