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Presuppositional Apologetics

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[Covenantal apologetics] seeks to take the truth of Scripture as the proper diagnosis of the unbelieving condition and challenge the unbeliever to make sense of the world he has made, given that such a world is based on a fundamentally irrational construct ... Given any fact or experience, it asks the question as to the presuppositions behind that fact, and which make it possible. -K. Scott Oliphint

"...only the Christian worldview provides the necessary preconditions for the intelligibility of human experience.That is, only the Christian view of God, creation, providence, revelation, and human nature can make sense of the world in which we live. So, for example, only the Christian worldview can make sense out of morality since it alone provides the necessary presuppositions for making ethical evaluations, namely, an absolute and personal Law Giver who reveals His moral will to mankind. It does not make sense, however, for the atheist/materialist to denounce any action as wrong since, according to his worldview, all that exists is matter in motion. And matter in motion is inherently non-moral. That is, since the world according to the materialist is totally explicable in terms of physical processes, and since physical processes are categorically non-moral, moral considerations have no place in his worldview. Thus for the materialist to say that stealing is morally wrong makes as much sense as saying that the secretion of insulin from the pancreas is morally wrong. [This is not to say, however, that atheists never act morally. Atheists feed their children, give money to charity and often make good neighbors. But atheists cannot give a justification for their actions. In the words of Cornelius Van Til, they are living on "borrowed capital" from the Christian worldview. Thus they profess one thing, but their actions belie this profession].- Michael Butler

In defending the Christian faith, the most important question before us is "What sort of defense will best glorify our God (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31)?" God forbid that in seeking to defend the faith before others we should in that very act compromise it. The so-called "presuppositional" school of apologetics is concerned above all with answering this question. Among all the sources of divine revelation (including nature, history, human beings in God's image), Scripture plays a central role. Indeed, though the point cannot be argued in detail here, my view is that Scripture is the supremely authoritative, inerrant Word of God, the divinely authored, written constitution of the church of Jesus Christ. Scripture is therefore the foundational authority for all of human life including apologetics. As the ultimate authority, the very Word of God, it provides the foundational justifications for all our reasoning, without itself being subject to prior justification.
John Frame

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Title Notes
Apologetics John M. Frame - This article was originally published in Kevin Vanhoozer, ed., Dictionary for the Theological Interpretation of the Bibleicon
Is Christianity Good for the World? Atheist Christopher Hitchens and Theologian Douglas Wilson Debateicon
Let God Be True: A Brief Defense of the Christian Faith Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.icon
Certainty John M. Frameicon
Presuppositional Apologetics John Frame - from IVP Dictionary of Apologetics.icon
Cornelius Van Til and Romans 1:18-21 David L. Turner (pdf) - A Study in the Epistemology of Presuppositional Apologeticsicon
Epistemological Perspectives and Evangelical Apologetics John M. Frameicon
Old Princeton Apologetics: Common Sense or Reformed? Tim McConnel - Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (Dec 2003)icon
Transcendental Arguments John Frame - from IVP Dictionary of Apologetics.icon
Unbelievers and the Knowledge of God: Biblical Warrant for a Presuppositional Apologetic K. Scott Oliphinticon
"Biblical Rationalism versus Psycho Assertionism" An informal email debate between Christian Vincent Cheung and atheist Derek Sansoneicon
"On Worshipping the Creature Rather Than the Creator," Dr. Greg Bahnsen - On Romans 1 and unbelieving thoughticon
"The Heart of the Matter: Knowing and Believing," Dr. Greg Bahnsen - An introduction for beginners in apologetics.icon
"Van Til and Self-Deception," Dr. Greg Bahnsenicon
1 Peter 3:15 Giving a Reason for Our Hope Grover Gunnicon
A Brief Outline Against Religious Neutrality Jimmy Liicon
A Christian Appraisal of Contemporary Philosophy Gordon H. Clarkicon
A Comparison of Apologetic Methods Grover Gunnicon
A Critique of the Evidentialist Apologetical Method of John Warwick Montgomery Dr. Greg Bahnsenicon
A Defence of Christianity C. VanTilicon
A Defense of Reformed (biblical) Apologetics Cornelius VanTilicon
A Primer on Presuppositionalism S. Joel Garvericon
A Short Explanation and Defense of Presuppositional Apologetics Grover Gunnicon
A Van Til Glossary John Frameicon
Absolutely No Common Ground? Scott Allen Willicon
Almost Lost – But Saved And Almost Saved – But Lost C. F. Boerkoel, Sricon
An Apology for my Theology: The Inseparable Link Between Reformed Theology and Presuppositional Apologetics Bryan Neal Bairdicon
Apologetic Method History and Current Discussion John M. Frame (.doc)icon
Apologetics and the Heart Douglas Wilsonicon
Apologetics at Westminster Seminary John Frameicon
Apologetics for Hipsters & Other Secularists J.W. Hendryxicon
Approaching Cults and World Religions from A Presuppositional Apologetic Perspective Jeff Downsicon
At War With the Word:The Necessity of Biblical Antithesis Greg L. Bahnsenicon
Atheism: a Dialogue between Chuck Colson and An Atheist Friend (.pdf)icon
Atheists Suck at Being Atheists Christopher Hitchens and Pastor Douglas Wilsonicon
Bahnsen at the Stein Debate John Frameicon
Can Religious Unbelief Be Proper Function Rational? Michael Sudduthicon
Caution - Depraved Minds at Work Don Craigicon
Christian Civilization is the Only Civilization Michael H. Warren, Jr.icon
Circularity and Christian Apologetics Jay Wegter - Do we prove the Bible from the Bible? Are Christians using circular reasoning when they employ an internal defense of Scripture?icon
Common Misunderstandings of Van Til's Apologetics - Part 1 Richard L. Pratticon
Common Misunderstandings of Van Til's Apologetics - Part 2 Richard L. Pratticon
Cornelius Van Til John Frame - from IVP's Dictionary of Apologeticsicon
Covenantal Apologetics K. Scott Oliphinticon
Defense of Presuppositional Apologetics Grover Gunnicon
Epistemology 101 Grover Gunnicon
Giving a Reason for our Hope Gorver Gunnicon
Hope's Reason: The Apologetic Significance of 1 Peter 3:13-17 DiCello, Carmen C.icon
How to Believe in God in the 2000s John Frameicon
I Can’t Repent Ichabod S. Spencericon
Impossible Neutrality: An Analogy from Humanistic Geography Jimmy Liicon
Infinite Series John M. Frame - from IVP Dictionary of Apologeticsicon
Is Non-Christian Thought Justifiable? A Debate among Douglas Jones, Michael Martin and Keith Parsonsicon
Jesus’ Sacrifice: a Dialogue between Ra McLaughlin and Various Members at Infidels.org IIIM Magazine Online (.pdf)icon
Jesus’ Sacrifice: a Dialogue between Ra McLaughlin and Various Members at Infidels.orgicon
Jonathan Edwards: Reformed Apologist Scott Oliphinticon
Justifying Non-Christian Objections Douglas Wilson & Farrell Tillicon
Lo, the Bombasticator Cometh Doug Wilson Reviews - "God Is Not Great" by Christopher Hitchensicon
Monergism Interview with Dr. Tim Keller J.W. Hendryxicon
Old Testament Vs. New Testament God by John Hendryxicon
Ontological Argument John Frame - from IVP Dictionary of Apologeticsicon
Presuppositional Apologetics Mark Duncanicon
Presuppositional Apologetics - Well-Written explanation from Wikipediaicon
Presuppositional Apologetics and the Moral Government of God Jay Wegtericon
Presuppositional Apologetics: An Introduction (Part I) John M. Frameicon
Presuppositional Apologetics: An Introduction (Part II) John M. Frameicon
Presuppositional Procedure Greg Bahnsen.icon
Presuppositional Reasoning With False Faiths Dr. Greg L. Bahnsenicon
Presuppositionalism or a Classical Approach, Must We Choose? Gregg Strawbridgeicon
Presuppositions and Rational Belief Keith Weltonicon
Prolegomena to Apologetics Dr. Greg Bahnsen - How to deal with being assaulted from every side by unbelief.icon
Reason, Evidence and Presuppositional Apologetics Rev. Brian M. Abshireicon
Reply to Don Collett on Transcendental Argument John M. Frame (Westminster Theological Journal)icon
Richard Dawkins Snookered for Jesus? Steve Haysicon
Schools Are Religious Robert R. Boothicon
Self-Refuting Statements John Frame - from IVP Dictionary of Apologetics.icon
Starbucks: The Land of Opportunity! James (Jay) Wilson - a fictional encounter I had with Ed while studying in Starbucksicon
TAG vs. TANG Michael Butlericon
The Apologetic Programme of Van Til as an Assault Against the Apologetic Tradition Bob Brentonicon
The Charge of Hypocrisy, Violence and Oppression John Hendryxicon
The Complete Wilson-Hitchens Debate (.pdf) Douglas Wilson (theist) & Christopher Hitchens (Atheist)icon
The Crucial Concept of Self-Deception in Presuppositional Apologetics Greg L. Bahnsenicon
The Epistemology of Pascal’s Wager: A Christian Presuppositional Argument Joel Esalaicon
The Fountainhead of Presuppositionalism Dr. James Oliver Buswell, Jr.icon
The Important Questions: a Dialogue between Cary Smith and Ph.D Candidate (.pdf)icon
The Martin-Frame Debate The Transcendental Argument for the Non Existence of Godicon
The Message of Cornelius Van Til John Frameicon
The Necessity of Scripture in Justifying Logic Ronald W. Di Giacomoicon
The Presuppositional Apologetic James M. Harrisonicon
The Reason for God: A Critical Interactive Review David Robertsonicon
The Relevance of Presuppositions and Evidence Carmen C. DiCelloicon
The Role and Use of Evidence in Reformed Presuppositional Apologetics Alejandro Moreno Morrisonicon
The Role and Use of Evidence in Reformed Presuppositional Apologetics (1/2) Alejandro Moreno Morrisonicon
The Role and Use of Evidence in Reformed Presuppositional Apologetics (2/2) Alejandro Moreno Morrisonicon
Triads for Apologetics John Frameicon
Van Til and Plantinga: A Brief Comparison James Andersonicon
Van Til and the Ligonier Apologetic John M. Frameicon
Van Til and the Ligonier Apologetic John Frameicon
Van Til on Antithesis John Frameicon
Van Til's "Presuppositionalism Dr. Greg Bahnsenicon
Van Til's Most Succinct Synopsis This the second excerpt from Dr. Bahnsen's book: "Van Til's Apologetics". A synopsis of his critique of the "traditional method" and a synopsis of the presuppositional apologetic that he feels is the best method to defend theicon
Van Til, The Theologian John Frameicon
Van Til: A Reassessment John Frameicon
Van Til: His Logic, Epistemology, and Apologetic Nathan Pitchfordicon
Van Til: His Simplicity and Profundity John Frameicon
Was J. Gresham Machen A Consistent Calvinist? Shane Rosenthal: Van Til vs. Machen & The Princeton Apologetic of Common Senseicon
Weighing the Evidence But on Whose Scales Grover Gunnicon
Why I Believe In God Cornelius Van Tilicon
Why is Secularism Exempt from the Separation of Church and State? John Hendryxicon
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