• The most famous version of this argument is William Paley’s ‘watchmaker’ analogy. Paley argued that since every watch has a maker; and the universe is far more complex than a watch; the universe must also have a maker. In other words…
• All designs imply a designer.
• The universe displays tremendous design.
• Therefore, the universe must be the product of a designer (God).

For more information on the arguments for the existence of God, please check out The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• The law of causality states that every finite thing is caused by something other than itself.
• It is widely accepted by the scientific community today that the universe had a beginning.
• Anything that has a beginning must have been caused by something else.
• Therefore, the universe was caused by something else (a Creator).

For more information on the arguments for the existence of God, please check out the chapter on “Atheism” in Dr. Carlson’s book, Fast Facts on False Teachings, available in our online store.

• In the First Century Paul and the apostles reasoned with the Jews for whom Christ was a stumbling block (Acts 17:1-3); and with the Greeks for whom he was not known (Acts 17:16-19).
• During the Second Century early church apologists defended the faith against charges of atheism, cannibalism, and being a threat to the Roman Empire; as well as the heresy of Gnosticism.
• In the medieval era Christian apologists gave a defense of the faith in response to a resurgent Jewish critique and the rise and expansion of Islam.
• During the Enlightenment apologists respond to the challenge of scientific rationalism: the belief that reality is limited to that which can be objectively and empirically observed and studied.
• In the 20th Century Christian apologetics confronts challenges like liberalism, secularism, naturalism, and the growing influence of cults & other non-Christian religions.
• Thus far, the 21st Century’s primary apologetic challenges have come from the “New Atheists”, the postmodern worldview, and the philosophy of religious pluralism.

For more information on the various apologetic challenges to the Christian faith, please check out The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• In the Mayflower Compact the Pilgrims specifically declared their intention of planting a new colony and advancing the Christian faith.
• Not all, but the majority of the Founding Fathers of America were active Christians who represented a variety of Christian denominations.
• Roughly half of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence had received what today would be the equivalent of a seminary education.
• The Aitken Bible of 1782, known as “the Bible of the Revolution”, was the first English language Bible printed in America. It’s printing was officially approved by the U.S. Congress.
• On June 28, 1787, with the constitutional convention at an impasse, Benjamin Franklin gave an impassioned plea asking that each session of the convention be opened in prayer, led by a Christian clergy. Many of the founders and other historians credit that as the turning point in the production of the constitution.
• Beginning in 1800, and through the late 19th century, the U.S. capitol building regularly served as a meeting place for worship, hosting Christian church services attended by presidents, congressman, and other officials.

For more information on the significance of the Christian worldview in America, please check out Dr. Carlson’s lecture, Red vs. Blue: The Real Cultural Divide, available in CD or MP3 in our online store.

• Evolutionists argue that Natural Selection is the driving force behind macroevolution (one species evolving over time into another species).
• However, if macroevolution were true, it would have to account for massive amounts of new and unique genetic information being created as species evolve and become increasingly complex (For example, the simplest organisms known today have roughly a half-million base pairs of DNA. Human beings, however, have three billion base pairs of DNA per cell).
• The reality is that Natural Selection never produces any new and unique genetic information.
• Natural Selection always results in the sorting and overall loss of pre-existing genetic information.
• Natural selection is legitimate, basic science, but all Natural Selection demonstrates is horizontal change within species (cross a red rose with a white rose and you get a pink rose), not macroevolution.

For more information on the fundamental flaws of Darwinian evolution please check out Dr. Carlson’s 2-DVD set titled, Evolution vs. Creation, available in our online store.

• Mormons teach that God, the Father, has a body of flesh and bone. However, the Bible teaches that God is Spirit (John 4:24; Matthew 16:15-17).
• Mormons believe that God evolved from mortal man. However, the Bible says that God has been God from “everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2) and that God is not a man and He does not change (Hosea 11:9; Malachi 3:6). Even the Book of Mormon contradicts official church teaching, saying that God is not a changeable being and is “unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity” (Moroni 8:18).
• Mormons are polytheists, believing in a pantheon of gods. However, the Bible repeatedly denounces the idea of polytheism (for example, see Isaiah chapters 44-46). Also, the Book of Mormon again contradicts official church doctrine on this point, teaching monotheism (Alma 11:22-31).
• Mormons teach that all faithful male Mormons have the ability to become gods themselves, just as God the Father did. However, the Bible says, “Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me” (Isaiah 43:10).

