HILLSDALE GRADUATE SCHOOL
Box 7208, Moore, OK 73153
www.hc.edu Phone: 405-912-9000
PHIL 5003 APOLOGETICS
Professors
President Timothy W. Eaton M.Ed. and Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Greg McAllister M.Div., Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary
Office Hours
By appointment through Sherri Sloan 405-912-9452 or online through MySaint (Populi)
Contact
Eaton 405-912-9456 (WK) 405-307-9631 (HM)
McAllister 559-917-3978 (WK) 559-454-8189 (HM)
Course Description
This course is a study of the defense of Christianity with emphasis on the Biblical and theological foundation, methodology, and contemporary challenges to the truth of Christianity. (Hillsdale Graduate Catalog, 3 Graduate Semester Hours)
Required Texts
· Winfried Corduan, Reasonable Faith. Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, TN. 1997. ISBN: 0805416471
· Steven B. Cowan, Ed. Five Views on Apologetics. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI. 2000. ISBN: 0310224764
· (Logos or Print) Norman L. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999, ISBN: 0801021510
· Sean McDowell, Gen. Ed., Apologetics for a New Generation: A biblical & culturally relevant approach to talking about God. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-7369-2520-4
· James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door, 5rd Edition, IVP Academic, Downers Grove, IL, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-8308-3850-9
· (Logos or Print) Dan Story, Christianity on the Offense, 2nd Edition, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI: 1998, 0825436761
· (Logos or Print) Dan Story, Defending Your Faith, Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997. 0840734042
· Holy Bible— Please use one of the following non-paraphrased translations: ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV, or other non-paraphrased translation of the Bible.
· Apologetics Packet of files and links on Populi
Required Readings, selected from the following:
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
· www.apologetics.com
· http://seanmcdowell.org/
· http://www.conversantlife.com/
· http://www.reasonablefaith.org/
· http://www.closertotruth.com/participant/William-Lane-Craig/24
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
Recommended Web Sites
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
· http://apologetics315.blogspot.com/
· http://bible.crosswalk.com
· http://manawatu.christian-apologetics.org
· http://unbound.biola.edu
· http://www.apologeticsindex.org/883-please-convince-me-apologetics-course
· http://www.arcapologetics.org/worldviews/worldviews.htm (Worldviews Newsletter)
· http://www.biblearch.com
· http://www.biblegateway.com
· http://www.bible-history.com
· http://www.battlefortruth.org/home.asp
· http://cranfordville.com
· http://www.ccel.org/e/easton/ebd/ebd.html
· http://www.CCEL.org
· http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/
· http://www.newadvent.org/cathen
· http://www.ntgateway.com
· http://www.rq.acu.edu/rqarchives.htm
· http://www.theologywebsite.com/nt
· http://www.wfu.edu/~horton/r102/ho1.html
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
NOTE: URLs containing <edu> are generally reliable resources
Course Goals and Objectives
1. To set forth the Biblical meaning of, and the warrant for the Apologetic enterprise.
2. To study several Biblical instances of Apologetics.
3. To understand the theological context and foundation for Apologetics.
4. To set forth the competing approaches toward testing of truth claims.
5. To assist the student in understanding various worldviews.
6. To examine issues related to Apologetic Common Ground (metaphysical, epistemological, and axiological) between Christian believers and unbelievers.
7. To gain an overview of various Apologetic approaches.
8. To provide a methods for testing worldviews.
9. To consider several of the key issues regularly encountered in doing Christian Apologetics e.g. Problems of History, Problems of Evil…, Miracles…, Postmodernism…
Respectful Inquiry
Many different systems and views will be encountered in this course related to varying Worldviews and competing truth claims. Both the professor and the students will be expected to show respect for those holding to positions other than our own. It should be remembered, however, that respect and agreement are not synonymous terms. Hence, this being a philosophy course, we will always be looking for the truth i.e. the best explanation on any given issue.
Computer Policy:
Hillsdale students are required to have a working email account and a working MySaint account. MySaint is the major channel of communication between faculty members and the students in their classes. Students are responsible for all information sent by faculty members on MySaint. Students who experience problems may send an email to to receive assistance.
Nondiscrimination:
Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and activities. Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College reserves the right to, and does, maintain student educational and behavioral employment requirements and standards, which are based upon religious considerations consistent with its role and mission. (The complete Nondiscrimination Statement and Grievance Policy is contained in the catalog.)
