Classical Apologetics
In Five Views on Apologetics, William Lane Craig presents the methodology known as “classical apologetics.” The best way to understand classical apologetics is to consider it a two-step task. The first step is to present arguments for theism in general. In doing so, one need not present conclusive “proof” of God’s existence, but that His existence is at least more probable than not. The second task is to present evidences for the Christian faith.
I think William Lane Craig does a wonderfully effective job at both tasks. First, using the kalam cosmological argument, he establishes the existence of a Personal Creator of the universe. Then, by examining the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth he shows that this Creator has revealed himself in Christ. Certainly, other arguments could be offered instead of these, but Craig finds this strategy particularly effective.
One important point that Craig makes is that there is a difference in knowing one’s Christian faith to be true and in showing it to be true. He considers Christian beliefs for an individual to be properly basic, warranted beliefs grounded in the self-authenticating witness of the Holy Spirit. While rational arguments may confirm our Christian beliefs, a person can be considered completely rational in holding to their Christian beliefs even in the absence of rational argument and evidence. Showing Christian theism to be true, however, is done by presenting evidences and arguments which show that the Christian worldview is the most plausible one. Craig concludes:
This account also permits us to commend our faith to unbelievers, not merely by proclamation, but also by rational persuasion. Our appeal is to the whole person, not only to the heart, but to the head as well. We can show unbelievers that the most reasonable thing they can do with their lives is to commit them to Christ. At the same time, we are not so naive as to think that we can argue people into the kingdom of God. Conversion is exclusively the role of the Spirit. But we can rationally commend our faith to others in the confidence that some, whose hearts he has opened, will respond to the apologetic we present and place their faith in Christ.