Atheism, apologetics and ecclesiology: Gaudium et Spes and contemporary unbelief

Apologetics calls for us to be imaginative in many ways. In this chapter Stephen Bullivant draws inspiration for a generation of Roman Catholic theologians who had the imagination to ask 'what is it about Christianity that puts so many atheists off the faith?' Having been brave enough to ask the question, they were then able to suggest responses. This relates apologetics to other tasks for the Chruch, here primarily the need to be active in the works of mercy and the urgent demand to think carefully about what marks the Church out in both theory and practice. At the heart of the problem is a need for Christians to be convinced by the faith they seek to hold out to others. The best apology for the faith is to be found in Christians whose imaginations are as much captured by the faith as they hope thow will be to whom they offer their message.