Apologetics
Bahnsen-Stein Debate
This is the famous formal debate between Dr. Bahnsen and atheist promoter Dr. Gordon Stein held at the university of California (Irvine) in 1985. Hear how hard it is to deny God’s existence and how intellectually rigorous the Christian position actually is.
Bahnsen-Tabash Debate
This formal debate between Dr. Bahnsen and atheist lawyer (former ACLU) Edward Tabash at the University of California (Davis), is a great follow-up to the Bahnsen/Stein debate. Witness again how and atheist fails to wrestle with fundamental philosophical issues.
The Debate That Never Was
Dr. Bahnsen and atheist scholar Dr. Michael Martin were scheduled to debate the truth of Christian theism at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. Two weeks before the scheduled debate, citing his opposition to having the debate recorded for public distribution, Dr. Martin declined to debate. Dr. Bahnsen traveled to Memphis anyway and presented a lecture on atheism, exposing the weakness of Dr. Martin’s published attack on Christian theism.
The Apologetics Implications of Self-Deception
Based on Dr. Bahnsen’s doctoral dissertation, these lectures explore the important subject of self-deception and the nature of unbelief. How can the unbeliever both know and not know God? This is an important contribution to the field of apologetic study
Challenge To Unbelief
In apologetics Christians are too often “on the defensive.” Dr. Bahnsen shows that believers need to take the offensive (without being offensive) against those who object to the truth of Christianity. He explains that this involves understanding their underlying worldviews and showing their intellectual futility while realizing that all unbelievers are secret believers who deceive themselves about their knowledge of God.
At War With the Word
These lectures by Dr. Bahnsen deal with the fundamental conflict between unbelieving worldviews and the Christian worldview.
What Your Professor Won't Tell You
Many in the academic profession hide behind the myth of neutrality. Dr. Bahnsen exposes this myth and demonstrates the impossibility of neutrality in our thinking.
Getting Down and Dirty
Based on Dr. Bahnsen’s doctoral dissertation, these lectures explore the important subject of self-deception and the nature of unbelief. How can the unbeliever both know and not know God? This is an important contribution to the field of apologetic study
Faith, Facts & False Worldviews
At a “Life Preparation Conference” for believers entering college, Dr. Bahnsen systematically explained “worldview apologetics”-the use of presuppositional analysis for defending the faith. He clarified the Christian view of “faith” and how it relates to the “facts,” repudiating neutrality and outlining the different worldview options-demonstrating their internal defects.
Michael Martin Under the Microscope
Dr. Bahnsen takes apologetics beyond the “theory” of defending the faith and places one of the leading, philosophically competent antagonists to Christian theism “under the microscope” for detailed analysis and refutation. Dr. Michael Martin (philosophy professor at Boston University) has published two very hard-hitting books against the faith: “Atheism: A Philosophical Justification”, and “The Case Against Christianity”. In this 1994 SCCCS Summer Seminar Dr. Bahnsen walks students through a presuppositional analysis of Martin’s methods, prejudices and ineffective attacks.
Developing a Christian Worldview
Dr. Bahnsen provides clear instructions on how to think about the world in a Christian way. As we develop a Christian worldview we are better equipped to love God with all our mind.
Apologetic in the Workplace
Apologetics is not just for scholars and pastors. God has put His people in many places to meet the various challenges of unbelievers. This three-session seminar demonstrates how every Christian can defend the faith in their place of work.
What? Me Defend the Faith?
Taking it to the Streets
Apologetics is useless if it is only a great theory discussed by scholars. Dr. Bahnsen demonstrates how all believers-including you-are able to defend the faith “outside the classroom” in response to any person who challenges the truth of Scripture.
Islam, Judaism, & Christianity
A dialog between representatives of the three main religions which arose from the Middle East, sponsored by Orange Coast College. Dr. Bahnsen challenges the material adequacy of both Judaism and Islam and demonstrates that only God’s grace, declared in the Bible, meets man’s most basic spiritual need.
Mid-Level Course in Apologetics
This course considers the exegetical and philosophical basis of presuppositional methodology and gives attention to its practical outworking and compares the weakness of other apologetical systems. More in-depth than the introductory course.
A Roman Catholic - Protestant Debate
In this 1992 radio dialog with a former Presbyterian turned Roman Catholic, Professor Jerry Matatics, and Catholic Priest, Father Michael Manning, Dr. Bahnsen maintained that Romanism has an unsound view of religious authority, allowing human tradition to override God’s inspired word in Scripture and leading to untenable and even silly notions.
Is Evolution Scientific?
Two lectures exposing the scientific and philosophical weakness of the theory of macroevolution-contrary to popular prejudice.
The Problem of Evil
In three separate lectures Dr. Bahnsen equips believers to confront and answer this favorite objection to Christian theism offered by unbelievers.
Arguments for the Existence of God
Dr. Bahnsen sets forth the reasons for accepting belief in God with an emphasis on the transcendental argument for God’s existence.
Reasoning With Unbelievers
Learn why Christians should argue or provide reasons for the Christian faith and what the proper or biblical method of reasoning is.
Worldview Apologetics
All men have a worldview-a perspective whereby they interpret the world. The Christian worldview stands in opposition to all other worldviews. Learn how to analyze and critique the various unbelieving worldviews and demonstrate the necessity of the Christian worldview.
The Aim of Apologetics
It is important to stay focused on what is important while defending the faith. Learn what the goals of apologetics are and how to accomplish these essential objectives.
Practical Apologetics
Another series of lectures delivered at a “Life Preparation Conference.” Dr. Bahnsen offered direct answers for specific apologetic problems, beginning with a very helpful “checklist of defects” to look for in the objections used by unbelievers.
