Part Three:  Examples of Questions that Put the “Burden of Proof” on Non-Christians

In last week’s blog article, I listed the five areas where most of the intellectual and worldview challenges that Christians encounter occur: The Bible, creation, atheism, Jesus, and postmodern philosophy with its resultant moral issues. In all five of these, there are two categories of Socratic questions that we can ask.

First, we can ask questions that challenge skeptics of Christianity to explain what they believe, why they believe it, what difference it makes, and so on. For example, “What do you know about the Bible that causes you to reject it? Have you read it for yourself?” “Where did you learn that all religions are true?” “Have you ever examined the scientific evidence for creation; if not, aren’t you taking evolution for granted? “

The second category is to ask questions that are essentially identical to the kinds of questions unbelievers ask us—what I call rebound questions. For example, “How do you know your holy book is true revelation?” “How do you explain the presence of pain and suffering?” “How do you know your religion is true when it contradicts other religions?” The purpose here is to help non-Christians recognize problems with their own worldview, but which they have no adequate solution—and have probably never considered. People seldom think through their beliefs. Religious and ethical presuppositions are usually taken for granted as truth. The right rebound questions forces non-Christians to rethink their beliefs, and when they do they are frequently more willing to listen to Christian alternatives.

In this and next week’s blog article we’ll example seven examples of the first category of Socratic questions. Then, in article five, we’ll example a variety of rebound questions. Today, we’ll look at the first three in category one

1. What do you mean by that?

This question forces critics to clarify and elaborate their views. If people are merely parroting something they heard, it quickly becomes obvious because they won’t be able to explain what they mean. For example:

• “What do you mean Christians are intolerant? Aren’t you being a bit intolerant when you say I can’t share my faith?
• “What do you mean the Bible is full of contradictions? Here’s my Bible. Please show me some examples?” (Sometimes non-Christian will be familiar with an apparent contradiction. But there are many resources available that answer them.)

2. How do you know that’s true?

When appropriate, we can challenge skeptics to give proof or evidence for their anti-Christian assertions.

• “How do you know that Jesus, who claimed to be God and demonstrated divinity, isn’t God?”
• “Eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive after His publicly certified death and burial. How do you know Jesus’ resurrection is a myth?”

3. Why should I believe that?
Encourage skeptics in a loving way to give the same kinds of evidence to support their views that they expect us to support ours. We want skeptics to realize that they can offer no compelling reason for why we should accept what they say.

• “Why should I believe that The Book of Mormon is divine revelation when (unlike the Bible) there is no historical confirmation?”
• “Why should I believe in evolution when the fossil evidence doesn’t support it?”
• “Why should I believe that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God when he made numerous false prophecies?”
• “Why should I believe the Qur’an when it gives distorted information about Jesus and contradicts eyewitness testimonies in the Bible?”

Next week we will examine the remaining four Socratic questions in category one

* 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.