For many young people, “apologetics” is an unfamiliar concept and an unfamiliar word. While older generations do remember apologetics from their school days, because there has not been much interest in apologetics in recent history, their memories have faded and apologetics has no practical place in their lives as Catholics.

However, older generations do recall that apologetics meant being able and willing to defend the faith and to engage in rational discussion with those who criticised it, misunderstood it or had questions about it. 

Contemporary theological, pastoral literature is once again highlighting the importance of apologetics in the ministry of the Church. The emphasis is on explaining and defending the faith in a context of respectful dialogue.

The reason for the new appreciation of apologetics is rather obvious: globalisation has facilitated an impacting of religions and cultures that is both significant and irreversible. 

I shall use my column for the next two weeks to examine the history, the definition and the contemporary approach of apologetics with application to challenges of our globalised world.

A Summary History

Early Church

The New Testament shows how the early Church was in continual dialogue with both Jews and Pagans to give a reasoned defense of the faith. Apostles and catechists taught the new Christians and especially potential converts that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and that through his miracles, especially the resurrection, proved that he was not only Messiah, but also Lord.

The martyrs testified to their faith to their executioners before they were killed. Luke opens his gospel by assuring the people of the certain foundation for the teaching he has received. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews was explicitly apologetic and had the aim of protecting the new converts from returning to Judaism.

 The Second Letter of Peter defended the faith by contrasting the truth of the Gospel with the cleverly devised myths of the pagans and the false teaching of some within the Christian community.  

Patristic age

From the second century on apologetics became one of the most dominant forms of Christian literature. It was addressed to the civil rulers to help the Christian community obtain civil recognition. It was directed to Jews and pagans to encourage them to give up their errors. It was directed to anti-Christian rulers to show that the Christian faith is not subversive and that Christians have done nothing to deserve death.
Apologists argued for religious freedom for the Christian community. Eventually, apologists concentrated on defending the faith against religious error within the Christian community.

Middle Ages

In the seventh century, apologetic dialogue began between Christians and Muslims. In the thirteenth century, apologetic literature began to concentrate on the distinction between religious truth accessible by reason and religious truth accessible only by revelation.

The reformers de-emphasised the role of reason and accepted the norm that revelation should be accepted on faith alone. Eventually they accepted that reason could be used as a preparation for faith. Catholic apologists, while engaging in polemical disputes with Protestants about an over-emphasis on private judgment, began to respond to a growing trend of unbelief in Europe by stressing the evidence for accepting the faith.

The Enlightenment

From the mid-seventeenth century to the eighteenth century, apologists had to deal with a revolutionary movement that was characterised by a confidence in reason, an optimistic view of the world and a celebration of freedom.

It was anti-supernatural, anti-sacramental and resistant to authority-based theology. It presented a formidable challenge to a religious understanding of human existence and Christian ethics.

Nineteenth and twentieth centuries

In this period of history there was a reaction to the Enlightenment and a new form of apologetics developed. It did not so much defend traditional dogmas as much as it opened the door to the religious instinct that gives rise to faith.

Famous converts from Protestantism to Catholicism shared with the world the reasons for their journey to the Catholic faith. They showed how the faith could be harmonized with a respect for reason and freedom.

The twenty-first century

Although this century is still quite young, it is already clear that apologists will have to deal with the influence that fundamentalism, secularization and new age philosophies are having on people. Too many people are struggling with information overload as they search for God and for meaning in their lives.

Conclusion to Part I
The consistent presence of apologetics in the history of the Church is an indication of its importance for the life of the Church. People have a need to be at peace with their faith especially when confronted by catastrophic events and overwhelming human suffering. They need to have a reasonable level of confidence when their faith is challenged or when they are challenged personally as believers.   

It is no accident that cyberspace is now filled with programmes about religious, gnostic and new age philosophies and theologies. These programmes are competing for the minds and hearts of people, especially the young.

Catholic apologists need to be present and active in the explosion of websites and interactive programming. As people are exposed to other faiths and contemporary spiritual movements, especially through the electronic media, they must be able to source information and insight from their own faith tradition to maintain perspective. Apologetics helps people to process doubts about their faith.

Apologetics is an important component of the new evangelization. It should be a priority for pastoral planning in both religious education/formation and Catholic communications ministry. 
(to be continued)