Teaching Teens to Argue

O.K. Stay with me. I know most teens don't need any lessons in arguing but that's not quite what I have in mind. I'm interested in teaching teens to direct their natural argumentative skills :) in the right direction, teach them to argue well, and in the right situations. Of course, adults should learn these things as well, but when statistics show that more than 50% of teens eventually leave the faith after graduating high school and moving out on their own, it seems clear that the earlier teens are able to defend their faith and recognize bad arguments against it, the better off they'll be. This series of posts will highlight different fallacies people make in arguing so that you will recognize them when someone uses them, as well as different tactics to use when defending the Christian faith.

Assertions & Supporting Arguments

In a book titled Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air, (Koukl & Beckwith) the authors use the following example to show that it is important to challenge someone making untrue claims, and how to do so in the right way. In this example, a professor is promoting ethical subjectivism based on cultural relativism. (The idea that there are no moral absolute based on the fact that cultures seem to differ in their morals & values.)

A student who recognizes that ethical subjectivism does not follow from cultural relativsm might ask, "How does it follow that if people have different points of view, then nobody's right?"

The professor might respond, "If you believe in moral absolutes, what are they?"

Instead of defending her view, the professor has challenged the student to defend his view. (Nevermind that he has not claimed a view, he has simply asked a question regarding her view.)

A wise student will recognize that this may not be the time to present his arguments, but he can respectfully ask the professor to present hers. "Professor, it doesn't really matter what I believe. I'm not making the claim. You are. I may even believe as you do, for all you know. I'm just asking you to prove your point. I asked a fair question and you changed the subject, throwing it back on me. I'm not making any claim about morality. But you're teaching that morality is relative because you think cultures have different values. I'm simply asking if that works. So please tell me how your conclusion follows."

This example shows that Christians are not the only ones who need to defend their claims and it is okay to ask someone else to defend claims they have made. Stating something as if it were true does not make it true. Someone who does so is making an "assertion" which is making a claim as if no proof or evidence is necessary. If you catch someone doing this, gently & respectfully call them on it and ask them to give their arguments for making and believing their claim.

So two things to remember: First, recognize when someone is making an assertion - claiming something without offering any support for it. When they do so, ask them to support it with sound arguments &/or evidence. Second, anyone - not just Christians - making a claim needs to be able to support it. When you ask someone to support their claims, don't let them turn it around as if you're the one who's made a claim.

As always, remember to be gracious, kind, & respectful - your goal is not to win an argument but to show someone making false claims the flaws & inconsistencies in those claims. A great conversation might follow if you're non-threatening & non-defensive. And maybe God has been preparing someone for that very converstaion!