Published on 12 June, 2026
At a glance:
In an age where machines are indispensable in daily life, we can easily lose sight of what makes us human. When technology begins to blur the line between person and programme, we must be ready to defend the inherent worth, dignity, and uniqueness of human beings — not only to others, but also to ourselves.
The word apologetics comes from the Greek apologia, meaning “to make a defense.” It’s about giving clear reasons for what we believe. As parents, we long for our children to think clearly and discern truth from falsehood. AI can be used to create convincing fakes so well that even well-educated adults are deceived, so we must train children to think critically and discern truth from young.
Teaching apologetics is not about winning arguments; it’s about forming minds that love truth and hearts that love people. The good news is that you don’t need an apologetics degree to begin. You simply need a willingness to learn alongside your children — to ask questions, think critically, and seek truth together.
It’s never too late to start training your mind, or your child’s, to think well.
At its heart, critical thinking is the disciplined pursuit of truth that corresponds to reality. In a culture that celebrates “your truth” and “my truth,” we must help the next generation rediscover that truth is good, objective and knowable.
Critical thinking is like exercising a muscle: it grows stronger with use. Neuroscience calls this neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new connections through practice. It’s never too late to start training your mind, or your child’s, to think well.
Focus on teaching a framework for inquiry that is evidence-based. Our goal is to help children ask questions that lead to understanding, not confusion.
We are constantly bombarded by messages — mostly half-true, and some others deceptive. Without careful examination, we risk absorbing “junk ideas” along with the good.
Similar to the Socratic approach, we need to ask thoughtful questions that reveal hidden assumptions. For example, when someone says, “AI companions can fill the emotional void in people’s lives without harming anyone,” we can gently ask:
These questions clarify terms and reveal underlying assumptions. They also affirm something true — that humans do long to be known and loved — while testing whether AI can genuinely meet that need meaningfully.
As Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the Oxford University, John Lennox reminds us, “Machines can calculate, but they cannot contemplate.” Love requires free will, empathy, and moral awareness — qualities no algorithm possesses. Studies show that long-term reliance on AI companions often increases isolation and loneliness, in addition to reports of encouraging self-harm among vulnerable users. So the claim that “no one is harmed” simply doesn’t hold up.
By learning to cross-examine ideas, children develop discernment — the ability to tell not just right from wrong, but right from almost right.
Encourage your children to ask similar questions about any AI-related idea:
By learning to cross-examine ideas, children develop discernment — the ability to tell not just right from wrong, but right from almost right.
Critical thinking is best when it’s motivated by love. The goal is not to “win” debates but to help others see truth’s beauty and goodness. We can think of this process as gardening. We’re planting seeds of truth that may grow later in someone’s heart.
When discussing AI companions, for instance, you might ask your child:
These questions invite deeper reflection. They help children see that relationships are meaningful precisely because they involve vulnerability, imperfection, and the exercise of free will — things machines cannot replicate.
Evaluating ideas, like any skill, fades when unused. The best way to nurture thoughtful and discerning children is to integrate these habits into everyday life.
Here are some practical ways to do that:
As AI’s abilities deepen and expand, some now argue it may possess consciousness—self-awareness like humans. This debate has profound implications for humanity, offering parents and children a chance to think critically together and learn to defend what truly defines human identity.
Parents already juggle countless responsibilities, yet helping children think critically and defend human worth and dignity is worth our investment of time and “thinking muscle”. Small, consistent moments of discussion and reflection over time build resilience and true wisdom that can withstand any disruption from AI.
We can be kind to ourselves by taking the pressure off from focusing on the training outcomes, and instead focus on faithfully stewarding the young minds in our care, one day at a time. May the seeds we plant today in our children’s lives bear good fruits that will serve them and others well, in the future.
This is Part 3 in a series on Sex & Sexuality in an AI-Driven World. Read Part 1 here & Part 2 here.
Nelson and Gina
Workshop: May 2026
Nelson and Gina Lee have been accredited facilitators with Focus on the Family Singapore for over a decade, beginning their involvement conducting relationship talks for tertiary students since 2011.
Driven by a passion for nurturing strong relationships, they have extensive experience in facilitating dating workshops for courting couples and pre-marital programmes for those considering marriage. They have also have led marriage retreats designed to deepen connection and commitment among married couples.
