This episode dives into:

Why Study Apologetics?

• All Christians are called to defend their faith, as stated in 1 Peter 3:15:
  “Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.”
  
  

The Reality of a Post-Christian Society

• Society is moving further from Christ, with increasing attacks on Christianity.
• Misinformation online, like claims about “lost gospels,” Bible translation issues, or “copies of copies,” needs to be countered with truth.
  
  

Top Resources for Learning Apologetics

• Books:
  • ✦ The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (also a movie).
  • ✦ I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek.
  • ✦ Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Sean and Josh McDowell.
  • ✦ Apologetics Study Bible—includes helpful commentary and resources.
  • ✦ Thinking About Christian Apologetics by James K. Beilby.
    
    
• Speakers and Teachers:
  • ✦ J. Warner Wallace, Frank Turek, Dr. Gary Habermas, Sean McDowell, Abdu Murray, Wesley Hough, and Inspiring Philosophy.
  • ✦ Check out Wesley Hough’s website for beginner-friendly infographics and tips.
    
    

Understanding Belief and Unbelief

• Belief in Christianity is about more than knowledge—it’s transformation into the image of Christ.
  
  
• Unbelief can stem from intellectual objections (problem of evil, reliability of Scripture) or personal experiences (wounding within the Church).
  
  

The “Minimum Facts” Case for the Resurrection

• Dr. Gary Habermas identifies six key facts:
  • ✦ Jesus died by crucifixion.
  • ✦ Disciples believed they saw the risen Jesus.
  • ✦ The disciples were willing to die for their belief.
  • ✦ Resurrection preaching dates back to the cross.
  • ✦ James and Paul converted after encounters with the risen Jesus.
  • ✦ Evidence includes historical records and eyewitness reports, including nine ancient sources inside and outside the Bible.
    
    

Rebuttals to Common Objections

• Mass Hallucination: Impossible for 500 people to share the same hallucination (Dr. Roberta Waters).
  
  
• Swoon Theory: Jesus didn’t survive the crucifixion; medical evidence proves His death (Dr. Alexander Metherell).
  
  
• Criterion of Embarrassment: Women discovered the empty tomb—a culturally “embarrassing” fact that proves the Gospels were committed to truth over persuasion.