Summer 2006/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: July 31-August 11
PH508
Rhee
PH508: ISSUES IN APOLOGETICS (Taught in Korean). Edmund Rhee.
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.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/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]).
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Three quizzes (5% each, total 15% of the final grade).
- One 10-page paper on a relevant topic (50%).
- A take-home final exam (35%).
PREREQUISITES: Korean.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Philosophical
Theology (PHIL).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Take-home final exam.