Faith and Apologetics Journal
by: Dan
Baxter
1) Summarize the topic of the section.
The topic of this section is to show that we can defend the faith through apologetics. Apologetics means the defense of the Faith by showing that the weight of scientific, philosophical, and theological evidence favors Christianity. This evidence can be classified as being found in either the natural world or the human person. This section uses a number of teleological arguments which are arguments which attempt to show through logical arguments that the universe was purposefully created.
2) List and explain three of the most important ideas you want to remember from this section and why you believe they are worth mentioning.
One of the most important ideas I want to remember from this section is that there are five basic inclinations of human nature. These are to seek happiness, to preserve oneself in existence, to preserve the species, to live in community with others, and to use intellect and will in order to know the truth and to make free decisions. I believe it is important to remember these ideas because they apply to everyone including me.
Another important idea from this section which I would like to remember is C.S. Lewis’ argument for the existence of God. Lewis uses moral law as evidence for God’s existence. He states first that there is a universal moral law that applies to everyone. Because there is a moral law, there must have been someone who made it. Lewis says this “lawmaker” is God. I want to remember this argument because I find it to be a very plausible argument for the existence of God.
Finally, I would like to remember the Golden Ratio. The Golden Ratio is an irrational number which can be found mysteriously all throughout nature. This number has been used in artwork, music, and architecture because it is found pleasing to the eye. This mysterious number clearly suggests some form of intelligent design to the universe. I want to remember the Golden Ratio because I find it to be an extremely plausible argument for the existence of God.
3) One image that reminds you of Jesus.
This picture reminds me of Jesus because I find the beauty of nature to be the best evidence for a loving God.
4) Provide a
short reflection on who you say Jesus is.
I believe Jesus is man and God. He is the Messiah and one of the greatest moral teachers of all time. I believe this because, if he is not these things, then he was a liar or a mad-man. More evidence for this claim is the miraculous change Jesus’ disciples went through after his death. They went from being terrified and hiding to giving up everything for him to preach his words and eventually die for him. Their reason for this was because Jesus had risen from the dead. While history offers no concrete records of Jesus’ life other than that he was a man who lived in the 1st century and was crucified, we can see that in his followers an amazing change took place and within only a few centuries, the message of Christ had expanded over the known world.