Catholic Apologetics

Catholic apologetics is the field of study concerned with the systematic defense of Catholocism. The term "apologetic" comes from the Greek word apologia, which means in defense of; therefore a person involved in Catholic or Bible Apologetics is a defender of Catholocism. Someone who engages in Catholic apologetics is called a "Catholic Apologist". Catholic apologetics have taken many forms over the centuries, starting with Saint Paul, including renowned writers such as Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas,  and continuing today with the modern Christian community through authors such as Karl Keating and Jimmy Akin. Apologists have based their defense of Christianity on favoring interpretations of historical evidence, philosophical arguments, scientific investigation, and other avenues.

This Classical Greek term appears in the Koine (i.e. common) Greek of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul employed the term "apologia" in his trial speech to Festus and Agrippa when he said, "I make my defense" (Acts 26:2). In the English language, the word apology, derived from the Greek word "apologia", usually refers to asking for forgiveness for an action that is open to blame. Christian apologetics are meant, however, to argue that Christianity is reasonable and in accordance with the evidence that can be examined,

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, following the Thomist tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas and the dogmatic definition of the First Vatican Council, affirms that it is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that God's existence can in fact be rationally demonstrated. On this view, a distinction is to be drawn between (1) doctrines that belong essentially to faith and cannot be proved, such as the doctrine of the Trinity or the Incarnation, and (2) doctrines that can be accepted by faith but can also be known by reason; that is, truths revealed by special revelation and by general revelation. The existence of God is said to be one of the latter. As a theological defense of this view, one might cite Paul's claim that pagans were without excuse because "since the creation of the world [God's] invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made" (Rom. 1:20).

Catholic Apologetics Links

 San Juan Catholic Seminars

 CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS INFORMATION

 Welcome to Scripture Catholic - Providing Scriptural Evidence for ...

 Evangelical Catholic Apologetics Philosophy Spirituality  ...

 Catholic Documents and Apologetic / General Websites

 Catholic Pages Directory: ; Evangelization ; APOLOGETICS

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