PART TWO:  INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCRATIC METHOD  (CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK’S BLOG—DATED JANUARY 4, 2016)

Last week I began a new series of blog articles explaining the apologetic technique of putting the burden of proof on unbelievers who challenge Christian truth-claims. This is called the Socratic Method, and it entails asking pertinent questions that obligates them to explain and give good reasons for their skepticism—as well as to substantiate their own positions on the issues they raise.

Most skeptics of Christianity are parroting what they learn in popular culture, in secular schools, and in magazines, journals, radio, and movies. These skeptics rarely have any objective evidence to support their beliefs and rarely wonder if their criticisms are actually true. Most non-Christians just assume that what they learn through popular culture is reliable. The Socratic method is successful because it brings to light speculation and hearsay by encouraging critics to justify their arguments and opinions. Combined with our sincere love for them, this method encourages critics of Christianity to think through and evaluate their own beliefs. When non-Christians conclude for themselves that there is no objective evidence for their faultfinding assumptions about Christianity, a small victory is won in the larger spiritual battle.

Obviously some non-Christians will intelligently respond to our Socratic questions. But when they do, we’ve still achieved three important goals. First, we’ve begun to build a sincere relationship with the skeptics through which the light of Jesus can shine. Second, we’ve encouraged the skeptics to evaluate their own positions on the issues at hand. They are forced to confront and mend weaknesses—if they can. Third, if they conclude for themselves that their views lack objective support, they may become more willing listeners to Christian perspectives.

Try applying the Socratic Method, at least initially, in apologetic situations. It will greatly increase your effectiveness in apologetics and hinder or even stop the wrong thinking and unsubstantiated arguments on which many non-Christians rely in their attacks against Christianity.

In the next two week’s blog articles, I’ll outline seven kinds of questions we can ask when applying the Socratic Method, which are relevant to the major intellectual and cultural challenges Christians typically encounter: The truth and reliability of the Bible, creation versus evolution, atheism, Jesus Christ, and postmodern philosophy with its resultant moral issues. In later blog articles, I give specific examples of questions relevant to these five common intellectual challenges that Christians face. ©

* This series of blog articles is adapted from my books Engaging the Closed Minded: Presenting Your Faith to the Confirmed Unbeliever and The Christian Combat Manual: Helps for Defending Your Faith; A Handbook for Practical Apologetics, which can be purchased at most outlets.