Current Issues in Apologetics – APOL 630

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

An investigation of current issues and trends in apologetics, such as the intersection of science and religion, the problem of evil, atheism, or secularism.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The field of apologetics is ever adapting to the challenges and objections which are levied against the Christian faith. This course enables the student to interact with a particular problem, issue, or trend that is current in the field.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are a collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student will reply to the threads of at least 2 classmates. Each reply must be at least 200 words. (CLOs: B, C, D)

Interview Assessment Assignment

The student will listen to the Moral Apologetics Podcast interview of David Baggett on the topic of the Euthyphro Dilemma, and compose an assessment of at least 600 words in current Turabian format. (CLOs: A, B, C, D)

Debate Evaluation Assignment

The student will locate and view one of four selected online formal debates between William Lane Craig and a scholar-atheist devoted to the relationship between ethics/morality and the existence of God, and compose an evaluation of at least 600 words on the debate in current Turabian format. (CLOs: A, B, C, D)

Article Critique Assignment

The student will write a critical assessment of at least 600 words on George Mavrodes’ article “Religion and the Queerness of Morality” in current Turabian format. (CLOs: A, B, C, D)

Book Critique Assignment

The student will write a critical assessment of at least 900 words in current Turabian format on Baggett's and Walls's (Chapter 8 of God and Cosmos) assessment of Lewis’s The Abolition of Man. (CLOs: A, B, C, D)

Research Paper Assignment

The student will write a 3,000–3,600-word documented research paper in current Turabian format that argues in favor of theism (or philosophical naturalism) as the best explanation for moral obligations, identifies and explains all four components of a moral argument for theism and thoroughly addresses key objections to one of the four components. (CLOs: A, B, C, D)

Letter to a Friend Assignment

The student will write a letter to a non-theist friend (real or hypothetical) of at least 900 words, laying out a version of the moral argument for theism in an irenic, friendly, conversational manner for evangelistic purposes. (CLOs: A, B, D)