Presuppositions

[ITS]

Presuppositions: compare how you use them in your apologetic with how you should respond when non-Christians use theirs.

[mark frame]

Presuppositions: compare how you use them in your apologetic with how you should respond when non-Christians use theirs.We must realize that everyone comes to any discussion or evaluation with presuppositions. We as Christians should be working regularly to identify those presuppositions that we hold and ensure that they square with Scripture. To be fair to those we are trying to reach, we should share what we know to be our presuppositions and that we realize they are just that. It may even be helpful to identify those that we have had to change in order to become or since becoming a Christian.

For communication with non-Christians we must understand that often people are not aware of many of the presuppositions they hold. We can often help them identify some of those they hold for them. Lovingly pointing out how some of their presuppositions contradict one another can go a long way toward crumbling the foundations of their particular belief system. Sharing with them how difficult it was to change some of our presuppositions could show them it is possible and that we care.

[carl]

I appreciated the comments made by Mark Frame. He made very relevant points that address the importance of having the proper attitude when engaging in apologetics.
One of the points I'd particularly like to reference had to do with the need to change some of our own presuppositions before and/or after becoming Christians. One of the challenges I've noticed in talking with others who profess Christianity is their unwillingness to entertain the possibility that a doctrine that they have been taught may be wrong. I was talking with someone who maintained that of all the traits to be found in Christians, faith is the greatest. When I began to point out to him that the scriptures indicate that God is love and that the two greatest commandments, according to God, are to love: the Lord your God and your fellow man, he proceeded to explain why those scriptures were wrong.
I agree with Mark that in order to experience conversion and, even after conversion, there are times when people need to revisit some presuppositions whether they exist because we were taught (mis-taught) early in our Christian walk or we simply assumed on our own some errant beliefs. Humility is critical whether one is considering conversion to Christianity or growth as a Christian.
When it comes to using presuppositons in my apologetics, I'm encouraged by the approach employed by Edward J. Carnell because now I'm free (mentally) to go into an apologetic discussion knowing that my attempts to persuade have to do with high probabilities rather than facts that have been proven with absolute certainty. As a result, I am willing to share my thoughts/beliefs regarding the various statements/tenets of the Christian faith in a way that is not forceful and in such a way as to invite the person(s) I'm dialoguing with to engage in an honest exploration of what I've determined to be truth. I would be inclined to invite that person/group to simply approach the subject with an open mind in order to determine for themselves the truth of my statements but, at the same time, I would be willing to entertain any of their objections gently and respectfully (I Peter 3.15) in hopes of ensuring that my own demeanor would not close the door to honest discussion.
Additionally, though, I would hope that they would be just as gracious in presenting their apologetic. I would be very interested in listening for consistencies in their belief system particularly as it may regard common ground with Christianity and/or the world in general (i.e., characteristics common to mankind in general) so that we could begin to connect as humans on those points and, thereby, begin to establish a non-adversarial relationship. But I would also listen for inconsistencies in their belief system as it pertains to their own doctrines and to the reality of man's life/experience in general. I would try to encourage further honest discussion about my perception of the inconsistency/problem in hopes of proceeding to an answer that may be found in the Christian apologetic that helps resolve the problem. Hopefully, over time, I would give enough food for thought that the person would be willing to decide to accept the Christian worldview or, at least, give further consideration to it.

[akridgeg]

Presuppositions are a part of everyone's life. The problem that I have encountered with some religions is that the presuppositions are so strong that the apologist has a very difficult time changing them. Those religions that are state sponsored (Hinduism, Shintoism) are more a way of life than a religion. The government almost mandates that you be of that persuasion and from the day you are born you are indoctrinated with their thoughts. Apologists working with one of these religions may be better served to use Barrett's system of mysticism. We should know however that even our core beliefs can be changed, once we accepted Christ many of our presuppositions did change.

Garvin Akridge



I appreciated the comments made by Mark Frame. He made very relevant points that address the importance of having the proper attitude when engaging in apologetics.
One of the points I'd particularly like to reference had to do with the need to change some of our own presuppositions before and/or after becoming Christians. One of the challenges I've noticed in talking with others who profess Christianity is their unwillingness to entertain the possibility that a doctrine that they have been taught may be wrong. I was talking with someone who maintained that of all the traits to be found in Christians, faith is the greatest. When I began to point out to him that the scriptures indicate that God is love and that the two greatest commandments, according to God, are to love: the Lord your God and your fellow man, he proceeded to explain why those scriptures were wrong.
I agree with Mark that in order to experience conversion and, even after conversion, there are times when people need to revisit some presuppositions whether they exist because we were taught (mis-taught) early in our Christian walk or we simply assumed on our own some errant beliefs. Humility is critical whether one is considering conversion to Christianity or growth as a Christian.
When it comes to using presuppositons in my apologetics, I'm encouraged by the approach employed by Edward J. Carnell because now I'm free (mentally) to go into an apologetic discussion knowing that my attempts to persuade have to do with high probabilities rather than facts that have been proven with absolute certainty. As a result, I am willing to share my thoughts/beliefs regarding the various statements/tenets of the Christian faith in a way that is not forceful and in such a way as to invite the person(s) I'm dialoguing with to engage in an honest exploration of what I've determined to be truth. I would be inclined to invite that person/group to simply approach the subject with an open mind in order to determine for themselves the truth of my statements but, at the same time, I would be willing to entertain any of their objections gently and respectfully (I Peter 3.15) in hopes of ensuring that my own demeanor would not close the door to honest discussion.
Additionally, though, I would hope that they would be just as gracious in presenting their apologetic. I would be very interested in listening for consistencies in their belief system particularly as it may regard common ground with Christianity and/or the world in general (i.e., characteristics common to mankind in general) so that we could begin to connect as humans on those points and, thereby, begin to establish a non-adversarial relationship. But I would also listen for inconsistencies in their belief system as it pertains to their own doctrines and to the reality of man's life/experience in general. I would try to encourage further honest discussion about my perception of the inconsistency/problem in hopes of proceeding to an answer that may be found in the Christian apologetic that helps resolve the problem. Hopefully, over time, I would give enough food for thought that the person would be willing to decide to accept the Christian worldview or, at least, give further consideration to it.

