I know there are a number of forums out there with great discussions happening, but it seems like it is mostly the same people participating in the discussion. I’m hoping to get the conversation going on here by asking an open-ended question. The goal is to get the conversation started. What happens from there is up to you. I know people don’t comment much on blogs, but I encourage you to leave a response and participate. Just the process of typing your answer may be beneficial to you. Please feel free to remain anonymous and use a pseudonym in the name line.
So, here’s this month’s questions.
Should we teach kids how to defend their faith (apologetics)?
For added discussion: Does the Christian faith even need to be defended? Does teaching them apologetics make our faith sound weak? How do we do this? Special classes? During Sunday School? During regular kids’ church? If we do teach it, at what age should we start?
[polldaddy poll=4281724]
Yes, I think we should begin to introduce apologetics with children. I think that knowing how to defend our faith is becoming increasingly important in today’s society, as it seems we’re meeting more and more opposition. Even when Christianity is not directly opposed, we need that knowledge to shine a light in a world where the idea of there being many paths to God is becoming more common, and religious groups, such as Mormons and Muslims, are growing. I think that apologetics is especially important in youth group, because this is when kids are hearing more about different beliefs, and when their beliefs are really solidified, impacting what they will believe as adults. Also, at this age, their minds are more capable of thinking about these things, that are often not concrete, visible ideas. If teenagers have never heard anything apologetic, it may come as a shock to them.
In answer to your other question, I don’t think that apologetics makes Christianity seem weak. Someone will always ask “Why?” or “How?” about whatever you believe. We need to have answers to those questions, both for the people who ask, and to strenghten our own faith and understanding. In fact, apologetics makes Christianity seem stronger to me, because so much points in the direction of what we believe.