Schaeffer was well-known for his care and compassion of people, which was ultimately rooted in his biblical-theological conviction. While this approach can be done with a variety of apologetic methods, Francis Schaeffer’s approach is persuasive in its nearly inimitable focus on the human person. Instead, one should embrace a holistic view of man, grounded in a theological anthropology and demonstrated in both the theory and practice of apologetics. While these discussions are important, if one focuses only on mental capacities, the discussion will inevitably be reductionistic towards the whole human person. These various taxonomies include theological and philosophical discussions about the noetic effects of sin, and how optimistic or pessimistic one should be about the capabilities of human reason. To note, those who evaluate apologetic approaches have often focused on one’s cognitive faculties and epistemology. Many have sought to place Schaeffer in a variety of different apologetic categories. While questions persist as to the framework of his methodology, Schaeffer’s apologetic continues to influence and intrigue. Much has been made in recent years of Francis Schaeffer’s apologetic approach, especially in light of his theological influences. Editor’s note: this essay appears in the Spring 2021 issue of Eikon.
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