[cmoore]

Based upon my understanding of this question, I believe that all people come to any conversation with a set of presuppositions. This is clearly seen in ‘everyday’ communication. For example, someone may have a thought on their mind based upon something that they are looking at or reading on the internet, and say to another person, whose doing something entirely irrelevant to the thought, “isn’t it a terrible thing that this stock plummeted to this all time low?” There’s nothing wrong with the question, however, the question presupposes that a person knows the particular stock in question as well as presupposes that person actually cares about the value of that particular stock. Maybe, that person wanted that stock to drop because now they can buy-low.

I would argue in every conversation that we have, we come with some presuppositions that may make communication less effective than it ought to be. However, it is the presuppositions, at times, that makes conversations interesting and thought provoking.

Nevertheless, in the order of apologetics, as a Christian, we cannot be totally objective concerning our faith when sharing it with a Pre-Christian (one, who hopefully will, convert and accept Jesus as both Lord and Christ). As a Christian, when someone begins to doubt the actual divinity of Christ, we may go to Scripture to support our answer. Doing that presupposes the authenticity, accuracy, and authority of the Holy Scriptures. When defending the fact that we are all in need of a savior, most Christians go directly to the Holy Scriptures to defend their fact. There’s nothing wrong with that because Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word is sharper than any two-edged sword. It is active and powerful. However, when we encounter a Pre-Christian who comes to the table with the presupposition that Scripture is irrelevant, inaccurate, and without influence, we must work to break down that presupposition using empirical, experiential, or whatever facts will break down that wall.

When a Pre-Christian uses their presuppositions, we have to work hard to define ours and defend ours without being circular in our approach. We cannot defend the authenticity of the scriptures using the scripture 2 Timothy 3:12. We must do something to point out the flaws in the Pre-Christian’s presuppositions so that they can accept our presuppositions. I believe that one way to achieve this is through the use of common ground.

[cmoore]

Mark makes a good point. Most people are often unaware of their presuppositions. I believe that this includes us as well. Therefore, we must be very conscious and alert to spot out any presupposition that we and the person that we are discussing our faith with may have. In one of the lectures, Dr. Lewis pointed out that the “golden-rule” applies to evangelism. In evangelism, we must also give the person that we are talking to a chance to talk about their faith using their presuppositions.

We must not be quick to judge or tear down a person’s presupposition without giving valid reasoning. As Mark said, we must remember the ideals that we had to change in order to convert to Christianity. This did not occur just because someone told us to change or because they said a few words. The person witnessing to us or the document that we were reading gave us valid reasons to give our lives to Jesus Christ.


We must realize that everyone comes to any discussion or evaluation with presuppositions. We as Christians should be working regularly to identify those presuppositions that we hold and ensure that they square with Scripture. To be fair to those we are trying to reach, we should share what we know to be our presuppositions and that we realize they are just that. It may even be helpful to identify those that we have had to change in order to become or since becoming a Christian.

For communication with non-Christians we must understand that often people are not aware of many of the presuppositions they hold. We can often help them identify some of those they hold for them. Lovingly pointing out how some of their presuppositions contradict one another can go a long way toward crumbling the foundations of their particular belief system. Sharing with them how difficult it was to change some of our presuppositions could show them it is possible and that we care.

[J. Afanador]

Presuppositions: compare how you use them in your apologetic with how you should respond when non-Christians use theirs.

I think most people now-a-days acknowledge the inevitability of presuppositions, but as a Christian, one thing I have tried to do (before, during, and after engaging others in conversation) is identify and understand as much as possible my own presuppositions first. This is not an easy task. It takes a conscious effort not only to point out our own presuppositions, but more importantly, to justify them when challenged. When non-believers use theirs and reveal an inconsistency or inadequacy, I as an apologist will try to point that out. But if some of their presuppositions are sound and compatible with my Christian presuppositions, I will appeal to them and show the non-believer how they ultimately lead to reasonable Christian conclusions (when warranted). At the same time, when challenged (and having thought about the justification of my own presuppositions), I will defend the reasonableness of my own presuppositions and show that only the Christian worldview can ultimately and truly make sense of our world and our experience of it.

[J. Afanador]

Presuppositions are a part of everyone's life. The problem that I have encountered with some religions is that the presuppositions are so strong that the apologist has a very difficult time changing them. Those religions that are state sponsored (Hinduism, Shintoism) are more a way of life than a religion. The government almost mandates that you be of that persuasion and from the day you are born you are indoctrinated with their thoughts. Apologists working with one of these religions may be better served to use Barrett's system of mysticism. We should know however that even our core beliefs can be changed, once we accepted Christ many of our presuppositions did change.

Garvin Akridge

Garvin, I appreciate what you’ve written here. It’s true. I recall a long correspondence I had some time ago with a Muslim from Saudi Arabia which illustrated the very point you made. Presuppositions are hard to change. I think that postmodernism has helped a bit to correct this, at least in some parts of the world. But, as you point out, the apologist is not left with a single ‘take it or leave it’ method, and that should work to our advantage with the help of the Holy Spirit.