APOLOGETICS

name given to the systematic defence by Christians of their own religion. Among famous apologetic works are those of Justin’ Martyr, Origen, and Augustine in the primitive Church, Anselm and St. Thomas A quinas in medieval times, and in the 18th cent. Paley and Bishop Butler. In the 19th cent., however, the lines of defence and attack changed somewhat, ' In the 20th cent. these lines of apologetic are coming into greater prominence: (1) A tendency to emphasize the moral rather than the miraculous; (2) the importance of evolution in religion—this argument turned back on opponents; (3) the study of comparative religions shows Christianity as the perfection of imperfect faiths, again an adverse argument turned round; (4) psychical research shows existence of other and deeper realities: on the whole easier for Christians than non-Christians,