Theistic Proof, Rationality & Fideism
Can the existence of God be rationally proven? Dr. Bahnsen says yes. He also says that Christians cannot be either rationalists or fideists. The notion that presuppositionalism rejects theistic proof and amounts to fideism is here buried as an unjustified misrepresentation by opponents.
Loving God With All Your Mind
The way we think-our patterns of reasoning-can fail to show love for God just as readily as the way we live outwardly. This series explains how we can better keep the first and great commandment-with our minds! Dr. Bahnsen shows how to detect and refute the underlying worldviews in terms of which unbelievers think, so that Christians can be more alert and effective in defending the faith.
A Reason for the Hope
Part of THE BASIC TRAINING SERIES, this is the best CD set for an introduction to apologetics-assumes no prior knowledge-taking believers to a deeper level of understanding in how to defend the faith.
Answer to Frame's Critique of Van Til
This set was digitally remastered April, 2012. While it has been improved, we have included a transcript of the lectures. Dr. Bahnsen defends Van Til’s presuppositional apologetic in two lectures at Westminster Seminary (Escondido) shortly after the publication of John Frame’s book Apologetics to the Glory of God.
Introduction to Apologetics
This is an easy, clear and Scriptural guide for the presuppositional method of defending the faith for the general audience. This course includes a survey of different kinds of worldviews, from secular to religious, and how to refute each. [NOTE: The first four lectures have diminished audio quality.]
Transcendental Arguments: 1995 Summer Seminar
This will be the only basic argument you ever need! If you are interested in learning about this proof and how to use it, then this is the set to get. Dr. Bahnsen and Michael Butler (elder at Grace Presbyterian Chapel, OPC) will lead you in a clear and jargon-free analysis of the transcendental argument (no philosophical background assumed).
Van Til Summer Conference
Celebrating the 100th birthday of Dr. Cornelius Van Til, this conference explores Dr. Van Til’s contribution to the field of apologetics, providing an explanation of presuppositional theory, response to critics, biography and application. Dr. Bahnsen delivers the first three messages followed by two messages from Rev. Roger Wagner and one from Rev. Randy Booth.
Van Til and the Copernican Revolution in Apologetics
The first two lectures were delivered to the Basileans in March of 1995, offering a contrast and a comparison between Dr. Van Til’s approach to apologetics with three other leading theologians. The third lecture is Dr. Bahnsen’s last lecture to the Evangelical Theological Society in November of 1995
Peter's Apologetic
Here are four great sermons (taken from Dr. Bahnsen’s series on 1 Peter) based on the key New Testament text which calls for all believers to defend the faith. Peter was only a fisherman, yet he could give a reasoned answer to any man who offered a challenge to the faith. So can you. These messages show you why and how you must do it.
The Place of Evidence in Apologetics
Presuppositionalists are often misrepresented as not believing in the use of factual evidence in apologetics. Nothing could be further from the truth. All facts are evidence of Christian theism, but do the “facts speak for themselves?” These lectures explain the proper use of evidence in defending the faith
The Bahnsen/Sproul Debate Over Apologetic Method
A friendly debate between two Reformed scholars at Reformed Seminary in Jackson, MS. Explores the differences between evidentialist and presuppositionalist apologetic method. The first two lectures in this set are the debate itself. The last two (216 parts a and b) are a lecture given by Dr. Bahnsen following the debate where he explains the two positions. Dr. Bahnsen wanted this lecture included with the debate.
Mid-Level Course in Apologetics
This course considers the exegetical and philosophical basis of presuppositional methodology and gives attention to its practical outworking and compares the weakness of other apologetical systems. More in-depth than the introductory course.
College Preparation in Apologetics
For students heading off to college, this is an excellent brief synopsis of apologetics. Emphasis is placed on how to respond to the antagonism, pretensions and worldviews of unbelieving professors and fellow students. Common criticisms are answered and a method for exposing the internal defects of the critic’s position is explained.
The Dependable, Defendable Faith
Is it really possible to prove the existence of God? Hear Dr. Bahnsen’s last public conference where he trains believers how to defend their faith. This is an excellent place to start your training as an apologist.
Van Til's Presuppositional Apologetic
Dr. Bahnsen summarizes the presuppositional defense of the faith as developed by Dr. Cornelius Van Til. He first sets forth the exegetical and epistemological considerations which require a presuppositional method, and then replies to two of Dr. Van Til’s critics (representing opposing theories of knowledge): Gordon Clark and John W. Montgomery. The set concludes with a brief analysis of Schaeffer and Sproul.
Van Til Seminar
Fifteen hours of intensive seminar with students from all over the country studying the publications and career of Dr. Cornelius Van Til, the leading presuppositional thinker of the 20th century.
Short Synopsis of Van Til
Six hours of lecture presented to students at Westminster Seminary at Van Til Hall in Philadelphia (1994) a condensation of the man and his message. The underlying thrust of transcendental presuppositionalism is explained, placing Van Til in the context of other 20th century Reformed scholars. Special attention is given to correcting misconceptions of Van Til’s view of theistic proof and historical evidences.
Introduction to the Apologetic Method of Van Til
This short series introduces the apologetic method of Dr. Cornelius Van Til to an audience that was not previously acquainted with his work. Dr. Bahnsen follows this introduction with a biblical exposition of Acts 17 and Paul’s defense of the faith at the Areopagus.
Seminary Apologetics
An introductory, seminary-level course in apologetics delivered in Brooklyn, NY. This is a great place to start for those wanting a more in-depth study of the field of apologetics. Somewhat more advanced than the “Introduction to Apologetics” and “Mid-Level Apologetics” courses.
Outlines of Dr. Bahnsen’s Apologetics Lectures:
