Modern Christian Apologists

Modern Christian Apologists

1. Alistair McGrath

   • Background
     • Attempted to establish an Atheist Society in his school, believing that religion was outdated
     • Converted after conversations with Christian peers at Oxford
     • Studies in science led him to look at its relationship with religion
   • Views
     • Theology should serve Christians in their lives and churches
     • Make theology pastorally relevant
     • Explaining, defending and commending Christian Theology
     • Uses science and academic principles in explaining theology
   • Theology
     • Evangelical Theology
       • 6 main points of evangelicalism
         • Supreme authority of the Bible
         • Majesty of JC as the incarnation of God and Saviour
         • Lordship of the HS
         • Necessity of personal conversion
         • Priority of evangelism
         • Importance of Christian community
     • The Cross
       • Justification as the status of being accounted righteous before God through faith in Christ rather than sanctification
         • Criticised for not making penal substitution his main and final understanding of the cross
     • Sources of Theology
       • Reason and tradition as major sources as well as the Bible
   • Apologetics
     • New Atheism
       • 'Why God Won't Go Away' responding to leading Atheists and their 3 core arguments
         • Religion inspires violence
           • He argues that fanaticism is the problem
         • Religion is irrational
           • All worldviews go beyond what science and reason can prove
         • Religion and science are contradictory
           • Science alone cannot account for all of reality
     • Mere Apologetics
       • Translating faith into a language non-Christians can understand
       • Practise apologetics in everyday life
       • Address and challenge contemporary culture
     • "McGrath has written much, lectured often and engaged frequently in Christian apologetics" (Banks)
   • Criticism
     • "Even within the broad scope of evangelism there are some with concern from their perspectives about McGrath's theology" (Banks)
     • Some do not agree with his scientific theory with too many incompatibilities and assumptions

2. C.S. Lewis

   • Background
     • Former atheist and layman with no background in theology
     • Many negative experiences through his life
     • "He makes righteousness readable" DeYoung
     • 'an amateur theologian'
   • Audience
     • Broad general audience with radio addresses
     • Children with his fiction
     • "He made a tremendous contribution in exposing the superficialities of many intellectual unbelievers" DeYoung
   • Impact
     • Doesn't please everyone
       • Not conservative and not liberal
         • Change in lifestyle but animal afterlife
     • Joy over theology
       • Bring people into the hallway
     • Imagination
       • uses images and metaphors
       • Appeals to his audience
     • Literary devices
       • Wit, devils advocate in the Screwtape Letters
   • Theology
     • Christ's Death
       • Plays down the atonement, injection then infection, surrender to Christ then participate in the divine drama
     • All can be saved
       • "imperfect representations of Christ in other religions"
       • "there are people in other religions who are being led by God's secret influence...belong to Christ without knowing it"
     • Supernatural view
       • Defends the possibility of miracles and biblical miracles
     • Eternal generation
       • Christ was 'begotten' not 'mad' and he was eternally generated
   • Apologetics
     • Contemporary language
     • Fiction to make sense of reality
       • Uses narrative to represent the Christian journey
       • "His aim is to show that the Christian story and vision is the best for making sense of reality
     • Logical arguments
       • "Inference to the best explanation" (McGrath)
     • Science
       • He argues that its good for Christians to write books on other things like science as they'll have more impact on unbelievers
     • Suffering
       • Uses honesty and personal experience
   • Criticism
     • Some unorthodox beliefs
     • Imagery creating too big a gap
     • Not all suffering is the same for people
     • Universe not irrational but non-rational

3. Karl Rahner

   • Background
     • Official Theological advisor at the 2nd Vatican Council 1962-65
     • Ordained priest (1932), professor of dogmatic theology (1949) and Catholic theolgian
   • Audience
     • Aimed at highly intellectual christians
       • Major work 'Spirit in the World'
   • Aim
     • To relate and balance traditional RC theology and modern philosophy
     • Attempting to make Christianity relevant for the modern world
   • Theology
     • Trinity
       • "Rahner is well known theologically for his contribution to the doctrine of the trinity" (Olson)
       • 'Rahner's Rule' that the economic Trinity is the immanent Trinity and vice versa
     • Fundamental Theology
       • Transcendental Experiences
         • Awareness and experience of what is above the natural world
       • Transcendental Reflection
         • Curiosity about the meaning of life, 'potential for obedience', created in God's image so a capacity to receive revelation from Him
       • Supernatural existential
         • All humans have a supernatural presence of God offering true knowledge of him
         • Allows for anonymous Christians, those who submit to this ignorantly, can be saved
       • Categorical Revelation
         • God reveals himself officially through historical events, words and symbols (Bible, Church & Jesus)
   • Praise
     • Viewed himself as an amateur theologian but regarded by many as the most influential RC theologian
     • Major influence in the 2nd Vatican Council
     • Cautiously progressive theology influenced others to be more open to contemporary ideas
   • Criticism
     • Abstract concepts/terms too difficult
     • Controversial in trying to relate with modern world
     • Anonymous Christians an exception