Apologetics: witnessing to atheists

[rewriter]

An insight I would like to share is what I call the “Propensity Principle” (PP). The PP points out that until proof is provided in the future at the eschaton, humanity’s existential need and desire for eternal life and ultimate justice (the duo of desirables or DOD) make it logical for truthseekers to have a propensity to hope and believe a God who provides the DOD exists, to determine the most credible revelation of God’s requirement for attaining heaven, and to cooperate with His revealed will.
IOW, it seems logical–given the existential facts of death and imperfect justice–that an unbiased truthseeker would have a propensity to hope the Christian view is correct, because there is no better (credible and desirable) way of attaining the DOD than NT theism. This PP restates Pascal’s wager in terms of comparison shopping (with all belief systems) instead of gambling.

The PP employs linear logic (rather than circular reasoning) to propose faith in the NT God as the best belief that solves the maze of reality as follows:

1. Current scientific knowledge cannot explain how the universe came to exist by means of natural causes, thus it is possible that the cause of the universe is a supernatural Creator/God.

2. The most creative species is humanity, whose traits also include language, moral conscience and God consciousness (personality), so it is possible that these human traits reflect attributes of a God who created humanity.

3. Existential reality indicates that humans are mortal and life is painful, but when life is happy, one wishes it would continue indefinitely. Thus, it is rational to seek ways to become immortal in a heavenly existence (where there is love and justice for all forever, the DOD).

4. Comparing all possible ways of achieving the DOD, the best or most credible way/hope at this point appears to be the God who resurrected Christ Jesus.

5. When words from God are sought, the NT teachings of Jesus and Paul seem to be the most highly inspired when compared with other scriptures (including the OT), because its concept of one God as the just and all-loving Judge (rationale for morality) is spiritually highest or most advanced, and the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is most credible.

6. Thus, it is appropriate or wise to believe in the NT God and to accept Jesus as God’s Messiah.

Your point one is one of the three traditional "proofs of God" and logically sound. Point two becomes more questionable. language is widespread among various creatures, moral consciousness seems present in many species and God consciousness is impossible to affirm or deny outside of humanity as we do not know what other species perceive. Ponts three through five are all opinion, not fact, especially as most all, if not all, of Jesus's teachings can be found expressed by other Jewish contemporaries, Paul was the most prolific writer in the NT, but not necessarily more profound that Peter or John. All this is leading to point six as also opinion.

 

[GWH]

God's Word teaches that following the Lord always, always comes before following men.
Following men is how so many people end up following false doctrine because they allowed men to come before the Lord in their lives
Yahoos leading yahoos in to the ditch!

Your reply implies you do not believe Eph. 4:11-16 is God's Word.
What man taught you that?!

Everyone learns about the Lord from other people, including parents, friends, pastors, etc.
Care to share your testimony?