Is apologetics a science?

[McCulloch]

Christian apologetics have always been a form of cognitive science.

Question for debate: Can Christian apologetics be considered a discipline within the field of cognitive science?

[Aslan]

Christian apologetics have always been a form of cognitive science.

Question for debate: Can Christian apologetics be considered a discipline within the field of cognitive science?

I would say no. I think that certainly christian apologetics uses cognitive science, but part of my attempts to point people toward Christ leave the realm of science....basically because I believe in the "heart", the holy spirit speaking to that heart.

[McCulloch]

Cognitive science. The field of cognitive science consists of an interdisciplinary study of the structures of the human mind. These structures include our sensory/perceptual apparatus, such as vision, audition, olfaction; internal mental processes such as language, thinking, reasoning and problem solving; motor control and the organization of skilled behavior such as speech and musical performance; memory; consciousness; attention; and many other aspects of mind. All of these subfields are clearly intertwined. Disciplines included are psychology, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, sociology, and computer science; more recently, the academic music world has devoted some of its resources to the study of the cognitive science of music.

cognitive science
–noun
the study of the precise nature of different mental tasks and the operations of the brain that enable them to be performed, engaging branches of psychology, computer science, philosophy, and linguistics.
cognitive science. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. (accessed: January 17, 2007).

a·pol·o·get·ics [uh-pol-uh-jet-iks]
–noun (used with a singular verb)
the branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity.
apologetics. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. (accessed: January 17, 2007).

[Cogitoergosum]

Christian apologetics are as much a cognitive science as astrology is.

[Easyrider]

Christian apologetics are as much a cognitive science as astrology is.

Anti-Biblical/Christian reasoning is about the same then.

[McCulloch]

Christian apologetics are as much a cognitive science as astrology is.

Anti-Biblical/Christian reasoning is about the same then.

Absolutely right! Refutations of the Bible and arguments against Christianity are not part of the discipline of cognitive science.

Cognitive science investigates internal mental processes such as language, thinking, reasoning and problem solving; motor control and the organization of skilled behavior; memory; consciousness; attention; and many other aspects of mind using psychology, biology, neuroscience, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, sociology, and computer science.

[juliod]

Absolutely right! Refutations of the Bible and arguments against Christianity are not part of the discipline of cognitive science.

Good point. You know one thing that p*sses me *ff? It's people who make a judgement about something on how it sounds not what it means.

EasyR's response seems to be based on the notion that being part of cognitive science is a "good thing" and therefore christianity and/or apologetics must be part of it. And if someone denounces that then we can spit back "Well anti-apologetics isn't either!".

IOW, to say that apologetics is not a form of cognitive science sounds like a criticism or an insult. It's just so vacuous. Cheesecake is a "good thing" but apologetics is not a form of cheesecake.

DanZ

[Cephus]

Not a chance, it's the antithesis of science. Science seeks out what is, it examines evidence to determine the actual reality of things. Apologetics simply seeks to defend an unassailable belief, regardless of the evidence and often, in direct contradiction to the evidence.

[micatala]

Christian apologetics have always been a form of cognitive science.

Question for debate: Can Christian apologetics be considered a discipline within the field of cognitive science?

Not using your definitions of cognitive science or apologetics. In fact, not using any reasonable definition of these terms.

[McCulloch]

Christian apologetics have always been a form of cognitive science.

Question for debate: Can Christian apologetics be considered a discipline within the field of cognitive science?

Not using your definitions of cognitive science or apologetics. In fact, not using any reasonable definition of these terms.

Thank you for your support. I have only one small quibble. These were not my definitions. I sought definitions from standard reputable unbiased resources. However, it jcrawford has some authoritative definitions of these words which he feels makes his assertion into a true statement, then he is welcome to present them.