Christian Apologetics as Cross-Cultural Dialogue

277 Pages·2011·0.96 MB·English

by  Benno van den Toren

Christian Apologetics as Cross-Cultural Dialogue

Christian Apologetics as
Cross-Cultural Dialogue
Benno vAn Den Toren
Published by T&T Clark International
A Continuum Imprint
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All rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording
or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
© Benno van den Toren, 2011
Benno van den Toren has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents
Act, 1988, to be identified as the Author of this work.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBn: 978-0-567-19337-7
Typeset by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, norfolk nr21 8nn
Printed and bound in India
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the new revised Standard
version Bible: Anglicized edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian
education of the national Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of
America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[B]ut in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your
defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in
you (1Pe 3:15)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good
and acceptable and perfect. (ro 12:2)

For Berdine

TaBLe of ConTenTs
Preface xi
Chapter 1 1
Two Converging Challenges for Christian Apologetic Witness
Chapter 2 35
Postmodern Criticism of Modern Western Apologetics
Chapter 3 66
Theological Appreciation of Modern Western Apologetics
Chapter 4 93
Christian Anthropology for Understanding Apologetics
Chapter 5 120
Surprised by reality
Chapter 6 154
Contextual Apologetics
Chapter 7 178
Cross-Cultural Persuasion
Chapter 8 211
reaching the reasons of the Heart
Bibliography 231
Index 255