Reformed Audio Presents: Ron Nash
"It is helpful to distinguish between negative and positive apologetics. In negative apologetics, the major objective is producing answers to challenges to religious faith. The proper tack of negative apologetics is removing obstacles to belief... In negative apologetics, the apologist is playing defense. In positive apologetics, the apologist begins to play offense. It is one thing to show (or attempt to show) that assorted arguments against religious faith are weak or unsound; it is a rather different task to offer people reasons why they should believe. The latter is the task of positive apologetics."
Ronald H. Nash was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 27, 1936. He earned his Bachelor's degree at Barrington College, and a Master's degree at Brown University, before going on to receive his Doctorate in Philosophy from Syracuse University in 1964. Following his doctoral work, Nash became the Chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religion and Director of Graduate Studies in Humanities at Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, Kentucky), where he served for 27 years. In 1991, he became Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando, Florida), serving there until 2002. Additionally, Nash was Professor of Philosophy at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky) from 1998-2005. Dr. Nash was the author of numerous books, including The Concept of God and Faith and Reason. Nash passed away on March 10, 2006, due to complications from a stroke. He was survived by his wife, Betty Jane, and children, Jeffrey and Jennifer.