“The cultural apologist does not stop with understanding, however. As we shall see, the cultural apologist works to awaken those within culture to their deep-seated longings for goodness, truth, and beauty. Part of that process involves engaging with and working within the culture-shaping institutions—the university, the arts, business, and government—to help others see the reasonableness and desirability of Christianity. Worldview analysis is necessary but not sufficient for a cultural apologetic. The cultural apologist works to resurrect relevance by showing that Christianity offers plausible answers to universal human longings. And she works to resurrect hope, creating new cultural goods and rhythms and practices that reflect the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christianity. To summarize, cultural apologetics is defined as the work of establishing the Christian voice, conscience, and imagination within a culture so that Christianity is seen as true and satisfying, and it has both a global and local component.”
– Paul M. Gould
Reading Reflection:
Generally, ‘apologetics’ is understood as providing a defense for the faith. Many have sought to establish the validity of Christianity through sound arguments, demonstrating why belief is reasonable. While this approach certainly has its place, there is another method known as ‘cultural apologetics.’
As Paul Gould explains, cultural apologetics focuses more on showcasing the relevance of Christianity. If Christianity is true, it should offer the most coherent understanding of the world, resonate with the souls of individuals, and fulfill universal longings that are ultimately satisfied only in Christ. When engaging others with the message of Christ, we should consider how Christianity intersects with their personal narratives. Additionally, we must explore how the truths of the Bible align with the world around us. By highlighting these connections, we aim to demonstrate the relevance of Christianity in a way that goes beyond mere intellectual argumentation.
