Converts: did you convert because of apologetic arguments?

[vaguelyhumanoid]

Note: I am not a Christian, and as such I'm asking this as a non-debate question out of curiosity.

Within Christian theology, there is the entire field of apologetics, which (to the best of my knowledge) is dedicated to providing logical and evidential arguments for the truth of Christianity and defending against anti-Christian arguments. But it seems from my interaction with Christian converts that many (most?) converted because of personal reasons, not abstract philosophical arguments. Examples would be people who convert because it helps them find comfort or meaning after a difficult life experience, people who convert because of positive interactions with Christian people or organizations, or people who feel they have personally experienced God. So am I wondering if anyone here became Christian because of apologetics or similar ideas in theology.

 

[Glaurung]

In my experience it is very rare for anyone to be reasoned into any specific view that they were not already inclined to accept. Of course reason and argument may sow the seeds to a change in belief, but again that's a change in inclination over time.

My acceptance of Christianity was motivated by the sheer force of its beauty. As I was entering my mid-twenties I realised that my materialism was slowly leading me to a very dark place philosophically. Belittling Christians on the internet gets boring after a few years, and eventually I had to think about the implications of my own views beyond the anti-religious polemic. I realised the philosophical and moral bankruptcy of it all. My atheism was not really about rationality of truth, it was (when I had cut away the self-serving rationalisations) purely and simply motivated by intellectual narcissism and my disdain for Catholic moral doctrine.

But one day I read the Gospels. (All four in a single sitting). And I can only say it was the grace of God, because it was not so much that the texts were somehow 'rationally convincing' but they struck a cord in me. There was something compelling about the texts that struck at my conscience. I began to explore the Christian faith. And when I saw the real Catholic tradition (not the liturgically watered down, ditty-singing, sometimes cringeworthy parish Catholicism of my childhood) I saw something immensely beautiful. Challenging yes, the sometimes hard moral demands have not gone away. But that was also part of its beauty. A serous Catholicism is not for the weak.

I'm still in the process of conversion. In that I still have a long way to go in cultivating the Christian character. I still have a long way to go in giving up unhelpful attachments to the world. There's a part of me that toys with the notion of becoming a priest or religious, but I'm not at a place where I can quite yet give up the possibility of a more 'earthly' married life. My problem is that I'm trying to hedge my bets when I should be developing conviction.

But deep conviction is never about argument. Reason certainly plays a big part of my faith. But to reason yourself to Christ through philosophical preposition alone is arguably impossible. Since faith is also a gift from God, not something you can do alone.

 

[BilliardsBall]

Hopefully, no one was converted by apologetics, but rather, by the appeal of the scriptures. The scriptures say astonishing things, but may be proved to be truth. I realized reading them that I'm imperfect, but Jesus is perfect. He died and rose so that trusting Him, I would receive of His perfection, with the outcome, eternal life.

 

[ChristineES]

I wasn't converted by apologetics. I became a Christian (Disciple of Yeshua) after reading the entire Christian scriptures (aka the NT) in one day. (The first time I tried reading the bible, I started with Genesis but I didn't get very far although I did finish reading every book in the Bible at a later time, however).

 

[First Baseman]

No. I was taught the NT, then the OT and believed. That is how it happened for me. I have thought of leaving the faith but I have always come back to it.

I became a Catholic believer in 2011. That happened because once I attended a Catholic service and continued to attend them. I like the way the Catholic service is conducted and I always feel as though the Holy Spirit is moving among the believers whenever we worship together.

I came to understand and believe that there really isn't that much difference in Protestant and Catholic, we pretty much believe the same things. There are exceptions of course but the main faith is pretty much the same thing.

 

[David1967]

No. I can't think of a time I didn't believe. I was raised in church with no negative influence from it. I do however enjoy apologetics. My favorite apologist is Ravi Zacharias.

 

[JesusFreaKMyHero1]

Note: I am not a Christian, and as such I'm asking this as a non-debate question out of curiosity.

Within Christian theology, there is the entire field of apologetics, which (to the best of my knowledge) is dedicated to providing logical and evidential arguments for the truth of Christianity and defending against anti-Christian arguments. But it seems from my interaction with Christian converts that many (most?) converted because of personal reasons, not abstract philosophical arguments. Examples would be people who convert because it helps them find comfort or meaning after a difficult life experience, people who convert because of positive interactions with Christian people or organizations, or people who feel they have personally experienced God. So am I wondering if anyone here became Christian because of apologetics or similar ideas in theology.

Um...what is apologetics?

 

[Crypto2015]

I became a Christian after listening to the Gospel. However, Apologetics has strengthened my faith.

 

[BilliardsBall]

Note: I am not a Christian, and as such I'm asking this as a non-debate question out of curiosity.

Within Christian theology, there is the entire field of apologetics, which (to the best of my knowledge) is dedicated to providing logical and evidential arguments for the truth of Christianity and defending against anti-Christian arguments. But it seems from my interaction with Christian converts that many (most?) converted because of personal reasons, not abstract philosophical arguments. Examples would be people who convert because it helps them find comfort or meaning after a difficult life experience, people who convert because of positive interactions with Christian people or organizations, or people who feel they have personally experienced God. So am I wondering if anyone here became Christian because of apologetics or similar ideas in theology.

Being a Jewish convert, it was an absolute necessity that the NT fit logically into the framework of the OT for me to convert. And as a person with feelings and a heart, in addition to a rationalist mindset, Christianity had great appeal.

 

[First Baseman]

1 Corinthians 13-14

13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.


A person only comes to truly believe when the Spirit of God instructs him and moves him to do so.