Tactics A Game plan for discussing your christian convictions By: Gregory koukl

1. Tactics A Game plan for discussing your christian convictions By: Gregory koukl Owning your worldview presents:

2. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Chapter 12: Rhodes Scholar • Clarifying if someone is informing you of a belief or educating you with authoritative information. Chapter 13: Just the Facts Ma’am • This tactic focuses on a plan to ensure we have the information we need. Chapter 14: More Sweat, Less Blood • Pointers for ensuring you are ready to use your tactics. Tactics: Chapters 12, 13, & 14 Overview

3. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws The Rhodes Scholar tactic clarifies if someone is informing you of a personal belief or educating you with authoritative information. • Informing tells you what a person believes. • Educating tells you why a person believes something. Popular media almost always inform and do not provide the necessary information to educate. Tactics: chapter 12 - rhodes scholar

4. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws The key to the Rhodes Scholar is DON’T SETTLE FOR OPINIONS…always ask for reasons, evidence and facts. Don’t fall for the Fallacy of the Expert Witness. Tactics: chapter 12 - rhodes scholar

5. “The letters after his name doesn’t mean a thing without evidence to back up his position.” Norm Geisler Quote

6. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws “Why should I believe an expert’s opinion?” • 1st: The expert may be in a special position to provide a meaningful opinion. • If they have facts beyond the norm, then they should have evidence beyond the norm. • Without evidence the expert is probably sharing an opinion from outside their area of expertise. Tactics: chapter 12 - rhodes scholar

7. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws “Why should I believe an expert’s opinion?” • 2nd: The expert may be in a special position to provide a meaningful judgement. • Judgement is when the expert interprets the facts that they have. • To trust an experts judgements we need to understand their philosophical underpinning. Tactics: chapter 12 - rhodes scholar

8. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Complaint: “Creation is not science” • Definition 1: Science is a methodology. • Definition 2: Science includes the philosophy of naturalistic materialism. Creation is not included as science based on a philosophical requirement. Philosophical positions need to be analyzed and debated. Tactics: chapter 12 - two faces of science (example)

9. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws It is reasonable to give weight to what experts say when they: • Provide evidence to support their claims. • Their philosophical position, biases, and the overall context are understood. Tactics: chapter 12 - rhodes scholar

10. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Just the Facts Ma’am is a simple tactic. There are only two things that need to happen: • Be aware that many challenges to Christianity are based on bad information. • You should know the facts. By understanding both sides of an argument you will be better prepared to deal with both elements of this tactic. Tactics: chapter 13 - Just the Facts Ma’am

11. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws “More wars have been fought and more blood shed in the name of God than any other cause. Religion is the greatest source of evil in the world.” • Where is the data/evidence for this statement? • The wars of the last century have had the weapons and technology to cause devastation and death on scales that couldn’t be conceived of throughout the rest of human history. Tactics: chapter 13 - Just the Facts Ma’am (Example)

12. “more innocent people have been murdered, tortured, and enslaved by secular ideologies - Nazism and communism - than by all religions in history.” Dennis Prager Quote

13. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Precise information. • Having supporting evidence that is precise and detailed (specific figures, dates, pictures, etc.) are more persuasive than general data. • Your detailed evidence should support not typically be your main presentation. • You want precise details when challenged, but your overall conversation should be natural and informal. Tactics: chapter 13 - Just the Facts Ma’am

14. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Spotting faulty facts: • “What is the claim?” • Strip away all of the surrounding conversation and get to the core of what is being claimed. • “Is the claim factually accurate?” • Research the claim. Can the sources stand up against our Rhodes Scholar tactic (chapter 12)? Tactics: chapter 13 - Just the Facts Ma’am

15. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws “Pro-lifers have no right to oppose abortion unless they are willing to care for unborn children in crisis pregnancies.” • Explicit Claim: Objection to the killing of an unborn child leads to an obligation to care for that child. • “You have no right to make me stop beating my wife, unless you are willing to marry her.” • The implicit claim is that pro-lifers aren’t doing anything to care for crisis pregnancies, which is also incorrect. Tactics: chapter 13 - Just the Facts Ma’am (Example)

16. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Will you stand ready to represent your beliefs? • If you answer “no” or “I don’t know” you should evaluate why you have that answer. • If you say “yes” you have two options: • Show up unprepared and see what happens. • Show up prepared and be ready to maximize the opportunity. Tactics: chapter 14 - More Sweat, Less Blood

17. “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle.” Gregory Koukl Quote

18. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Eight Quick Tips Be Ready: “Good ambassadors are vigilant, always watchful for what might turn out to be a divine appointment.” Keep It Simple: “Why complicate things with controversial issues unrelated to salvation?” “If other issues don’t come up don’t bring them up.” Tactics: chapter 14 - More Sweat, Less Blood

19. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Eight Quick Tips Avoid Religious Language: “Words and phrases like ‘saved’, ‘blessed’…may have meaning to you, but they are tired religious cliches to everyone else.” “Experiment with fresh, new ways to characterize the ancient message of truth.” Focus on the Truth of Christianity: “…not merely its personal benefits.” This gives you message a solid foundation.” Tactics: chapter 14 - More Sweat, Less Blood

20. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Eight Quick Tips Give Reasons: “…making assertions without giving evidence would be an empty effort.” Stay Calm: “Don’t get mad. Don’t show frustration. Don’t look annoyed. Keep your cool.” If they want to go, let them go: People who no longer want to talk to you are not listening anymore. Don’t hurt a future chance to have a conversation by pushing them. Tactics: chapter 14 - More Sweat, Less Blood

21. Part TWO: Finding The Flaws Eight Quick Tips Don’t let them leave empty-handed: “If possible, give the person a tangible way to follow up on what you challenged him to consider.” You may want to consider handing them a Bible, tract, or a piece of paper with your number, email address, YouTube video, or a website. Tactics: chapter 14 - More Sweat, Less Blood

22. “It is not for us to calculate our victory or fear our defeat, but to do our duty and leave the rest in God’s hands.” Alan Keyes Quote