• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Randal Rauser

Home of progressively evangelical, generously orthodox, rigorously analytic, revolutionary Christian thinking (that's what I'm aiming for anyway)

  • About
  • Books
  • Articles
    • Articles (single)
    • Articles (in series)
  • Audio/Video
    • Audio Interviews, Lectures, and Debates
    • Video Interviews and Lectures
    • Powerpoint Slides
  • Blog
    • Current Posts
    • Blog Archives
  • Podcasts
    • The Tentative Apologist Podcast
    • Archived Podcasts
    • Reviews

persuasion

A Short Word on Good Arguments

March 28, 2020 by Randal

What is a “strong argument”? This is a question that every apologist should consider. You should start with premises that are true or plausibly true. Next, a conclusion that follows from the premises. That makes it a *valid* argument. But there’s more. After all, a valid argument with premises which cannot be understood by the […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: argument, persuasion, rhetoric

Does it degrade public discourse to call people buffoons, fools, and clowns?

May 22, 2019 by Randal

This article consists of an exchange I had on Twitter with a fellow named “Jar Jar” (whether the surname is “Binks” is TBD). Here’s my initial offending tweet: Remember when Trump said he hires only the best people? The sheer ignorance of #BenCarson is deeply distressing. #KatiePorter, on the other hand, is amazing. Once again, […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: persuasion, public discourse, rhetoric

Good arguments don’t need to persuade everyone to be good

February 17, 2019 by Randal

This morning, I tweeted a brief critique of Carl Sagan’s famous soliloquy on the pale blue dot: Carl Sagan famously looked at an image of that "pale blue dot" called earth taken from Voyager 1 and mused about human insignificance in the universe. Sorry, Dr. Sagan, size does not map onto significance. One human life […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: argument, persuasion, soundness, validity

How a “vaccine-hesitant” mom changed her mind, and what that can teach the apologist

December 7, 2018 by Randal

In apologetics, arguments are important. But whoa man, disposition/attitude is even more important. If you want a great example of this point, please listen to this story from the CBC radio show “As it Happens.” Don’t worry: it’s only 7 minutes. Just broadcast yesterday, it tells the story of a “vaccine-hesitant” mother who was eventually persuaded […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: anti-vax, apologetics, persuasion

Abortion: We may never agree, but can we at least concede the other side has a point?

May 2, 2018 by Randal

For decades, abortion has remained among the most volatile ethical and public policy debates in western society. This polarization is rooted in large part in the complexity of the issue itself, but it is also spurred on by uncompromising rhetoric on both sides. Thus, for example, prolifers disparage the prochoice position as “baby murder” while the prochoicers respond by invoking […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: abortion, debate, dialogue, persuasion

Why do good apologetic arguments produce bad results?

November 19, 2017 by Randal

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, argument, persuasion, plausibility structure

Bernie’s Biggest Blindspot? The problem of advertising in democratic elections

February 22, 2016 by Randal

Bernie Sanders’ campaign has generated a lot of excitement. Who could have foreseen last May that the awkward campaign launch of this stern septuagenarian with the dandruff and wild hair would erupt into one of the biggest political stories of the last year? While Sanders has attracted many followers with his promise of universal health […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: advertising, Bernie Sanders, ethics, persuasion, politics

A Slap of Persuasion? A Review of Os Guinness, Fool’s Talk: Recovering the Art of Christian Persuasion

August 26, 2015 by Randal

Os Guinness, Fool’s Talk: Recovering the Art of Christian Persuasion. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2015). Os Guinness’s latest book, Fool’s Talk, is devoted to a very important topic: apologetic persuasion. And the time couldn’t be better for such a book: While contemporary Christian apologetic arguments have attained an impressive level of sophistication, all too often the […]

Filed Under: The Tentative Apologist Tagged With: apologetics, dialogue, Os Guinness, persuasion, review, rhetoric

Footer

Against Malaria Foundation

Against Malaria Foundation

Support Kiva

Support Kiva

Search this website

Archives



Copyright © 2023 • Randal Rauser • A Steady Site