Pushing the Antithesis: The Apologetic Methodology of Greg L. Bahnsen

by Gary Demar

Publisher:

American Vision

, 2007

Overview

Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen believed that to deal with the academics of the day and their arguments against the Christian faith, it is necessary to do battle with them at the highest levels of scholarship—using their intellectual tools against them. He could quickly analyze and give direct and compelling answers to all their objections. Prior to his untimely death in 1995, Dr. Bahnsen delivered a series of lectures on apologetics at American Vision’s Life Preparation Conference. These lectures are rare in that they are some of the only video presentations of Dr. Bahnsen’s teachings.

The week-long sessions, presented before high school and college students, set forth the basics of the Christian worldview and the biblical approach to defending the faith. These lessons have been distilled and turned into a one-of-a kind handbook on apologetics. Pushing the Antithesis consists of 12 chapters that include study questions, an answer key, a glossary of terms, and a comprehensive bibliography. If you want to be equipped to present the truth of the gospel in a compelling way, then Pushing the Antithesis is required reading.

Since Pushing the Antithesis is fully integrated with Logos, Scripture passages are linked to your favorite translation for quick reference and to your Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts for original-language study! You can also read this volume along with your Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the wealth of other Bible study tools in your digital library.

Key Features

• Foreword by the editor
• Practical application for each chapter
• Study questions and answers
• Suggestions for further reading

Contents

Top Highlights

“The unbeliever will challenge you to build your case for God on neutral ground, without building on your foundation in God. Be warned! If you don’t start with God as your basic assumption, you can’t prove anything. The assumption of God’s existence is essential to all reasoning.” (Page 7)

“Evidences of a factual nature are certainly important in the defense of the Christian faith,⁴ but I would soon learn that they should never be viewed independently of a person’s worldview. The evidentialist approach assumes facts are neutral, that they ‘speak for themselves,’ and that those evaluating the facts are without biases or operating worldview assumptions in their interpretation of the facts. If a skeptic begins with the premise that miracles don’t happen, then all the evidence in the world will not convince him otherwise. His operating anti-supernatural starting point will assume that there must be some naturalistic explanation that was not understood by those writing in a pre-scientific time.” (Page xii)

“There are two important truths which impact our apologetic method when dealing with the problem of (alleged) neutrality. One matter is factual, the other is moral: (1) Factually, we must recognize that the unbeliever is not neutral. To overlook this is to approach the unbeliever from a starting point that actually acknowledges his skeptical worldview while neutralizing the biblical worldview. (2) Morally, we must understand that the believer should not be neutral. If we do not realize this we will engage the defense of the faith in a non-faithful way.” (Page 25)

Product Details

• Title: Pushing the Antithesis: The Apologetic Methodology of Greg L. Bahnsen
• Editor: Gary DeMar
• Publisher: American Vision
• Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 270

About Gary Demar

Gary DeMar is the president of American Vision, and has authored over 27 titles including Last Days Madness: The Obsession of the Modern Church and Is Jesus Coming Soon?