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Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of information. Early Christian writers (c. 120–220) who defended their faith against critics and recommended their faith to outsiders were called apologists.〔"Apologists". Cross, F. L., ed. ''The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church''. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005〕 In political usage, apologetics is used in a negative fashion to describe the defence of controversial actions or policies, like terrorism or politically repressive governments.〔"So a torture apologist is one who defends torture by argument." as quoted by (【引用サイトリンク】title=Apologist )〕〔"an enthusiastic apologist for fascism in the 1920s" as quoted by (【引用サイトリンク】title=Apologist )〕 ==Etymology== The term apologetics etymologically derives from the Classical Greek word ''apologia''. In the Classical Greek legal system, two key technical terms were employed: the prosecution delivered the ''kategoria'' (κατηγορία), and the defendant replied with an ''apologia''. To deliver an ''apologia'' meant making a formal speech or giving an explanation to reply and rebut the charges, as in the case of Socrates' defense. This Classical Greek term appears in the Koine (i.e. common) Greek of the New Testament. The Apostle Paul employs the term ''apologia'' in his trial speech to Festus and Agrippa when he says "I make my defense" (). A cognate term appears in Paul's Letter to the Philippians as he is "defending the gospel" (), and in believers must be ready to give an "answer" for their faith. The word also appears in the negative in : unbelievers are αναπολόγητοι (''anapologētoi'') (without excuse, defense, or apology) for rejecting the revelation of God in creation. Early uses of the term (in the first sense) include Plato's ''Apology'' (the defense speech of Socrates from his trial) and some works of early Christian apologists, such as St. Justin Martyr's two ''Apologies'' addressed to the emperor Antoninus Pius and the Roman Senate. An additional early use of the term, is Augustus Caesar's apologia or defense of his accomplishments as Roman Emperor inscribed outside of his tomb, at his death in 14 AD on pillars of bronze, called ''The Deeds of the Divine Augustus'' (in Latin: ''Res Gestae Divi Augusti''). They were widely copied and distributed throughout the Roman Empire. It is regarded as one of the more important apologias of the ancient world.〔Lewis N. & Reinhold M., ''Roman Civilization'', vol ii, pp. 9–19, New York: Columbia University Press (1955)〕 The legal nuance of apologetics was reframed in a more specific sense to refer to the study of the defense of a doctrine or belief. In this context it most commonly refers to philosophical reconciliation. Religious apologetics is the effort to show that the preferred faith is not irrational, that believing in it is not against human reason, and that in fact the religion contains values and promotes ways of life more in accord with human nature than other faiths or beliefs. In the English language, the word ''apology'' is derived from the Greek word, but its use has changed; its primary sense now refers to a plea for forgiveness for a wrong act. Implicit in this is an admission of guilt, thus turning on its head the "speaking in defense" aspect of the original concept. An uncommon secondary sense refers to a speech or writing that defends the speaker or author's position. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「apologetics」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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