DESCRIPTION: Understanding apologetics to consist in the intellectual "defense
of the faith," we observe that certain objections to the Christian faith are
advanced in the name of intellectual integrity, objections students should
expect to encounter. These objections may be posed as questions such as: How
can you reconcile belief in God with the injustices and sufferings we know
occur? In light of the general adequacy of the "natural explanations" for
experience we agree on, why believe in God at all? Why should anyone now living
subject their beliefs to the norms of pre-modern Scripture? The intent of this
course is to develop student competencies to respond to such objections.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: As a result of having taken this course, students will have
(1) become familiar with and appreciative of relevant contributions to the
discussion of issues in Christian apologetics from a variety of sources, (2)
further developed their own aptitudes for critical thinking, particularly as
these relate to the task of engaging anticipated objections to the Christian
faith, and (3) each formulated personal contributions to the discussion of the
issues in the production of bodies of written work of respectable academic
caliber engaging such objections.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The effort to do justice to objections to one's faith
not only stimulates personal growth but also contributes to one's overall
persuasiveness. As the questions treated in this course occur to nonbelievers
and believers alike, the student as prepared apologist may help nonbelievers
give the Christian faith more serious consideration and help believers foster
the virtue of intellectual integrity.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet two days a week for a class period of
approximately four hours per day, each period consisting in two sessions
separated by a break. Lecture will be the chief means of introducing course
content, supplemented by dialogue on related items and small group
discussion.
REQUIRED READING: