ALISTER E. McGRATH is Senior Research Fellow and Emeritus Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University. One of the world’s leading Christian apologists, McGrath has held numerous academic positions, including Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University and Director of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He is the author of Mere Apologetics, Narrative Apologetics, Theology: The Basics, and Historical Theology, amongst many others. He is also the co-editor of the authoritative work History of Apologetics: A Biographical and Methodological Introduction.

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• How to Use this Book: To the Reader xiHow to Use this Book: To the Teacher xiii1 Introducing Apologetics 1The Core Elements of Apologetics 3Defense: Responding to Questions and Concerns 3Explanation: What Christianity is All About 3Translation: Unpacking the Language of Faith 4Five Types of Apologetics 4Evidentialism 5Presuppositionalism 5Rational Apologetics 5Experiential Apologetics 5Narrative Apologetics 6Why Apologetics Matters – and How it Can go Wrong 6Christianity as a “Big Picture” 8How Does Apologetics Relate to Evangelism? 11How Does Apologetics Relate to Theology? 12For Further Reading 132 Apologetics: Some Historical Themes 15Early Christianity 16Apologetics in the Early Islamic World 20The Middle Ages 22The “Age of Reason” 24The Twentieth Century 26Conclusion 28Study Questions 29For Further Reading 293 The Rationality of Faith 31Setting the Context: Apologetics in a Post- rationalist Age 33Faith as Justified Belief 35Faith, Evidence, and Uncertainty: From Clifford to Dawkins 38Arguments for the Existence of God: Three Approaches 41Thomas Aquinas: The Five Ways 41Anselm of Canterbury: The Ontological Argument 44William Lane Craig: The Kalām Argument 46What is the Point of Arguments for the Existence of God? 47Connecting up the Clues: C. S. Lewis and the Argument from Desire 49Inference to the Best Explanation: Richard Swinburne 51The Use of Rational Arguments: A Theological Concern 54The Demand for Proof: The Problem with the “New Atheism” 55Conclusion 56Study Questions 57For Further Reading 574 Connecting the Christian Faith with the Human Situation 60Why Facts aren’t Enough: Apologetics and the Human Situation 63Communicating Christian Complexity: Isaac Newton and Mary Midgley 65Apologetic Aspects of Salvation 67Truth and Desire in Apologetics 69Christ the Physician: Healing a Wounded and Broken Humanity 70Christ the Sacrifice: Entering the Presence of God 72Adoption: Believing and Belonging 73Liberation: Salvation as Deliverance from Bondage 74Explaining the Nature of Sin 75Apologetic Aspects of the Incarnation 77Rethinking the Nature of God 77Seeing the Face of God 79Christianity and the Human Quest for Meaning 81Finding a Secure Base in Life 82Finding Fulfilment 82Inhabiting a Coherent World 82A Sense of Self- worth 83Study Questions 85For Further Reading 855 Exploring Points of Contact for the Christian Faith 87The Concept of a “Point of Contact” 88Six “Points of Contact”: Reflection and Application 90A Sense of Longing 90The Beauty of the World 93The Ordering of Nature 95A Sense of Wonder: The Night Sky 97A Sense of Moral Obligation 98Existential Anxiety and Alienation 100Plato’s Cave: A Neutral Framework for Framing “Points of Contact” 102Study Questions 104For Further Reading 1046 Narrative Apologetics: Why Telling Stories Matters 106The Rediscovery of Narrative Apologetics 106Christianity as a Grand Narrative? 109Narratives and Apologetics: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien 109Apologetics as Telling a Better Story 112The Apologetic Application of Biblical Narratives 115The Apologetic Application of Narratives: Some Examples 116A Biblical Narrative: The Babylonian Exile 116A Cultural Narrative: The Relation of Science and Faith 117Literary Analogies: Making Theology Real 119Study Questions 120For Further Reading 1207 The Importance of the Audience 122Greeks and Jews: The New Testament and the Importance of the Audience 124Apologetics as an Art: The Balcony and the Road 127Understanding the Audience: Thoughts from C. S. Lewis 129Seekers and Dwellers: A New Context for Apologetics 131Apologetics and Audiences: Three Case Studies 132Apologetics in Secular Manhattan: Tim Keller 132Connecting with Black America: Urban Apologetics 134Post- Christian Apologetics in Prague: Tomáš Halík 136Theological Translation: Explaining Christianity to Secular Audiences 138Faith 139Salvation 139Adoption 140Study Questions 140For Further Reading 1418 Responding to Questions: Some Apologetic Debates 143God as Wish- fulfilment? Freud’s Critique of Faith 143Is Religion the Cause of Violence? 146The Problem of Suffering 148Enlightenment Rationalism: Reason has Displaced God 152Belief and Proof: The Question of Certainty in Faith 155The Trinity: An Irrational View of God? 157Scientism: Only Science Can Answer Life’s Big Questions 159Science and Religious Faith are Incompatible 161The Question of Miracles 164Reductionism: Human Beings are Nothing but Atoms 168Study Questions 169For Further Reading 1709 Learning from the Wise: Case Studies in Apologetics 172George Herbert: Apologetics through Poetry 173G. K. Chesterton: Christianity as a Hypothesis 175Dorothy L. Sayers: Apologetics and Detective Novels 178Francis Schaeffer: Worldview Apologetics 181Charles Taylor: Apologetics in a Secular Age 185Conclusion: Moving On 189Study Questions 191For Further Reading 191Acknowledgments 193Sources of Citations 194Index 216

ALISTER E. McGRATH is Senior Research Fellow and Emeritus Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University. One of the world’s leading Christian apologists, McGrath has held numerous academic positions, including Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University and Director of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He is the author of Mere Apologetics, Narrative Apologetics, Theology: The Basics, and Historical Theology, amongst many others. He is also the co-editor of the authoritative work History of Apologetics: A Biographical and Methodological Introduction.

