DESCRIPTION: This course explores how both evangelical and liberal apologetic strategies have been influenced by modern philosophy, and also how new major developments in philosophy since the 1950s could be used in developing a more helpful apologetic framework. It covers evangelical, liberal, and postmodern approaches to four central apologetic issues: Christian belief and science, divine action and the laws of nature, religious pluralism, and God's goodness and the evil in the world.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the course students will be able to understand (1) foundationalism and its impact on modern apologetic strategies, (2) a holist approach to apologetics, (3) a new view of science and of its relationship to Christian belief, (4) recent attempts to address the problem of evil, and (5) issues relating to religious pluralism.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Students will be able to understand and critically evaluate different apologetic strategies, and will begin to formulate, both for themselves and for others, answers to the central questions addressed in this course.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will combine lectures and discussions. The class will meet four hours daily for two weeks.

REQUIRED READING:

Course reader (including Korean translation of selected parts of Nancey Murphy's Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism [Trinity Press International, 1996])

Clark, Kelly James. Yisungeuroeui Boggui. Translated by Lee Seung Goo. Seoul: Jeshurun, 1998 (translation of Return to Reason [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990]).

Placher, William. Bibyunjeungronjeog Shinhag. Translated by Chung Seung Tae. Seoul: Eunsung, 2003 (translation of Unapologetic Theology [Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1989]).

One of the following:

Okholm, Dennis L. and Timothy R. Phillips, eds. Dawonjueui Nonjaeng. Translated by Lee Seung Goo. Seoul: Gidoggyomunseosungyohoe, 2001 (translation of Four Views on Salvation in a Pluralistic World [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996]).

Moreland, J. P. and John Mark Reynolds, eds. Changjowa Jinhwae Daehan Segaji Gyunhae. Translated by Park Hee Joo. Seoul: Korean IVP, 2001 (translation of Three Views on Creation and Evolution [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999]).

Ratzsch, Del. Gwahagcholhag. Translated by Kim Young Shig and Choi Gyung Hag. Seoul: Korean IVP, 2002 (Translation of Science and Its Limits [Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000]).

1. Three quizzes (5% each, total 15% of the final grade).

2. One 10-page paper on a relevant topic (due September 7; 50%).

3. A take-home final exam (due September 7; 35%).