COURSE CONTENT
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
1. Biblical Understanding of Apologetics
1.1 Definitions
1.2 Preliminary Considerations
2. Biblical Examples of Apologetics
2.1 Types of Apologetics
2.2 Classical Apologetics
2.3 Evidential Apologetics
2.4 Cumulative Case Apologetics
2.5 Pre-suppositional Apologetics
2.6 Reformed Apologetics
2.7 Conclusions
3. Christianity and Relativism
3.1 Preliminaries
3.2 Competing Views of Truth
3.3 Coherence Epistemology
3.4 Correspondence Epistemology
3.5 Pragmatic Theory
3.6 Natural Theology
4. Competing Worldviews
4.1 Preliminaries
4.2 Christian Theism
4.3 Deism
4.4 Naturalism/Atheism
4.5 Agnosticism
4.6 Nihilism/Existentialism
4.7 Eastern Monism/Pantheism
4.8 Panentheism
4.9 Postmodernity
5. Testing Worldviews
6. Relationship of History to Apologetics
6.1 The Nature of History
6.2 Faith and History
6.3 History and the Kerygma
7. Doing Christian Apologetics: If Christianity were true…what would we expect to find?
7.1 About God
7.1.1 His Self-attestation of Who He Is
7.1.2 Nature attesting to His nature
7.1.3 The Problem of Evil
7.2 About Scripture
7.2.1 The Bible identifying itself as being divine revelation
7.2 2 Internal consistency
7.2.3 Testimony of Fulfilled Prophecy
7.2.4 Unity and Nobility of Thought
7.2.5 A book that has life-changing influence upon humankind
7.3 About Jesus Christ
7.3.1 His Self-attestation of Who He is
7.3.2 His Life bearing witness to His claims of deity- His Personhood
7.3.3 Supernatural evidence of His claim- Miracles/Resurrection
7.4 About the Church
7.4.1 Preliminaries
7.4.2 Changed Lives
7.4.3 Positive Influences Upon the World
8. Apologetics as Evangelism
8.1 Concepts
8.2 Communication
8.3 Relationships
8.4 Culture
8.5 Application
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
Learning Activities
Lecture; Question and Answer; Readings; Written Summaries; Thought Questions; Lecture Responses; Research Paper, Comprehensive Final Examination, Practical Project
Course Requirements:
a. Reading Assignments and questions: Each student should read all assignments as scheduled and answer any questions assigned to each reading on Populi. These are spread throughout the course.
b. Lectures and notes. The student will listen to each lectures on apologetics (found for each lesson on Populi) and will take notes on the corresponding guides for each lecture. These are spread throughout the course.
c. Writing Assignments. NOTE: dates specify each assignment’s due date.
1/27/12 Assignment 1.1- Integrated Paper- My Preliminary Understanding of Apologetics.
After the first week of reading, the student will write a 3-page description of his/her preliminary grasp of apologetics. Double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
1/30-2/3 Assignments 2.1-2.5- Summary papers on the Five Views of Apologetics.
One essay on each of the five chapters of Five Views of Apologetics. These essays should be 2-3 pages in length, double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
1/30/12 Assignment 2.1- Summary Paper- Classical Apologetics
1/31/12 Assignment 2.2- Summary Paper- Evidential Apologetics
2/1/12 Assignment 2.3- Summary Paper- Cumulative Care Apologetics
2/2/12 Assignment 2.4- Summary Paper- Pre-suppositional Apologetics
2/3/12 Assignment 2.5- Summary Paper- Reformed Apologetics
2/4/12 Assignment 2.6- Analytical Matrix, Five Views on Apologetics
Using the matrix template attached to this assignment on Populi, the student will analyze the similarities and differences between each view of apologetic method.
2/11/12 Assignment 3.1- Summary paper of perspectives listed under Relativism.
One page evaluating each view (coherence epistemology, correspondence epistemology, pragmatic theory, natural theology). Double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
2/18/12 Assignment 4.1- Reaction paper to material under Worldviews.
As the student reads the material under each worldview (Christian theism, theism, naturalism/atheism, agnosticism), s/he will record his/her immediate reactions to each piece. Minimum 5 pages. Maximum 10 pages. Double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
2/23/12 Assignment 5.1- Reaction paper to lectures.
After listening to the lectures answering the corresponding questions on Populi, the student will write a paper on the material in the lectures that seemed most significant. Why was the issue significant? Did it confirm a prior position the student held, or did it challenge one? If the student’s position was confirmed, whose positions are challenged by the material? If the student’s position was challenged, what trickle-down effects does the significant material have in other parts of the student’s theology or worldview? 3 pages minimum, 5-page maximum. Double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
2/25/12 Assignment 6.1- Summary paper to the material in section 6 regarding History.
