Critical Listening Does what the other person says make sense?

Conversational Apologetics Open Questions  To understand and know them Pointed Questions  To remove the “roof” of their irrational assumptions Explain the Gospel  Only when asked Nurture The Relationship  Help unbelievers grow towards Christ  Help believers to grow IN Christ

Fallacies of Distraction False Dilemma: A limited number of options is given, when more exist.  Example: George Bush either lied to the American people, or he was just plain stupid.  Pointed Question: Are smart people always right?

Fallacies of Distraction Argument from ignorance: Lack of evidence to the contrary is given as proof.  Example: Since you cannot prove that Intelligent Design is true, it must be false.  Pointed Question: Did the earth really go around the Sun, even before scientists discovered that it did?

Fallacies of Distraction Slippery Slope: A series of unacceptable events is predicted to occur.  Example: If the School Board allows the teaching of Intelligent Design, it won’t be long before Darwin is banished from the class room, and science classes will be taught by fundamentalist Pastors.  Pointed Question: How would the School Board allowing Intelligent Design to be taught result in Darwin being banished, let alone Pastors teaching science classes?

Motives in Place of Support Prejudicial Language: value or moral goodness is attached to believing the author  Example: I can’t understand how any reasonable person can believe God would condemn people to everlasting torment, just because they don’t believe in Him.  Pointed Question: Do you think justice is “reasonable?”

Fallacies of Distraction Complex Question: Two unrelated points are joined as if they are one.  Example: Do you support the teaching of evolution and the separation of church and state?  Pointed Question: What does the separation of church and state have to do with teaching evolution?

Fallacies of Explanation Limited Depth: The theory does not rely on underlying causes.  Example: You are just saying that the Bible is God’s Word because you’re a Christian!  Pointed Question: Yes, Christians do think the Bible is God’s Word. Why do you think we do?

Fallacies of Explanation Untestability: The argument cannot be tested.  Example: In John 20:28, Thomas calls Jesus “my God” not because Jesus really is God, but because Jesus had become the full embodiment of God on earth.  Pointed Question: How could we know if Jesus really was God, as opposed to just being called “God” because He embodied God on earth?

Fallacies of Missing the Point Begging the Question: A circular argument in which the conclusion is assumed in the premise.  Example: In John 17:3, Jesus calls the Father, “the only true God;” therefore Jesus cannot be the true God, and the Trinity is proven false.  Pointed Question: If the Trinity is true, why can’t Jesus call the Father “the only true God?”

Fallacies of Missing the Point Irrelevant Conclusion: An argument in defense of one conclusion instead proves a different conclusion  Example: You should support a woman’s right to choose an abortion; there are too many unwanted babies in this world as it is.  Pointed Question: There may be too many unwanted babies, but you wouldn’t advocate we kill them after they’re born, would you?

Fallacies of Missing the Point Strawman: The argument against your position is different than (and weaker than) your best argument.  Example: The reason you don’t accept Joseph Smith as a prophet of God is because you don’t believe in latter-day revelation; but that is just begging the question on your part.  Pointed Question: What is the Biblical criterion for a true prophet of God (Deut. 18:22)?