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{{Infobox_organization
|headquarters = [[wikipedia:United States|United States]]
|name        = Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM)
|image        = Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry logo.png
|type        = [[501(c)(3)]] [[wikipedia:Nonprofit_organization|nonprofit organization]]
|theological_tradition      = [[Protestantism]]
|founders = [[Matthew Slick]]
|leadership = [[Matthew Slick]] (founder/president), [[David Kimball]] (board member), [[Charlie Spine]] (board member)
|website      = [https://CARM.org CARM.org]
}}
The '''Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry''' ('''CARM''') is a nonprofit, [[nondenominational Protestant]] [[Christian apologetics|apologetics]] ministry with an internet and radio outreach. It is involved in [[evangelism]], including full-time support for several foreign missionaries. It is based in the United States and was founded in 1995.<ref>{{cite news | last =Slick | first =Matthew J. | title =General Information about Christian Research Ministry | work =Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry | publisher =www.carm.org | year =2009 | url =http://www.carm.org/general-information-about-carm  | access-date = 2009-12-14 }}</ref> [[Matthew J. Slick|Matthew Slick]] currently serves as president of the ministry.<ref>{{cite web|author=Matt Slick |title=Writers, Researchers and Email Helpers |publisher=Christian Research Ministry|url= http://carm.org/writers-researchers-email|access-date=12 October 2014}}</ref> The ministry is registered as a [[501(c)(3) organization|501(c)(3)]] organization<ref name="bearing">{{cite book  | last =Cowan  | first =Douglas E.  | author-link =Douglas E. Cowan  | title =Bearing False Witness?: An Introduction to the Christian Countercult  | publisher =Praeger  | year =2003  | pages =118–119  | isbn =0-275-97459-6 }}</ref> and is headquartered in [[Nampa, Idaho]].<ref>{{cite news  | last =Slick  | first =Matthew J.  | title =About CARM  | work =Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry | publisher =www.carm.org  | year =2009  | url =http://www.carm.org/about  | access-date =  2009-12-15}}</ref>


