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For further information or to subscribe to the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL go to: [http://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/](http://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/)  \nHow do you proceed when someone asserts that,“all religions are manmade”? Here are some helpful ways of responding to objections in general, and then this particular one.  \nAnswer the Person, Not Just the Question. Ravi Zacharias says that when you address objections or answer questions about the Christian faith, never forget that you are answering a person, not just a question. A caring person and thoughtful apologist should probe to see why the person is making this objection or asking this question. This is especially true with a question such as,“If there is a good God, why does He allow evil in the world?” The answer will be different if the questioner is motivated by mere intellectual curiosity than if the person has just watched his daughter die. Launching into a philosophical critique when the person is really seeking pastoral care would be disastrous. Ask clarifying questions before answering the question.  \nThis also is true with the claim that “all religion is manmade.” While it probably does not have the same likelihood of being as emotionally sensitive as the issue of evil, the potential is still there. Perhaps the objection was conceived after being hurt by hypocritical Christians or deceived by manmade cults. Therefore, asking a couple of questions before answering is usually a good idea.  \nNow, that’s not always possible in a public setting, but it certainly is in private conversations. So in a personal setting, you might start with,“That’s an excellent question. Why do you ask?” Or,“That’s an interesting claim. Why do you bring it up?”How they answer will determine how you respond.  \nAsk Two Tactical Questions. Greg Koukl, in his excellent book Tactics, champions this question-based approach. It works and is modeled after Jesus, who often asked questions when challenged. Asking questions helps clarify what the person is asking or claiming, and it has the added benefit of relieving pressure and putting you in the driver’s seat of the conversation.  \nAfter you’ve discovered that there is not some other more emotionally sensitive issue behind the objection, I recommend that you proceed with the two questions Koukl suggests: “What do you mean by that?” and “How did you come to that conclusion?”  \nThe first question helps clarify and expose any assumptions behind the question: What do you mean by all religions are manmade? Then be quiet and really listen to the answer.  \nIf they’re not sure what they mean, you might help them a little. You could say,“Do you mean that they have no divine inspiration behind them at all, or do you mean that people are involved in some way, and that means the religions must be flawed or false?”  \nAfter you’ve discovered what they really mean, you should transition to the second question, which asks for evidence: “How did you come to that conclusion?” or“What evidence convinced you of that conclusion?” This is critically important because you should not assume the burden of proof or disproof. When someone makes a claim, it’snot your job to refute the claim —the person making the claim has the job of supporting it.  \nOnce again, be quiet after asking the question. If they struggle to produce evidence, you’re probably dealing with someone who has adopted a slogan into his or her worldview without reflecting on what the slogan means or whether it’s really true. In fact, I think that’s likely the case with a majority of people. They don’t have a wellthought-out, consistent and coherent worldview. Th","cbCaicHCJO47QOhn","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaicHCJO47QOhn","pdf",467873,"English","# Answering the objection: “All Religion Is Manmade”\n## Answer the person, not just the question\n## Ask two tactical questions\n## Agree where you can\n## Turn the claim on itself","[{\"question\":\"Why should you answer the person instead of only the question?\",\"answer\":\"Because understanding the motives and emotional context behind the objection changes how you respond. Clarifying questions help avoid launching into the wrong kind of argument.\"},{\"question\":\"What two tactical questions are recommended for this objection?\",\"answer\":\"“What do you mean by that?” and “How did you come to that conclusion?” These questions clarify assumptions and require evidence without assuming the burden of proof.\"},{\"question\":\"How can you respond if the person cannot provide evidence?\",\"answer\":\"If they struggle to produce evidence, it may indicate they adopted a slogan without reflecting on what it means or whether it is actually true. Stay with quiet, question-based clarification.\"}]","Effective Evangelism - Answering the Objection, “All Religion Is Manmade” | PDF",1790063720]