- Positive Deconstruction
Positive Deconstruction, in relation to
Christian apologetics , is a term first used byNick Pollard in "Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult",Nick Pollard, "Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult" (Leicester: IVP, 1997) pp. 48–56.] (drawing on Dr. David CookE. David Cook, "Blind Alley Beliefs" 2nd ed. (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1996).] ) to describe a methodology for engaging withworldviews in Christian apologetics. The process is one of "deconstruction" because it involves 'dismantling' the worldview in order to identify areas of conflict with a Christian worldview. It is "positive" because the intention is not to destroy a person's ideas and belief system, but to build on areas of agreement between the two worldviews in order to argue for the truth of the Christian worldview.Pollard identifies four key aspects:
* Identify the worldview: What beliefs, values and attitudes are being communicated?
* Analyse the worldview, primarily in terms of the correspondence, coherence and pragmatic theories of truth
* Affirm the truth: what aspects of the worldview are in agreement with a Christian worldview?
* Deny the error: what aspects of the worldview are in conflict with a Christian worldview?References
Further Reading
Dahle, Lars. ' [http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/KLICE/PDFs/WB/Vol%207.1%20Dahle.pdf Acts 17 as an apologetic model] ', "Whitefield Briefing", Vol. 7, No. 1 (March 2002). Also published on [http://www.damaris.org/content/content.php?type=5&id=220 Culturewatch.org.]
Dahle, Lars. ' [http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/KLICE/PDFs/WB/Vol%207.6%20Dahle.pdf Encountering and Engaging a Postmodern Context: Applying the apologetic model in Acts 17] ', "Whitefield Briefing", Vol. 7, No. 6 (December 2002). Also published on [http://www.damaris.org/content/content.php?type=5&id=26 Culturewatch.org.]
Pollard, Nick; Harris, Paul; Watkins, Tony and Wall, Phil. "Beyond the Fringe: Reaching People Outside the Church" (Leicester: IVP, 1999)
Watkins, Tony. "Focus: The Art and Soul of Cinema" (Milton Keynes: Damaris Books, 2007)
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