The Beauty of Presuppositional Apologetics

As you probably know, when it comes to apologetic methodology, Presuppositional Apologetics as conceived of by Cornelius Van Til is probably the most controversial.

However, there is something about it that makes it the best defense of the Christian faith: the transcendental argument. Transcendental arguments in general aim to show that some principle which a skeptic denies is necessary for some other principle which the skeptic takes for granted. 

This implies that, if successful, a transcendental argument will show a performative inconsistency in the skeptic. This is the ad hominem nature of transcendental arguments. That is, they are directed to the man - the skeptic. They show that his skepticism is only possible due to the very thing he denies.

Apply this to the debate over the truth of Christianity. Van Til’s transcendental argument aims to establish Christianity as transcendentally necessary. In other words, it aims to establish Christianity as a necessary precondition of all rational and intelligible human experience. Thus, we can apply the ad hominem nature of the transcendental argument to the unbeliever. We can point out that skepticism of Christianity is only possible if Christianity is true. This observation leads to some interesting things. To see this, take a look at the following syllogism:


1. If the transcendental argument for Christian Theism [TACT] is sound, then there are no successful arguments against Christianity.

2. TACT is sound.

3. Therefore, there are no successful arguments against Christianity.


There are two key takeaways from the above argument:

First, it shows that even if the apologist does not have a rebuttal to a particular argument against Christianity, as long as he can show the soundness of his transcendental argument, he has a principled way to reject the argument as unsuccessful.

Second, it shows that the question of the soundness of TACT is logically prior to all others within the context of the debate between Christian and unbeliever. The unbeliever must first show that TACT is unsound before he can launch any argument or objection against Christianity.

Because arguments against Christianity can only be launched if reality is intelligible, the question of what worldview secures the intelligibility of experience must first be answered before any arguments/objections for or against Christianity can be addressed. This fact allows the presuppositional apologist to ensure that the unbeliever takes on the transcendental challenge. The unbeliever must demonstrate that he can secure the intelligibility of his experience (and, by extension, the possibility of even arguing rationally) while rejecting Christianity.

But as we know, he cannot demonstrate such a thing. This is because TACT is sound, and Christianity is, in fact, transcendentally necessary. All the Van Tilian has to do is demonstrate this to the unbeliever. 

And The Best Argument for Christianity was written to help Van Tilians do exactly that. It explains in a clear and concise way why Christianity - and Reformed Christianity ALONE - accounts for the possibility of human knowledge. You can get it here.

Anyways, that’s what I wanted to share with you today. 

God bless!

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