COURSE SYLLABUS. Course Description

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1 COURSE SYLLABUS AP 601 Introduction to Christian Apologetics Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary South Hamilton Campus Fall Semester 2013 Mondays, 2:00 AM-5:00 PM Phone: Course Description This course is designed to be a basic introduction to the biblical, theological, historical, and philosophical foundations of Christian apologetics. Attention is given to the differences between Christian thought and select examples of non-christian thought. It explores some of the assorted challenges to Christian belief and provides a survey of resources for thinking about those concerns. It highlights the kind of Christian virtues that need to be cultivated in contemporary apologetics given the religious and philosophical diversity and volatile social dynamics that characterize our world. There is an emphasis on effectively and graciously employing the discipline as an aid to the holistic mission of the church. Required: Course Textbooks Taylor, James E. Introducing Apologetics: Cultivating Christian Commitment (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006). ISBN: $39.00 Thiessen, Elmer John. The Ethics of Evangelism: A Philosophical Defense of Proselytizing and Persuasion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011). ISBN: $ Learning Outcomes The student who successfully completes this course should have the ability: 1. To demonstrate the plausibility of the Christian worldview that integrates biblical, theological, philosophical and historical truth. 2. To reason, weigh evidence, present and critique arguments for and against the Christian faith. 3. To engage in conversational apologetics. 4. To integrate apologetics in the context of the local church. 5. To minister with passion, humility, and Christian integrity while showing respect for the other in commending the faith.

2 Course Requirements 1. Assigned Readings some of the reading material is covered in class. However, there are elements that will not be brought out in class but are still essential to gaining an understanding of the material and successfully completing the course. Therefore, the reading provides a rich and necessary component of the learning experience. a. Textbook Reading- The students will be responsible for reading the assigned sections of the course textbooks by the assigned dates stated below. b. Reading Handouts- Students are also responsible for reading all handouts, essays, and articles reserved by the instructor. These essays serve as a necessary supplement to the material discussed in class Students are to indicate in writing how much of the assigned reading was completed on the final exam. 2. Short Interaction Papers students will be responsible for writing three short interaction papers over the course of the semester. The papers are to be essays on portions of a text or select articles assigned for the course. The course instructor will provide the questions from which students are to generate the paper assignments. The details concerning the length and format of the paper is provided on the question sheet. Students are to use these written assignments as the basis for class interaction for the participation aspect of the course. No late papers will be accepted in the absence of mitigating circumstances deemed so by the instructor. 3. Final Exam Each student is responsible for taking a comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester. Course Grading The student s grade will be determined as follows: Reading Report/Attendance 10% Interaction Papers (3) 45% Final Exam 45% Grade Achievement Quality Points A Work of exceptional quality 4.00 A B B Work of commendable quality 3.00 B C C Work of acceptable but minimal quality

3 C D D Substandard and barely passing work 1.00 D F 62-below Failure 0.00 Grading Rubric: After all the requirements of the course have been completed, the instructor will use the following rubric for the assignment of grades, based on the overall performance of the class. The grades assigned will represent the instructor s interpretation of the following standard: A = Outstanding mastery of the subject: excellence is evident in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; unusual ability to retain, analyze and synthesize the material; with a positive attitude making productive contributions to the learning community in the classroom. B = Superior mastery of the subject: sincere effort in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; ability to master the essential aspects of the material; with a mostly consistent attitude in making contributions to the learning community in the classroom. C = Basic mastery of the subject: inconsistent effort in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; engagement with the material but difficulty in grasping some of its aspects; with occasional contributions to the learning community in the classroom. D = Inadequate mastery of the subject. F = Failure: course must be repeated. Warning on Plagiarism: Helpful guidelines on plagiarism can be found on the Indiana University website This document has the official recognition of the Gordon-Conwell faculty and provides very helpful tools to guide you as you prepare for your assignments. If a student is caught plagiarizing, the student will receive the consequences of this act according to the process established by the seminary. Intellectual Property Rights: To protect the professor s intellectual property rights with regard to classroom content, students are asked to refrain from audio and video recording of classes, as well as audio, video, and written publication (including internet posting and broadcasting) or live transmission of classroom proceedings. Internet Usage: Students are asked to refrain from accessing the internet at any point during class sessions, unless otherwise instructed by the professor. Surfing the web, checking , and other internet-based activities are distracting to other students and to the professor, and prevent the student from fully participating in the class session. 3

4 Course Schedule Date Topic Reading/Assignments Week 1 Introductory Issues/ Biblical Reflections September 9 Week 2 September 16 Week 3 September 23 Week4 September 30 Week 5 October 7 Week 6 Reading Week #1 October Week 7 October 21 Week 8 October 28 Biblical Reflections (cont.)/ Faith and Reason Faith and Reason (cont.) On the Coherence of Christian Theism Constructing a Cumulative Case for Christian Theism No Class Meeting No Class Meeting: Due to Instructor teaching a GTCS course in South Africa. The class session will be made up during Week 14 (see below). Constructing a Cumulative Case for Christian Theism (cont.) Chapters 1-4 Chapters 5-7, 24 Chapters 8, 16, 14 Chapters 9, 10, 25 *Assignment Due: Short Paper (1): responses to discussion questions on the Taylor readings (due at the beginning of class) *Reading Assignment: Completed Reading of: David Clark, Dialogical Apologetics, Chapters 6-9 (Posted in Sakai) Read ahead in Thiessen and Taylor *Reading Assignment: Completed Reading of: Elmer John Thiessen, The Ethics of Evangelism, Chapters 1-2 Read ahead in Thiessen and Taylor Chapters 13, 15, 20 *Assignment Due: Short Paper (2): responses to discussion questions on the Clark and Thiessen readings (due at the beginning of class) 4

