IDC16 Apologetics

In this article, I just want to present a summary of both Tim Keller and Greg Bahnsen’s responses to the problem of evil and suffering as an objection against Christianity. I want to share first Tim Keller’s response taken from the 2nd chapter of The Reason for God. Tim Keller’s Response Keller’s response to the problem of evil and suffering can be divided into four sections. First, his introduction of the problem by citing the statements of a couple. Second, by sharing his experience as to the response of his listeners in preaching from the life of Joseph. Third, by giving a more philosophical response relying on the studies of both C. S. Lewis and Alvin Plantinga. And finally, by directing our thoughts to Christianity as observed in Peter Kreeft’s study. Here, Keller gave us a more elaborate explanation of the character of Jesus’ suffering and a brief explanation of the importance of the doctrine of resurrection. Introducing the Problem and Preaching from the Life of Joseph Keller in...

Giving the complete and more precise title to this article would surely make a reader tired and disinterested. And that is why at the risk of appearing simplistic, I reduced the title to just six words from the original of twenty-three. This is the article’s complete title: An Alternative Methodological Framework of Ethics as Apologetics through Interdisciplinary Approaches in Asia: Contemporary Protestant Christianity versus New Confucianism/Ruism as an Example. Tsung-I Hwang, in his search for an apologetical alternative, relied on more than ten academic disciplines for insights. They include “Christian theology, Confucianism/Ruism, Sinology, religious studies, philosophy, sociology, psychology, social psychology, anthropology, and some other social scientific studies.” He introduced this alternative with a framework containing four elements: ethical issue, common ground towards indirect apologetics, presuppositional method, and common solution. In introducing his alternative, Hwang ...