Presuppositional Apologetics is an apologetic method. Its arguments deal with the foundational first-principles of worldviews, arguing that the Christian worldview is the only worldview with a first-principle (namely, that the Bible is God’s revelation) that provides justification for the existence of knowledge, intelligibility, reason, the laws of logic, morality, and other abstract concepts.
All other worldviews fail before they can even begin because they collapse into absurdity due to self-contradiction. If intelligibility and rationality are not possible within a worldview, then any assertion made by that worldview is ultimately meaningless.
In order for someone who believes in an invalid worldview to make a meaningful assertion, that person must borrow presuppositions from the Christian worldview, which, after all worldviews have been examined, is the only worldview that can answer foundational epistemological questions.
Presuppositional Apologetics Arguments
Here is a summary of the arguments that presuppositional apologists make.
The Transcendental Argument for God’s Existence
Answers to Objections Against Presuppositional Apologetics
Circular Reasoning
Full Post: Is Presuppositional Apologetics Circular?
Probably the most common objection to Presuppositional Apologetics is that it utilizes circular reasoning.
The short response is that every worldview is ultimately circular because every worldview is derived from fundamental presuppositions, or first principles. Because these presuppositions are fundamental, one cannot appeal to an authority higher than them, or else they would not be fundamental.
The fundamental presupposition of the Christian is that objective truth comes from God’s revelation through the Bible.
The fundamental presupposition of the atheist is that truth is determined by logic, reason, or experience. The assertion that truth is determined by logic, reason, or experience is necessarily circular, because one could then only prove that assertion by using logic, reason, or experience.
Evidence
Full Post: Does Presuppositional Apologetics Ignore Evidence?
Atheists often argue that presuppositional apologists provide no “evidence” for their claims.
In short, different truth claims require different kinds of evidence. When atheists say that Christians are not providing evidence for their truth claims, we should ask, “What is your definition of ”evidence”, and what is your justification for this definition?”
Just because presuppositional apologists do not present the exact kind of evidence atheists demand does not mean the evidence they give is invalid.
Neutrality
Full Post: Is Atheism Neutral and Unbiased? No, It’s Not.
One common claim that atheists make is that they start from a position of neutrality, whereas Christians start with many unjustified, unproven assumptions.
However, this claim is simply untrue.
Responses
Presuppositional Apologetics Resources
Below is a list of helpful resources related to Presuppositional Apologetics.
