The Defense of the Faith by Cornelius van Til

In this book Dr. Van Til indicates what the Reformed Faith is and how it should be defended and propagated. However, his main purpose is to show in broad outline the nature of the true Christian because truly Biblical, life and world view and how it alone enables men to find meaning in life. In so doing he at the same time replies in detail to his various critics.

The Structure of Thought

The basic structure of my thought is very simple. I therefore presuppose the Reformed system of doctrine. I try to show my students that it is this system of doctrine that men need. My business is to teach Apologetics. Detailed replies to the detailed criticisms made of my views by the critics mentioned would not be very useful unless seen in the light of the general structure of my thought.

Defending Christian-Theism

An examination of my syllabus on Apologetics shows that the first chapter deals with the question what we are to believe and defend. We must defend Christian-theism as a unit. It is impossible and useless to seek to defend Christianity as an historical religion by a discussion of facts only.

Perspective	Position on the Resurrection and Divinity
Christian Argument	We say that Christ arose from the grave and further that this resurrection proves his divinity.
Pragmatist View	Granted he allows that Christ actually arose from the grave, he will say that this proves nothing more than that something very unusual took place in the case of that man Jesus.

The Historical Argument and its Challenges

This is the nerve of the historical argument for Christianity. Yet a pragmatist philosopher will refuse to follow this line of reasoning. Since most students have not had much systematic theology when they first come to my classes, I give them a brief survey of it so they can look at the apologetic problem afresh.