2 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
3/3/12 Assignment 7.1- Course Summary Paper- “My Defense of the Gospel.”
Use textual evidence and personal experience as source material. 5 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
3/7/12 Assignment 8.1- Major Research Paper.
The student will read, investigate, and evaluate Apologetics for a New Generation by Sean McDowell. Then answer the five big questions: (1) Does God Exist? (2) Why am I here? (3) Are Miracles Real? (4) How can I know God? (5) Why does evil exist? Articulate and defend an epistemology that can account for how one comes to a knowledge of God. You must use and cite at least eight (8) sources other than the Bible or materials used within the class. No more than four (4) internet sources may be used. Journal articles accessed through the Hillsdale online library portal (see library access) are not considered internet sources, since they are digital images of print journals (correct documentation is still required).
You will be expected to use Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Thesis, and Dissertations.10-15 pages, double spaced, Times New Roman 11 point font, and one inch margins.
d. Comprehensive final examination. The student will take a comprehensive final examination on March 9, 2012.
e. Course Project- Practical Apologetics Group Study. Due in stages:
2/12/12 PROJ 1- Study preparation
Using the five big questions listed in Assignment 8.1, develop a 5-lesson discussion course for group study with unbelievers or nominal Christians. (See McDowell’s Apologetics for a New Generation.)This should include the group leader’s script and any handouts for the group. Submit by pdf or Word document to both instructors by e-mail. Make changes they recommend in lessons and submit those lessons to the instructors.
2/19/12 PROJ 2- Group organization
Enlist 4-6 non-Christians or nominal Christians to help you with your master’s project. Tell them they will be evaluating the effectiveness of curriculum you are developing for people who do not attend church regularly, but think of themselves as atheist, agnostic, inquisitive, or possibly “spiritual.” Choose a non-ecclesiastical location for the study (coffee shop, student lounge, etc.) and set a schedule that is convenient for everyone in the group. Submit their names, the location of the study, and the schedule to the instructors.
4/2/12 PROJ 3- Study concludes
The study must conclude by this date.
4/8/12 PROJ 4- Evaluative session
Interview the group in an additional session devoted to evaluating the lessons with participant feedback. Write a report on their responses. NOTE: this is not the date for the evaluative session, but the session must have been concluded by this date.
4/9/12 PROJ 5- Feedback report
Submit a report of the group’s reactions to both instructors.
FINAL GRADES WILL BE FIGURED ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING SCALE:
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
A = 90% - 100% of the total final points possible / B = 80% - 89% of the total final points possibleC = 70% - 79% of the total final points possible / D = 60% - 69% of the total final points possible
F = BELOW 60% of the total final points possible
PHIL 5003 Apologetics, Page 8
Students with Disabilities
Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact the instructor personally, as soon as possible, to discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.
Support Services
Study groups, tutorial times, academic intervention, referrals, computer helps, or mentors may be accessed with the help of your instructor, etc.
SAVE YOUR WORK
SAVE A COPY OF ALL ASSIGNMENTS that you submit for grading. Neither the Hillsdale staff nor the instructors are responsible for lost assignments.
Library Access
Contact the Hillsdale Library for information on how gain access via the internet http://www.library.hc.edu/hillsdale/default.asp , using: saints\student log-in and your password. Email your request for access or call 405-912-9000.
Note for Directed Study
The professors reserve the option of assigning additional work and/or reading to the student, in order to fill any perceived gaps in knowledge or to enhance understanding.
Academic Honesty:
Honesty (integrity) is a core value of Hillsdale and is expected of students, faculty, and staff. All instances of Academic dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Dean for your program and result in failure for the assignment, course, or other disciplinary action. The most common instances of academic dishonesty are:
· Cheating: This includes copying another’s work to present for grading as your own or allowing another student to copy your work.
· Plagiarism: Students must take care in using the ideas, research, and writings of others so as not to represent them as being original with the student. Some common errors are: failure to use quotation marks for source material, failure to make a thorough paraphrase of someone else’s idea, and failure to properly cite the source of the information.
Writing Guide for Students
The student should consult Dr. Eaton’s Hillsdale College Webpage for help with academic writing and Turabian style http://www.hc.edu/page.aspx?id=188958 or the University of Toronto site is highly recommended for students seeking general information about writing on a more academic level and effective style http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/advise.html In addition to the instructions in the syllabus above all writing will be graded using the following guide:
Format and Evaluation Guide For Writing Projects