Concept in Definition ABC

An apology is a defense of something or someone through arguments. In this way, a person's apology is intended to justify his actions or his ideas. A paradigmatic case is the dialogue Plato's "Apology for Socrates", in which the Author defends the figure of the teacher from him. In the sphere of theology there is a branch aimed at justifying and defending religious doctrines, apologetics.

Apologetics in Catholicism involves a debate of ideas

Like all religions, the Catholic has supporters and detractors. The second highlight those contradictions that exist in the Catholic Church. To defend themselves against these criticisms, Catholics have developed an apologetics, that is, a defense o justification of her principles and behaviors. What rule general, the approach of Catholic apologetics is an attempt to counter the lies and false accusations received by the doctrine of the Catholic Church.

Christian apologetics is a defense against criticism and attacks from other Christian, Jewish or pagan currents

One of the first Christian apologists was St. Justin, who in the 2nd century AD. C founded in Rome a school from philosophy Christian who was opposed to other religious or philosophical doctrines.

The literary works of Saint Irenaeus of Lyons constitute a debate of ideas against one of the spiritual currents of antiquity, Gnosticism.

At the beginning of the lll century d. C Saint Cyprian of Carthage fought against those Christians who had renounced their beliefs and their faith after being pressured by the Roman authorities.

Athanasius of Alexandria, bishop of Alexandria in the fourth century AD. C, he is an intellectual reference of Christianity

He was a staunch defender of the Trinitarian doctrine and opposed Arianism, a Christian current that denied the Trinity.

Saint Augustine of Hippo lived between the 4th and 5th centuries AD. C of him and in his theological works fought those who deviated from the authentic faith, especially Pelagianism, Donatism, Arianism, Gnosticism, Originists, and Priscilianists. All these Christian currents were considered authentic heresies by the Catholic Church. He also opposed Manichaeism, a religion of Persian origin that focuses on the distinction between good and evil and whose founder, Mani, is considered by the Manicheans as the authentic prophet sent by God.

On synthesis, the Christian apologists mentioned defended the doctrine of the church to oppose what they considered deviations from the authentic faith.

Photos: Fotolia - Christian Morales / Csák István