Christian Apologetics
Question 9, An Objection: Isn’t Christian apologetics is an exercise in confirmation bias?
Answer: Confirmation bias can and should be avoided.
Comment: It is a common objection from skeptics that Christians in general and apologists in particular are only interested in evidence which supports their faith and the case for it. This would be called confirmation bias.
Remember the definition of confirmation bias,
“Confirmation bias occurs when a person sees information and evidence in a way that only confirms or supports that person’s pre-existing beliefs or paradigm, causing distortion of the assessment of reality and a defective decision-taking process.”
Many years ago, I was discussing the Baha’i faith with one of its adherents. After asking the older gentleman about what I thought were logical inconsistencies in Baha’I doctrines, he suddenly ended the discussion. We can have some sympathy toward a person who was confronted with an inconsistency in a non-Christian religion, but some Christians exercise confirmation bias as well. This can be reflected in two ways. First, believers lift Bible verses out of context to support their position and avoid passages which tend not to confirm their pet doctrines. Second, well-meaning Christians shy away from criticism of the faith from skeptics and non-believers. This has the net effect of allowing the believer to hunker down in a bubble, away from anything which would call into question their beliefs.
This need not be.
Three facts should motivate the believer to avoid confirmation bias.
· The Christian is rooted in truth. Jesus Christ said that He is truth (John 14:6). He asserted to Pilate that those who were on the side of truth listened to Him (John 18:37). If Christians are seeking after Jesus, then we are seeking after truth.
· The Christian faith is rooted in history. The Christian faith is not separated from history. It came about in a specific time and a specific place in the world. Instead of the private musings of ascetics with small groups of followers, Christianity literally exploded onto the scene in the first century AD and asserted truth against the structure of Israel and the Roman Empire (Acts 21:19, 26:26). Christianity is open to historical examination by its followers and skeptics alike.
· Christianity is supported by evidence. Multiple lines of evidence from philosophical arguments, archaeology, and science support the assertions of the Christian faith (Acts 1:1-3). Christian apologists should be willing to follow the evidence where it leads.
The goal of Christian apologetics is to make a bedrock foundation for confidence in the Christian faith. Searching for truth, examining historical contexts, and following the evidence will help prevent confirmation bias.
Scripture: “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NASB).
Mark Riser - Apologist 