'Be Ready' to Defend Faith
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SANDY, UTAH
Explaining that "apologetics" does not mean the science of saying "I'm sorry," but rather denotes defense of one's religious faith, Daniel C. Peterson said Friday that Mormons have "an obligation to do apologetics."
Apologetics, in the sense of defending one's beliefs, is actually an older derivative from the Greek term apologia than are words that connote expressing regret or sorrow, he noted.
A BYU professor of Islamic studies and a prolific writer and speaker, Brother Peterson himself is arguably Mormonism's most prominent and energetic apologist. On Aug. 6, he addressed the annual FAIR conference, where he is traditionally the last presenter. (FAIR is not affiliated with the Church.)
"There are some who turn up their noses at apologetics," Brother Peterson said, particularly critics of the LDS Church who say apologetics is not concerned with truth, is intrinsically dishonest and is not real scholarship.
"But this is a fundamental misunderstanding," he said. "Apologetics, like any other form of reasoning from evidence, can be either good or bad."
Socrates, Origen of Alexandria, Thomas Aquinas, John Locke and C S. Lewis are among historical figures he mentioned who belong to the "venerable" tradition of apologetics.
"What troubles me, though, is some faithful (LDS) members profess to disdain apologetics as well," he said. "This seems to me really misguided and not well thought out."
He added, "I think it is a duty incumbent upon all of us to 'apologize,' in the original sense, for our faith, and it's simply a human duty to 'apologize,' in that sense, for positions that you hold."
He cited 1 Peter 3:15, Paul's admonition to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." The word translated in that passage as "answer" is the Greek word apologia, or apology, Brother Peterson said.
He quoted a statement from Austin Farrer that he said has become a kind of "unofficial motto" for the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at BYU, with which Brother Peterson is associated. Farrer said, "Though argument does not create conviction, the lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced, but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish."
Applying that statement to Mormonism, Brother Peterson said, "You don't give people testimonies by arguing them into the Church. ... But if people believe there is no reason for belief, if they believe you have no reasoning or evidence, then there's no reason for them to take you seriously."
He added, "If the ground is so encumbered with overgrowth of critical arguments, the seed cannot take root. It's the duty of the apologist, in that sense, to clear the ground to make it possible for the seed to grow."
Brother Peterson distinguished between negative and positive apologetics, both of which he said are important.
Chief editor of the "FARMS Review," a largely apologetic journal published by the Maxwell Institute, Brother Peterson has frequently engaged in — and often relishes — negative apologetics, which is rebutting the attacks of adversaries.
"But I actually take more pleasure in positive apologetics, that is, arguing for the truthfulness of the Church," he said. "Not that there are things out there that will prove it — I don't think the Lord intends that — but there's plenty (of evidence) out there and plenty to talk about."
For example, Mormonism is attacked for the doctrine of deification, that mortals can become like God. "And yet," Brother Peterson said, "it turns out it is an ancient Christian doctrine. And how do you account for the fact that Joseph Smith came up with that out of nowhere, with no great access to patristic literature or anything like that?"
There are two parts, he said, to positive apologetics. "One is to argue that the gospel is true, but the other is to argue that it's desirable, that it's good, that it's something you ought to consider if you are a non-Latter-day Saint."
No expertise is required for the latter task, he said. "You can make an argument, because you are as much an expert as anyone to say why you personally find the gospel compelling, why you find it satisfying."
It is important for all Latter-day Saints to begin to do that, he said.
He contrasted the inefficiency of proselytizing methods during his mission decades ago to Switzerland — door-to-door and street contacting — with the efficiency of reach today that is afforded by the Internet.
Citing a Doctrine and Covenants scripture that the followers of God are given power to do many things of their own free will and bring to pass much righteousness, Brother Peterson said, "The Internet has given us more of that power than we have ever had before. You can sit absolutely anywhere and reach anybody anywhere."
He compared the Internet to the system of highways built by the Roman Empire.
"The Internet offers a way of finding people who are out there, 'one of a town, two of a village,' who might be interested, who might be willing to accept the gospel, or at least consider it."
He suggested that an individual Church member may have just the personality to influence an individual to investigate the gospel that no one else has been able to reach.
But he cautioned, "Don't waste time on those who resist, not because their souls are unprecious, but because numbers are few and time is precious." He likened that advice to the principle of triage, in which emergency medical cases are prioritized according to urgency, chance for survival, etc.
"Some aren't that serious; some can't be helped; some need to be addressed right now," he said
