Fall 2010/Pasadena
PH510
Dyrness

PH510: CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS. William Dyrness.


DESCRIPTION: This course explores the major challenges that Christianity faces in North America in the beginning of the twenty-first century. The approach is to develop an apologetic framework by (1) surveying the way Christians have defended the faith throughout the history of the church; (2) proposing three models--Classical, Modern, and Postmodern--that have been used to defend the faith; and (3) developing a pastoral strategy for defending the truth of Christianity and thus commending the faith to unbelievers. The entire last section of the course will be devoted to studying issues the class feels are important with the tools we have developed.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: As the Church increasingly finds itself in a secular environment that is hostile to the Gospel, the challenges it faces will often be apologetic in character. Moreover, Christian growth, both individually and corporately, involves facing these challenges honestly and developing apologetic strategies that support and complement our evangelism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through discussion, reading, and writing, students will be able to (1) understand the historical and philosophical context of apologetics, (2) develop pastoral sensitivity to the frameworks people bring to questions of faith, (3) reflect and write on some specific objection against Christianity.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly in two-hour sessions. The course is divided into two sections. The first section will introduce apologetic method and give a brief overview of the history of apologetics. A midterm exam will follow this part. During the remaining classes we will apply the apologetic method developed to particular apologetic problems, which students will study and address in learning groups. Curriculum for this part will be developed in consultation with students.

REQUIRED READING:

One of the following:
Chang, Curtis. Engaging Unbelief. Wipf and Stock, 2007. ISBN: 1556355203, $22.00.

OR Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Eerdmans, 1989. ISBN: 9780802804266, $24.00.

OR William Placher, Unapologetic Theology. Westminster, 1995. ISBN: 9780664250645, $29.95.
Descartes, Rene. Discourse on Method. Oxford World Classics, 2006. ISBN: 9780199540075, $8.95.

Groothuis, Douglas R. Truth Decay: Defining Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism. InterVarsity Press, 2000. ISBN: 9780830822287, $16.00

Hart, David Bentley, Atheist Delusions. Yale University Press, 2009. ISBN: 9780300164299, $17.00.

Ramachandra, Vinoth. Faiths in Conflict: Christian Integrity in a Multicultural World. InterVarsity Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780830815586, $20.00.

Smith, James K. A. Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? Baker, 2006. ISBN: 978080102918-9, $17.99.

Apologetics Reader (ca. 100 pp.).

RECOMMENDED READING:
The course syllabus will supply a list of recommended texts for projects and critical reviews.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: The course grade is dependent on the midterm exam (40%) after the first section of the course; a 5-7 page critical book review (20%) of one of the books in the recommended reading list, due during the 8th week of class; and a 12-15 page paper/project (40%) on a particular apologetic problem, which may be done in learning groups of 3 or 4, due the last day of exam week.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in "Philosophical Theology" (PHIL).

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2010)