Equal Rights Institute BlogRelational Apologetics Part 2: Arguments and 12 Practical Tips https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/relational-apologetics-part-2-arguments-and-12-practical-tips/ Clear Pro-Life Thinking Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:11:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/cropped-ERI-436A89-Just-ERI-square-512-32x32.jpg Relational Apologetics Part 2: Arguments and 12 Practical Tips https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/relational-apologetics-part-2-arguments-and-12-practical-tips/ 32 32 Relational Apologetics Part 2: Arguments and 12 Practical Tips https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/relational-apologetics-part-2-arguments-and-12-practical-tips/ https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/relational-apologetics-part-2-arguments-and-12-practical-tips/#respond Wed, 16 Sep 2015 15:38:36 +0000 Jen Westmoreland https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/?p=7781 Download Audio MP3 | 01:29:52 Josh, Tim, and Rachel Crawford finish their discussion on relational apologetics. In this episode we focus on multiple arguments for doing this as well as 12 practical tips: Don’t be a jerk. Avoid long public Facebook debates. Start with email but try to eventually move to Skype or in person. […]

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Download Audio MP3 | 01:29:52

Josh, Tim, and Rachel Crawford finish their discussion on relational apologetics. In this episode we focus on multiple arguments for doing this as well as 12 practical tips:

  1. Don’t be a jerk.
  2. Avoid long public Facebook debates. Start with email but try to eventually move to Skype or in person.
  3. Don’t think of this as a war. Daniel Cohen at TED: “If argument equals war, then learning equals losing.”
  4. Be obviously open-minded.
  5. Don’t think of the other person as your project, or a potential notch for your belt.
  6. Actively work to break down stereotypes about pro-lifers.
  7. Understand the value of arguments.
  8. Don’t just debate issues.
  9. As far as religion goes, don’t hide your beliefs or pretend like it doesn’t influence your position if it does, but also don’t drown them in a faith discussion if they aren’t interested.
  10. Allow the person to remain unconvinced.
  11. It is okay to follow cues and make educated guesses to factor into how you make arguments, but don’t treat even a well-educated guess as hard fact.
  12. If you’ve talked with them extensively, give them the “inside scoop” into your pro-life work.

Related Links:

  • Josh’s post with links and more embedded videos of Jim Henderson’s interview with Ira Glass: https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/atheist-ira-glass-is-not-annoyed-by-relational-evangelism/
  • Full interview Joe Rogan did with documentary maker Louis Theroux: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXyS-74sRTE&feature=youtu.be
  • For more on the Penn Jillette quotation, as well as his fascinating video on how Christians would have to hate the people they don’t try to convert: https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/penn-jillette-on-loving-the-people-he-disagrees-with/
  • Full Phil Plait speech at The Amazing Meeting (TAM) that Josh referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrFRbGjUtJk&feature=youtu.be
  • Shareable version of Tim’s adaptation of 1 Corinthians 13 for pro-life apologists: https://blog.equalrightsinstitute.com/memorized-and-meaningless-a-fresh-look-at-1-corinthians-13/

Subscribe to the Equipped for Life Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Subscribe to ERI’s other podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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