Fall 2003/Pasadena
PH508
Carstensen
PH508: ISSUES IN APOLOGETICS. John Carstensen.
DESCRIPTION:
- The task of apologetics is to argue for the credibility of the
gospel. Challenges to that credibility are presented in questions such as: How
can we reconcile our affirmation of the reality of a good God with the manifest
reality of evil? Is the estimation that the Christian faith compares favorably
to its alternatives justifiable? How do we maintain the ongoing relevance of
appeal to a premodern source such as the Bible? The intent of this course is to
develop the student's competency to address such challenges.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- In that questions such as the above occur to nonbelievers and
believers alike, this course will provide the student with historical and
philosophical resources for ministry to both. As a prepared apologist, the
student will emerge from this course well aware of the most relevant objections
to the Christian faith, abreast of the most persuasive treatments of these
objections advanced and practiced in critically formulating a personal
response.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet once a week for a three-hour session. Lecture,
supplemented by assigned readings, will be the chief means of introducing
course content, allowing for responsive dialogue on related items. Toward the
end of the course, class time will also be given to small group presentations
on areas of interest.
REQUIRED READING:
- Murphy, Nancey. Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism.
Trinity Press, 1996.
- Stackhouse, John G., Jr. Can God Be Trusted? Oxford University
Press, 1998.
- Wolfe, David L. Epistemology: The Justification of Belief.
InterVarsity Press, 1982.
- Course reader.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Credit for the course will derive from the completion of assigned
readings, three 7-page essays, one small group presentation and three 2-page
critiques of group presentations.
PREREQUISITES:
- None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Meets M. Div. core requirement in Philosophical Theology
(PHIL).
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- No.