Glossary Of Terms

mApologetics
apologetics
[uh-pol-uh-jet-iks]
noun, ( used with a singular verb)
1)the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity.
2)the branch of theology concerned with the defence and rational justification of Christianity http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/apologetics

Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of information. Early Christian writers (c. 120–220) who defended their faith against critics and recommended their faith to outsiders were called apologists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologetics


Question: "What is Christian apologetics?"

Answer: The English word “apology” comes from a Greek word which basically means “to give a defense.” Christian apologetics, then, is the science of giving a defense of the Christian faith. There are many skeptics who doubt the existence of God and/or attack belief in the God of the Bible. There are many critics who attack the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. There are many false teachers who promote false doctrines and deny the key truths of the Christian faith. The mission of Christian apologetics is to combat these movements and instead promote the Christian God and Christian truth.
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-apologetics.html#ixzz3DCkigt8w

1)systematic argumentative discourse in defense (as of a doctrine)
2)a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apologetics


Systematic Theology
sys·tem·at·ic the·ol·o·gy
noun, a form of theology in which the aim is to arrange religious truths in a self-consistent whole.

Systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs. Subdisciplines are dogmatics, ethics and philosophy of religion.[1]

Systematic theology draws on the foundational sacred texts of Christianity, while simultaneously investigating the development of Christian doctrine over the course of history, particularly through philosophy, science and ethics. Inherent to a system of theological thought is that a method is developed, one which can be applied both broadly and particularly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology

Systematic theology
1)a branch of theology concerned with summarizing the doctrinal traditions of a religion (as Christianity) especially with a view to relating the traditions convincingly to the religion's present-day setting http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/systematic%20theology


Metaphysical
met·a·phys·i·cal
ˌmetəˈfizikəl/

Metaphysical
Derived from the Greek meta ta physika ("after the things of nature"); referring to an idea, doctrine, or posited reality outside of human sense perception. In modern philosophical terminology, metaphysics refers to the studies of what cannot be reached through objective studies of material reality. Areas of metaphysical studies include ontology, cosmology, and often, epistemology.

Metaphysical - Longer definition: Metaphysics is a type of philosophy or study that uses broad concepts to help define reality and our understanding of it. Metaphysical studies generally seek to explain inherent or universal elements of reality which are not easily discovered or experienced in our everyday life. As such, it is concerned with explaining the features of reality that exist beyond the physical world and our immediate senses. Metaphysics, therefore, uses logic based on the meaning of human terms, rather than on a logic tied to human sense perception of the objective world. Metaphysics might include the study of the nature of the human mind, the definition and meaning of existence, or the nature of space, time, and/or causality.   http://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/gengloss/metaph-body.html