5 Week 9 November 4 Week 10 Reading Week #2 November Week 11 November 18 Week 12 November 25 Week 13 December 2 Week 14 December 9 Constructing a Cumulative Case for Christian Theism (cont.) No Class Meeting Challenges to Christian Faith and Practice: From the Natural and Social Sciences Challenges to Christian Faith and Practice: Problem(s) of Evil Challenges to Christian Faith and Practice: Philosophical Religious Pluralism Dialogical Apologetics, Respecting the Other, and Being a Good Citizen in a Pluralistic World Be sure to read ahead in Thiessen and Taylor *Reading Assignment: Completed Reading of: Elmer John Thiessen, The Ethics of Evangelism, Chapters 3-6 Read ahead in Thiessen and Taylor Read ahead: Copan and Flannagan essay, and Robert Stewart essay (Posted on Sakai) Chapters General Background Reading: Chapters 11, 12 Paul Copan and Matthew Flannagan, The Ethics of Holy War for Christian Morality and Theology (Posted in Sakai) Robert Stewart, Holy War, Divine Action and the New Atheism: Philosophical Considerations (Posted in Sakai) *Assignment Due: Short Paper (3): responses to discussion questions on Copan/Flannagan, Stewart, Thiessen readings (due at the beginning of class) General Background Reading: Chapters Elmer John Thiessen, The Ethics of Evangelism, Chapters 1-6 General Background Reading: David Clark, Dialogical Apologetics, Chapters 6-9 (Posted in Sakai) Completed Reading of: Elmer John Thiessen, The Ethics of Evangelism, 5

6 Chapters 7-9 Due by December 17, 2013 Comprehensive Examination FINAL EXAM & READING REPORT DUE Bibliography for Further Study Beckwith, Francis J., William Lane Craig and J.P. Moreland, To Everyone an Answer: A Case for the Christian Worldview. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Boa, Kenneth D. and Robert Bowman Jr. Faith Has its Reasons: An Integrative Approach to Defending Christianity. Colorado Springs: NavPress, Boyd, Gregory A. and Paul Rhodes Eddy. Lord or Legend: Wrestling with the Jesus Dilemma. Grand Rapids: Baker, Clark, David K. Dialogical Apologetics: A Person-Centered Approach to Christian Defense. Grand Rapids: Baker, Clark, Kelly James. Return to Reason: A Critique of Enlightenment Evidentialism and a Defense of Reason and Belief in God, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Copan, Paul, ed. Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?: A Debate Between William Lane Craig and John Dominic Crossan. Grand Rapids: Baker, Cowan, Steven B. ed. Five Views on Apologetics, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Craig, William Lane and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong. God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist. New York: Oxford University Press, Ellis, Carl F. Free at Last?: The Gospel in African-American Experience. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Feinberg, John S. Where is God?: A Personal Story of Finding God in Grief and Suffering. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, Geisler, Norman L. Christian Apologetics. Grand Rapids: Baker, Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Grand Rapids: Baker, Geisler, Norman and Paul Hoffman, eds. Why I Am a Christian: Leading Christians Explain Why They Believe. Grand Rapids: Baker, Geivett, Douglas R. and Gary R. Habermas, eds. In Defense of Miracles: A 6

7 Comprehensive Case For God s Action in History. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Johnston, Graham. Preaching to a Postmodern World: A Guide to Reaching Twenty- First Century Listeners. Grand Rapids: Baker, Keener, Craig and Glenn Usry. Black Man s Religion: Can Christianity Be Afrocentric. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Defending Black Faith: Answers to Tough Questions About African-American Christianity. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Moreland, J.P. Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul. Colorado Springs: NavPress, Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity. Grand Rapids: Baker, Moreland, J. P. and William Lane Craig. Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Nash, Ronald H. Faith and Reason: Searching for a Rational Faith. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Worldviews in Conflict: Choosing Christianity in a World of Ideas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Naugle, David K. Worldview: The History of a Concept. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Peterson, Michael, et al. Reason and Religious Belief: An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion, Third Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, Pojman, Louis P. What Can We Know: An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, Second Edition. United States: Wadsworth, Reppert, Victor. C.S. Lewis s Dangerous Idea: In Defense of the Argument From Reason. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, Taylor, James E. Introducing Apologetics: Cultivating Christian Commitment. Grand Rapids: Baker, Wallace, Daniel B. et. al. Reinventing Jesus; What the Da Vinci Code and Other Novel Speculations Don t Tell You. Grand Rapids: Kregel, Wood, W. Jay. Epistemology: Becoming Intellectually Virtuous. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press,

8 Zacharias, Ravi. Is Your Church Ready?: Motivating Leaders to Live an Apologetic Life. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith we Defend. Nashville: Thomas Nelson,