Video: Sharon Dirckx - Where is God when Life Hurts? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JVWhi31DUg
"Sharon Dirckx (pronounced ‘Dirix’) is an Academic Tutor at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Originally from a scientific background she has a Ph.D. in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge and has held research positions at the University of Oxford and in the USA. During its founding year in 2004/5, Sharon graduated from the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. She has since been invited to speak and lecture in a variety of contexts and has also appeared on BBC Songs of Praise, Premier Christian Radio and BBC Radio 2 Good Morning Sunday with Clare Balding. Her topics of interest include the interface between science and faith, and suffering. Her Why?: Looking at God, Evil and Personal Suffering won the prize for best book at the 2014 Speaking Volumes UK Christian Book Awards (presented by Pam Rhodes). Why? interweaves the stories of people who have suffered, with a practical look at some ‘Why?’ questions on suffering."
"According to the American Heritage Dictionary, apologetics is “formal argumentation in defense of something, such as a position or system.” A Christian “apologetic” is not an apology as we usually use the term, that is, to say you are sorry for something. We use the word “apology” in the sense that we give a defense of the Christian faith. Apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia, “to give an answer.” 1 Peter 3:15 gives us the defining statement: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer (apologia) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” The Scriptures do not divorce the content of apologetics from the character of the apologist. The apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, knew the hazards and the risks of being an answer-bearer to the sincere questions that people would pose of the Gospel. For that very reason the Scriptures give us a clear picture of the apologist: one who has first set apart Christ in his or her heart as Lord, who then responds with answers to the questioner, and does so, with gentleness and respect."
