DESCRIPTION: One goal of the course is to acquaint students with basic
principles of reasoning. A second is to engage the students in the exploration
of the uses of reason made in various disciplines related to religion,
disciplines such as philosophy of religion, theology and ethics. In the course
of this exploration, the students should become more familiar with the ways in
which assertions related to religion might be supported, for purposes of both
assessing and communicating support for such assertions.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The awareness of how reasoning in general
relates to religion should contribute to the effectiveness of such ministries
as teaching, preaching, counseling, and coordinating, to any ministries
involving the persuasion of human beings, in light of how prominently appeal to
rational support factors into such persuasion.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: In several ways, the course should develop the students'
ability to engage culture constructively and critically, so as to challenge
both church and society. It will promote the students' confidence in their
ability to address intellectual problems, promote their appreciation for
scholars whose views on the issues treated may differ from their own, and
increase their skills in critical thinking.
COURSE FORMAT: The class meets daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks.
Course content will be introduced largely through lecture, allowing some time
for related dialogue, testing, and practice in reasoning in fun activities
in-class. Outside of class, students will also read the required texts, do the
exercises on the companion disk and compose an essay.
REQUIRED READING: