BY JOHN MARTIGNONI
Q: What does the word “apologetics” mean?
A: The word “apologetics” is derived from an ancient Greek word, apologia, which means: an apology. Not an apology in the modern sense of the word, which is to say you’re sorry for something, but rather an apology in the ancient sense of the word, which is: to make a reasoned defense of something or someone. In ancient times, the word apology referred to the case a lawyer would make on behalf of his client.
So, apologetics, is about building the case for our Faith - learning how to explain and defend our Faith. Basically, there are three types of apologetics: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics. Natural apologetics builds the case for truths that we can know from the “natural” light of reason, truths that are able to be known without any divine intervention.
Truths such as the existence of God, the existence of the human soul, the objective reality of right and wrong - truths which the articles of our Faith rest upon and build upon. Christian apologetics, on the other hand, builds the case for divinely revealed truths - truths that cannot be known by reason apart from faith. Truths such as the reality of biblical miracles, the Incarnation, the divinity of Christ, and the Resurrection to name a few.
Catholic apologetics encompasses all of Christian apologetics - since Catholicism is the fullness of Christianity - but Catholic apologetics tends to focus on those truths of Christianity that are not generally believed by non-Catholic Christians. Truths such as: the Catholic Church being the one Church founded by Jesus Christ, apostolic succession, the sacraments, the papacy, Mary’s Assumption, and others.
Again, the three main types of apologetics are: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics. In these columns we focus mainly on Catholic apologetics - how to explain and defend the truths of our Catholic Faith.
Q: What does the word “apologetics” mean?
A: The word “apologetics” is derived from an ancient Greek word, apologia, which means: an apology. Not an apology in the modern sense of the word, which is to say you’re sorry for something, but rather an apology in the ancient sense of the word, which is: to make a reasoned defense of something or someone. In ancient times, the word apology referred to the case a lawyer would make on behalf of his client.
So, apologetics, is about building the case for our Faith - learning how to explain and defend our Faith. Basically, there are three types of apologetics: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics. Natural apologetics builds the case for truths that we can know from the “natural” light of reason, truths that are able to be known without any divine intervention.
Truths such as the existence of God, the existence of the human soul, the objective reality of right and wrong - truths which the articles of our Faith rest upon and build upon. Christian apologetics, on the other hand, builds the case for divinely revealed truths - truths that cannot be known by reason apart from faith. Truths such as the reality of biblical miracles, the Incarnation, the divinity of Christ, and the Resurrection to name a few.
Catholic apologetics encompasses all of Christian apologetics - since Catholicism is the fullness of Christianity - but Catholic apologetics tends to focus on those truths of Christianity that are not generally believed by non-Catholic Christians. Truths such as: the Catholic Church being the one Church founded by Jesus Christ, apostolic succession, the sacraments, the papacy, Mary’s Assumption, and others.
Again, the three main types of apologetics are: natural apologetics, Christian apologetics, and Catholic apologetics. In these columns we focus mainly on Catholic apologetics - how to explain and defend the truths of our Catholic Faith.
 | About John Martignoni John Martignoni is the Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama and also the President of the Bible Christian Society. John's column, Apologetics 101, appears regularly in the diocesan newspaper, the One Voice. If you have a question about the Catholic Faith, please send an email to: jmartignoni@bhmdiocese.org. And check out John's free audio and written apologetics materials at: www.biblechristiansociety.com. |
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