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 […]
persuasion
Does it degrade public discourse to call people buffoons, fools, and clowns?
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, […]
Good arguments don’t need to persuade everyone to be good
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 […]
How a “vaccine-hesitant” mom changed her mind, and what that can teach the apologist
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 […]
Abortion: We may never agree, but can we at least concede the other side has a point?
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 […]
Why do good apologetic arguments produce bad results?
Bernie’s Biggest Blindspot? The problem of advertising in democratic elections
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 […]
A Slap of Persuasion? A Review of Os Guinness, Fool’s Talk: Recovering the Art of Christian Persuasion
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 […]