==Organization==
In November 1995, [[Matthew J. Slick|Matthew Slick]] compiled his sermons and notes together onto computer, and created a website for the Christian Research Ministry.<ref name="bearing" /><ref>{{cite book  | last =Hadden  | first =Jeffrey    |author2=Douglas Cowan  | title =Religion on the Internet: Research Prospects and Promises  | publisher =JAI Press  | year =2001  | page =123  | isbn =0-7623-0535-5 }}</ref> By 2000, Slick claimed that his website was receiving 14,000 visits per week.<ref name="bearing" /> He created a ''Christian Apologetics Notebook'' presentation in a three-ring-binder format, which offered material from the website in a printed medium.<ref name="bearing" /> Slick says he has sold over 3,000 copies of the ''Christian Apologetics Notebook''.<ref name="bearing" /> He also compiled the website material for sale in [[CD-ROM]] format.<ref name="bearing" />
CARM offers several online dictionaries, including a theological dictionary compiled by Matt Slick and others, in addition to discussion forums.<ref name="bearing" /> The organization's stated motivation is "to equip Christians with good information on doctrine".<ref>{{cite news | last =Monthly Review editors  | title =Notes from the Editors  | work =[[Monthly Review]]  | date =November 1, 2001 }}</ref> In 2004, CARM made available a free resource called the ''Dictionary of Theology'' for the [[Palm OS]] system.<ref>{{cite news  | title =CARM Dictionary of Theology for Palm OS  | work =[[ZDNet]]  | publisher =[[CBS Interactive]]  | date =May 13, 2004  | url =http://www.zdnetasia.com/downloads/mobile/swinfo/0,3800011108,50002715r-39636233s,00.htm  | access-date =2009-12-15  }}</ref> The website also provides [[Protestantism|Protestants]] with pre-formatted "cut-and-paste" arguments to use in online forums with [[atheism|atheists]], [[relativism|relativists]], [[Muslim]]s, [[Mormons]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] and members of other groups.<ref name="gallagher">{{cite book  | last =Gallagher  | first = Eugene V.  |author2=W. Michael Ashcraft  | title =Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America  | publisher =Greenwood Press  | year =2006  | pages =145, 153–154  | isbn =0-275-98712-4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carm.org/cut-and-paste|title=Cut and Paste Information|last=Slick|first=Matt|work =Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry|publisher =www.carm.org  |access-date=19 December 2009}}</ref>
==Beliefs==
CARM is a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] ministry, involving several different branches of Protestantism. For example, CARM's official position is that the [[Calvinist]] interpretation of Christianity is "within orthodoxy," but does not brand itself a Calvinist ministry, claiming that both Calvinists and non-Calvinists write articles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Slick |first1=Matthew |title=What is CARM's position on Calvinism? |url=https://carm.org/carm-calvinism |publisher=CARM |access-date=8 December 2020}}</ref>
==Reception==
Conservative columnist [[Cal Thomas]] of [[Tribune Media Services]] comments, "Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (the Web site carm.org) has created a useful chart that shows the conflicting claims of classic Christian belief and [[Muslims|Muslim]] doctrines. It is worth studying, whatever one's faith."<ref>{{cite news  | last =Thomas  | first =Cal ([[Tribune Media Services]])  | title =Bush is wrong about God  | work =[[The Wichita Eagle]]  | page =7A  | date =October 10, 2007  }}</ref> ''Christian Parenting Today'' notes that the website of CARM provides "lists, definitions, and descriptions of cults", to assist parents and children with identifying controversial groups and movements.<ref>{{cite news  | last =Lewis  | first =Brad  | title =Teacher Roulette  | work =Christian Parenting Today  | date =March 22, 2004 }}</ref> The [[Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance]] says of CARM, "This is a very large web site. It is rated by Hitbox.com as the most visited [[Christian countercult movement|counter-cult]] website, and about #14 in the list of most-visited religious web sites."<ref>{{cite news  | last =Robinson  | first = B.A.  | title =Books and web sites by and about the Counter Cult Movement  | work =[[Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance]]  | publisher =www.religioustolerance.org  | year =2006  | url =http://www.religioustolerance.org/ccm3.htm  | access-date =  2009-12-15}}</ref> ''[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]'' recommended CARM as a resource for information on [[apologetics]].<ref>{{cite news  | last =Asay  | first =Paul  | title =Defenders of faith - Conference teaches art of argument to Christians  | work =[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]]  | publisher =[[Freedom Communications]]  | page =1; Section: Life  | date =August 20, 2005}}</ref> Writing in the ''[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]'', [[Pastor]] [[Bob Coy]] of [[Calvary Chapel]], [[Fort Lauderdale]] characterized CARM among "excellent resources… that will allow those who are seriously searching to discover faith is more fact than fiction."<ref>{{cite news  | last =Coy  | first =Bob  | title =Prayer, study will lead son to truth about God  | work =[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]  | publisher =Sun-Sentinel Company  | page =12D | date =August 31, 2002}}</ref>
In the book ''The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging, and Podcasting for Christ'', Roger Overton, a [[blog]]ger and graduate student at [[Talbot School of Theology]], recommends CARM as a resource, calling the organization's website "an informative site dealing with topics from the defense of mere Christianity to exposing the problems in [[cult]]s and other religions. Go to the CARM website for the straight facts such as a list of the prophecies [[Jesus]] fulfilled or archived incriminating statements by [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (Mormons) and [[Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania|The Watchtower]] ([[Jehovah's Witnesses]])."<ref>{{cite book  | last =Reynolds  | first =John Mark  |author2=Hugh Hewitt |author3=Roger Overton  | title =The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging, and Podcasting for Christ  | publisher =Crossway Books  | year =2008  | page =153  | isbn = 978-1-4335-0211-8}}</ref> [[Thomas Nelson (publisher)|Thomas Nelson]]'s ''Safe Sites Internet Yellow Pages, The 2000–2001 Edition'' describes the organization as "A Christian ministry promoting Christian truth with articles on doctrine, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, [[Evolution]], [[New Age]], [[atheism]], and more."<ref name="nelson">{{cite book  | title =Safe Sites Internet Yellow Pages, The 2000-2001 Edition  | publisher =Thomas Nelson  | year =2000  | pages =15, 92, 311, 418  | isbn = 0-7852-4390-9}}</ref> The book recommends the organization's ''Theological Dictionary'' as among the "Best of the Christian Web", saying it "Defines many Christian and theological terms."<ref name="nelson" />
==Publications==
*Slick, Matt (2008). Apologetics School – Student Edition.
*Slick, Matt (2008). Critical Thinking School.
*Slick, Matt (2009). Theology School – Student's Edition.
*Slick, Matt (2008). Theology School – Teacher's Edition.
== See also ==
* [[List of Christian apologetic ministries]]
* [[List of Reformed apologetic ministries]]
== External links ==
* [https://CARM.org CARM.org]
== References ==
[[Category:Calvinist organizations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Charities based in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Christian charities based in the United States]]
[[Category:Christian countercult organizations]]
[[Category:Christian websites]]
[[Category:Meridian, Idaho]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1995]]

