When we share the gospel message with people around us, and they do not believe, we have usually encountered ‘defeater beliefs’.
Defeater beliefs are beliefs which someone ‘knows to be true’. They work kind of like fly screens on your windows. These helpful additions to houses and tents keep out unwanted guests. Our minds have the same kind of things, sets of beliefs which keep other ‘unwanted’ beliefs out.
Defeater beliefs are often (always?) culturally subjective, that is, beliefs that are defeater beliefs in one society won’t necessarily be defeaters in others. Take for example, the christian claim that there is one true god. To western ears this sounds arrogant and judgmental. ‘I mustn’t be arrogant; I mustn’t be judgemental’ are both defeater beliefs in the west. These beliefs are strongly held beliefs which must be overcome for someone to accept the christian belief. (Note that defeater beliefs might not be true, might not be coherent with each other etc) But in the middle east, say, many people already hold the view that there is only one god. This is not a defeater belief in such cultures. An example of a defeater belief in say Iran, might be that the USA is a christan country, and look at the immorality and corruption which has resulted! Hence Christianity is defective. To address this defeater belief, one might want to talk about the nature of sin, or the difference between countries with many christian citizens and (the impossibility of having) a christian country.
Have a look at Tim Keller’s article on defeater beliefs. Even if some of it goes over your head, it’s a really important thing to start to get a handle on.
Some questions for reflection.
1. Do people believe the gospel without reasons (just because of faith) or because of reasons? Why/why not?
2. Are there better or worse reasons for believing the gospel?
3. What do you think are the deeply held beliefs in Broome (Western/Australia?) which function as defeater beliefs?
4. If you are game, can you develop ways of answering these defeater beliefs you have identified? Have you tried them in real situations? Any comments?
daer tim got kicked ouy of wadey since i seen you thanks for getting me to conference even tought hundred dollars wasnt eough don helped me out and it rained met kanisnka after twenty years or so pretty amazing slept at back of church there if tou guys want to dend a team of have a look at wadeye can give you contact roger latheam harmony10@hotkey.net.au he has teams at xmas he is a pentecostal born again christin but a grat bbloke i did music stiff with him also kriol camp ypung kids camp in katherine in jult runthrough waht wa s sil buot now translator s group plus at halls creek a guy called max rund cross cultiural course plus gospel convention in august guys from all over westeren austaralia the camped in race coure aog is stating own aboriginal arm just lausncher d ausraroalisd nn wide woth lookinf into halls creek just bgone alcoly resytrictuons onlt five six low alclol beeres baecauise of fetal alcscoulhoy problemas intersting good stuff ship problesa here too 30 pc of money spent on houses rest consultants the total rorting of the territorty syarting to br exposeds a few criminal convictions wpuldnt go astray god bless i a m fighting a court case agaisnft wadeye guysd property damage anyway giod bless see ya realy enjoyed my time in brooma also doctor gut i met there now in nuuumn gbhuy gove plust ramaingininf g heard pjil the surviaeeinace gut fron coast wathdsh noe in kununnarra thanks again for help god bless