Select Guide Rating

• How to Use this Book: To the Reader xiHow to Use this Book: To the Teacher xiii1 Introducing Apologetics 1The Core Elements of Apologetics 3Defense: Responding to Questions and Concerns 3Explanation: What Christianity is All About 3Translation: Unpacking the Language of Faith 4Five Types of Apologetics 4Evidentialism 5Presuppositionalism 5Rational Apologetics 5Experiential Apologetics 5Narrative Apologetics 6Why Apologetics Matters – and How it Can go Wrong 6Christianity as a “Big Picture” 8How Does Apologetics Relate to Evangelism? 11How Does Apologetics Relate to Theology? 12For Further Reading 132 Apologetics: Some Historical Themes 15Early Christianity 16Apologetics in the Early Islamic World 20The Middle Ages 22The “Age of Reason” 24The Twentieth Century 26Conclusion 28Study Questions 29For Further Reading 293 The Rationality of Faith 31Setting the Context: Apologetics in a Post- rationalist Age 33Faith as Justified Belief 35Faith, Evidence, and Uncertainty: From Clifford to Dawkins 38Arguments for the Existence of God: Three Approaches 41Thomas Aquinas: The Five Ways 41Anselm of Canterbury: The Ontological Argument 44William Lane Craig: The Kalām Argument 46What is the Point of Arguments for the Existence of God? 47Connecting up the Clues: C. S. Lewis and the Argument from Desire 49Inference to the Best Explanation: Richard Swinburne 51The Use of Rational Arguments: A Theological Concern 54The Demand for Proof: The Problem with the “New Atheism” 55Conclusion 56Study Questions 57For Further Reading 574 Connecting the Christian Faith with the Human Situation 60Why Facts aren’t Enough: Apologetics and the Human Situation 63Communicating Christian Complexity: Isaac Newton and Mary Midgley 65Apologetic Aspects of Salvation 67Truth and Desire in Apologetics 69Christ the Physician: Healing a Wounded and Broken Humanity 70Christ the Sacrifice: Entering the Presence of God 72Adoption: Believing and Belonging 73Liberation: Salvation as Deliverance from Bondage 74Explaining the Nature of Sin 75Apologetic Aspects of the Incarnation 77Rethinking the Nature of God 77Seeing the Face of God 79Christianity and the Human Quest for Meaning 81Finding a Secure Base in Life 82Finding Fulfilment 82Inhabiting a Coherent World 82A Sense of Self- worth 83Study Questions 85For Further Reading 855 Exploring Points of Contact for the Christian Faith 87The Concept of a “Point of Contact” 88Six “Points of Contact”: Reflection and Application 90A Sense of Longing 90The Beauty of the World 93The Ordering of Nature 95A Sense of Wonder: The Night Sky 97A Sense of Moral Obligation 98Existential Anxiety and Alienation 100Plato’s Cave: A Neutral Framework for Framing “Points of Contact” 102Study Questions 104For Further Reading 1046 Narrative Apologetics: Why Telling Stories Matters 106The Rediscovery of Narrative Apologetics 106Christianity as a Grand Narrative? 109Narratives and Apologetics: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien 109Apologetics as Telling a Better Story 112The Apologetic Application of Biblical Narratives 115The Apologetic Application of Narratives: Some Examples 116A Biblical Narrative: The Babylonian Exile 116A Cultural Narrative: The Relation of Science and Faith 117Literary Analogies: Making Theology Real 119Study Questions 120For Further Reading 1207 The Importance of the Audience 122Greeks and Jews: The New Testament and the Importance of the Audience 124Apologetics as an Art: The Balcony and the Road 127Understanding the Audience: Thoughts from C. S. Lewis 129Seekers and Dwellers: A New Context for Apologetics 131Apologetics and Audiences: Three Case Studies 132Apologetics in Secular Manhattan: Tim Keller 132Connecting with Black America: Urban Apologetics 134Post- Christian Apologetics in Prague: Tomáš Halík 136Theological Translation: Explaining Christianity to Secular Audiences 138Faith 139Salvation 139Adoption 140Study Questions 140For Further Reading 1418 Responding to Questions: Some Apologetic Debates 143God as Wish- fulfilment? Freud’s Critique of Faith 143Is Religion the Cause of Violence? 146The Problem of Suffering 148Enlightenment Rationalism: Reason has Displaced God 152Belief and Proof: The Question of Certainty in Faith 155The Trinity: An Irrational View of God? 157Scientism: Only Science Can Answer Life’s Big Questions 159Science and Religious Faith are Incompatible 161The Question of Miracles 164Reductionism: Human Beings are Nothing but Atoms 168Study Questions 169For Further Reading 1709 Learning from the Wise: Case Studies in Apologetics 172George Herbert: Apologetics through Poetry 173G. K. Chesterton: Christianity as a Hypothesis 175Dorothy L. Sayers: Apologetics and Detective Novels 178Francis Schaeffer: Worldview Apologetics 181Charles Taylor: Apologetics in a Secular Age 185Conclusion: Moving On 189Study Questions 191For Further Reading 191Acknowledgments 193Sources of Citations 194Index 216