For more information on the beliefs of Mormonism, please check out the documentary DVD titled, The Secret World of Mormonism available in our online store.

• The following questions can be asked to highlight the fact that Jesus is fully God and a member of the Triune Godhead, the Trinity.
• JW’s claim that Jesus is simply ‘a god’, a created being. Ask them, “How can the Word be ‘a god’ (John 1:1) if there are no gods together with Jehovah, as Deuteronomy 32:39 says?”
• JW’s claim that Jesus is actually Michael the archangel, the first creation of God. If so, “Why does Michael not dare to bring a judgment against Satan, but instead says, ‘May Jehovah rebuke you’ (Jude 9); yet in Matthew 4:10 Jesus rebukes Satan directly himself?”
• JW’s claim that Jesus is ‘a god’ and the first creation of Jehovah, who created all other things (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). If that is the case, “Why does Jehovah say in Isaiah 44:24 that He created the heavens and the earth by Himself and then questions, ‘Who was with me?’”
• JW’s claim that Jehovah alone is God. Ask them, “If Jehovah alone is God, why then does Jesus not condemn Thomas for blasphemy when after the resurrection he calls Jesus, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (John 20:28-29)?”
• JW’s affirm the numerous statements in Scripture declaring Jehovah God to be the ‘First and the Last’ (ex. Isaiah 44:6). An interesting question to ask them is, “When did the First and the Last, Jehovah God, die (Revelation 1:17-18)?”

For more information on witnessing to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, please check out the documentary DVD titled, Jehovah’s Witnesses: A Non-Prophet Organization, available in our online store.

• Salvation is a gift of grace that we receive through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• We are justified, or made right in God’s eyes, through faith in Jesus Christ, not by keeping the law (Galatians 2:16).
• Jesus removed the debt we owed, and its obligations, through his death on the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).
• The Bible declares that human efforts to obtain our own righteousness are misguided (Romans 10:1-3).
• Jesus taught that outer works of righteousness don’t address the inner, spiritual problem of our sin (Matthew 23:25-28).

For more information on the unique nature of the salvation available through Jesus Christ, please consider Dr. Carlson’s lecture, World Religions & the Uniqueness of Jesus Christ available in MP3 or CD in our online store.

• In 1835 Joseph Smith prophesied the Lord’s return within 56 years (History of the Church, Vol. 2, pg. 182). By 1891 this was proven to be a false prophecy.
• In 1843 Joseph Smith prophesied that the United States government would be overthrown and wasted within a few years if they refused to redress the wrongs committed against the Mormons in Missouri (History of the Church, Vol. 5, pg. 394). The United States government has never formally redressed any wrongs committed against the Mormons in Missouri and the government still stands nearly 170 years later.
• In 1832 Joseph Smith prophesied that the present generation of Mormons would not pass away before the temple of the New Jerusalem would be built in Zion, Missouri (Doctrine & Covenants Section 84). The Mormons were forced to flee Missouri and no temple was constructed there in Joseph Smith’s lifetime or within the generation that witnessed this prophecy.
• In 1832 Joseph Smith prophesied that the United States civil war would eventually engulf all nations (Doctrine & Covenants Section 87). This prophecy did not come close to being fulfilled.
• Joseph Smith made many other false prophecies in his lifetime. By the standards of God’s word, he must be labeled a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

For more information on the history and beliefs of the Mormon Church, please check out Dr. Carlson’s lecture, Mormonism: Christian or Cult? available in MP3 or CD in our online store.

• A true prophet of God will affirm that Jesus Christ is God come in human flesh (1 John 4:1-3).
• A true prophet of God’s prophecies about the future will come true (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
• A true prophet of God will preach and commend allegiance to the one true God who has revealed Himself in Scripture (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).
• A true prophet of God will bear good fruit, not only their life, but also in their doctrine (Matthew 7:15-23 & 24:4-5, 10-11, 23-25; Galatians 1:6-9).

For more information on the Bible’s test for determining a true prophet from a false prophet, consider Dr. Carlson’s lecture, The Jesus of the Cults, available in MP3 or CD in our online store.