APOL 550 Faith and Reason

An introduction to basic issues in the intersection between faith and reason. The course will provide an introduction to the use of logic in apologetics and will consider key issues such as the nature of God, the definition of faith, religious epistemology, the nature of man and the human mind, and divine providence.

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

Religious belief, in general, and Christianity in particular, is often falsely accused of requiring a blind leap of faith, the abandonment of reason and intellectual inquiry, and belief without evidence. Genuine, biblical Christianity, however, acknowledges human nature as including a robust rational, intellectual component, created by God and equipped for rational inquiry. Christianity has been attacked as irrational and incoherent; therefore, Christian apologists must be equipped to respond to these challenges by developing both a proper understanding of the relationship between faith and reason, and a comprehensive defense against specific arguments about Christianity.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

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

Discussions (5)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each forum. Each thread must be at least 500 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, F, G)

Faith and Reason: Part 1 — Annotated Bibliography Assignment

The student must submit an annotated bibliography of minimally 8-10 academic and scholarly
sources. (CLOs: A, B, C, E, F)

Faith and Reason: Part 2 — Proposal and Outline Assignment

The student will submit a paper proposal that includes both an introduction and thesis statement, a detailed outline of the final paper, and a bibliography with minimally 10 academic and scholarly sources (beyond the course reading material). (CLOs: A, B, C, E, F)

Faith and Reason: Part 3 — Final Paper Assignment

The student will write a capstone paper between 12-15 pages that addresses their personal view on the relationship between faith and reason. The paper will explore the biblical, theological, and philosophical framework for a proper understanding of faith and reason. Moreover, the student will be required to assess various models, while also defending their personal approach. Finally, consideration will be given to the role that natural theology plays in the formation of a rational belief in God and the Christian worldview. The paper should include minimally 10 high-quality, scholarly sources (beyond the course textbooks) and should adhere to the most up-to-date Turabian guidelines. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E, F)