Conversation Analysis: The Validity Of The Bible

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Conversation Analysis I think for a first-touch apologetic conversation, this one went as well as could be expected. My goal in this conversation was not to present every counter-argument to her worldview or generate some kind of proof to win her over instantly to the Gospel. I hope that this is the first of several conversations about faith, and therefore I didn’t try to “close the deal.” My goal was to understand better how she sees the world, what aspects of her background have influenced that worldview, and any lingering questions she might have about faith or the world that I might, from a Christian perspective, be able to speak into in the future. Specifically, I think the conversation went well because, throughout our dialogue, …show more content…
She has questions regarding the validity and divinity of the Bible. At present, she does not believe it is divinely inspired and is merely a work of literature, not a means of transformation. Here, I could “prove” the validity of the Bible by comparing it to outside sources for historical events, talking about the literary phenomenon it was for its time, the significance and historicity of the authors, and other such methods; however, I think Jessica could get to the point of acknowledging the Bible as a source of history or literature and still not believe in what it has to say about God. To this end, specifically, I would want to address prophetic fulfillment, dedication to the point of martyrdom by apostles and followers of Christ, the witness of eyewitnesses in Scripture, and scientific wonders that leave us without an answer but God. I would also want to explore more deeply the topic of moral subjectivity with her on the limitation she sets of “do no harm” by asking more questions myself. “How can you be sure that actions you deem as morally ambiguous or non-issues do no harm?” “At what point and to what depth do we begin telling people what they can and cannot do because they are harming someone else?” “Where does the ideal not to hurt others come from? What makes it ‘right’ not to hurt someone else for your own

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