text: how can a christian escape from the trap of the circular self-referential argument? the circular argument goes like this... a: the bible is the one true way.  b: we know the bible is the one true way because god has     approved the bible.  c: we know god has approved the bible because the bible contains statements which say god approved it.  d: we know what the bible says is true because...(back to a)  a: the bible is the one true way. the only way i can see to do so, is to propose a question like this to them.  it is blatantly obvious to the rest of us, but until you can get them to understand this basic principle, all other arguments are lost on them.  they will always retreat into the "i have my faith" cave otherwise.  excellent question.   edit - the funny thing is, you can see by some of the responses here, they're actually using this argument right now, and they don't even realize they're doing it.  absolutely incredible.