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Critical Listening

Critical Listening. Does what the other person says make sense?. Conversational Apologetics. O pen Questions To understand and know them P ointed Questions To remove the “roof” of their irrational assumptions E xplain the Gospel Only when asked N urture The Relationship

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Critical Listening

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  1. Critical Listening Does what the other person says make sense?

  2. 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

  3. 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?

  4. 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?

  5. 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?

  6. 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?”

  7. 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?

  8. 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?

  9. 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?

  10. 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?”

  11. 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?

  12. 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)?

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