Revision as of 01:30, 2 December 2024

Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
File:Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry logo.png
Headquarters United States
Type 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Founder(s) Matthew Slick
Leadership Matthew Slick (founder/president), David Kimball (board member), Charlie Spine (board member)
Theological Tradition Protestantism
Website CARM.org

The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) is a nonprofit, nondenominational Protestant apologetics ministry with an internet and radio outreach. It is involved in evangelism, including full-time support for several foreign missionaries. It is based in the United States and was founded in 1995.[1] Matthew Slick currently serves as president of the ministry.[2] The ministry is registered as a 501(c)(3) organization[3] and is headquartered in Nampa, Idaho.[4]

Organization

In November 1995, Matthew Slick compiled his sermons and notes together onto computer, and created a website for the Christian Research Ministry.[3][5] By 2000, Slick claimed that his website was receiving 14,000 visits per week.[3] He created a Christian Apologetics Notebook presentation in a three-ring-binder format, which offered material from the website in a printed medium.[3] Slick says he has sold over 3,000 copies of the Christian Apologetics Notebook.[3] He also compiled the website material for sale in CD-ROM format.[3]

CARM offers several online dictionaries, including a theological dictionary compiled by Matt Slick and others, in addition to discussion forums.[3] The organization's stated motivation is "to equip Christians with good information on doctrine".[6] In 2004, CARM made available a free resource called the Dictionary of Theology for the Palm OS system.[7] The website also provides Protestants with pre-formatted "cut-and-paste" arguments to use in online forums with atheists, relativists, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics and members of other groups.[8][9]

Beliefs

CARM is a Protestant ministry, involving several different branches of Protestantism. For example, CARM's official position is that the Calvinist interpretation of Christianity is "within orthodoxy," but does not brand itself a Calvinist ministry, claiming that both Calvinists and non-Calvinists write articles.[10]

Reception

Conservative columnist Cal Thomas of Tribune Media Services comments, "Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (the Web site carm.org) has created a useful chart that shows the conflicting claims of classic Christian belief and Muslim doctrines. It is worth studying, whatever one's faith."[11] Christian Parenting Today notes that the website of CARM provides "lists, definitions, and descriptions of cults", to assist parents and children with identifying controversial groups and movements.[12] The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance says of CARM, "This is a very large web site. It is rated by Hitbox.com as the most visited counter-cult website, and about #14 in the list of most-visited religious web sites."[13] The Gazette recommended CARM as a resource for information on apologetics.[14] Writing in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Pastor Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale characterized CARM among "excellent resources… that will allow those who are seriously searching to discover faith is more fact than fiction."[15]

In the book The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging, and Podcasting for Christ, Roger Overton, a blogger and graduate student at Talbot School of Theology, recommends CARM as a resource, calling the organization's website "an informative site dealing with topics from the defense of mere Christianity to exposing the problems in cults and other religions. Go to the CARM website for the straight facts such as a list of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled or archived incriminating statements by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and The Watchtower (Jehovah's Witnesses)."[16] Thomas Nelson's Safe Sites Internet Yellow Pages, The 2000–2001 Edition describes the organization as "A Christian ministry promoting Christian truth with articles on doctrine, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evolution, New Age, atheism, and more."[17] The book recommends the organization's Theological Dictionary as among the "Best of the Christian Web", saying it "Defines many Christian and theological terms."[17]

Publications

  • Slick, Matt (2008). Apologetics School – Student Edition.
  • Slick, Matt (2008). Critical Thinking School.
  • Slick, Matt (2009). Theology School – Student's Edition.
  • Slick, Matt (2008). Theology School – Teacher's Edition.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Template:Cite news
  2. ↑ Template:Cite web
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Template:Cite book
  4. ↑ Template:Cite news
  5. ↑ Template:Cite book
  6. ↑ Template:Cite news
  7. ↑ Template:Cite news
  8. ↑ Template:Cite book
  9. ↑ Template:Cite web
  10. ↑ Template:Cite web
  11. ↑ Template:Cite news
  12. ↑ Template:Cite news
  13. ↑ Template:Cite news
  14. ↑ Template:Cite news
  15. ↑ Template:Cite news
  16. ↑ Template:Cite book
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Template:Cite book
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