DESCRIPTION:

Challenges to the Christian faith are often grounded in alternative worldviews; people criticize the Christian Gospel from points of view which are characterized by differing conceptions of reality. When dealing with such challenges Christians are forced to get clearer about their own understandings of God, God's relationships to the world, and the proper patterns for human living in God's world. This course will examine several significant challenges to the Christian Gospel, including the "secular humanism" which is primarily the product of Enlightenment thought, the "transcendental humanism" of the contemporary "New Age" cults, and recent "post-modern" philosophical perspectives. Specific attention will also be given to environmental questions. As we examine these matters, we will also be exploring the proper contours of a Biblically-grounded world-and-life view.

This course is designed to equip persons preparing for various ministries--parish, parachurch, counseling, teaching, cross-cultural--to be more discerning about the intellectual currents that flow through the contexts to which they will minister. People operate with worldviews--conceptions about the nature of reality, human nature in particular, the basic causes of human malfunctioning and the possibilities of correction and growth. An understanding of these kinds of conceptions, and an ability to articulate a Christian perspective on such matters, is often crucial for effective ministry.

Class time will be devoted to both lectures and discussion. Daily readings will be assigned. The course will meet weekly for a three-hour session.

Bednarowski, Mary Farrell. New Religions and the Theological Imagination in America. Indiana University Press, 1995.

Card, Orson Scott. Seventh Son. TOR Books, 1987.

Johnston, Carol. And the Leaves of the Trees are for the Healing of the Nations. Office of Environmental Justice, Presbyterian Church (USA), 1997.

Murray, John C. The Problem of God. Yale University Press, 1964.

Russell, Bertrand. Why I am Not a Christian, and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects. Simon and Schuster, 1957.

Smith, Joseph. The King Follett Discourse. Joseph Lyon & Associates, 1963.

Photocopied readings.

Mid-term test, final exam, and one short (5-7 pages) paper.

None.

Meets M.Div. core requirement in Philosophical Theology (PHIL).

Yes.